High Contrast MEA Agar Premix – 5 × 20 g Packets

SIERRA HIGH-CONTRAST MEA AGAR PREMIX

Create dark, high-contrast agar plates without measuring multiple ingredients for every batch. Each packet contains a pre-measured blend of agar, golden light dry malt extract, yeast nutrient, and activated charcoal.

The dark agar surface makes light-colored mushroom mycelium easier to see while helping growers observe growth patterns, transfers, and possible contamination.

WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE

• Five individually sealed 20 g packets
• Each packet makes 500 mL of agar
• Total prepared volume: 2.5 liters
• Approximately 15 to 20 standard 90 mm plates per packet, depending on pour depth
• Approximately 75 to 100 plates per five-packet package

NET WEIGHT

3.53 oz total
Five 0.71 oz packets
100 g total

INGREDIENTS

Agar agar, golden light dry malt extract, yeast nutrient, and activated charcoal.

DIRECTIONS

1. Empty one entire 20 g packet into a heat-safe media bottle or jar.
2. Add 500 mL of distilled water.
3. Mix thoroughly until the powder is evenly dispersed.
4. Loosen the container lid slightly or use a properly vented media lid.
5. Sterilize at 15 PSI for 30 minutes.
6. Allow the mixture to cool until it remains liquid but is safe to handle.
7. Pour into sterile Petri dishes using clean laboratory technique.
8. Allow the plates to solidify before sealing and storing.

One packet is designed as one complete batch. No weighing of individual ingredients is required.

WHY HIGH-CONTRAST AGAR?

The activated charcoal creates a dark background that improves the visual contrast between the agar and light-colored mushroom mycelium. This can make it easier to observe growth direction, isolate clean sections, and identify unusual growth.

STORAGE

Store unused packets sealed in a cool, dry location away from moisture and direct sunlight. Keep the individual packet sealed until you are ready to prepare a batch.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This product is a dry premix and is not sterile when received. It must be properly sterilized before use.

Petri dishes, cultures, sterilization equipment, and other laboratory supplies are not included.

For mushroom cultivation, educational, and laboratory use only. Intended for use with legal gourmet and medicinal mushroom species. Not intended for human consumption, medical testing, or clinical use.

Prepared agar appearance and final plate count may vary based on water quality, mixing, pouring depth, sterilization method, and laboratory technique.

Prepared in small batches by Sierra High Mushrooms in Sparks, Nevada.

Ingredients: Agar agar, golden light dry malt extract, nutritional yeast, and activated charcoal.