Chaga mushroom, a charcoal-like formation found growing on birch trees in northernmost latitudes, has long been recognized for its umami-rich taste and health benefits such as immune support, focus enhancement, and stress reduction. Recently it’s gained attention as an adaptogenic coffee substitute with adaptogenic properties to help manage stressors without creating the caffeine crash and jitters of traditional coffee brew. Now being promoted as an improved energy boost with reduced digestive discomfort side effects and an increase in heart rate; Chaga is fast becoming one of today’s trendiest beverage alternatives.

Functional mushroom coffees have recently expanded with mushroom-infused ground coffee from roasters who know how to craft an engaging cup with unique flavor and aroma profiles. It’s an exciting development in an arena previously dominated by supplement and snake oil vendors with good intentions but who failed miserably at creating drinks that tasted distinct rather than ones reminiscent of past beverages.

Four Sigmatic is one of the foremost providers of mushroom coffee in the US, and their mushroom latte blend combines ground coffee with chaga mushroom extract as well as powders such as lion’s mane, cordyceps and reishi mushrooms and botanical astragalus. Customers can purchase preground bags or kits containing hand grinders and frothers for personal brewing at home.

Taste: Mild and woody with a hint of grit on the sip that complements sweeter alternative milks such as Pacific Foods coconut milk and original Silk soymilk. Caffeine Content: Reduced, but Not Decaf

While some companies still harvest wild chaga from forests without stringent environmental standards, most mushroom coffees now rely on lab-grown chaga for better environmental performance and to eliminate concerns that wild chaga might absorb environmental contaminants as it decomposes. Furthermore, it removes additional processing steps which might introduce their own set of contaminants into its composition.