Ever stumbled upon the term mushroom coffee? If not, no worries at all! It might even have you questioning its existence, but rest assured, it’s real and growing in popularity.
Table Of Contents
−- Mushroom coffee
- Mushroom coffee brands
- Health-Boosting Properties of Mushroom Coffee
- A Glimpse into the World of Mushrooms
- Recommended Mushroom Coffee Consumption
- Is there a connection between mushroom coffee and weight loss
- Taste of mushroom coffee
- Mushroom coffee and acidity
- Mushroom coffee recipe
- Last words
Particularly favored by those following plant-based diets, mushroom coffee is a unique alternative to the standard cup of java, boasting numerous health benefits. It’s even an excellent addition to a vegan bodybuilding regimen.
The concept might strike you as odd, but prepare to be pleasantly surprised by the harmonious blend of earthy, robust mushroom flavor and the classic coffee taste. It’s a truly unique coffee experience!
Mushroom coffee
Mushroom coffee combines powdered mushrooms and ground coffee in a balanced blend. You might feel apprehensive about the prospect of a potent mushroom flavor overpowering your beloved coffee, but fear not! The mushroom element in the mix is robust yet subtler than you might anticipate.
Despite its relatively recent emergence in the mainstream, mushroom coffee has historical roots in traditional Chinese remedies, where fungi played a role in promoting wellness. Additionally, in the 1940s, the Finnish turned to Chaga mushrooms to brew coffee when war-time conditions led to a coffee shortage.
Tero Isokauppila, the Finnish founder of Four Sigmatic, drew from his ancestors’ use of Chaga mushrooms sourced from birch trees, steeping and pressing them into coffee. It was Isokauppila who breathed new life into the practice, incorporating Chaga mushrooms into coffee for their myriad health benefits.
Mushroom coffee brands
A range of mushroom coffee brands have surfaced to cater to this growing trend. One such brand is grown organically in the nutrient-rich volcanic soil of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas highlands in Mexico, offering shade-grown coffee mixed with organic lion’s mane (250 mg per serving), organic Chaga (250 mg per serving), and organic rhodiola (100 mg per serving).
Don’t be deterred by the distinct aroma or initial taste; it’s reminiscent of getting used to eating your greens as a child. It’s essentially instant coffee with a twist. For those with a sweet tooth, feel free to enhance it with almond milk, natural sweeteners, and a dash of coconut oil. It’s even possible to froth the milk if you’re feeling adventurous.
Other brands feature 100% Arabica beans from Honduras, ground to perfection and blended with 500mg of organic Lion’s Mane and Chaga mushroom powder. This version has a more traditional coffee flavor compared to its instant counterpart.
Vivo Life’s magic coffee does an impressive job of camouflaging the mushroom flavor, delivering a coffee experience with a hint of the exotic. The brand recommends preparing it with a French Press for the best taste.
A Fair Trade Organic Ground Coffee option with Lion’s Mane Mushroom, expertly sourced and blended in Ethiopia’s Lekempt region, energizes both body and mind. This single-origin Arabica coffee is organically processed and ethically sourced from a small family cooperative. It’s also rigorously checked for heavy metals and mycotoxins, ensuring the coffee’s purity. This blend’s standout feature is its combination with Lion’s Mane Mushroom, renowned for promoting brain health.
Health-Boosting Properties of Mushroom Coffee
The health benefits of mushroom coffee can vary based on the specific fungi used. For instance, a maitake mushroom blend assists in regulating blood sugar levels and combating mental or physical challenges. Chaga mushrooms, on the other hand, help to reduce coffee’s acidity.
According to data from the Food Chemistry Journal, most mushrooms are rich in sulfur-containing antioxidants like glutathione and ergothioneine. Published on October 15, 2017, this research further underlines the nutritional potential of mushrooms.
Mushrooms are also laden with a wealth of vitamins and minerals, including selenium, potassium, copper, and calcium. They contain no cholesterol or fat, which makes them a valuable addition to weight loss diets.
Additional health benefits of consuming mushrooms include:
- Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels
- Assisting in optimal heart function by preventing plaque build-up
- Offering protection against cancer
- Slowing the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia
A Glimpse into the World of Mushrooms
Reishi Mushroom
Also known as lingzi mushrooms, reishi mushrooms have a long history of use in Eastern traditional remedies. Predominantly found in Asia, these mushrooms grow at the base of deciduous trees.
