Key Takeaways:
- Mushroom drinks and elixirs combine the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms with beverages.
- Types include mushroom coffee, tea, smoothies, and elixirs, each offering different health advantages.
- Mushroom ingredients can improve immune function, mental clarity, and stress reduction.
- Mushroom elixirs target specific health issues, whereas drinks promote general wellness.
- Mushrooms provide essential nutrients, antioxidants, and Vitamin D, supporting overall health.
- Beta-glucans in mushrooms benefit heart health and diabetes management.
- Prebiotics in mushrooms improve gut health and digestion.
- Some mushrooms may support brain and heart health, fight cancer, and lower cholesterol.
- Psychedelic mushrooms, though potentially helpful for treatment-resistant depression, are often illegal.
- Mushroom coffee and tea offer a lower-caffeine alternative to traditional beverages.
- Mushroom smoothies are a versatile way to incorporate mushrooms into your diet.
- DIY mushroom drinks allow for personalized health and flavour preferences.
- The quality and extraction process of mushrooms in drinks and elixirs significantly impact their health benefits.
Mushroom drinks and elixirs have emerged as the next big thing in the world of holistic wellness, and with good reason! These magical-sounding concoctions harness the powerful adaptogenic, immune-boosting, and cognitive-enhancing benefits of medicinal and functional mushrooms to improve health and wellness.
From the orientally-revered Reishi mushroom, celebrated for its calming effects and stress-relief properties, to the energy-boosting Cordyceps, believed to enhance stamina and endurance, mushroom-based drinks and elixirs represent a fusion of ancient wisdom and modern science.
But if you thought mushroom coffee was all there is to mushroom drinks, think again. You've only scratched the surface. Up next, we're going to explore the other different types of mushroom drinks and elixirs - what they are and how they're good for you!
What Are Mushroom Drinks? How Are They Different From Mushroom Elixirs?
Mushroom drinks are all types of beverages that contain mushrooms, usually ground down. The most popular and well-known mushroom drinks are mushroom coffee and mushroom tea. Based on the specific mushroom type included in the drink, you can expect different health benefits. So, chaga mushrooms, for example, have several benefits on account of:
- Anti-inflammatory properties possibly helpful in improving digestion
- Antioxidants beneficial in the treatment of high blood pressure
- Anti-cancer properties which may be helpful in the treatment of lung cancer, and so much more!
Elixirs are sweet, pleasant-tasting liquid substances, hydroalcoholic in nature, consumed orally for medicinal benefits. Mushroom elixirs, specifically, are composed of extracts of various types of adaptogenic mushrooms popularly used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine as well as traditional Indian medicine. They are also not as viscous as syrups
Essentially, you consume mushroom drinks to maintain or boost overall health and wellness. Mushroom elixirs, on the other hand, address specific illnesses or states of imbalance in the body. Elixirs are rather said to be "healing remedies."
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Potential Health Benefits of Mushroom Drinks and Elixirs
It's important to note that the health claims related to mushroom drinks and elixirs are entirely dependent on the quality and extraction process of the mushroom ingredients. The benefits can also vary from mushroom to mushroom.
Mushrooms are first and foremost a great source of vital nutrients in the form of vitamins (especially B vitamins and Vitamin D), minerals (selenium, potassium, zinc, and copper), and protein. Aside from its nutritional component, mushrooms also contain antioxidants which may help protect your body from free radicals, which can cause cell damage and early disease. In other words, the antioxidants may help protect your body from early ageing and chronic medical conditions.
Interestingly, when exposed to UV radiation, mushrooms produce Vitamin D, which is claimed to play a role in a healthy immune system and bone health.
Mushrooms contain beta-glucans, a type of fibre. Clinical studies associate beta-glucans with improved heart health and more effective management of Type II Diabetes
Research indicates that mushrooms also contain prebiotics, live microorganisms that may help to improve or maintain gut health and digestion.
Aside from these, mushrooms may have shown benefits in protecting brain health and heart health over time, possibly helping the body fight cancer, plus lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.
Some early research suggests that psychedelic mushrooms could benefit treatment-resistant depression, but more studies are needed to firmly establish these possibilities. NOTE: Depending on where you live, it may be illegal to consume psychedelic mushrooms.
Examples of Mushroom Drinks and Elixirs
Let's look at examples of popular mushroom drinks and elixirs:
1. Mushroom Coffee
Mushroom coffee is a great energizer for people who love the kick they get out of their cup of joe but don't want the jitters that come with it. Typically, mushroom coffee contains less caffeine than regular coffee, so they're a healthier alternative. The taste, however, is similar to regular coffee.
