Thinking about cooking lion’s mane mushroom? Maybe you’ve heard of some of the health-supporting benefits of lion’s mane and want to find some tasty ways to add them to your diet. Or perhaps you want to branch out from your standard portobello and button varieties and try your hand at a different gourmet mushroom. Whatever the reason, you’re in the right place to learn how to make the most of cooking this versatile, delicious mushroom.
Along with a couple of simple recipes, we’ll cover where to buy lion’s mane and how to clean, store and prepare it. We’ll also briefly review some of the fascinating ways this mushroom can support your health. Read on to learn everything you need to know to begin cooking lion’s mane mushroom.
What’s in this article:
Lion’s Mane (Hericium Erinaceus) is a common mushroom found throughout the Northern United States and Canada. They’re often found growing on dead and decaying trees, as well as birch, beech, elm, and oak trees.
The lion’s mane mushroom gets its name from its shaggy, mane-like appearance. They are large, white, and covered with hair-like structures called teeth that hang down around the mushroom. Its fuzzy appearance is also what earned it the nickname the bearded hedgehog mushroom and the pom-pom mushroom.
This unique mushroom is used all over the world for culinary purposes and for its health-supporting properties. It’s a versatile mushroom and can be enjoyed raw, cooked, dried, or steeped as a tea. Lion’s mane extracts are often used in supplements for health support.
Most of us would like to receive more health benefits from our food, which is one advantage of cooking with lion’s mane mushrooms (another is that they’re delicious!). From brain health to gut health, to being possibly one of the best mushrooms for anxiety, there are a lot of reasons to eat more lion’s mane.
Lion’s mane mushroom has a long history of use in Asian medicine. In Chinese and Japanese medicine, it has traditionally been used to support spleen and gut health. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners employ this mushroom to promote good digestion, vigor, and strength (1).
Modern research suggests that lion’s mane mushrooms may be able to support your health in a variety of different ways. One of the most exciting discoveries made about them is their potential to support brain health.
Lion’s mane mushrooms contain two unique compounds that may be able to protect the neurons and nerves in our bodies. These compounds are called hericenones and erinacines. Studies show that these compounds may be able to protect the brain from cognitive decline associated with aging (2).
Studies show that lion’s mane can increase the production of nerve growth factor (NGF), a compound that maintains neural health in our brains (3). This compound is linked to supporting the growth of nerve tissue and nerve function as shown in animal studies (2).
Research suggests that this mighty mushroom may be able to support brain health in other ways including:
Lion’s mane may be one of the best mushrooms for anxiety. In a clinical trial, lion’s mane mushroom was able to decrease feelings of anxiety, irritation, and frustration (6).
Lion's mane could support your health in other areas of your body as well. For instance, it can promote a healthy immune response. Studies show that it can do this by regulating bacteria in the gut and intestines (7). Animal studies show that these mushrooms can support immune system strength by regulating intestinal mucosal activity (8).
Cooking with lion’s mane mushrooms is also a fantastic way to get more nutrients in your diet. Mushroom proteins contain all the essential amino acids your body needs to stay healthy. Amino acids are the building blocks of each individual cell, and finding complete sources of all essential amino acids is required to give your body the fuel it needs to function.
Together with the low-fat content and high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, these nutritional properties add to the significant health value of lion’s mane mushrooms. When reliable extraction methods are used, lion’s mane extract can be used as a supplement to more easily tap into some of the desirable health benefits mentioned above (9).
If you’ve never tasted lion's mane mushrooms before, you’re in for a treat. When it’s cooked it’s juicy, delicate, tender, and meaty. The taste of lion’s mane mushrooms is best described as seafood-like and it’s often compared to crab, lobster, and other shellfish. This is why it’s often used as a vegetarian substitute in seafood dishes.
You can purchase lion’s mane mushrooms fresh, dried, or as a powder. Each format is useful for different culinary purposes.
For instance, fresh and dried lion’s mushrooms may be better for frying and grilling, whereas powders may be better for broths, baking, and drink mixes.
Mushrooms are very absorbent which is great when it comes to marinades and sauces, but not so great when it comes to pesticides. That’s why it’s best to purchase organic lion’s mane mushrooms.
If you’re on the hunt for fresh or dried lion’s mane mushrooms, the first place to look would be your local health-food or farmer's market. They are sometimes sold at Asian markets as well, just make sure they were grown organically.
If you’re not having any luck finding them in your area, you can try ordering them online or growing your own. You can use a quick Google search to find fresh and dried lion’s mane and lion’s mane grow kits.
Organic mushroom powders can be found in some health food stores and easily online. However, if you are buying mushroom powders to support your health, it’s important to make sure you are buying the highest quality product. Check out our 4-point buying guide for Lion’s Mane powder extracts to learn how to spot a quality mushroom product.
When cooking lion’s mane mushroom, fresh is best. But, you don’t want any extras to go bad before you can enjoy them. If you’re not planning on eating them right away, you’ll need to store them properly.
If you plan on eating your fresh lion’s mane mushrooms within a few days, storing them in your refrigerator is fine. Store them in a roomy paper bag so that they can breathe. Keep them away from water and other liquids to prevent mold from developing.
As they age, lion’s mane mushrooms will begin to turn yellow. You can cut off any yellow parts to preserve their flavor. If they turn orange, feel soft or slimy, or show signs of rot, it’s time to throw them out.
With proper storage, fresh lion’s mane can last for about a week in the fridge. If you’re not planning on using them that soon, you’ll need to consider other storage options.
One option is to dry them, but first, you’ll need to clean excess dirt off them. You can do this by rinsing them off with water, or by using a mushroom brush to gently sweep off any particles. If you rinse them in water, let them sit in the sun for a couple of hours so excess water can evaporate.
Once your mushrooms are clean, you can dehydrate them in an oven or a food dehydrator. Using a shape knife, cut the lion’s mane from top to bottom about a quarter of an inch thick. Then place them on dehydrator trays or parchment-lined baking trays in a single layer so the slices don’t touch each other.
If you’re using a dehydrator, set the temperature to 135 degrees for four to six hours. You can dehydrate the mushrooms at a lower temperature for a longer period of time if you want your pieces to be less firm and more delicate. If you’re using an oven, set it to the lowest temperature and let the lion’s mane dry for two to four hours.
When you can easily snap the mushrooms between your fingers, they’re ready. Let them cool and place them in canning jars or storage bags. You’ll want to make sure the containers you store them in are air-tight to reduce the risk of them going bad. With proper storage, dried lion’s mane mushrooms can last indefinitely.
Another option is to freeze your lion’s mane mushrooms. Because of their high water content, it’s best to sauté them before freezing. Cook them as you normally would, or use our sauteed lion’s mane recipe below, and then let them cool. When ready, put them in an airtight freezer bag or a vacuum-sealed bag to prevent freezer burn, and store them in your freezer for up to a year.
Cooking lion’s mane mushrooms is as easy as it is delicious. The best way to cook lion’s mane mushrooms is to sauté or roast them. Once they’re cooked, you can eat them in a sandwich, stir-fry, or on their own.
Sauteeing or roasting is a great place to start if you’ve never cooked lion’s mane mushrooms before. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you could try making your own lion’s mane “crab” cakes with them, or using them in a vegan lobster roll.
