Substituting mushroom tea for your morning cup of joe could provide both energy and relaxation without caffeine jitters. Easy to prepare at home and customizable to individual preferences thanks to an assortment of functional mushrooms and adaptogenic herbs available, mushroom tea can make a welcome change!

Mushroom tea can be made by steeping dried or fresh (or frozen) mushroom pieces or powder in hot water to produce a comforting, soothing beverage that may support sleep, improve focus and immunity, boost metabolism and provide other health benefits. Incorporating herbal ingredients like rooibos, nettle, ginger or lemongrass helps balance out its taste while adding additional flavors such as adaptogens such as chaga, reishi, lion’s mane or turkey tail (known for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine and Russian herbalism to lower stress levels and improve cognitive functions among other things).

Mushroom tea’s strength depends on the amount of mushrooms and herbs added, as well as how long they’re simmered for. An ideal ratio would be 2 teaspoons of mushrooms to 6-8 cups of water, although this process can be adjusted for stronger or weaker tea depending on individual preferences. Once finished, solids may be removed by straining after which either be discarded or saved and re-steeped again to create multiple servings of this dish.

For a stronger, more potent tea, mushroom pieces or powder can be ground into a coarser and finely chopped texture to increase surface area and release more beneficial compounds during brewing. This technique works especially well when working with mushrooms with tough cell walls such as Reishi and Chaga which may be difficult to digest. Served either hot or cold depending on preference; can be stored up to three days in the refrigerator.