Mushroom Tea

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gives your body the energy to push you through the day, and with mushroom tea, you have even more reasons to pay attention to your breakfast. The benefits of mushrooms are well documented because they aren't a new health food at all. However, the difficulty of getting mushrooms and preparing them has always limited their access. With mushroom teas, enjoying the medicinal benefits of mushrooms is now easier and more effective.

What is Mushroom Tea?

Mushroom tea is more of a supplement than a beverage, but it makes for a refreshing cup of tea to get your day started on the right foot. The tea comes in a powdered mushroom extract form blended with a type of tea like green tea. When making the tea, you can use unsweetened vanilla almond milk or other additives to enhance the taste and experience.

The mushroom powders used to make the tea are concentrated extracts that allow you to get the most benefits from a small amount of mushroom tea powder. Also, the types of mushrooms used to make the tea are carefully selected for their ability to combine with tea.

Why not view our wide range of mushroom products? From Mushroom Capsules, Mushroom Tea, and Mushroom Oil to Mushroom Tinctures, Mushroom Gummies and more!

Types of Mushroom Tea

You can choose various mushroom teas depending on the benefits you're expecting and your preferred type of mushroom. Some common mushroom teas include:

Chaga mushroom tea

Chaga is an adaptogenic mushroom with an intense concentration of Vitamin D, fibre, iron, and calcium. It also contains other minerals, vitamins and nutrients. Chaga mushroom tea has an earthy taste and is slightly bitter.

Some of the benefits associated with the Chaga mushroom include;

• Digestive benefits
• Anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties
• Rich in antioxidants
• Natural energy-boosting properties

Chaga mushroom tea is perfect if you’re looking for immunity support, revitalisation, relief from aches and pains and GI support.

Reishi mushroom tea

Reishi is another adaptogenic mushroom. It is also nicknamed the mushroom of immortality and contains high concentrations of vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients. Traditional Chinese medicine has revered it for its healing properties for two millennia.

Reishi mushroom tea has an earthy, woody taste with a slight hint of bitterness. Some of the benefits of Reishi mushroom tea include:

• Stress reduction
• Sleep support
• Improved circulation

You should try Reishi mushroom tea if you’re looking for immune support, relaxation, better sleep quality, relief from anxiety and support, and immune support.

Lion’s Mane mushroom tea

Lion’s Mane mushroom has been part of traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It’s widely believed to support numerous organs, including the heart and liver. After years of use, it is believed to have even more benefits today than previously thought. These benefits include:

• Boosting cognitive function
• Supporting immunity
• Reducing inflammation
• Enhancing mental clarity and focus
• Stimulating physical and mental relaxation

Lion’s Mane mushroom tea has a mild and slightly sweet flavour. It is perfect when you’re looking for an energy-boosting tea to kickstart your day with a jolt of energy, provide you with focus and concentration for the day, support your immune system, provide deep relaxation and have a delicious twist to it.

Mushroom teas are a unique way to provide your body with the supplements it needs to run during the day, and their far-reaching benefits will keep you feeling healthier for longer. 

How to Make Mushroom Tea

The first step to making mushroom tea is deciding what type of mushroom best matches your wellness desires. Whether you prefer reishi, shiitake, or chaga, here are the ingredients to get you started.

Two teaspoons of dried mushrooms or two caps of mushrooms, two tea bags, two cups of water, one to two tablespoons (2-3gms) of mushroom, and one teaspoon of honey, sugar, or any sweetener of your choice.

Dehydrate your fresh mushrooms using an oven or wrap them in a paper towel for about three days until they are dried off and breakable. Once dried, grind them into powder to increase their solubility.

If you have powdered mushrooms, skip the step above and mix 2 cups of boiled water with about 2 teaspoons of mushrooms. Add the teabags to the cup. Remember to use 1 tea bag per cup. You can use more mushrooms depending on the intensity of the benefits you need.

Let the tea steep with the mushrooms for about 5 to 30 minutes. The longer the steeping period, the stronger the flavours and the better the effects.

Remove the tea bags and strain the water with the mushrooms into another cup. Discard the remains and add the flavours of your choice to the water. You can use any sweetener you choose, such as honey, sugar, ginger, or cinnamon.

If you prefer an iced mushroom tea, allow it to cool for no more than 10 minutes before pouring it over ice. Remember that not all mushrooms are safe for human consumption. If you doubt the type of mushroom you have, seek help from experts about its safety.

How Long Does Mushroom Tea Last?

For optimal flavour and shroom potency, consuming the tea just after brewing is ideal unless you want its iced thrill.

However, if you brewed more than you could take at once, you can refrigerate it for about 2 to 3 extra days. However, it must be stored in a tightly sealed container. Beyond this, your mushroom tea starts to lose its potency and should be poured away.

When Does the Mushroom Tea Kick in?

The period it takes the mushroom tea to kick in varies based on your metabolism, dosage and the potency of the mushroom used.

It may take about 20 minutes to slightly over 2 hours to feel its effects. However, some users may feel the mushroom effects almost immediately, while others may delay them.

Beware that the potency levels of different types of mushroom tea may vary. So, you should drink the tea in moderation until you are sure of its effects and the state of non-reactivity in your body.

How to Stay Safe When Taking Mushroom Tea

Be cautious about the following when taking mushroom tea:

Do not mix with medications or any other substances. Mushrooms contain psilocybin, a hallucinogenic compound which may react with other drugs and cause unexpected overstimulation.

Have someone to monitor you. Different mushroom varieties have varying effects. If possible, it is essential to have a sitter who hasn’t taken the mushroom tea if you need support.

Know when to seek help. If you experience severe distress symptoms, confusion and anxiety, seek immediate medical help.