Before you cook your lion’s mane mushrooms, you’ll need to prep them. Rinse them in water or use a mushroom brush to remove any excess dirt. If you rinse them, set them out to dry for a couple of hours, preferably in sunlight so the extra water evaporates.
The bottom of the mushroom is likely dirty and maybe a little tough. You’ll want to cut that piece off and any other dirty or yellowing spots.
Depending on the dish you’re using your mushrooms in, you can either cut them into slices or shred them into pieces.
If slicing, use a chef's knife to cut the mushroom in half from top to bottom. From there, you can cut it into half-inch segments for a thicker slice, or quarter-inch segments for a crispier slice. If shredding, you can simply use your hands to pull the mushroom apart into bite-sized pieces. Just like with slicing, the smaller you shred the mushroom, the crispier it will be.
Sauteing is an easy and quick way to prepare lion’s mane mushrooms. Here is a simple and tasty recipe for sauteing mushrooms.
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Directions:
Roasting is a decadent way to cook lion’s mane mushrooms without having to do a ton of prep work. Try this method to impress your friends and family at your next dinner party.
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Directions:
We’ve assembled a collection of 7 more delicious meals that you can make using this mushroom in our article Lion’s Mane Recipes: 7 Creations Using This Unique Mushroom.
We've also combined the addictive flavors and textures of avocado toast with this brain-boosting mushroom in our Lion’s Mane Mushroom Avocado Toast Recipe. Give is a try for yourself!
We hope you have fun trying these tasty lion’s mane recipes! We’d love to hear how they worked for you, share you’re mushroom dishes in our Facebook Group or on Instagram, and don’t forget to tag @Real_Mushrooms.
A healthy twist on a breakfast staple! These low-carb, buttery, paleo biscuits will have your taste buds dancing and your energy soaring thanks to the wholesome ingredients and the secret punch of cordyceps extract powder.
Break out the jam, the gravy, and your taste buds because this is one of those recipes where you can have your biscuit and eat it too. Not only are these biscuits paleo-friendly and autoimmune-friendly, but they’re ramped up a notch or two with cordyceps mushroom extract! Unlike caffeine, this energizing mushroom is not a stimulant, so you’ll get the energy benefits without the downsides. Plus, the cordyceps extract lends a gorgeous golden color to the recipe. That’s a win-win in our books!
Forget the highly processed, blood-sugar spiking bleached white flour and bring in the almond flour. This low-carb alternative, mixed with the healthy fat coming from the ghee, makes these paleo biscuits a great staple for those wanting an energizing, blood-sugar-stabilizing, healthy substitute for white bread.
The energizing ingredients don’t stop there though: enter cordyceps. The health benefits of cordyceps range from improving exercise stamina, libido, supporting a healthy inflammatory response, testosterone levels, heart health, and maintaining blood sugar balance.
To learn more about this amazing ingredient and the two different varieties, read our article: Cordyceps Mushrooms: Supplement Types & Health Benefits.
We all love a tasty, healthy, easy recipe, and these paleo biscuits fit right into that category.
While making the biscuit dough it’s important not to over-mix the batter. Over-mixing can lead to biscuits that are tough, gummy, or unpleasantly chewy.
To make these paleo biscuits into a complete meal, whip up some eggs or serve with ramen or butternut squash soup.
Truthfully, there are countless ways to enjoy these paleo biscuits: alongside a hearty meal, with a smear of butter, a dollop of jelly, drizzled with olive oil and herbs, or doused in gravy - the list goes on. They also make a great stand-alone snack while on the go and could even serve folks who follow a low-carb, high-fat diet.
Scroll on down for the directions to get these paleo biscuits whipped up ASAP! You won’t be disappointed.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6 large biscuits
That’s it - simple and easy! The hardest part is waiting for these paleo biscuits to cook and cool while smelling that delicious, buttery aroma.
Enjoy in Good Health: Take a pass on the energy-depleting, processed white bread and easily whip up these energy-giving paleo biscuits instead. You get all of the same delicious, buttery taste, but also reap the rewards of having the energy to do the things you love.
Don’t pass on enjoying meals with loved ones, though. Nourishing meals, community, and doing activities that light you up are all foundational aspects of a healthy, joy-filled life. So run to the kitchen and grab the almond flour and Real Mushrooms Cordyceps to try these delicious, paleo biscuits. They’re perfect for one, and even more fun to share!
For more delicious recipes that use our energy-enhancing cordyceps extract, go to our recipe roundup: 5 Ridiculously Delicious Cordyceps Mushroom Recipes.
Despite their sterling reputation as a potent medicinal mushroom, reishi mushrooms have far less prestige in the culinary world. They are rarely used as the star ingredient in dishes because reishi’s flavor is commonly described as an “earthy bitterness,” while the texture is chewy and rubbery. Overall, not exactly pleasing to the palette, so it’s no surprise that it isn’t stocked at your local grocery store. Not to worry, reishi mushroom powder to the rescue!
While some Chinese cuisine has managed to utilize the actual mushroom to some degree, it’s far more convenient (and tasty!) to use our reishi powder extract to boost delicious recipes.
Here are some convenient recipes from our collection that show off our Reishi 415 Organic Reishi Mushroom Powder.
Click the title of any of the recipes for the ingredients and instructions.
Imagine that when bedtime rolls around you experience no “tired & wired” or restlessness. You fall asleep easily and even get the good stuff- the deep REM sleep, where true healing lies, all without sleep aids. No sedating “drugs.” Our delicious golden milk recipe for nighttime uses reishi mushroom powder to help you nod off and get the restful sleep you need, while also supporting your immune system.
Reishi’s natural bitterness needs to find some balance somewhere. This bitterness plays perfectly with the sweetness of cacao in this delectable dessert recipe. The taste of reishi mushroom powder is very reminiscent of a highly concentrated dark chocolate, so including it in chocolate treats is a natural pairing.
Coconut fans are already familiar with the delicious Bounty chocolate bars. This recipe will help you make a healthier version that provides all the immune-boosting benefits of our reishi mushroom powder. A perfect snack to take with you on a hike!
Chia seeds are a nutritional superstar in their own right, and this recipe for a delicious pudding pairs them with both reishi and cordyceps extract powder for an amazing, nutritional dessert or snack. Flavored with raw cocoa and your choice of vanilla or peppermint extract, this pudding is not to be missed.
To help kick-start your immune system to support a healthy inflammation response, this elixir features our reishi mushroom powder along with a host of other beneficial ingredients. It’s an especially potent drink for the colder winter months.
If you want to keep it simple, you can add a ½ tsp of our Reishi 415 Organic Reishi Mushroom Powder to your favorite morning coffee or tea and adjust as needed.
The method you use to get your reishi mushroom benefits is totally up to you, but you may want to peruse our DIY mushroom coffee recipes for inspiration!
Read one of our other articles about reishi mushroom to learn about its incredibly diverse applications for health and wellness:
These 7 excellent Lion’s Mane recipes can help you elevate the fresh, dried, or powder versions of this health-supporting mushroom to new heights. Lion’s Mane mushrooms have been long sought after for their brain-supporting and immune system-boosting effects. They are also a satisfying substitute for meat and shellfish.
We will begin by giving you insight into Lion’s Mane mushrooms and why they’ve become so popular in the health and wellness space. Then we’ll cover how you can get your hands on the various forms of Lion’s Mane mushroom. And finally, we’ll present you with 7 mouth watering recipes to incorporate this functional mushroom into your diet.
