Many people enjoy switching up their morning caffeine routine for mushroom tea as it provides an all-natural boost without the caffeine crash. Mushroom tea can be made using various functional mushrooms such as reishi, cordyceps and lion’s mane as well as herbs and spices for an herbal infusion with adaptogenic properties and health benefits including increased energy and improved cognition – but do these claims hold water? We spoke to a registered dietitian nutritionist to get her take on its advantages.

Mushroom tea comes in various forms, from instant powders to loose-leaf blends. After being steeped in water for several minutes, mushroom tea brews can either be enjoyed alone or as the base for other medicinal ingredients. Benefits of mushroom tea may range from helping balance blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation in the body and support healthy liver function to providing an alternative way of cutting down caffeine consumption since this beverage has less stimulating compounds than coffee or black tea.

Differing from eating raw mushrooms, mushroom tea is usually quicker to become effective due to being digested through your digestive tract and not through inhalation through mouth. Liquid delivery directly to your intestinal wall further speeds up this process but individual metabolic and environmental factors still impact when effects will appear.

Psilocin can bind to serotonin receptors in the brain to produce psychedelic effects like altered thinking and feelings of euphoria when taken at low dosages, with higher dosages amplifying these experiences further and even resulting in synesthesia (hearing colors and seeing sounds) or having an altered sense of time – as such it should always be administered under supervision by trained professionals. Mushroom tea should always be consumed under careful guidance by someone trained.

Mushroom tea’s effects can appear as early as 15 minutes post-consumption, though exact timing depends on its potency and type. A stronger dose of reishi mushroom tea would likely have faster-acting results than weaker cordyceps tea would.

Once your mushroom tea has steeped for 10 or more minutes, straining is recommended in order to ensure all psilocybin compounds have been extracted from the water and ready for consumption. You can then add any desired additional ingredients – honey or ginger perhaps? – before enjoying!

As is true with any tea, mushroom tea should be stored in the refrigerator after being brewed to preserve its shelf life and ensure optimal freshness. For optimal results, drink your brewed tea within one week of making it, but any leftovers can be stored in an airtight jar or bowl and kept refrigerated up to two weeks – an excellent way to have on hand to brew when desired! This makes mushroom tea perfect for keeping in freezer or pantry storage for use when necessary.