Although Reishi mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in traditional medical practices, it is only recently that they have been brought into the mainstream.These useful mushrooms, once reserved for the royal family, are now available to everyone. In fact, they are expected to see an uptick in their usage, with the global reishi market expected to hit over $5 billion by 2027.
Perhaps you have heard of the benefits of this “immortal mushroom” Maybe you are intrigued by its growing popularity worldwide as a food additive. Or perhaps you simply want to learn how to brew Reishi Mushroom Tea and extract its key benefits. Either way, these FAQs should offer a little direction.
Commonly Asked Questions About Reishi Mushroom Tea
Reishi are among the tiny smattering group of mushroom species classified as functional. These are mushrooms with health-supportive benefits that go beyond just providing nutrients. While some can be cooked and eaten like cooking mushrooms, others are more difficult and woody – making them better as dried, powdered products. Reishi fits into this last category, often consumed as mushroom tea.
What are the benefits of Reishi Mushroom Tea?
On the list of useful mushrooms, Reishi is at the very top. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is known as the “three-treasure” herb, which balances the jing (vital forces), qi (energy), and shen (spirit). Stress Management: Reishi is considered to be “the ultimate adaptogen” and is the most commonly recommended functional mushroom to manage stress. Adaptogens support the body’s ability to keep a homeostatic balance when challenged with both physical and emotional stressors.
Relaxation: Reishi has been used by Chinese and Japanese herbalists for its “sleep-promoting factors”. Reishi has calming effects, which may aid in relaxation. It may therefore support restful sleep.
Immunomodulation: Thanks to the antioxidant content of Reishi and its support of the bodys inflammation response, it supports healthy immune function. Its polysaccharide content supports the bodys immune system, stimulating a response when needed, and soothing overactive immune responses caused by allergies.
Cardioprotection: Reishi promotes cardiovascular wellbeing by supporting healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Its antioxidants help balance out the oxidative stress that can otherwise lead to tissue damage. Reishi boosts energy on the cellular level. Reishi’s adaptogenic effects support optimal balance in many systems in the body. Likewise, its antioxidant content has a wide-ranging effect.
When Should You Drink Reishi Tea?
Reishi can be taken anytime during the day, but taking it on a regular basis is what is important. Its support to attention and focus levels makes Reishi a natural choice for before meditation. And because it encourages relaxation, many people include it in their evening routine. Sipping on a calm Reishi tonic is a nice way to relax at the end of a long day.
How Can You Make Reishi Mushroom Tea?
Traditional preparations of reishi tea include steeping dried fruit bodies in boiling water for up to two hours, and then straining the mushrooms. Fortunately, there is a far easier way to make this healthy drink, and it is by using reishi powder.
Choose a whole-food powder that contains both the fruit bodies and mycelium. This kind of product will give you the benefits from both phases of a reishi mushroom life cycle. Choosing ground powdered mushroom gives you the benefits of the whole mushroom, including nutrients that otherwise are straining. These include the prebiotic fibers, which feed beneficial bacteria in your intestine, and other components contained within the cell walls.
Reishi Mushroom Tea, made with whole powdered mushrooms suspended in a liquid, can be made nearly instantaneously. It does not take hours to steep in order to extract its health-promoting compounds.
Reishi has a bitter taste because of the presence of three-terpenes, a characteristic which likely evolved in order to deter animals from eating it in the wild. Because of this, you might want to add a few aromatic spices and/or sweeteners.
Makes 1 serving: 1 teaspoon reishi mushroom powder, 1/2 teaspoon raw cacao powder, 1 cup steamed milk (dairy, nut, or oat), Honey, sugar, or sweetener for added flavor and an optional dash of cinnamon.
Add the Reishi mushroom powder and cacao powder to a steaming hot milk. Stir in sweetener, if desired, and use a small blender or milk frother to whip it up. Top it with a pinch of cinnamon.
You can find our favorite capsules, powders, and tincture’s on the following pages of our website and learn more about each individually:
Click here to learn more about the best Reishi Mushroom Supplements
Click here to learn more about the best Reishi Mushroom Powder
Click here to learn more about the best Reishi Mushroom Tincture
Click here to learn more about the best Reishi Mushroom Mushroom Gummies
Things To Consider
There are a few factors that you need to take into consideration when choosing your Reishi mushroom powder products. First, because reishi is a naturally occurring product, it is important to find a trusted source for your mushroom powder.
As bioaccumulators, mushrooms found in nature can contain toxins or pesticides that are absorbed by their environment. This makes organic Reishi mushrooms grown in controlled conditions an overall safer choice. For added reassurance, look for reishi mushrooms products certified by third-party auditors.
This is another way of making sure that you are getting quality products. Organic, Kosher, and Non-GMO certifications all indicate vital information about a products farming and production processes. Next, take into account your personal preferences and lifestyle factors.
If you like to prepare your meals from scratch, the Reishi Mushroom Powder Blend by Om offers great versatility. It can be steeped into tea, or mixed with your favorite recipes. If you prefer the convenience of a supplement, though, our Reishi Mushroom Capsules are your best option. And, finally, if savory, convenient products are more your style, the single-serving packets can be dropped in a gym bag or backpack and reconstituted with water to make a quick hot broth or a cool, refreshing sports drink.
Many people worldwide are taking up the benefits offered by reishi tea. While once rare and reserved for emperors, high-quality, organically grown reishi is now readily available for anyone. By finding a trusted source and choosing products that are aligned with your lifestyle, you can tailor your experience with a functional mushroom that has stood the test of time.
Reishi Mushroom Tea Side Effects
Most of the side effects you’ll experience from reishi mushroom tea will actually be the benefits. Although some people do report experiencing dizziness, dry mouth, nausea or an upset stomach. This is extremely rare, although we did want to mention this.
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Updated 10/24/2022