Jump to our recipes section here.
Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) has a long history of being used as a brain-boosting edible mushroom. Chinese Buddhist monks used Lion’s Mane powder in their tea, claiming it helped them focus in their meditation and increase overall brain power (1). Modern science has set out to examine the validity of these claims and is finding promising results.
Compounds called hericenones and erinacines, when extracted and isolated from Lion’s Mane, have qualities that may protect neurons and nerves in our bodies. The unique neuroprotective effects of these Lion’s Mane compounds are speculated to shield the brain from normal mild cognitive decline associated with aging (2), help support healthy memory function and focus (3,4), and support a positive mood and relieve occasional stress (5,6,7,8).
Lion’s Mane mushroom is linked to multiple potential health benefits beyond the cognitive and neurological world. Traditional Chinese Medicine has promoted the use of Lion’s Mane for thousands of years as a tonic for everything from digestive health to enhancing general vitality (2).
Below are some of the additional ways Lions’ Mane could potentially improve your health, according to modern scientific studies:
For more details about how and why Lion’s Mane can support the health of the mind and body, read our article Lion’s Mane Mushroom Benefits: A Complete Supplement Guide.
Lion’s Mane mushrooms are often used as a meat substitute because of their dense texture. Due to the uber-absorbent nature of mushrooms, it can be marinated to give it just about any flavor profile, including a meaty one (see our Lion’s Mane steak recipe below). Additionally, it can be prepared to bring out its natural, delicate, seafood-like flavor. So, it is also ideal as a shellfish substitute (see our Lion’s Mane faux crab cake recipe below).
You can also benefit from the loaded nutritional profile of this delicious mushroom. It is very dense in protein and fiber, which also makes it an ideal meat substitute for vegans and vegetarians. The nutritional chart below shows you how Lion’s Mane stacks up against other high-protein foods.
There are three formats of Lion’s Mane mushroom that are available commercially: fresh, dry, and powder. Each has their unique advantages and will be suitable for different culinary uses. Below we will detail how to find quality Lion’s Mane and how to prepare each type for consumption.
Ideally, when buying fresh Lion’s Mane, you would only purchase organic. Mushrooms are very absorbent. As a result, they are extremely susceptible to absorbing pesticides or pollutants they may be exposed to. No amount of washing will rid the mushroom of chemicals it has absorbed. It’s therefore best to buy organic to help ensure you are ingesting only pure mushroom goodness.
Typically, organic and health-food markets will be the likeliest to carry fresh Lion’s Mane. Some farmer’s markets will have vendors that grow mushrooms and you might locate some Lion’s Mane there. You may also find fresh Lion’s Mane in Asian food markets, however they will not necessarily have been grown organically.
If you really want to experience fresh Lion’s Mane and you live in an area where it isn’t sold, you can consider growing your own! The process of growing Lion’s Mane has been made easy by companies selling all-in-one growing kits.
Store your fresh Lion’s Mane mushrooms in a single layer in a paper bag. Keep these in the refrigerator for up to a week, depending on the freshness when you purchased them. The mushrooms will begin to brown as they become less fresh.
Do not use a water bath or otherwise “wash” the fresh Lion’s Mane with water. It will absorb too much liquid. Instead, brush any dirt off your mushroom with a dry sponge or soft brush. Since you will be buying organic mushrooms, you do not need to worry about “washing” this furry fungi. Tear off any overly brown bits and you’re ready to cook!
See our 4 recipes for fresh Lion’s Mane mushrooms here.
If you cannot located quality, organic, dried Lion’s Mane in your local market you’re in luck! There are many online sellers of dried whole Lion’s Mane. A simple Google search will turn up several vendors. As we mentioned in the section about buying fresh Lion’s Mane, it is important to find an organic source to help ensure you aren’t going to potentially ingest unwanted chemicals or pollutants from this highly absorbent mushroom.
Dried Lion’s Mane mushrooms simply need to be re-hydrated for cooking purposes. Soak pieces of your Lion’s Mane in a bowl of water for about 30 minutes until they are plump. Use a strainer to remove your Lion’s Mane from the water, pat the pieces dry, and begin cooking! You can use the leftover soaking water as a mushroom broth.
Store dried Lion’s Mane away from heat and moisture (the enemies of your dried mushrooms). If you place them in an air tight container and store them in the freezer, they will keep well for between six months and a year.
Now, before getting into where to find Lion’s Mane powder, there is a distinction we need to make. There are two potential types of powders on the market:
This comes from the whole mushroom having been dried and ground down into a powder.
This comes from the whole Lion’s Mane and/or its mycelium (root system) having been soaked in hot water or alcohol (or both). The fibrous remains of the mushroom are discarded and the resulting liquid is evaporated. This process leaves behind a very concentrated powder where the medicinal compounds of the mushroom are retained.
You can find organic whole mushroom powder from online vendors relatively easily. However, there is a little more intentional selection necessary when buying a Lion’s Mane extract, especially if you want to use it for health-supporting purposes.
We have laid out a 4-point buying guide for Lion’s Mane mushroom powder extracts here. This guide will help to ensure you buy a Lion’s Mane powder extract that will actually deliver the helpful compounds you need for getting the health benefits from Lion’s Mane.
See our 3 delicious recipes using Lion’s Mane powder extracts here.
If you're a mushroom forager, you can try to find and pick lion's mane from the source. It grows in the northern United States and Canada on the dead, dying, or fallen hardwood like oak and beech. They can generally be found during cooler weather months, before frost sets in. In many areas where Lion’s Mane mushroom can be found, this means early-to-late fall, and for milder climates that could extend into December. There are no toxic lookalikes, so it is an easier mushroom to identify without risk of accidental poisoning.
The following recipes work with either fresh or dried Lion’s Mane mushrooms. However, if you are using dried mushrooms, simply soak them in water for 30 minutes and strain them before cooking. Pat them dry before pan-frying.
You can make this recipe to enjoy the Lion’s Mane mushroom barbequed on skewers with a mix of vegetables, or add them to pita bread with tzatziki sauce to make yourself a Lion’s Mane gyro. This recipe is indeed vegan-friendly, and if you want, use this vegan tzatziki recipe.
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Marinade:
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This awesome “faux crab” recipe really highlights the sweet, light, shellfish flavor of the Lion’s Mane. It can be made completely vegan if desired. While there are many variations of Lion’s Mane “crab” cake recipes, this one from Jamie at So Happy You Liked It really stands out. We’ve made one adjustment: we steamed the mushroom rather than baking it so it truly retains its moist, shellfish-like texture.
INGREDIENTS
For the “Crab” Cakes:
For the Greek Yogurt Remoulade:
DIRECTIONS
For the Greek Yogurt Remoulade:
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, whisking thoroughly to combine. Taste to the sauce, and adjust to your liking! Add more smoked paprika, salt, or perhaps even some mayo or a splash of lemon juice.
For the “Crab” Cakes:
Recipe Notes:
If you want to make these vegan, use a flax egg (1 tablespoon mixed with 3 tablespoons water) in place of 1 egg and use dairy free yogurt in the remoulade sauce. Note that I haven't tried the flax egg option - I would love to know your thoughts if you try it!
This recipe from master vegan “meat” wizard, Mark “Sauce Stache” Thompson, is about as delicious a steak reproduction you could come across using the dense, meaty Lion’s Mane.