Mushroom coffee is made by combining mushrooms and coffee beans. The mushrooms go through an extraction process after they've been dried and then they're added to the coffee beans. The resultant powder can be blended with water for black coffee or blended with your favourite dairy product (or non-dairy for that matter) for a creamy version.
Some of the most common varieties of mushrooms incorporated into coffees include Reishi mushroom, Chaga mushroom, Cordyceps mushroom, Lion's Mane mushroom, and Turkey Tail mushrooms.
2. Mushroom Tea
If tea is your beverage of choice, you won't be disappointed. There are more than enough mushroom teas to put coffee drinkers to shame.
Fun fact: Mushroom teas are considered more of a supplement than a beverage, because of the effects of their beneficial compounds on the human body.
Typically, mushroom teas are made by infusing mushrooms in hot water. The mushrooms that are used are either medicinal, like Reishi mushrooms for example, or psychedelic like Psilocybe cubensis. Psychedelic mushrooms are known for producing hallucinogenic effects, commonly referred to as "trips." Commercially, you can find ready-to-use mushroom teas in the form of powdered mushroom-tea blends.
The most popular varieties of mushrooms found in tea include Reishi mushrooms, Chaga mushrooms, and Lion's Mane mushrooms.
3. Mushroom Smoothies
Mushroom smoothies are as simple as blending mushroom powder with your favourite smoothie blend (think fruit juice, yogurt, milk, ice cream or other non-dairy liquid alternatives). They're great for people who don't drink either tea or coffee but still want a way to incorporate mushrooms into their daily diet. They're also a great way to stay hydrated.
Opt for whole foods in the form of fresh fruits, vegetables, leaves, herbs, and nuts for more nutrition. You can even add your favourite greens powder to pack an even bigger nutritious punch. Try different types of medicinal/functional mushrooms to see which ones you enjoy the best.
4. Mushroom Elixirs
We talked earlier about mushroom elixirs being herbal remedies meant to alleviate and treat specific states of imbalance in the body. To make an elixir, mushrooms are usually boiled for hours before having their beneficial compounds extracted and dried.
You can expect different health benefits depending on the type of 'medical' mushroom.
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Here’s a Great Mushroom Drink Recipe
Absolutely! Try this delicious Mushroom Latte for a great morning pick-me-up! Feel free to mix and match ingredients and develop your favourite recipe!
- Milk - 1 cup (choose from regular cow milk or plant-based milk like almond, cashew, coconut, soya, etc.)
- Good quality mushroom powder - As per taste, or start with 1 tsp. Check out our in-depth reviews of mushroom powders to help you pick!
- Sweetener - 1 tsp to 1 tbsp (choose from maple syrup, sugar, jaggery, etc)
- Salt - a dash to balance the sweetness
- Flavourings - choose from coffee powder, cocoa powder, cinnamon powder, vanilla extract, etc.
Heat your preferred milk choice. Bring to a boil. Mix in the remaining ingredients, adjust the quantity of flavourings, and voila! Your delicious mushroom latte is ready!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What are the benefits of mushroom coffee?
Given the long list of benefits associated with mushrooms, you can typically expect the following from regular consumption of mushroom coffee:
- Improvement in mental alertness, concentration, and focus
- Reduction in stress and anxiety, and better sleep
- Decreased risk of cancer
- Reduction in high blood pressure
- Improved digestion
- Improved functioning of the immune system
- Reduced inflammation
Also, check out our Bircher Bar blog where we cover the specific health benefits of all the most common and popular mushroom varieties. Mushroom coffee makes for a great alternative to regular coffee because it contains a much lower amount of caffeine.
Q2. What should I look for in a good mushroom coffee?
When choosing a good mushroom coffee, focus on the type and quality of mushrooms used, such as lion's mane or chaga, known for their health benefits. Also, pay attention to the coffee's origin and processing methods to ensure you're getting a high-quality blend. The balance between mushroom and coffee flavours is key, so select a brand that aligns with your taste preferences.
Q3. Does mushroom coffee make you high?
The mushroom coffees you typically purchase from your local grocery, food store, or online won't make you high. That's because they usually contain mushrooms known for their therapeutic, medicinal, or health benefits. There is a type of mushroom that can make you "high" and that's called a psychedelic mushroom, also known as a "magic mushroom."
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Final Thoughts
If you've just started your journey of mushroom-fortified drinks, give this list a try. Also, get creative by adding your flavour twists with spices, condiments, and other ingredients to create delicious new beverages!
