Mushrooms have long been used in traditional medicine as an organic immunity- and brain-boosting food source, offering numerous health benefits that can make us feel more energetic, fight disease, and improve cognitive performance. Mushroom tea is one of the easiest ways to enjoy these benefits as it can be drunk warm as both a relaxing and stimulating beverage, or used instead of coffee (which may cause caffeine-induced anxiety) in the morning.

Participants of one study who consumed mushroom tea reported increased energy levels, decreased stress and anxiety levels, improved focus and concentration and heightened immune system function after just six weeks of use.

Mushroom tea typically blends dried mushrooms and herbs together into an intoxicating beverage, such as Reishi, Chaga, Turkey Tail or Lion’s Mane mushrooms in powder form to dissolve easily with hot water. Other ingredients could include Licorice Root Lemongrass Turmeric. Some brands even add black or green tea for additional antioxidant content!

There are various varieties of mushroom tea available today, with most featuring Reishi, Chaga or Turkey Tail as the key ingredient. These mushrooms are considered adaptogenic – meaning they help your body cope with everyday stressors – as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal. Using them may soothe anxiety and depression symptoms while simultaneously increasing hippocampus activity for enhanced memory and mood enhancement and decreasing inflammation levels within your body.

Some mushroom teas combine the anti-fungal power of reishi with lavender and chamomile for maximum effectiveness in combatting chronic fatigue, often caused by infection, immune system issues or hormonal imbalances. Reishi may help by encouraging new cell formation as well as activating special types of white blood cells that specifically attack abnormal cells–including cancerous ones–including triggering healthy new cell production to combat chronic fatigue symptoms.

Other mushroom teas contain cordyceps, an effective fungus that increases ATP production in your body to keep you going during exercise or throughout your day. Reishi and cordyceps have also been proven to decrease cortisol, an anxiety-inducing hormone, helping you feel calmer.

Mushroom tea can be prepared in several ways, but most involve steeping mushrooms in hot water for approximately five to ten minutes at around 71-72 degrees Celsius. The right water temperature helps break up chitin in mushrooms, making beta-glucans (an antimicrobial compound that may help boost immunity) more digestible; aim for water with this temperature range between the temperatures listed here (71-72). As too much heat can denature some compounds found within mushroom material, too long in hot water can denature some compounds; thus many pre-brewed or single serve products offer benefits anywhere at anytime without hassle – or take two different methods!