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Marinade:
DIRECTIONS
As we mentioned in the section about the health benefits of Lion’s Mane, this mushroom has been used by cultures around the world for centuries. In the Chinese culture, for example, it was and still is commonly used in soup. We feel it’s important to include a soup recipe as a nod to the traditional heritage of this wonderful mushroom.
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DIRECTIONS
It is possible to find fresh Lion’s Mane at certain grocers or farmer’s markets, or to forage or grow it yourself. However, the easiest and most accessible way to benefit from the health-supporting effects of this mushroom is to take it as a supplement in capsule form or to add extract powder to your drinks and/or favorite recipes.
Here are some of the tastiest Lion’s Mane recipes our Real Mushrooms team has whipped up that makes use of our organic Lion’s Mane mushroom powder extract.
Recipes In This Section:
This delicious hot brew is a wonderful, stimulant-free, substitute for coffee to get your brain going for the day. It features the power of Lion’s Mane and Ashwagandha, another wonderful adaptogen to keep your body balanced and resilient to stress.
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DIRECTIONS
Find the original post here.
Three words: Cinnamon. Sugar. Donuts. Cue craving! We’ve all smelled the heavenly aroma of this magical combination. But we don’t usually associate those sights and smells with these three words: Healthy. Brain. Function. But, what if we told you all of those words can belong together, that you could have your donuts and your brain boost too? That’s where this baked Keto donut recipe comes in. These cinnamon “sugar” donut holes roll into play with their low-carb real food ingredients, healthy fats, and the secret ingredient known as the “Mushroom For the Mind.” It’s the sweetest of our Lion’s Mane recipes.
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Keto Donut:
Cinnamon “Sugar” Coating:
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Find the original post here.
Integrative nutritional health coach, Edith Agoston, developed this take on the classic bulletproof coffee recipe for the Real Mushrooms audience. This butter coffee recipe amps it up a notch by adding some extra special ingredients like cacao butter, collagen, maca root, and Lion’s Mane powder extract. The final result is this gorgeous, frothy cup of coffee that is sure to excite all the sights and senses.
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
Add everything to a blender and blend for roughly 10-20 seconds. It will come out nice and frothy as a result!
Find the original post here. You can use Lion's Mane powder extract in any of our 11 mushroom coffee recipes.
Once you’ve tried out any (or all!) of these Lion’s Mane recipes, please be sure to share the results and your impressions (and any of your tweaks) with our Facebook Group or Instagram.
ReferencesAmong the most highly revered medicinal mushrooms is chaga (Inonotus obliquus (Fr.) Pilát), though it’s not an actual mushroom! Chaga’s health benefits are numerous, and various Northern cultures boil this fungus for tea to keep well. But how do you make chaga tea?
You can certainly consume chaga as a tea, but there are other ways to enjoy the benefits of this remarkable fungus. This article will teach you how to make tea from chaga AND will also include 11 other recipes that you can make to take advantage of the earthy quality of chaga.
In this article:
Although most people will refer to it as “chaga mushroom,” chaga is NOT a mushroom.
What we call chaga is the common name for a sterile conk or canker that forms after a hardwood tree (usually birch) has been infected by the parasitic fungus Inonotus obliquus (or I. obliquus).’
This dark conk consists primarily of wood lignans and mycelium (the fibers that can be thought of as the fungal root structure). Chaga can be considered a sclerotium: a compact mass of hardened fungal mycelium.
Chaga mushroom benefits have been touted by a variety of cultures. Outside of Russia, folk and traditional medicine practitioners in Indigenous cultures, Poland, the Baltics, Finland, China, Korea, and Japan have used chaga extracts to:
The Woodland Cree of Canada call the fungus Wesakechak omikih — i.e. Wesakechak’s scab. According to a Cree legend, Wesakechak is a mythological figure who “threw a scab, which he had mistaken for dried meat and tried to eat, against a birch tree. To this day, it remains on the tree to benefit mankind.” Outside of medical uses, the Cree use chaga in agriculture and animal breeding, as incense, and as tinder for starting fires (1).
For information about the modern uses of chaga and the research supporting its health benefits, read our article, Chaga Mushroom Benefits: A Science, Health, & Supplement Guide.
Chaga has traditionally been consumed as tea in Finland, Russia, and other countries. Raw chaga chunks can be soaked in hot water, which acts as an extraction agent for all the nutrients from the chitinous interior of chaga.
The most accessible way to make chaga tea is by using a high-quality pure chaga extract like the Real Mushrooms Chaga Extract powder. The hot water extraction method used for our chaga products ensures a higher concentration of the beneficial bioactive compounds than the traditional method. It is also more economical — the amount of chaga powder needed to make the tea is much smaller than using actual chaga chunks.
If you live in a Northern part of the world where chaga grows naturally, you have the opportunity to harvest this fungi to make homemade chaga tea.
Chaga preparation: Break up some of the chaga into chunks with a hammer so you have pieces that are approximately 1 inch by 1 inch in size. You will get more out of your chaga the smaller and finer the pieces you can break it down into.
Water temperature: Simmer your water to between 140 F and 160 F, which is under boiling temperature. Boiling water can destroy the antioxidants in chaga, so should be avoided.
Water to chaga ratio: Use approximately 1 cup of water for every 1 inch x 1 inch chunk of chaga.
Steeping: Add the chaga to your water in a pot and bring it to a simmer. Simmer for a minimum of 15 minutes, and up to 1 hour. The longer you brew your tea, the stronger it will be. You can re-use your chaga chunks at least one more time for another tea brewing session.
Chaga tinctures are made by soaking chaga in alcohol — essentially, they are chaga-infused alcohol. Tinctures are a great way to make extracts at home but are not a replacement for a high-quality extract powder. Tinctures are primarily alcohol while extract powders are pure mushroom.
The process of making chaga tinctures is long and takes equipment that may not be readily available. Also, as alcohol can enter the bloodstream very quickly, children and some adults may not tolerate it even at small doses.
We recommend that individuals taking medications seek the advice of a medical professional before consuming alcohol-based tinctures.
Feeling creative in the kitchen and looking for other ways to get your chaga mushroom benefits? Try some of the delicious recipes that customers and health practitioners have created using Real Mushrooms Organic Siberian Chaga Extract Powder or Capsules:
Dalgona Mushroom Coffee (Vegan/Paleo-friendly!
Tahini Adaptogen Latte with Chaga
Acai Bowl Recipe with Immune-Supporting Mushrooms
Chaga Cacao Mocha Lava Smoothie Bowl
Chili-Out Chaga Chocolate Bark
Chocolate Dream Chaga Brownies
To begin experiencing the potent health benefits that chaga can bring to your life, try one of our recipes and let us know in our Facebook Group or tag us on Instagram if you find yourself falling in love with this special medicinal fungi!
For those who like their healthy mushrooms chocolate-flavored, these next 3 recipes for mushroom hot chocolate will surely hit the spot.
Luckily, we’ve done most of the heavy lifting so that you can quickly and easily enjoy a brew of hot chocolate with the power of mushroom extracts. This delight will give your winter body the cozy but healthy boost it needs. Our Mushroom Hot Chocolate Mix with 5 Defenders is a blend of premium organic ingredients with 5 of the best immune-supporting mushroom powder extracts.
