Mushroom Tea

One of the easiest and best ways to enjoy a medicinal mushroom such as lion’s mane, turkey tail, reishi, or cordyceps is to simply make yourself a tea or hot water extraction. Soaking the mushroom in hot water breaks down the chitin in the mushroom’s cell walls and releases the water-soluble medicinal qualities of the mushroom into the water. To make the hot water extraction, cut the mushroom into small pieces. You can even run the mushroom through a blender or food processor to get the pieces as small as possible. The mushroom can be fresh or dried. Add the mushroom pieces to a pot of water, cover with a lid, and simmer gently for several hours until a dark tea is produced. Notice I am not giving you exact amounts of mushroom or water. The concentration of your tea will depend on the amount of mushroom to water you use and the time that you allow it to simmer. Experiment and see what works best for you. For tough mushrooms such as reishi and turkey tail, soak in water overnight to soften the tissue. Your tea can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for 3 to 5 days.

Enjoy your tea straight or flavor with honey, ginger, cinnamon, or other spices.

Learn more about medicinal varieties of mushrooms here.

Purchase dried turkey tail or cordyceps mushrooms to make your own tea!