Health Nutrition & Diet A Guide to Mushroom Tea Benefits and Types What exactly is the point of sipping mushroom tea, anyway? By Christina Manian, RDN Updated on June 11, 2024 Fact checked by Haley Mades Fact checked by Haley Mades Haley is a Wisconsin-based creative freelancer and recent graduate. She has worked as an editor, fact checker, and copywriter for various digital and print publications. Her most recent position was in academic publishing as a publicity and marketing assistant for the University of Wisconsin Press Our Fact-Checking Process Close Photo: Kristina Kuptsevich/Getty Images With the ever-increasing popularity of functional mushrooms, people are finding more ways to include fungi in their everyday routines, like various types of mushroom tea. Drinking mushroom tea is one of the trendiest—and, actually, one of the oldest—ways to consume these ’shrooms because mushroom tea benefits are wide-ranging. But what is mushroom tea—is there any tea in it, how do you make it (or even find it), and what are the perks to drinking it? Let's dive into everything you need to know about mushroom tea and its intriguing health benefits. Bianca Tamburello is a registered dietitian nutritionist at FRESH Communications. What Is Mushroom Tea? Simply put, mushroom tea is a beverage of hot water infused (or steeped) with mushrooms. But we're not talking about your everyday culinary mushrooms like creminis, buttons, or portobellos. Mushroom teas are really a medium through which to integrate functional, adaptogenic mushrooms—that have some healing health properties beyond their nutritional profile—into the diet more easily. The most common medicinal mushroom varieties found in these warming beverages include reishi, chaga, and lion’s mane. You may also see cordyceps, tremella, turkey tail and shiitake mushrooms included as well. (There is such a thing as mushroom tea made from psychedelic or hallucinogenic mushrooms—that’s not what we’re talking about here, however.) Types of Mushroom Teas Mushroom tea can appear a few different ways. You can find tea blends that include whole, ground mushrooms, where you just need to add water, stir, and enjoy. Others require a more traditional steeping process where you’re not actually ingesting the mushrooms themselves. Some varieties will include actual tea leaves, while others don’t. You may also find some brands that include additional ingredients in their blend like black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom, dandelion, and ashwagandha. In terms of products, there are a few powdered options that blend directly into hot water, resulting in consumption of the actual mushroom itself. These have a slight nutritional leg up as you’ll be consuming more of the fiber from the mushrooms. Brands here include MUD/WTR and Om Mushroom Superfood. Otherwise, there are many varieties that you steep in hot water without actually consuming the fungus itself, just like you’d brew regular tea. Some brands offering this kind of mushroom tea include Buddha Teas, Baikal Tea, Traditional Medicinals, Tealeaves, The Republic of Tea, Tamim Teas, and Full Leaf Tea Company. Whether you enjoy these teas as a wake-up in the morning, a pick-me-up in the afternoon, or as a way to wind down in the evening, it’s undeniable that there are plenty of health benefits associated with these cozy beverages. Adaptogen An adaptogen is a natural substance that is found in certain fungi (and, therefore, mushroom tea) that helps the body adapt to stress and promotes balance. What Does Mushroom Tea Taste Like? Mushroom tea tends to have an earthy, umami flavor. Sometimes, it can taste slightly bitter. However, the taste of mushroom tea can vary depending on the type of mushrooms that the tea incorporates. For example, reishi mushroom tea will be more bitter and woody than chaga mushroom tea, which has a milder and slightly sweeter flavor. Other ingredients like ginger, lemon, and honey—commonly mixed into tea—can also change the flavor of the tea. Honey, for example, can help sweeten an otherwise bitter tea, making it more palatable for some. 7 Mushroom Tea Benefits Mushroom tea benefits are plentiful. Here are seven of the biggest reasons to consider drinking more mushroom tea. 01 of 07 Manages Stress and Inflammation Functional foods, including mushrooms, are defined as those having health benefits outside of the nutrients they offer. Many will also have adaptogenic properties. Adaptogens are a group of compounds found mostly in plant-based foods, though there are some synthetic types available as well, which work to help the body better manage stress through calming the central nervous system, moderating its response to the common stress hormone, cortisol. Through this process, adaptogens can help us avoid the illness and disease that can come with chronically high stress environments. “The potential benefit of taking adaptogens is managing short-term body stress to help prevent the long-term impacts of stress,” as Bianca Tamburello, RDN at FRESH Communications, sums up perfectly. There are over 70 naturally occurring adaptogens that we know of today. While modern science is only just scratching the surface to evaluate their functionality, adaptogen use has really stood the test of time. “Eating mushrooms and foods with adaptogens for their health benefits is not a new concept and has a long history in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine,” Tamburello says. Evidence shows us that these compounds can also help to reduce inflammation and symptoms of cognitive impairment and chronic fatigue. 02 of 07 Packs Micronutrients and Antioxidants Fungi that have been grown with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light rays are going to be excellent sources of vitamin D, a micronutrient that’s hard to find in the diet. Additionally, the majority of mushrooms will also offer a whole host of B vitamins, which are vital to energy metabolism. Plus, each variety contains bioactive plant compounds that are potent antioxidants, helping our immune systems to be in peak condition. 03 of 07 Boosts Heart and Gut Health One incredible benefit of all mushrooms is that they offer a healthy dose of fiber, supportive of gut health and overall health. And many varieties will contain a specific kind called beta-glucan. This soluble fiber binds to cholesterol in the small intestine, allowing it to pass through our system instead of being absorbed, making it an excellent heart-healthy addition. Plus, it acts as a prebiotic, feeding the healthy bacteria in our gut microbiome, helping that whole system to thrive. To reap the full benefits of the fiber in mushrooms, you need to consume the mushroom—not just mushroom extract or mushrooms steeped in teas. You can use powdered mushroom in teas because it includes fiber. 04 of 07 Contains Little Caffeine If you are trying to cut back on your caffeine intake, switching over to an herbal tea, with little or no caffeine, can be a nice substitute for black teas or coffee. “Some people enjoy swapping their morning cup of coffee for mushroom teas because they tend to have less caffeine, providing a more gentle boost, but this effect does vary across products and brands,” Tamburello says. 05 of 07 Improves Mood Some studies have shown that mushrooms—lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus)—enhance the mood and cognitive function of middle-aged and older adults. While mushroom extract may not contain all of the same bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, using mushroom powder in mushroom tea can help you make sure to reap the benefits. 06 of 07 Improves Sleep Mushrooms have been shown to help improve sleep. Lion's mane mushrooms have proven to improve sleep disturbance and overall well-being, for example. Meanwhile, blushing wood mushroom, was shown to improve sleep quality. 07 of 07 Boosts Immune System We now know that mushroom tea can help improve the microbiome. But a healthy microbiome is not only linked to improved gut health; it is also linked to better overall immune health. Therefore, drinking mushroom tea can help boost your immune system, too. Is Drinking Mushroom Tea Safe? “Mushroom teas are often considered to be a supplement, so be sure to speak to your doctor before trying,” Tamburello says, adding, however, that, “drinking mushroom tea has little risk for most people and can be a part of a balanced routine of nutrient-rich foods and regular physical activity.” Mushrooms Are 2024's Latest Food Craze—Here's How to Cook With Them Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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