The ingredients in this pre-made blend are as follows:
If you’re wondering what’s so special about the mushroom extracts in this mix and how they can help support your body and mind’s wellbeing, we recommend reading our article 7 Medicinal Mushrooms and Their Health Benefits.
We GUARANTEE that this hot chocolate mix is superb when made simply with hot water or your favorite milk or milk substitute.
HOWEVER, we like to get creative with our mushroom drinks, so here is some additional inspiration for how you can level-up this already delicious but healthy treat.
Now onto the mushroom hot chocolate recipes!
1. PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE EGGNOG LATTE
2. GINGER, CINNAMON HOT CHOCOLATE
3. BAILEYS HOT CHOCOLATE
Watch the video below for a quick capture of our Baileys Hot Chocolate recipe. Be sure to tag us in any shots you take of your own delicious brew-making!
By Mason Bresett, Chief Science Advisor and Naturopathic Doctor
Real Mushroom’s Chief Science Advisor and Naturopathic Doctor, Mason Bresett, assures us that while it may take a little courage to down a shot of this fire cider, the health benefits are well worth it.
In the video below, Mason explains why the ingredients are helpful for supporting the immune system and digestion and for keeping the body’s inflammation balanced as part of a fall and winter health plan:
Store the liquid in the fridge and have a 1-ounce shot when you think of it — a dose of immune-supporting cleansing fire cider. Keep in mind this might be intense on an empty stomach.
A rich, creamy, and fudgey summer treat, packed with immune-boosting medicinal mushroom extracts! This healthy fudgesicle recipe not only beats the heat on those hot, sun-filled days, but it also works to keep those sniffles and summer colds away so you can play while feeling your very best!
Whether it was swimming in the pool, kicking the ball around, climbing all the trees, or just soaking up every minute of play and laughter in the sun, most of our summer memories are punctuated with that distinct, tantalizing tune. That music could only mean one thing: ice cream truck time. Run!
It’s true, hot summer days and cold creamy treats are just the best kinds of duo. And we would like to add that mushrooms make the perfect third addition to the party too.
So we bring you all the rich, creamy, fudgey goodness, without all the unhealthy and unnecessary processed ingredients. We bring you childhood nostalgia on a stick and a delicious way to get some immune system-boosting Turkey Tail, Reishi, Maitake, Shiitake, and Chaga mushroom extracts into your diet. We bring you this healthy fudgesicle recipe!
So cue that ice cream music and run to the kitchen. It’s time to make these easy and healthy treats!
The good news is, these creamy, dreamy treats can be whipped up in mere minutes with just four main, plant-based ingredients. Forget the dairy and all the ingredients you can’t pronounce, and pick up the:
You can easily make these treats in less time than it took you to grab the money, run to the ice cream truck, and wait in line. That’s right, this healthy fudgesicle recipe requires a mere 5-10 minutes of your time in the kitchen. You simply just scoop out the avocado flesh into the blender and add the rest of the ingredients; then blend, pour, and freeze. That’s it!
Now onto the recipe!
Tools Needed:
Ingredients:
Directions:
* Store any uneaten fudgesicles in an airtight container in the freezer.
Don’t let your taste buds be the only part of you that is reliving your childhood! Get outside, soak up the sun, and enjoy some fudgesicles. All that Vitamin D mixed with the power of the Real Mushrooms 5 Defenders Chocolate Mix will have your immune system smiling. And all the fun and laughter will have your spirits lifted and your face smiling too. That’s what we call a win, win.
If you don’t want to use 5 defenders hot chocolate mix, you can easily substitute with cacao powder; just make sure to add your favorite sweetener and perhaps try a single mushroom powder extract. There are wonderful options, each with its own unique profile and benefits. To learn more, you can read our article which highlights the top 7 benefits of the main medicinal mushrooms. These different mushroom extracts can easily be added to whatever you’re cooking up in the kitchen.
Join the mushroom recipe challenge! Get creative in the kitchen with different ways to get more mushrooms in your diet. Invent your own recipe and share via insta @realmushrooms. We will feature the winner’s recipe on the blog & give you a coupon for any Real Mushroom product of your choice!
A hearty, healthy, and easy gluten-free ramen - packed with veggies and functional fungi to keep your immune system in tip-top shape, your taste buds happy, and your heart warmed. PLUS it’s paleo and vegan too!
It’s a hallmark food of every college dorm. It’s pure comfort food at its convenient finest. And it just seems to always hit the soul-warming spot. That’s right, it’s none other than Ramen.
And while that 99-cent packaged version may bring back all the memories, a much healthier version takes very little additional effort.
On that note, we bring you this recipe for gluten-free ramen, bursting with nutritional mushrooms. Think all of the same delicious complex flavors, easy-to-make nature, but with much better ingredients; ingredients like vegetables, broth, and Lion’s Mane mushroom extract.
The great thing about this recipe is the homemade flavoring you get out of minimal ingredients and minimal time. Sure, it’s not quite as easy as opening up a tin foil packet that you find in the 99-cent version, but with just a little more effort, you exchange all that sodium and fake ingredients for real, good-for you ones.
That’s the kind of exchange we like. This is why there’s ZERO added starch, fillers, or fake ingredients in our 100% real organic mushroom extracts.
For this easy gluten-free ramen, we double up on the mushroom love by combining two of our favorites: fresh shiitake and Lion’s Mane mushroom extract powder. Why do we love them so much? Lion’s Mane is known as the mushroom for the mind, and for good reason. It helps to protect your brain, making this soup not only good for your soul, but your cognition too! Shiitake adds a hefty dose of delicious flavor to the recipe, while also lending support to the functions of your immune system, cardiovascular system, and liver.
The rest of the real ingredients in this easy gluten-free ramen combine to form that distinct flavor that we all love so much. The chickpea miso keeps this recipe vegan while still giving the broth that celebrated umami flavor. The veggies add that note of freshness, and the spiralized zucchini replaces the fried noodles, keeping this recipe light, hearty, and healthy.
Gluten-Free Ingredient Substitutions:Besides being gluten-free, paleo, and vegan, another bonus about this homemade ramen is the ease with which you can customize it to your preferences. Below are some possible variations and substitutions.
Zucchini noodles: These keep this recipe light, healthy, and gluten-free. Keeping on that same note, you can also use sweet potato noodles. If you’re looking for something a bit heartier, there are ramen noodles made of rice, buckwheat, and millet that would make a great option.
Bok Choy: You can easily replace this with spinach or cabbage.
Veggies: Here’s where the options are really endless. For example, for some extra crunch, you can add some chopped celery. Have fun, get creative, and add your favorites! A fresh knob of ginger would meld beautifully into the mix.
This recipe couldn’t be simpler to throw together. Well, it could be if you buy packaged spiralized zucchini noodles at your local health food store. That would just leave:
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 2-3
Enjoy in Good Health:There’s just something so comforting about enjoying a bowl of ramen. It somehow seems to feed the soul. And our easy gluten-free ramen feeds not only your soul, but your mind and body too thanks to the addition of Lion’s Mane and fresh, good-for-you ingredients.
Besides food, there are lots of other ways to nourish the soul, mind, and body. Detoxing from technology, making time to do some things that bring you joy, trying a new hobby or learning something new - these are just a few possibilities.
What’s your favorite way to feed your soul, mind, and body? We hope making and enjoying this comforting easy gluten-free ramen makes it on the list!
