Hong Kongers often substitute ingredients of Five Flowers Tea in order to cut costs and increase potency, however this practice may affect traditional uses and purported health benefits of this herbal drink.

33 samples of Five Flowers Tea were obtained from grocery stores, herb retailers and market stalls located across 13 districts in Hong Kong. Their botanical composition was then identified using both macroscopic and molecular methods.

Nutritional Benefits

mushrooms contain essential vitamins, proteins, fatty acids, amino acids and minerals such as protein, fatty acids, amino acids, crude fiber, minerals as well as calcium, iron and phosphorus. Mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamin D as they contain ergosterol which turns into D2 when exposed to sunlight – making them an effective food to get daily intake. Mushrooms can be eaten raw or cooked and added to many different dishes like soups, risottos or vegetable stir-fries; mushroom tea often features Chaga Reishi and Lion’s Mane mushrooms in its ingredients list.

Tea made from mushrooms is widely believed to have a range of health benefits, such as improving immune health, decreasing anxiety and depression levels, increasing energy levels and improving brain function. Although functional mushrooms have been used traditionally as medicine for centuries – Westerners are only recently becoming aware of them and their many uses such as teas, tinctures, powders and coffee beverages.

While it can be tempting to jump on this new trend, it’s essential to remember that mushrooms are fungi rather than vegetables. Furthermore, it’s crucial to distinguish between edible mushrooms like lion’s mane or reishi and functional varieties with adaptogenic properties like those offered by nutritionist Madalena Viera Costa who specializes in mushroom cultivation: These functional varieties have “adaptogenic properties”, meaning that they can adjust according to what your body requires at that moment in time.

Reishi mushrooms can help maintain blood pH by protecting liver function and strengthening immunity; while lion’s mane mushrooms may fight cancer cells and promote healthy skin. Both may reduce stress, improve sleep quality and relieve gastrointestinal symptoms (Haiwen et al, 2013). It’s also worth keeping in mind that cooking methods may drastically change their nutritional profile; soups or stews are an ideal way to preserve their antioxidant properties; roasting or grilling can further amplify them.

Medicinal Benefits

Mushrooms have long been recognized as comfort foods, yet there’s so much more to them than meets the eye. Medicinal mushrooms contain essential nutrients and powerful antioxidants as well as rare amino acids and polysaccharides – as well as being an adaptogen helping you deal with stress more effectively.

Adaptogens help your body adapt to environmental changes and physical exertion, often used together with other herbs in traditional herbal regimens to produce optimal treatments for specific conditions.

Tea Flower Mushroom (Eriobotrya japonica) This fungus provides an abundant supply of beta-glucans and the amino acid ergothioneine – both believed to provide powerful antioxidant properties and protection from stress-related oxidative damage.*

Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) are widely recognized medicinal mushrooms that are known for containing significant levels of B vitamins and acting as food sources of Vitamin D2. Shiitake has also been thought to help maintain blood pressure already within normal range, while also aiding with balance lipid metabolism and supporting overall wellbeing.

Chaga (Cassia occidentalis)

This dark woody fungus that thrives across northern Russia and North America provides natural sources of antioxidants and polyphenols that have anti-inflammatory, immune system stimulating, radiation protective benefits as well as protection from cell damage caused by radiation radiation exposure.

Maitake (Grifola frondosa)

One of the world’s favorite culinary mushrooms, maitake is known to contain immuno-boosting beta-glucans and polysaccharides which support immune function while aiding spleen health and qi flow. *

Common Uses

Tea flower mushroom has long been recognized for its anti-inflammatory, diuretic and anti-fungal properties in herbal medicine. Additionally, its benefits may also help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Plus, as an excellent source of proteins and minerals it has also shown great promise at improving energy levels and strengthening immunity systems.

Five Flowers Tea (Wu Hua Cha), a popular traditional Chinese herbal formula, combines Tulsi, Gotu Kola, Licorice Root with antioxidant-rich tea flower mushroom to provide soothing properties and an anti-stress effect that makes for an enjoyable beverage experience. It is often taken in place of caffeine as a stress reliever.

The ingredients found in tea vary depending on local resources, culture, and habits. Shop owners may substitute or adulterate some herbs due to supply issues or cost-cutting measures; however, doing so could compromise its medicinal effectiveness and undermine its medicinal use.

Tea shops may use various varieties of shiitake in their Five Flowers Tea formula instead of B. ceiba; this is because those that contain higher levels of “baau fa” (fragrance) such as flower inch mushroom are more expensive.

Potentilla species such as Potentilla discolor and Potentilla chinensis can also serve as suitable alternatives to A. capillaris in Chinese medicine, acting similarly in treating inflammation, ulcers, diarrhoea and hepatitis.

Tea flower mushrooms should generally not be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding mothers, as they can stimulate the uterus and lead to miscarriage. Furthermore, it may also increase risk for those taking blood thinners or who are at a greater risk for oxalate kidney stones.

Prior to making any dietary or herbal changes or using tea flower mushroom as medicine, it is wise to consult your physician. Although the available research on its benefits are limited, Chinese medicine commonly uses it and believes it to be safe.

Precautions

Many mushrooms appear similar, making it hard to tell the difference between toxic and edible varieties. Therefore, it is crucial that foraging be undertaken safely by adhering to guidelines like sticking to known areas and taking advantage of plant identification tools in order to increase confidence in foraging experiences. Also remember that too much consumption may lead to digestive issues if overeating of these mushrooms occurs, thus moderation should always be observed when taking these mushrooms in any form.

Add mushroom plants to your diet for an uplifting burst of flavor, texture and color in all of your meals. Enjoy their vibrant green leaves and beautiful blooms in everything from sauteing and stir frying dishes to salads or soups for an earthy boost of taste.

Mushroom plants can also be enjoyed as teas, offering an herbal beverage that soothes and revitalizes. Their leaves and flowers can even be included into medicinal tea blends to utilize their potency antioxidant compounds that promote overall wellbeing.

When it comes to eating mushrooms, it is essential that proper serving sizes and preparation techniques are observed. Steaming or sauteing are effective ways of eliminating harmful toxins found in these fungi and making them safer to consume; additionally, raw or undercooked mushrooms increase your risk of digestive distress.

These mushrooms contain immune-modulating beta glucans and cordycepine that help promote balanced immune function, increasing your ability to fight infection while limiting overreactive immune responses that could damage tissue. However, if you suffer from Lyme disease or another inflammatory condition before taking these supplements.

Mushrooms provide pregnant women with natural sources of iron, vitamin D and other essential nutrients; making them an excellent source of energy and maintaining a healthy weight during gestation (6). Furthermore, mushrooms help improve energy and manage weight more effectively while increasing hemoglobin production to support foetus development while simultaneously increasing red blood cell count in order to prevent anemia (6).

For optimal quality, choose tea flower mushroom that has been certified organic by an independent third party. When purchasing it, look for labels stating “unsulfured” and is manufactured at an internationally certified GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) facility – these will ensure it has been protected from sulfur exposure as well as chlorine chlorides or aluminum phosphates that could taint its composition.