What is mushroom coffee, and why is everyone talking about it?
If you’ve been on Instagram lately, you’ve probably noticed a random-sounding drink showing up in your feed. Plenty of people have been raving about mushroom coffees and teas, and sharing photos of the beverages online.
The concept behind the drinks is pretty simple: Dried mushrooms are boiled and liquefied into an extract and then added to coffees and teas for an added superfood boost to your go-to morning beverage. It sounds…interesting, but people swear that the earthy flavor of the mushrooms tastes amazing in coffee. The overall result? A robust coffee or tea that doesn’t have a mushroom-y taste.
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The superfood claims are pretty spot-on, too. “Mushrooms are a unique source of vitamin D and some B vitamins, which most Americans fall short on,” Beth Warren, RDN, founder of Beth Warren Nutrition and author of Secrets of a Kosher Girl, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “Mushrooms have long been used in Chinese medicine and newer research shows they are the highest dietary source of the antioxidants ergothioneine and glutathione, which help protect the body against the type of damage that can eventually contribute to age-related diseases like cancer, heart disease, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.” The mushrooms are considered adaptogens— substances that are thought to help your body handle stress. restore balance, and give your immune system a boost.
Mushroom coffees and teas can give anyone a boost, but they may be especially beneficial for those who are dealing with chronic diseases and inflammation, Warren says. (Research has shown that consuming therapeutic mushrooms can help, she says.)
Medicinal mushrooms are considered a supplement, so it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor in advance if you want to try out a mushroom coffee or tea, just to make sure it won’t interfere with any medications you may be taking, Warren says.
Interested in trying this out for yourself? These coffees, teas and mixes can help get you started.
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Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Mix
Four Sigmatic is considered one of the forerunners in the mushroom coffee world. Their mixes contain half the caffeine of regular coffee and use two types of mushrooms. Their Lion’s Mane mushroom supports memory, focus and concentration, and the brand’s organic chaga mushrooms help support your immune system and well-being.
Shop it: Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Mix, $12, amazon.com
This tea uses chaga mushrooms for an immune system boost, and is a great source of natural antioxidants. Simply steep a tea bag in a cup of boiling water for five to 10 minutes, and you’re good to go.
Shop it: Buddha Teas Chaga Tea, $10, walmart.com
Already have a coffee or tea you love? You can simply add a spoonful of this mushroom mix to it. Maju’s Mental Mushrooms contain four different types of mushrooms— Chaga, Cordycep Sinensis, Lion’s Mane, and Reishi ganoderma—for a mix that promises to give you a mental boost.
Shop it: Maju’s Mental Mushrooms, $28, amazon.com
If you really want to go all in with mushroom coffee, NeuRoast makes a “supercream” that’s infused with six different types of mushrooms. It’s also dairy-free, coconut milk-based, and keto friendly.
Shop it: NeuRoast Coffee Creamer, $23, amazon.com
La Republica Forager 7 Mushroom Coffee Blend
If you’re looking for a whopping dose of mushroom power, La Republica has it for you. Their mushroom coffee is a blend of seven different mushrooms that are designed to give you a serious mental boost.
Shop it: La Republica Forager 7 Mushroom Coffee Blend, $18, walmart.com
This blend features four different types of mushrooms, along with organic fair trade instant coffee, for a coffee drink to superpower your day. The blend is formulated to boost your mental power, give you energy, and add immune support.
Shop it: Sun Alchemy Mushroom Coffee, $13, amazon.com
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