There’s so many different culinary combinations you can create with mushrooms! For this recipe, you don’t have to use Lion’s Mane — you can easily substitute with your own favorite mushroom extract. Each has their own unique profiles and benefits. To learn more, you can read our article which highlights the top 7 benefits of the main medicinal mushrooms. These different mushroom extracts can easily be added to whatever you’re cooking up in the kitchen.
Join the mushroom recipe challenge! Get creative in the kitchen with different ways to get more mushrooms in your diet. Invent your own recipe and share via insta @realmushrooms. We will feature the winner’s recipe on the blog & give you a coupon for any Real Mushroom product of your choice!
Spring is the ultimate time for targeted detoxification. A spring cleanse in 2022 may be more necessary than other years due to the pandemic and its impact on health routines and an increase in stress.
The word detoxification means to remove a harmful substance. These harmful substances can come from our environment (think diet, chemicals, pollution) or from internal processes in our body (bacterial by-products from poor or incomplete digestion). There are popular detox or cleanses out there that involve celery or juice fasting, and restricting calories. But these trends can sometimes leave some people confused and worse off than before.
A common thread of all these detox programs is they eliminate processed foods. There are some benefits to fasting, but consistent under-eating may decrease the number of minerals, amino acids, and co-factors you actually need for proper detoxification. Fasting as a dietary habit may actually impact thyroid, insulin, and cortisol function as well.
Firstly, think of detox as a daily or long-term strategy rather than a miserable two weeks of using laxative teas. However, a short, focused set of strategies can help kickstart healthier habits throughout the year.
The following article will outline 9 focus areas to understand and incorporate into your spring cleanse protocol so that you can achieve functional and healthful detoxification. You will also learn which mushroom extracts you can incorporate to support each of these 9 detox focus areas.
A) Spring Cleanse Your 6 Detox Organs
B) Spring Cleanse Your Nutrition
The major detoxification organs in your body, also known as your emunctories, are your liver, kidney, colon, lymphatic, and skin. Environmental and internal toxins, along with stress, can decrease the function of your main detox organs. We guide you through the function of each of your emunctories, how you can support them, and what mushroom extracts can be used to enhance their performance.
The liver functions in distinct phases to detoxify harmful substances from your body.
Phase 1 is all about converting toxins using the family of enzymes known as the P-450 system via three reactions: oxidation. reduction and hydrolysis.
Phase 1 changes the toxins into something more usable for phase 2. This second phase innately creates a lot of free radicals as it’s dealing with harmful, reactive molecules. Therefore, having a diet and lifestyle that encourages ample antioxidants that will neutralize free radicals is what the body needs.
Healthy mushrooms are a source of ergothioneine and glutathione, two key antioxidants that can aid with oxidative stress in the body. In fact, healthy mushrooms are the top dietary source of ergothioneine out of any food (1).
Mushrooms also have compounds called beta-glucans that have been studied for their antioxidant properties. Studies on Chaga have also shown it to have substantial antioxidant properties (2).
Some mushrooms that may help support the liver, specifically, are reishi and shiitake. In fact, the triterpenes in reishi have been found to modulate processes related to liver function. There are in-vitro, animal, and human studies that demonstrate the possible hepatoprotective properties of Reishi (2). More research is needed to determine how molecules in mushrooms support the liver.
Other required co-factors for phase 1 of liver detox include: vitamins B, E, and C. Healthy mushrooms contain B vitamins, a small amount of vitamin C, selenium, zinc, vitamin D, and choline, all important nutrients for our body’s detoxification processes.
Phase 2 liver detox is all about conjugation, meaning it takes toxins that have been processed in phase 1 and adds different compounds to make it easier to excrete through your stool (via bile) or urine.
Co-factors required for phase 2 include cruciferous vegetables, citrus foods, resveratrol-rich foods, amino acids, vitamin B12, glutathione, sulfur, and minerals. Healthy mushrooms are a food rich in amino acids and are especially handy if you are vegan or vegetarian. They also contain important minerals like phosphorus, sodium, and calcium.
Bitter herbs and foods are important for the adequate release of bile. The liver releases bile and toxins that are stored in bile for elimination via the stool (and other emunctories when needed). Reishi is a bitter-tasting healthy mushroom that can interact with the bitter receptors in your body which support digestive function, vessel function, and possibly detoxification.
Your spring cleanse will best support your liver’s detoxification processes if it includes cruciferous vegetables, citrus, resveratrol-rich foods (such as grapes, cranberries, and peanuts). Use a reishi mushroom supplement to support healthy liver function and a chaga supplement to add a powerful antioxidant punch to your diet.
Kidneys flush water-soluble toxins detoxed from the liver out of the body while keeping important electrolytes and minerals. Kidneys remove extra acid produced by reactions and metabolism in the body, thereby keeping our acid-base balance in check. When the bowels are not moving well, and/or the liver is taxed, toxins spill into the blood to be cleared by the kidneys.
High blood pressure, puffiness or water retention, and low energy could be signs of decreased kidney function.
Although there is no single physiological detox action you can do to support the kidneys, it is important to support a healthy lifestyle with foundational strategies like stress management, water and electrolyte intake, decreasing toxins, and avoiding substances that increase blood pressure and stress on the kidneys, such as excess sodium and caffeine. Healthy mushrooms contain minerals that can support the body’s electrolyte needs, such as potassium and magnesium.
Interconnected with the kidneys are the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are responsible for the release of stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. The adrenal glands are a key indicator of one’s level of vitality and stress management - two important things to consider when thinking about detoxification.
Many of the healthy mushrooms are classified as adaptogens meaning they can help the body develop resilience to stress through their unique compounds. Reishi is particularly good at helping to calm and balance the body.
Your spring cleanse will best support your kidney function if you increase your water and electrolyte intake, reduce sodium and caffeine intake, and manage your stress levels. Consider taking a supplement of reishi, touted as the most versatile functional mushroom, to help balance and calm your body and make it resilient to stresses.
Bowel movements and healthy poops are a top priority when looking to start a detoxification journey. Having a bowel movement at least once and up to 3 times per day is considered healthy.
We need daily elimination to remove the conjugated toxins released into the stool. There are many factors that can impede proper bowel function including spinal misalignments, poor thyroid function, poor nutrients/vitamin or mineral status, stress (holding on), microbiome alterations or dysbiosis, dehydration, and poor diet.
High fiber diets provide bulk for the stool and can act as a binding agent along the way. Healthy mushrooms have around 1 gram of fiber per 1 cup (approximately 70 grams of raw mushrooms). Also, exercise can improve the function and structure of our gut health.
Increased gut wall permeability, and food sensitivities or intolerances can increase gut inflammation which may contribute to constipation and a dysfunctional bowel. Oxidative stress and antioxidant depletion may enhance gut wall permeability. Therefore, antioxidants are necessary to support healthy mucosal barrier function. (3,4,5). Healthy mushrooms that are loaded with antioxidants, such as Chaga, may be of interest here for antioxidant supportive effects (2). Chaga also stimulates bile flow, which is important for fat digestion.
Your spring cleanse can best support your colon and gut health by including foods high in fiber and antioxidants. Consider adding a Chaga supplement for an antioxidant boost and support for healthy digestion.
If toxins and elimination wastes aren’t removed through the liver, gut, and kidneys then these will back up into the skin or lymph. Skin is not an efficient “detoxer” — pores get congested, and skin manifestations occur.
