IS REISHI MUSHROOM COFFEE GOOD FOR YOU? BENEFITS, RECIPES & RISKS

If you have walked by the wellness aisle lately or scrolled through social media health influencers, then you have probably seen reishi mushroom coffee trending. This product combines the proven kick of coffee with the centuries-old strengths of reishi fungi, otherwise known as the "mushroom of immortality" in traditional Chinese medicine.

But beyond the hype, the question that comes to everyone’s mind is: Is reishi mushroom coffee healthy? In this article, let’s find the answer to this question.

 

What Is Reishi Mushroom Coffee?

Coffee with reishi powder mixed in. That's all it is. You get regular coffee, but with something added that people have been using in medicine for thousands of years.

• Where it comes from: Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) has been used in China and Japan for over 2,000 years. They thought it helped people live longer and stay healthy.

• How to buy it: You can get instant packets. Ground coffee with reishi already mixed. Or just buy the powder and throw it in whatever you're drinking. Brands sell it all in different ways.

• How it tastes: Won't taste like mushrooms. It's earthy and bitter. Coffee's earthy and bitter, too. So they go together fine.

Some places sell it as hot chocolate or tea instead if you don't want full caffeine.

Nutritional Profile of Reishi Mushrooms

Beyond all the alternative medicine hype, reishi mushrooms actually have some solid nutrition going on. Here's what's in these fungi:

6 Health Benefits of Reishi Mushroom Coffee

If you're looking for something different from your regular cup of coffee, reishi mushroom coffee might be worth trying. Here's what it can do for you:

1. Better Sleep and Recovery

Afternoon coffee keeps you up all night. Reishi coffee is different; it's got a fraction of the caffeine. You can actually drink it after work without lying awake at midnight staring at the ceiling.

 

Reishi works with your body's natural sleep cycle. It doesn't fight against your system like regular caffeine does. The result? No more jitters. No more than the wired, anxious buzz you get from normal coffee. You still get the ritual of drinking coffee, but without the crash and the insomnia.

 

If you've always been that person who can't handle caffeine well, this actually lets you keep your coffee habit. You're not cutting it out completely. You're just getting all the good parts without the side effects that mess up your sleep.

2. Helps You Handle Stress Better

Reishi has been in Chinese medicine forever because it actually calms you down. When you're stressed, your cortisol goes haywire. Reishi keeps it from spiking as hard when life gets messy.

 

Drink it daily for a couple of weeks and you'll notice the difference. Your shoulders aren't as tight. Those stress headaches that used to hit every afternoon? They slow down. You don't lose your temper as quickly over dumb stuff.

 

The real shift is how you respond to things. Work gets crazy, and instead of your whole body clenching up, you just handle it. Your mind stays clearer. You're not in that constant state of bracing yourself for the next problem. Everything feels like it's got more space to breathe.

3. Steady Energy Without the Crash

You know how regular coffee gives you that big energy boost, and then you crash hard? Reishi coffee doesn't do that. Your energy stays more level throughout the day. No jitters either. Really helpful when you've got a long workday and need to stay sharp without the ups and downs.

 

4. Boosts Your Immune System

Reishi has stuff in it called polysaccharides and beta-glucans that work with your immune system. Basically helps your body do what it's supposed to do to keep you healthy. Good to have in your corner, especially during cold and flu season.

5. Good for Your Heart

Reishi can help keep your blood pressure and cholesterol where they should be. Obviously, you still need to exercise and eat right, but adding this to your routine is another way to take care of your heart.

6. Keeps Your Mood More Stable

The adaptogenic stuff in reishi doesn't just help with physical stress; it helps with your mood, too. It works with the chemicals in your brain that affect how you feel. People who use it regularly say they feel more balanced emotionally and less anxious overall. Just helps you feel better day-to-day.

Risks and Side Effects You Should Know

Reishi coffee's pretty safe for most people, but not everybody should drink it. Here's the deal:

• Digestive issues: Some people feel sick to their stomach, get dry mouth, or just feel off after having it.

• Medication interactions: Taking blood thinners or BP meds? Reishi can screw with those. Seriously, ask your doctor first.

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: We don't really know enough about it yet, so pregnant or nursing moms should probably just avoid it.

• Moderation matters: You can have too much of anything, including this. Don't go overboard.

On any medications, or got chronic health stuff going on? Yeah, talk to your doctor before you make this a regular thing.

Reishi Mushroom Coffee Compared to Other Reishi Beverages

If you are perplexed about choosing the right one with reishi mushroom coffee, it will be useful to realize that reishi is available in various types of beverage preparation. They vary in their benefits, flavor, as well as best time of intake.

Reishi Mushroom Hot Chocolate

Reishi mushroom hot chocolate is creamier and actually a richer rival to coffee. The blend of reishi and cacao creates a rich, smooth flavor that is comforting and satisfying. As it is quite less caffeinated, which makes the ideal option for anyone who prefers to opt for a lighter brew during the evenings.

This variety of reishi is also ideal for individuals who experience too much acidity or stimulation from coffee. They can use it as a nightly ritual since cacao balances the calming effect of reishi to allow stress release as much as deeper sleep. As a health beverage that is a treat to the senses yet a relaxation friend, reishi hot chocolate is a wonderful product.

Reishi Mushroom Tea or Simple Drinks

For the traditionalist, reishi mushroom tea remains one of the earliest and most uncomplicated ways to take it. Traditionally, reishi in Chinese medicine had been simmered with other herbs in hot water to produce a health tonic.

The reishi tea is slightly earthy in flavour but mild, soothing, and grounding to the tastes of some people. Because it is not as dense as coffee or hot chocolate, it can allow one to experience reishi in the purest form possible. Herbs like ginger, cinnamon, or liquorice root can be introduced to enhance the flavour as well as the healing properties.

Tea-style drinks are caffeine-free, therefore becoming the ideal choice for anyone looking to integrate reishi into their day-to-day lives without the stimulating effect of coffee.

Recommended reading: The Best Therapeutic Mushrooms For A Stronger Mind And Body

How to Make Reishi Mushroom Coffee at Home

Making Reishi Coffee at Home

What You Need

Getting started with reishi coffee is pretty simple. Just grab your usual coffee and some reishi powder.

How to Make It

First, make your coffee like you normally would; it doesn't matter if it's regular or decaf. Then stir in somewhere between half a teaspoon and a full teaspoon of reishi powder. 

 

Start with less if you've never had it before. The taste is kind of woody and bitter, so it takes a minute to get used to.

Ways to Improve the Taste

There's a bunch of stuff you can throw in to make it better. Milk helps a lot with the bitterness - use whatever kind you have around. Almond milk, oat milk, regular milk, whatever.

Honey works if you need some sweetness. Or here's a good one: add cacao powder. Makes it taste like hot chocolate mixed with coffee, which honestly covers up the mushroom flavor pretty well.

 

You can also add other healthy stuff like collagen or protein powder if that's your thing. Some people put ashwagandha in there, too, for stress relief.

 

If you want to get a little fancy with it, use a milk frother before you pour the milk in. Makes it all smooth and foamy like you'd get at a coffee shop.

Conclusion

Reishi mushroom coffee is a combination of modern coffee culture and ancient herbalism. For a lot of people, it’s a more manageable side to regular coffee: energy with less jitters and some health benefits to boot.

It’s no miracle cure, but if you’re intrigued by functional wellness, well worth checking out. As a wake-up coffee, A soothing hot chocolate, or even an alcohol free evening drink.

Ready to explore? Have a look at Craft Club’s selection of mushroom wellness products and guides to discover more about functional mushrooms and how you can easily add them to your daily life.