Wellness enthusiasts have long touted the health benefits of mushroom tea for its ability to support immune function, alleviate stress and provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. But is cold brewing mushroom tea possible and, if so, how?

Mushroom tea is an enjoyable drink that combines dried or fresh mushrooms with black or green tea to produce Reishi tea, known for its anti-inflammatory effects, while Chaga tea, an all-natural anti-viral agent, and Lion’s Mane tea may improve cognition.

Contrary to traditional tea, mushroom tea requires precise temperatures and steeping times in order to produce beta-glucans – building blocks of fungi which also possess medicinal benefits – that release beta-glucans into the tea brew. When insufficient temperatures are utilized during brewing, beta-glucans degrade and become indigestible, rendering this form of medicinal tea unappetizing and possibly diminishing its therapeutic potential.

Cold brew mushroom tea combines the ease and flavor of instant coffee with higher concentrations of beta-glucans for added deliciousness. Plus, cold brew tea requires only hot water for initial steeping; and cold brew mushroom tea’s smoother taste may avoid bitterness associated with long steep times for other tea types.

Mushroom tea can be easily prepared using a loose-leaf tea bag containing both tea and dried mushrooms, which you can buy in most grocery stores or make at home using either a food processor or coffee grinder. Grinding helps break down cell walls of mushrooms to extract more beta-glucans.

Once the mushrooms have been ground up, add them to a tea bag or pot of boiling water and let the tea steep for several minutes according to its instructions on the bag. After it has finished brewing, remove and strain out the bag before sipping your beverage of choice!

Once your tea has been strained, add honey or another sweetener according to taste. Reishi mushroom tea tends to have an earthy taste which can be balanced out with sweet ingredients such as honey. Marjoram or peppermint leaves may also work to help balance out its flavors.

Pour your tea over ice, and enjoy! Iced mushroom tea should last several days in the refrigerator, or longer if stored in an airtight container away from moisture. The key to creating delicious iced mushroom teas lies in selecting quality organic ingredients; feel free to experiment until you find your ideal combination!