Let's chat about how to make mushroom tea at home. But before we begin, we need you to know we aren't talking about your portobello mushrooms from the grocery store. Mushroom teas are a way to integrate other mushroom types, functional mushrooms, AKA medicinal mushrooms, into your daily regimen. Although the mushrooms you add to your stir-fry on family dinner night contain some good nutrients, they're a bit different than the types we're referring to.

What Kind of Shrooms Make Adaptogenic Mushroom Herbal Tea?

Adaptogenic mushrooms have been studied for their adaptogenic, natural healing properties that extend beyond their nutrient profile. The most common medicinal mushrooms for teas include reishi, chaga, and lion's mane.

You may also notice cordyceps (the 'caterpillar' mushroom—pretty neat!), turkey tail, and shiitake in the 'Recommended Mushrooms for Tea' list.

An adaptogen is a natural substance that is found in the natural world that helps the body adapt to stress and promotes homeostasis (AKA-balance within the body). 

And—this is a topic for another time—but you can also use psychedelic mushrooms for a mushroom tea. We know this is not everyone's 'cup of tea,' but there are some potential health benefits for those who are interested (check out our blog for more info!).

Digging Deeper into the Types of Mushroom Tea

Mushroom tea comes in different forms. Some tea blends include whole or ground mushrooms, where you just need to add water, stir, and enjoy. Other types require traditional steeping, so you don’t actually ingest the mushrooms themselves.

Some varieties include actual tea leaves, while others do not. You might also find brands that add extra ingredients, including:

• Black pepper
• Cloves
• Cinnamon
• Turmeric
• Cardamom
• Dandelion
• Ashwagandha

There are powdered options that you mix directly into hot water, allowing you to consume the actual mushroom. These offer slightly more nutrition because you get more fiber from the mushrooms. Brands that offer these include MUD/WTR and Om Mushroom Superfood.

Steep in Hot Water

Other mushroom teas are steeped in hot water without consuming the actual mushrooms, similar to regular tea. Brands that offer this kind of tea include:

• Buddha Teas
• Baikal Tea
• Traditional Medicinals
• Tealeaves
• The Republic of Tea
• Tamim Teas
• Full Leaf Tea Company

Whether you enjoy these teas in the morning, as an afternoon pick-me-up, or to wind down in the evening, they come with plenty of health benefits.

What Does Mushroom Herbal Tea Taste Like Anyway?

Mushroom tea usually has an earthy, savory flavor, and sometimes it can be a bit bitter. The taste can change depending on the type of mushrooms used. For example, Reishi mushroom tea is more bitter and woody, while Chaga mushroom tea is milder and a little sweeter.

Adding ingredients like ginger, lemon, and honey can also change the flavor of mushroom tea. Honey can sweeten a bitter tea, making it taste better for some people.

The Many Benefits of Functional Mushroom Tea

Now, onto the benefits—we know you've likely been wondering why you would even consider drinking mushrooms? I mean, it does sound like a weird thing to do, right? But check this out:

Reducing Stress and Inflammation

Functional foods, like mushrooms, provide health benefits beyond their nutrients. Many have adaptogenic properties, which help the body manage stress by calming the central nervous system and moderating cortisol, a common stress hormone. This helps prevent illnesses and diseases related to chronic stress.

Bianca Tamburello, RDN at FRESH Communications, explained:

“The potential benefit of taking adaptogens is managing short-term body stress to help prevent the long-term impacts of stress.”

There are over 70 known natural adaptogens. While modern science is still studying their effects, adaptogens have been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.

These compounds can also help reduce inflammation and symptoms of cognitive impairment and chronic fatigue.

Improved Brain Function and Enhanced Mood

Some studies have shown that mushrooms, like lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), can improve mood and brain function in middle-aged and older adults.

While mushroom extract might not have all the same beneficial compounds, using mushroom powder in tea can help you get the benefits.

Nutrients and Antioxidants to Support the Body

Mushrooms exposed to UV light are great sources of vitamin D, which is hard to get from food. Most mushrooms also provide B vitamins, important for energy. Plus, they contain powerful antioxidants that support a healthy immune system.

Heart Health (AND-Gut Health)

One great benefit of mushrooms is that they provide a healthy amount of fiber, which is good for your gut and overall health. Many types of mushrooms have a specific kind of fiber called beta-glucan.

This soluble fiber binds to cholesterol in the small intestine, helping it pass through your system instead of being absorbed, which is good for your heart.

Beta-glucan also acts as a prebiotic, feeding the healthy bacteria in your gut, which helps your digestive system stay healthy.

Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Tea Recipe for Home

While we'd love to share all of the good recipes here in this article, we really can't—if we did—you'd be reading a book. We plan to provide plenty of recipes in other articles, but for now let's focus on how to make reishi tea at home.

The Drying Process

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a great mushroom to have around when the weather starts getting colder. Known as the "10,000-year mushroom,” Reishi is known for its ability to boost the immune system.

It’s considered a tonic, which means you should use it regularly over time to get the most benefits.

Mushroom cells contain chitin, a type of fiber that our bodies can’t digest. To get the full medicinal value from mushrooms, we need to break down the chitin first.

Getting Ready for a Healthy Sip

Break your dried Reishi into small pieces and add them to fresh filtered water in a stainless steel pot. Heat the water on high until it starts to boil, then turn the heat down to low and let it simmer gently for at least 30 minutes and up to two hours.

The longer you simmer, the stronger the tea will be. When it’s ready, it should have a light amber color. Strain out the Reishi pieces and let the tea cool slightly before drinking.

Stir in Some Flavor

Reishi has a naturally bitter taste, so you might not like drinking it plain. Try some variations to improve the flavor. You can add slices of fresh ginger while it simmers or mix your Reishi tea with chai tea. Adding honey and a splash of cream or coconut milk can also make it taste better and more enjoyable at any time of day.

To learn more about the benefits of tea containing medicinal mushrooms, check out these research articles:

A review of the effects of mushrooms on mood and neurocognitive health across the lifespan

A preliminary review of studies on adaptogens: comparison of their bioactivity in TCM with that of ginseng-like herbs used worldwide | Chinese Medicine

A Review of Mushrooms as a Potential Source of Dietary Vitamin D

Antioxidants of Edible Mushrooms

Dietary supplement of mushrooms promotes SCFA production and moderately associates with IgA production: A pilot clinical study