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How to Make Mushroom Tea
Mushroom tea is an inviting and healthful beverage that can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual. Enjoy a cup of reishi before bed, antioxidant-rich chaga for wellness or focus-boosting turkey tail for optimal focus – the choices are limitless!
Discover how to easily make mushroom tea using either dried or powdered mushrooms, with an approachable method that fits any preferences or schedule.
Select the Right Mushrooms
Portobellos and button mushrooms don’t offer many health benefits in grocery store varieties; however, some specialty mushrooms such as chaga, reishi and turkey tail offer healing qualities when made into tea for consumption. These functional or adaptogen mushrooms have long been used by Chinese and Eastern medicine systems; their popularity continues to grow thanks to research indicating they can aid with issues like stress relief, immune system functioning and brain power enhancement.
Mushroom tea can be an uplifting beverage to enjoy before bed or as an energy boost during physical activities, and one of the most popular blends contains ashwagandha for its ability to fight fatigue; reishi for its aiding memory, focus, mental clarity; and cordyceps as it supports energy levels and endurance levels.
Mushroom teas are simple to make and can be tailored to meet a range of wellness goals. Four Sigmatic’s powdered mushroom mix can be mixed with coffee or cacao for a wakeful morning alternative; and Seattle-based Choice Organic Teas offers relaxing reishi and chaga blends as an evening treat before bed.
To create your own adaptogenic tea, combine dried or powdered mushrooms and herbs. These ingredients should then be mixed with either water or fruit juice and left to steep for several hours; some recipes even suggest lightly roasting mushrooms before steeping.
Some prefer the sweet and citrus flavors found in honey or lemon for their beverages, while others might enjoy adding an earthier kick with ginger slices in their cup. Experimentation is key in finding what flavors and aromas satisfy you the most!
Once again, mushrooms should not be seen as just another passing trend. “Functional mushrooms can be powerful supplements when added as part of your wellness routine, not in lieu of eating well,” according to registered dietitian Laura Wargo of Northwestern Medicine Osher Center for Integrative Health.
Clean the Mushrooms
There can be conflicting advice when it comes to cleaning mushrooms before use. Some chefs believe in leaving them be, citing how the fungi absorb too much water and become limp and flavorless otherwise; other advocate a thorough rinse with careful brushing; yet most chefs fall somewhere between these extremes.
General consensus holds that the best way to prepare mushrooms for cooking (or eating raw, too) is a quick rinse and then brushing with a damp towel or pastry brush – any remaining dirt should easily come off this way! For particularly filthy mushrooms, an initial soak might also be beneficial; and if your concern is too much water being absorbed by them, using a salad spinner might also help dissipate some moisture from them.
Mushrooms tend to absorb an abundance of moisture when washed, which prevents them from browning properly during cooking and results in rubbery texture once cooked. Furthermore, excessive moisture can quickly lead to spoilage; many chefs believe a thorough wash is an integral component of mushroom preparation.
Though many mushroom varieties do contain dirt or debris on their gills, a dusting of dirt should not necessarily indicate poor quality or that the mushrooms were grown under poor conditions; rather it can indicate age.
Typically, only mushrooms that will be consumed fresh or raw require being washed; even then, just a quick rinse under cold running water should do. Otherwise, just using a clean cloth or paper towel can keep them at peak freshness – however if they will be chopped into slices or dices this rule must be broken as woody sections need trimming away before the stems can be used for stock.
Steep the Mushrooms
Mushroom tea has quickly become the latest health trend, and it’s easy to see why. Different species of mushrooms offer numerous health benefits that include stress reduction, immune support and cognitive enhancement – making a mushroom tea is an easy and accessible way to reap these rewards! Experiment with different ingredients, dosages and brewing methods until you find your cup of fungus bliss!
Create mushroom tea using fresh, dried, or powdered mushrooms. Dried mushrooms are often the preferred choice as they’re readily available and have a long shelf life; making them convenient for travel and storage purposes. Before creating the tea, chop or grind the mushrooms to increase surface area and unlock more beneficial compounds during brewing.
Your mushroom tea’s potency will depend on both its quantity and duration of infusion. A good starting point would be one or two teaspoons per serving; you can add herbs and spices for flavor or to boost medicinal benefits further.
Reishi, chaga, and lion’s mane medicinal mushrooms make delightful teas with light earthy flavors that can help boost immunity, decrease anxiety, or promote overall wellness. Chaga has long been revered as an effective liver detoxification agent while reishi is known to alleviate stress while lifting mood.
Psilocybin mushrooms contain psychedelic compounds that can induce altered states of consciousness, making this tea an effective mind-altering experience. When making this type of tea, use extreme caution as overuse can cause unpleasant side effects and dependency issues; if this is your first experience using this mind-altering beverage it is strongly advised that professional assistance be sought first before engaging in its consumption.
Strain the Mushrooms
Mushroom tea is an easy and tasty way to reap the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms such as Reishi, Chaga, Lion’s Mane and Turkey Tail Medicinal mushrooms offer natural immune support, stress relief, cognitive enhancement and more. By brewing them into tea form their beneficial compounds are more easily absorbed through digestion; experiment with different varieties, dosages and brewing times until you discover one that meets all your needs!
Traditional mushroom tea is produced by steeping dried or powdered mushrooms in hot water or another liquid for at least five minutes, which allows the mushrooms to release their active components and release their medicinal benefits. Common examples of mushrooms used to produce mushroom tea are Reishi, Chaga, Turkey Tail and Lion’s Mane mushrooms – each known for different properties that make this drink beneficial – Reishi is often touted for its soothing qualities and immune-enhancing benefits while Chaga offers antioxidants that support digestion while Lion’s Mane offers cognitive health and focus while turkey Tail mushrooms provide immune support boosting benefits – thus producing mushroom tea which offers numerous medicinal and immune-enhancing qualities compared with others used as remedies!
Psilocybin mushroom tea is another popular option, though preparation must be carefully undertaken to ensure safe use. Psilocybin and psilocin, two psychedelic compounds that alter perceptions and induce pleasurable feelings, should be present. Effects usually begin within 20-40 minutes and typically last up to 6 hours – it should therefore only be consumed under supervision in an environment with sufficient lighting.

