Mushroom coffee has become increasingly trendy. Concocted from a blend of ground coffee beans and adaptogen mushrooms such as reishi, lion’s mane, cordyceps and turkey tail, its marketing pitch states that mushroom coffee offers increased focus, immunity and stress relief than your standard cup of joe. As a result, consumer interest for this trendy drink has seen a 52% year-over-year spike according to Tastewise; high-profile wellness advocates such as Arielle Zuckerberg have even adopted it into their offices!

But for maximum health benefits of mushrooms, it may be wiser to incorporate them into your diet through whole food sources (like salads, soups, stir fry and chili) than via mushroom coffee – since no research exists that backs this claim.

Mushroom coffee looks similar to its standard counterpart, with dehydrated and extracted mushrooms added directly into the mix for maximum flavor. As a result, mushroom coffee provides similar tastes as traditional coffee; though its taste might have an earthier or nuttier touch.

Many of the mushroom varieties used to make mushroom coffee have been touted for their purported health benefits, from immunity support and mental clarity enhancement to mood boosting properties. Reishi, in particular, has been shown to possess anticancer properties; however, as it’s not approved by FDA as an official treatment option these claims remain unverifiable.

Cordyceps mushrooms have long been revered for their energy-boosting abilities and have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to increase energy. While cordyceps is believed to provide some energy-enhancing effects, there has yet to be conclusive proof in human trials that supports such claims.

mushroom coffee products may provide immune-enhancing and mood-lifting effects while simultaneously offering half the caffeine of traditional coffee, helping reduce jitteriness and improve sleep quality. If your goal is to decrease caffeine consumption, however, consulting your physician first may be best since certain mushrooms may lead to digestive or kidney issues or increase oxalates which could increase kidney stone risk.

Overall, there’s little proof that mushroom coffee offers any additional health benefits than regular coffee. If you’re curious to give it a try, Czerwony suggests beginning slowly by trying one product at a time and recording symptoms as you do so. As with any new product or medication change, those with allergies, autoimmune conditions or taking medications should consult their physician first before switching over; and if money is an issue consider adding whole mushrooms instead of spending money on mushroom coffee that doesn’t provide many proven health advantages.