It is healthy to support the skin on a regular basis via sweating. Sweating is easier in the summer but harder in the winter to achieve. Sweating can excrete certain heavy metals and lipid-soluble waste products. Sweat is also very healing for the skin, as it has inherent antimicrobial properties.
Skin brushing can support both the skin via exfoliation and the lymphatic systems via increased lymph drainage. Sauna, exercise, healthy skin products, hydrotherapy, and massage are all efficient means to support this organ of elimination.
Tremella mushroom and Chaga extract powders can be used internally and topically to support healthy skin. Explore our article on mushrooms and skincare for ways to use various mushroom extracts to benefit your body’s largest organ.
To support your skin health during your spring cleanse, sweating and exfoliating are recommended. Now would be a good time to visit a hammam or sauna and to receive a full-body salt scrub. Exercise regularly, stay well hydrated and consider taking a tremella supplement or Chaga supplement to support healthy skin rejuvenation.
The lymphatic system is made up of lymph fluid, lymph nodes, vessels, and other key organs like the spleen, thymus, GALT, tonsils, and adenoids. This system becomes important for health maintenance because of the connections it has with many systems of the body: circulatory, immune, and endocrine, for example.
This system is crucial in helping the body defend against infection (by producing and delivering key immune cells, known as lymphocytes) and in transporting and removing waste products from the body’s different organs, tissues and cells.
When lymphatic fluid has proper flow, the wastes and toxins can make their way into the blood and to other emunctories. Unlike the heart, the lymphatic system needs help from muscles or some form of movement to propel the lymph fluid through the body. Exercise, lymphatic massage, electrolytes, rebounding, vibration, hydrotherapy, and sweating can help support the lymphatic system.
Adaptogenic mushrooms, such as cordyceps, reishi, or lion’s mane, are a great coffee replacement to sustain healthy energy levels so you can keep moving your body and keep your lymphatic system happy and healthy. Also, one of the mushroom’s main mechanisms of action takes place in the lymphatic tissue in our digestive system. To learn more about this check out our beta-d-glucan article.
The lymphatic system also helps our brains detoxify during deep sleep when toxins and wastes are removed from our central nervous system. This is known as the glymphatic system. Proper melatonin secretion is needed for this to work. Sleep is a time for deep healing, as our sleep-wake cycle hormones and nervous system tone act as conductors for our hormone and immune systems. Reishi has been used traditionally to aid in sleep support.
Exercising your muscles will help to keep your lymphatic system flowing well as you undertake your spring cleanse. Rebounding on a mini-trampoline is a good exercise for promoting the circulation of lymphatic fluid, but brisk walking and other forms of activity will do the same. Consider getting a massage that focuses on lymphatic drainage. Also, consider using a reishi supplement to promote restful sleep so that you can properly detoxify your central nervous system.
Our lungs expel waste products in the form of volatiles and gases daily. Our lungs also ensure the rich oxygenation that our cells and mitochondria require for optimal detoxification.
Traditionally, cordyceps mushrooms were used for tonifying the lungs in Chinese medicine. Cordyceps also has some evidence suggesting it may impact athletic performance, depending on someone’s existing lung function (6).
Our lungs are also a key organ for stress management, as breath awareness and breathing exercises provide a direct gateway to our autonomic nervous system — the original biofeedback.
To support your lung health during your spring cleanse, consider taking a cordyceps mushroom supplement. Now is also a time to incorporate mindful breathwork into your daily routine if you haven’t already. While it likely goes without saying, eliminating smoking of any kind and minimizing exposure to air pollution are essential for optimal lung health.
A spring cleanse is an opportunity to address health concerns that may be caused by or exacerbated by what you eat. One of the problems that can occur from an improper diet is toxemia.
Toxemia, also known as metabolic endotoxemia, is an immune response that becomes a driver of persistent, smoldering inflammatory processes due to endotoxins, the most common being lipopolysaccharides (LPS).
An increase in LPS (and other endotoxins) results in increases in inflammation. Inflammation is a risk factor for pain, decreased mental clarity, and low energy.
As bacteria in our gut die, they create LPS which is part of the outside wall structure of gram-negative bacteria. These LPS particles create inflammation by getting through tight junctions in your gut (i.e. gut wall permeability — think little holes in your intestinal lining which are very thin in width). Around 65-75% of bacteria in our guts are gram-negative.
Nutrition and lifestyle are two big factors that can lead to toxemia. If you are eating foods that don’t agree with your body then your body doesn’t digest them properly and over time, can lead to toxemia. If digestion and absorption are weak, then toxemia is more likely to occur because of the partially digested foods which then feed the inflammatory bacteria referred to above.
Toxemia can lead to long-term inflammation and dysbiosis which is not conducive to creating optimal health.
In order to avoid toxemia, eliminate foods from your diet that you can’t digest properly or that cause inflammation in your body.
This is unique to every individual but the major foods to consider removing to see if they have this negative effect on you include dairy, processed sugar, refined foods, and gluten for some.
Enhancing stomach acid production through bitter foods (artichokes, dandelion, bitter greens), activating the parasympathetic nervous system (stress reduction), and using mushroom extracts like Chaga to support gut health are recommended.
Oxidative damage happens anytime there is an imbalance between the number of free radicals and antioxidants in the body. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that accumulate in the body from major reactions (e.g. liver detox, exercise, sun exposure). When there aren’t enough antioxidants to counteract their numbers, an excess of free radicals can lead to damage of fatty tissue, DNA, and proteins in your body.
Oxidative damage will more commonly occur when the body is taxed from environmental toxins, stress, indigestion, other detrimental effects on the body’s natural state of functioning.
A common symptom of oxidative damage is excessive inflammation. Excessive inflammation can look like: joint pain, heaviness, brain fog, skin issues, low energy, low sex drive, poor sleep, and much more.
Your spring cleanse is an opportune time to address excess inflammation and oxidative damage in the body. The main takeaways are to eat a diet rich in colors, flavonoids, and antioxidants (such as those found in an ergothioneine supplement).
To decrease unnecessary oxidative stress, also focus on regulating your circadian rhythm, staying hydrated, and getting restful sleep. Decreasing oxidative stress requires limiting the number of toxins and chemicals you are exposed to through your food, toiletries, environment, and from overworking the body (chronic stress). Optimize your rest with the tips found in our sleep article, and you will help support the resilience of your internal systems.
If you want a simple, earthy, and very effective elixir for supporting your detoxification organs through the spring and into the rest of the year, mushroom tea is good as it gets!
If you choose to give your body a break from stimulants like caffeine during your spring cleanse, this tea will be a useful body-boosting, brain-waking replacement.
Renown medicinal herbalist, Lee Carroll, has shared with us his recipe for mushroom tea:
For breakfast I drink a blend of Reishi, Chaga, Turkey tail, and Tremella powder in hot water (about 1 tsp of powder extract each). No cream, milk or sugar. I like to drink it strong so I don’t add much water, about 3 ounces. Tremella gives it a smooth edge. I love the taste and love the medicinal conversation we have together as I savor the earthy richness and depth. The Tremella gives my aging brain a noticeable cognitive boost. It’s my Coffee substitute. If you put the words My and Coffee together, you get Myco-ffee!