Important Facts to Note About Mushroom Tea

Despite being a hot water beverage infused with grounded mushrooms, Mushroom tea is not your everyday culinary mushroom-like portobellos or creminis. Instead, much detail goes into ensuring the specific mushroom blends for this beverage meet the expected demands.

Here are some crucial factors you should take note of about Mushroom tea:

Medicinal Mushrooms

Mushroom tea's main ingredient is medicinal mushroom varieties that may have potential therapeutic benefits for overall well-being. As listed earlier, these include reishi, chaga, lion’s mane, cordyceps, etc. However, you should not use this tea as an alternative to any doctor-prescribed medicine. Consult with a healthcare practitioner before using the beverage.

Extraction Methods

Before the formulation of mushroom tea, the mushrooms are subjected to different processes that facilitate the extraction of the therapeutic compounds. As these processes have been present for ages, doing the extraction DIY may need more cautiousness.

This is because for mushroom tea to be effective, there must be a whole concentration of bioactive compounds in the extracts. This helps to make the extract more potent and bioavailable for consumption. These extracts often water-soluble compounds such as polysaccharides, beta-glucans, triterpenoids and other compounds.

Caffeine Content

Mushroom tea is typically caffeine-free because most tea variants have little to no caffeine. However, it is important to note that some mushroom types may have natural energy-boosting compounds. If infused with caffeinated drinks, such blends may give powerful energy-boosting beverages.

Unique Flavour Profiles

Mushroom often has a mid-earthy or woody taste. However, the exact flavour profiles involved in Mushroom tea vary depending on the blend's specific mushroom type and other additives. Some variants may have mildly sweet, slightly bitter, earthy or woody tastes based on the preparation procedures and mix ratios.

Adaptogenic Properties

Most mushroom types, such as lion’s mane and reishi, often have adaptogenic properties. This means they contain substances that increase stress resistance in the body. This makes such mushroom variants best for stress protection as they increase the body’s resilience.

Individual Response

Although mushroom tea has several potential therapeutic properties, individual responses to the beverage may vary from one individual to another. While some people may have almost immediate results, others may have delayed results depending on dosage, usage consistency, and many other factors.

Most importantly, you should consult a trained healthcare provider who can advise you accordingly about what to expect from Mushroom tea. Remember, research is still ongoing about its benefits and overall effects.

Potential Side Effects of Mushroom Tea

Mushroom tea is generally a safe beverage to consume, except for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. However, it is still important to be aware of its possible side effects.

Some of the factors that may increase exposure to this beverage’s side effects are:

Toxic Mushrooms

If the tea is made with toxic mushrooms, it may lead to different severe effects because of the poisonous substances in the mushroom. Exposure to such may have different unpredictable effects. However, in this case, the most common results are hallucinations and organ damage, especially because of gastrointestinal distress.

This calls for crucial identification of the mushroom variant before consuming the tea to avert such issues.

Individual Body Sensitivities

Aware or unaware, some people may be allergic to some mushroom types. So consuming such mushrooms sensitive to one's body may trigger different reactions, including hives, itching, and skin rashes, and if severe, it may cause anaphylaxis.

Improper Preparation

Incorrect mushroom tea preparations may also trigger different reactions, especially when one has extra sensitive intestinal parts.  So failure to clean the mushrooms well or incorrect cooking can lead to food poisoning or upset stomachs.

To avoid this, the best you can do is follow the correct procedures, especially the food safety practices, including thorough cleaning.

Medication Interactions

Mushrooms are safe, but some types may have possible reaction effects when interacting with different medicines. If taking any medications, such as blood sugar medication, you must consult with your doctor about possible reactions.

Other common side effects include dizziness, itching, nausea, and dry mouth. The best way to avoid these and others not listed here is to buy your mushrooms from trusted and reliable sources. You should also consult mushroom experts to learn the best safe variants.

You must also follow the right preparation methods, and if it is your first time using the beverage, start with small quantities. The latter will help you gauge your body’s reaction, and after that, you can gradually increase the dosage if need be.

Best Time for Mushroom Tea

The best time to enjoy mushroom tea may vary based on individual preference and the type of mushroom tea involved. However, for someone who’s used to taking such beverages, the drink is almost more like an all-day beverage.

Here are a few things to consider:

Morning

For the best startup of your day, you can enjoy mushroom tea in the morning for its well-balanced energetic boost. Mushroom tea variants like cordyceps and lion’s mane will provide a gentle boost with enhanced focus and clarity. This will help you remain productive throughout the day.

Midday

Your afternoon breaks are well sorted with a natural and energy-boosting mushroom tea option that won’t affect your sleep. In this case, mushroom teas such as chaga, reishi or any other option with adaptogenic properties will make the best drinks for a relaxing moment, especially on a busy day.

Evening

Your evenings are well sorted with the best wind-down routine. For this, you need a relaxing drink that will help support and reduce stress while increasing your overall sleep quality. Some people prefer reishi blends or any other cooling mushroom tea types, especially when retiring to bed. However, if you are unsure about the best blend for you, always consult with a medical practitioner.

Mushroom Tea FAQs

Can I add sweeteners or flavours to mushroom tea?

Yes, you can add different sweeteners to enhance the taste of your mushroom tea. However, you may need to ensure you are adding only non-reactive sweeteners that wouldn’t cost your well-being. Some fo of these sweeteners include unsweetened vanilla almond milk, honey, or spices such as ginger and cinnamon.

Can I drink mushroom tea every day?

Yes, you can drink mushroom tea every day. The best frequency for enjoying it depends on individual preferences and your expected results. Even as you incorporate the drink into your daily routine, you must follow the manufacturer's recommended dosage.