Reishi mushrooms come in various types and dozens of individual species, but it’s the red variety growing on hemlock trees that’s most commonly consumed. Although reishi mushrooms can grow for several years, they are usually harvested when they reach their one-year mark due to their optimal nutritional value at this stage.
Given their naturally bitter taste and tough texture, reishi mushrooms are typically ground down to produce supplements that allow for easier consumption of their beneficial properties.
Lion’s mane mushrooms
Known by a variety of names such as bearded tooth mushroom, bearded hedgehog mushroom, monkey head mushroom, and satyr’s beard, Lion’s mane mushrooms are not only edible but also offer an abundance of health benefits.
These mushrooms have long spines that group together, forming a large, shaggy-looking clump reminiscent of a lion’s mane, hence the name. They are mainly cultivated in Europe, North America, and Asia.
Unlike reishi, Lion’s mane mushrooms are delicious, boasting a seafood-like taste similar to crab or lobster. This makes them a popular choice for culinary use. They are readily available in health food stores, and you can even find Lion’s mane mushroom bone broth.
Cordyceps mushroom
Cordyceps is a category of fungi that includes around 400 different species. They thrive in hot, tropical forests, particularly in Asian countries like China, Japan, Bhutan, Vietnam, Korea, and Nepal.
These mushrooms are tubular and thin. Due to their rarity, they can come with a hefty price tag. However, lab-grown cordyceps are more affordable. Interestingly, these mushrooms are endoparasitoids, acting as parasites on arthropods and insects.
Chaga mushroom
Hailing from the Northern Hemisphere, chaga mushrooms are harvested from birch trees and have a long history of use in traditional folk medicine. Despite their unassuming appearance, often resembling dirt at first glance due to their high melanin content, they are packed with nutritional benefits.
Chaga mushrooms are frequently found in coffee and teas and are also available in capsule and powder forms as supplements. They have various names, including clinker polypore, sterile conk trunk rot, birch canker polypore, and black mass. Unlike cordyceps, chaga mushrooms thrive in cooler climates.
Recommended Mushroom Coffee Consumption
Mushroom coffee contains less caffeine than traditional coffee, approximately half as much. This makes it an excellent choice for those wanting to enjoy the benefits of caffeine without the potential side effects of overconsumption. It’s also an ideal alternative for individuals seeking to reduce their caffeine intake.
Imagine savoring your coffee while receiving a healthful energy boost. If that sounds appealing, mushroom coffee could be your new go-to!
Is there a connection between mushroom coffee and weight loss
Indeed, mushrooms can aid in weight loss. First, through their ability to enhance metabolism. Second, their alkaline nature also promotes weight loss.
Taste of mushroom coffee
Mushroom coffee, made of organic coffee beans and mushroom extracts, offers a surprisingly pleasant taste experience. Despite what you might expect, the mushroom flavor is subtly blended, and many find the flavor profile quite enjoyable. Plus, each serving contains around 50 mg of caffeine, a stark contrast to the 95 mg found in an 8 oz cup of traditional coffee.
Mushroom coffee and acidity
Mushroom coffee is a boon for those who struggle with acidity issues. Unlike conventional coffee, which is acidic, mushroom coffee is not. This means you can savor your cup without worrying about triggering an upset stomach.
Mushroom coffee recipe
What you’ll need:
- 1 teaspoon of dried ground chaga
- 1 teaspoon of dried ground lion’s mane
- 1.5 litres of water
What to do
The measurements above are recommendations, but feel free to adjust according to your preference. Blend all three ingredients together and bring the mixture to a boil. Let it simmer on low heat for about two hours.
When you’re ready to enjoy your mushroom coffee, add a teaspoon of ground coffee beans to a French press and pour the mushroom blend over the beans. Allow it to steep for five minutes, then savor your homemade mushroom coffee!
Last words
We wholeheartedly endorse mushroom coffee! It’s a healthful, less acidic, flavorful, and economical choice. While it may sound unusual initially, we encourage you to try it for yourself. You might find yourself falling in love with it and incorporating a healthier cup into your daily routine.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. Remember to support us by purchasing through the Amazon/Walmart/Impact Radius links provided. Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
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