Mushroom tea has become the latest health fad at cafes and health food stores, purporting to improve immunity, lower stress levels and even help prevent some forms of cancer. But is this beverage truly beneficial for you?

Mushrooms have long been consumed for their nutritional and spiritual value. Widely used as medicinal herbs, mushroom species contain high concentrations of umami (the fifth flavor category after sweet, salty, bitter and sour). Some cultures, including India, Africa and Native North and South American communities have celebrated traditions associated with mushroom tea brewing.

Mushrooms owe their unique savory taste to glutamate, an amino acid found naturally in food that produces umami flavor. Mushrooms have long been associated with immune boosting benefits; traditionally eaten raw or cooked for this purpose; however, recent research indicates that drinking tea made from mushrooms may provide similar health advantages without digestive discomfort associated with raw eating.

When making mushroom tea, the type of mushrooms included can vary significantly. Common medicinal mushrooms for tea include reishi, cordyceps and chaga; with Reishi often called the “Queen of Mushrooms,” being shown to regulate hormones and reduce stress levels; Lion’s mane mushrooms being linked with improved cognitive function while cordyceps boosting energy and endurance levels while Chaga can promote cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure and oxidative stress levels.

All ingredients used in mushroom tea are natural and non-toxic, carefully chosen for their health-promoting qualities. Many varieties also include additional herbs and spices like black pepper, turmeric, ginger, cardamom, dandelion seed pods, eleuthero roots or ashwagandha to improve both taste and overall benefits of this beverage.

Studies of mushroom tea suggest that adding it to one’s morning routine may help increase immune function, focus and concentration, reduce stress and fatigue and enhance wellbeing. This finding aligns with previous research done on Lion’s Mane Mushroom and other adaptogenic herbs on healthy cells – such as improving microbiome health and immunity function – but further research needs to be conducted on its benefits before conclusive findings can be established. Until then, it is recommended to speak to your healthcare provider if considering adding mushroom tea into their diet plan so they can advise the appropriate products that best suit your individual needs as well as offer guidance regarding appropriate usage and usage instructions for optimal use.