This robust recipe is an ideal and comprehensive nutritional boost for your spring cleanse. It contains B vitamins, sulfur compounds, amino acids, healthy fats, is fiber-rich, and contains immunomodulating polysaccharides from mushrooms.
Makes 4 servings
Best served in big bowls. Plates also work.
As referenced in this guide, eating many green vegetables, including leafy greens, bitter greens, and cruciferous veggies, is ideal for supporting your organs of detoxification during your spring cleanse. This recipe is a delicious way to prepare your greens and packs a punch of B vitamins, healthy fats, antioxidants, and the skin-rejuvenating power of tremella extract.
Click the button below to sock up on the mushroom supplements to support your spring cleanse:
We bring you the ultimate vegan, paleo, healthy, and delicious mushroom makeover. Our quick and easy stuffed-mushroom twist on the popular spinach and artichoke party dip is 100% vegan and paleo, plus it’s packed with the adaptogenic superpowers of Turkey Tail mushroom.
When it comes to makeovers, we don’t mess around. We take the humble cremini mushroom and amp up the nutrition & flavor even more by stuffing it with a creamy blend made of cashews, spinach, artichokes, garlic, lemon, and the secret makeover ingredient: Turkey Tail mushroom extract.
What you’re left with is a mushroom powerhouse with maximum flavor and maximum immune-boosting health - what we like to call makeover success.
Let’s dive a bit more into this tasty success story…
Once there was a button mushroom - delicious and nutritious on its own. But then it met another mushroom of a different kind, a potent & powerful mushroom extract known as Turkey Tail. And not just any Turkey Tail, a 100% pure organic powder extract with no added starch or fillers. It was just the ingredient the button mushroom needed for an immune-boosting upgrade. The two mushroom worlds collided and created these perfect bite size, vegan, paleo Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms.
To learn more about why Turkey Tail makes the best immune system-supporting ingredient, you can see this article about the 7 Medicinal Mushroom Benefits for Health. Key takeaway: Turkey tail improves immune function by stimulating cytokine production and increasing natural killer cells. In other words, it’s a great ally to have on hand during the year, but especially during the winter months to help boost your natural defense system.
Other Ingredients in the Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms:These stuffed mushrooms pack a ton of flavor thanks to the simple ingredients listed below. And besides the flavor and health benefits of the ingredients, the ease with which they come together is another major bonus, too.
Spinach: This recipe calls for using frozen spinach. All you have to do is defrost it in the refrigerator and squeeze out all the excess liquid when you go to add it into the spinach artichoke mix. Easy and nutritious!
Artichoke hearts: Another easy win is using canned artichokes. All you have to do is drain the liquid in the can, rinse the artichokes, and chop them up.
Soaked raw cashews: These add the creamy element without using any dairy, keeping these stuffed mushrooms vegan. All you have to do is soak them for 6-8 hours in water prior to making the recipe and drain off the water when you go to blend them.
Crimini or button mushrooms: In this recipe, we use small button mushrooms, but if you’d like, you can use large portobello mushrooms, making this more of an entree dish than an appetizer. Either way, it’s all delicious!
Lemon juice: adds a nice pop and zing to compliment the other flavors in the recipe.
Garlic & parsley: These add flavor and health benefits. You can easily leave out the parsley or substitute with another favorite herb.
FAQ:Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 4-6
Enjoy in Good Health:We may not be throwing too many parties during this crazy year, but that definitely doesn’t stop us from embracing and enjoying delicious foods that feel like little flavor parties.
These spinach artichoke stuffed mushrooms are a great way to do just that. They also happen to be a fantastic way to sneak in a bunch of healthy superfoods into your diet.
No matter what you’re going through, there’s always something that you can find to celebrate. You may have to adjust your perspective a bit, but it’s always there. Maybe it’s the weather on a beautiful day, a small work victory, learning something new, or catching up with an old friend (and sharing this recipe with them!). Whatever it is, we hope you find it and celebrate!
There are so many different culinary combinations you can create with mushrooms! For this recipe, you don’t have to use Turkey Tail - you can easily substitute with your own favorite mushroom extract. Explore our lineup of mushroom powders to choose the ones that suit your health needs. Each has their own unique profiles and benefits, but immune system strengthening is common to them all. To learn more, you can read our article which highlights the top 7 benefits of the main medicinal mushrooms. These different mushroom extracts can easily be added to whatever you’re cooking up in the kitchen.
Join the mushroom recipe challenge! Get creative in the kitchen with different ways to get more mushrooms in your diet. Invent your own recipe and share via insta @realmushrooms.
SHOP MUSHROOMS!Valentine’s Day - a time when love is in the air. A time to celebrate affection, romance, and friendship. A time for all things sexy, sweet, and mushrooms.
Wait, mushrooms?!
That’s right, mushrooms! Mushrooms in the form of Chaga Powder and Turkey Tail Powder can indeed be sexy! Especially when they’re rolled into decadent Chocolate Truffles. Besides, what makes a better treat or gift than something that tastes sinful but is loaded with superfood ingredients to keep you healthy?
If you’re still scratching your heads trying to figure out how mushrooms are sexy, let’s break it down.
Nobody wants to have gut issues or the sniffles, especially on their special, romantic, fun night.
That’s where these mushrooms shine, particularly when you consume a small amount of them daily. Chaga swoops in for some digestive support and gut health, and Turkey Tail rolls in with that important immune health. The bottom line is these allies help you feel your very best. And when you’re feeling your very best, you feel your most sexy, right? You feel your most confident and thriving. And that’s what we’re striving to help you feel!
The great news is, these easy, paleo, vegan, no-bake truffles have both of these mushroom allies.
And just like you want the real deal, authenticity in your partner and friends, you’re looking for the same in your mushrooms. That’s where Real Mushrooms has your back with their 100% organic mushroom extracts with no added grain, starch, or fillers - so you know you’re getting all the beneficial compounds, like beta-glucans.
They truly are your friends with benefits.
Besides the Chaga and Turkey Tail mushroom extract powders, the other ingredients you’ll need are:
The good news is these no-bake, paleo, and vegan chocolate mushrooms truffles come together effortlessly and easily.
Let’s break down the recipe:
That’s it! The majority of the time the batter is in the refrigerator firming up, so you can attend to other fun Valentine’s Day festivities.
These chocolate mushroom truffles will last up to four days in the refrigerator. They’re best stored in an airtight glass container. Alternatively, you can freeze them for longer shelf life.
Yields: 10-12 large truffles
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes (an hour of which is refrigeration)
When chocolate meets gut and immune health, it’s always time to celebrate, making these the perfect treat to honor you and all your loved ones. And not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day!
We can’t think of a tastier way to celebrate love, health, and community.
So head to the kitchen, make use of those health-boosting mushroom powders, and here’s to a day and season filled with all things love, health, friends, and family.
There are so many different culinary combinations you can create with mushrooms! For this recipe, you don’t have to use Chaga or Turkey Tail - you can easily substitute with your own favorite mushroom extracts. Each has their own unique profiles and benefits. To learn more, you can read our article which highlights the top 7 benefits of the main medicinal mushrooms. These different mushroom extracts can easily be added to whatever you’re cooking up in the kitchen.
Join the mushroom recipe challenge! Get creative in the kitchen with different ways to get more mushrooms in your diet. Invent your own recipe and share via insta @realmushrooms for a chance to be featured.
SHOP MUSHROOMS!
