There have been various tea trends around the world–yerba mate, golden milk and detox tea among them–but mushroom tea stands out as being among the newest (and strangest). Steeping mushrooms in hot water for this beverage has been touted as anti-inflammatory, brain boosting and cancer fighting; yet does it really live up to expectations?

Mushroom tea is prepared by steeping one or more functional fungi such as reishi, lion’s mane or chaga in hot water for several minutes until their essences release their flavors, creating a delicious brew that tastes distinct from black or green teas – no surprise then that the mushroom tea market has expanded so rapidly in recent years!

mushroom tea offers many health benefits that extend far beyond antioxidant and immunity-supportive properties, according to studies and consumer reports. Yet many consumers claim they also provide additional mental and physical advantages such as increased focus, better sleep quality, reduced stress levels and even a boost to one’s mood.

Studies have recently shown that mushrooms’ psilocybin could potentially help alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms by altering our perception of our environment, an observation which is especially significant given that many diagnosed with cancer struggle both with psychological effects as well as physical complications due to their illness.

To make mushroom tea, the first step will be cutting your dose into small pieces (or adding powder form) for maximum dosage effectiveness. Next, place these pieces of psilocybin-rich mushrooms into a pot on your stove with some water and allow it to simmer until your tea has finished brewing.

Once the liquid is hot enough, remove from heat and strain through a mesh strainer to separate out any solids before pouring it into a cup and enjoying!

If you want to increase the strength of your brew, repeat these steps with any remaining liquid. Also experiment with different doses, and adding spices like cinnamon, ginger or turmeric.

Refrigeration can help preserve the compounds, keeping your brewed mixture safe for up to one week; though be aware that its life may shorten faster compared with tea made at room temperature. Therefore, be sure to consume it within several days after it has been stored in a glass jar in your fridge.