With consumers increasingly gravitating toward wellness-centric products, functional beverage brands are turning to adaptogenic ingredients as part of innovative drink options. Space Tea is one such brand making waves across natural food stores nationwide through their partnership with The Vitamin Shoppe.

Organic, non-GMO and gluten-free company In 2021 they released their inaugural product: functional mushroom iced tea and lemonade beverages featuring Reishi and Lion’s Mane mushrooms to provide stress support, calm focus and mood-boosting properties.

Adaptogenic Mushrooms

Adaptogens have become increasingly popular due to their stress-reducing benefits. These fungi help balance hormones and support immunity; currently available as capsules, tea bags, powdered drinks or smoothies at your local health food store1.

Adaptogenic mushrooms differ significantly from psychoactive varieties (which may be illegal in some countries) by not producing any mental effects and being completely legal in all states. Furthermore, their versatility means they can be used in everything from stress-relief teas to soothing drinks for inflammation-related ailments.

Reishi and lion’s mane mushrooms are among the most frequently consumed adaptogenic supplements, yet there are others such as pearl powder (known in traditional Indian medicine Ayurved as Mukta Pishti) and cordyceps that may also help reduce inflammation, calm anxiety and restore hormonal equilibrium.2

Space Tea, a functional beverage featuring an innovative combination of iced tea and lemonade with non-psychoactive, adaptogenic reishi and lion’s maiden mushroom blends, comes in Original, Golden Mango and Summer Watermelon flavors and is gluten-free, non-GMO and kosher certified.

Each drink combines the goodness of reishi and lion’s mango with other superfood ingredients like rose hips, blackcurrant leaf and lemon peel for an invigorating experience without sugar or calories – perfect for anyone wanting a refreshing boost during their morning commute or on-the-go!

Space Tea can now be purchased both online and at Sprouts stores across the US, where it will find its way onto beverage aisles alongside health-promoting beverages like green juice. Each cup of Space Tea contains water-soluble nutrients easily absorbed by the body such as polysaccharide-K and polysaccharide-peptide; both have been shown to reduce stress levels while supporting immune health.

Gabriel and Isaac Heymann, brothers who co-founded the brand, are working to get their products into retail locations nationwide. Most recently they participated in Natural Products Expo West 2023 to showcase all six flavors — Original as well as lower sugar options of Golden Mango, Summer Watermelons and Lemon Zero Hibiscus Zero Matcha Zero — available.

Convenient Wellness Products

As consumers become more educated on the mental and physical benefits of functional mushrooms, they’re seeking them out in ready-to-drink beverages. The mushroom-infused beverage category is expanding both at convenience stores and organic grocery stores alike; for instance, Odyssey mushroom energy drink is now sold both at 7-Eleven locations as well as certain Wegmans Food Markets; its Mushroom Elixir contains ingredients like chaga for mood enhancement, cordyceps for mental focus support, reishi for stress relief as well as reishi for stress relief – ingredients which not only promote mental wellness but can support cognitive function as well as immune health as well.

Tea-based products offer a convenient way to incorporate mushrooms into daily routine, providing comforting cups of tea anywhere and any time. Brewing process also serves as an opportunity to practice self-care and relaxation; it offers natural breaks from daily stresses. However, tea may not be appropriate for individuals with heat sensitivity as its beneficial compounds can degrade under high temperatures.

Space Tea is a functional beverage brand specializing in organic, non-GMO and gluten-free chaga-and lion’s mane mushroom-infused iced teas and lemonades certified organic by USDA organic certification, non-GMO status and gluten-free certification. Their Arnold Palmer style tea, Mango Watermelon flavors brewed from these mushrooms provide “uplifting energy, calm focus, mood-boosting properties and mental clarity”, according to their website. They also offer zero sugar line including lemon, hibiscus and matcha flavors.

Current distribution includes 390 Vitamin Shoppe locations and all 549 Sprouts stores by March’s end; additional national retailers including Kroger, Costco and Target may soon join this roster of distributors.

