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Can You Freeze Mushroom Tea?
Mushroom tea is an exquisite and nutritious beverage that can boost immune function, lower blood pressure and aid sleep. Crafted using one or more types of edible mushrooms like chaga, cordyceps and reishi for its healing properties derived from its mycelium that provides essential nutrients to support cell growth, reproduction and detoxification processes.
Mushroom-derived compounds are broken down by bacteria during decomposition, making them available for absorption by other organisms that depend on them for survival and growth. This includes plants which use these compounds as building blocks in their own structures and processes.
Mushrooms can be enjoyed both raw and cooked in many forms, from salads and pasta dishes to risotto and soup. Mushrooms also add umami-rich depth and depth of flavor when used as an ingredient in soup dishes, making for an exciting new flavor sensation! Unfortunately, mushrooms have a shorter shelf life than most vegetables but freezing mushrooms is an easy and cost-effective way to extend their freshness while saving time in the kitchen.
Although you can cook and freeze mushrooms immediately after preparation, blanching in steam for three to five minutes and then placing them into an ice water bath for the same duration will help preserve their quality and preserve taste and texture. Once complete, transfer them back into an ice water bath for an equal time period to stop the cooking process and save any wasted food!
Once cooled, mushrooms can be transferred to freezer bags or containers and compressed so as to eliminate excess air and prevent moisture seeping in and compromising flavor and texture. Freezing this way should keep them good condition for up to one year; though their texture and flavor may begin deteriorating after four months.
Can You Freeze Mushroom Tea? Yes, but the process can be challenging. As your mushroom tea defrosts, its liquid may separate into chunks of dried mushrooms and thin broth. While adding some glycerin may help restore some fluidity back into it’s original state, ideally this step should be avoided altogether for optimal results.
Make large batches of mushroom tea and store it in an ice cube tray; that way you can easily add a couple cubes to your coffee or tea in the morning for extra energy and immune support.
Reishi tea should be consumed regularly to maximize its effects and reap its full benefits, including relieving stress, lowering blood pressure, and increasing energy. Experiment by mixing it with other medicinal herbs and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom or chai spices to add additional flavors – adding cinnamon or cardamom may enhance flavor further.