Space Tea’s strategy for expanding consumer reach includes social media engagement and partnerships with lifestyle influencers. Through celebrity yoga instructor and chef Danielle Bernstein’s participation, they’re running an Instagram giveaway encouraging participants to give the new elixirs a try!

Though functional mushrooms’ sudden surge of interest is great for the industry, brands must ensure they carefully develop and test their products before rolling them out into major retail stores. Functional ingredient products require considerable investment for development and testing purposes, making it more difficult for smaller brands to compete against larger rivals. In order to remain viable, small companies must ensure their products meet customer demand for reliable brands – this requires quality assurance processes from manufacturing processes all the way through delivery to delivery of quality services to clients.

Adaptogenic Beverages

Adaptogens are botanical ingredients that assist the body and mind to respond to stress and fatigue in non-toxic doses, including reduced cortisol levels to manage stress or increased cortisol levels to combat fatigue. They can also restore homeostasis by stabilizing blood sugar and hormone levels; adaptogens have become popular in various products including supplements, capsules and beverages; recently trending adaptogenic drinks are an example of holistic wellness with their use of herbs and mushrooms that provide relaxation, stress relief and immune support being found at trendy bars or cozy cafes!

Adaptogenic beverages have seen increasing popularity due to health and wellness trends, the growing interest of organic and functional food consumers, as well as younger generation’s increased curiosity in alternative remedies and supplements. Randy Kreienbrink of Fort Wayne-based Artemis International says the North American market is especially suitable for such beverages; with a larger population being more aware of new health trends and willing to spend money on them than other regions.

Space Tea has taken full advantage of this market by developing functional mushroom beverages that can be enjoyed both hot and cold, such as their signature Reishi and Lion’s Mane teas and beverages that contain non-psychoactive, functional Reishi and Lion’s Mane mushrooms, for uplifting energy, calm focus, mood boosting properties and mental clarity. Most recently they unveiled Blueberry BOOST, their newest functional mushroom beverage which blends yerba mate plus 108 mg of caffeine with other signature ingredients to provide an enhanced energy boost without creating jitters.

Peak and Valley, Four Sigmatic, Sunwink and Wylde One all offer adaptogenic beverages as part of their product offerings. Their drink mixes, elixirs, lattes and lattes feature mushrooms with other superfoods in various combinations to provide deliciously flavorful drinks that may boost mood while offering stress relief or digestive support – it is important to know which experience you desire from an adaptogenic drink so that you can select the ideal product.

Adaptogenic Foods and Drinks

Adaptogens have quickly become a hot wellness trend within the beverage industry. Lauded for their ability to enhance focus, boost vitality and improve sleep quality, adaptogenic foods and beverages are an ideal way to begin the path toward better health.

For those who prefer more natural ways of managing stress, there are adaptogenic-infused drinks on the market made with herbs, mushrooms and other natural ingredients which may help ease levels of anxiety and promote mental clarity. REBBL, for instance, offers vegan, gluten-free teas infused with adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha, maca and schisandra to promote energy levels and immune support.

Space Tea, one of their signature products, contains non-psychoactive functional Reishi and Lion’s Mane mushrooms to provide non-psychoactive energy, focus, mood-boosting benefits, and mental clarity. Recently, they also launched Blueberry BOOST as their high-caffeine option with 108 mg of caffeine per bottle.

As the Covid pandemic has spread, consumers have become even more health-conscious and are seeking ways to bolster their immunity and manage stress. Many are turning to herbal tea and other naturally-infused beverages as ways to achieve these aims; such beverages offer similar adaptogenic effects as supplements while being easily accessible at stores.

As more people incorporate adaptogenic ingredients into their daily lives, the demand for adaptogenic-infused beverages continues to expand. Companies that can create innovative adaptogenic drinks that capitalize on this rising trend and make a name for themselves in the beverage industry by offering unique flavors or targeting specific demographics can increase their chances of success; such as using acidic ingredients such as lemon in Space Tea to counteract some cannabis supplement’s drying effects can make an impactful statement about themselves and build their success story.