THE MUSHROOM PRODUCTS YOU HAVEN’T HEARD OF

It’s time to face the facts: mushrooms are the future. Cordyceps are already invading our morning cup of coffee and the fungi classed as ‘nootropics’ (those that reportedly enhance mental function) are being treated like they’re the pill from Limitless. And the myco-cult isn’t stopping there – unharmed by The Last of Us, the show that paints a particularly bleak picture of a shroom-ier future – with products cropping up all the time that boast new uses for and benefits of various mushrooms. Maybe you’re already well clued-up on the world of reishi, lion’s mane, wild chaga and turkey tail, happily sprinkling powders into smoothies and hot drinks, or maybe you’re not yet sold on the whole thing – either way, we’re pretty sure you won’t have heard of these fungus-based products yet.

Mushroom Beer

It seems that the US is leading the way on this new frontier, but mushroom beer has made its way across the pond. The first of its kind in the UK, Fungtn has created three non-alcoholic beers that incorporate three different mushrooms: a dark lager with shiitake, an IPA with lion’s mane, and a citra beer with reishi. The mushrooms aren’t here for flavour, though; they’re supposed to deliver various health benefits – to complement the hangover-free element. All three mushrooms are ‘adaptogenic’, meaning that they help defend against stress, and lion’s mane can boost concentration, shiitake can boost overall health and reishi can boost the immune system.


Mushroom Coffee Substitute

You’ve probably heard of mushroom coffee by now, which is exactly what it sounds like, but have you heard of the kind that completely cuts coffee out of the picture? There are now plenty of alternatives that look like freeze-dried coffee, and have a coffee-like taste, yet they are mostly mushroom based. This option from ötzibrew uses cordyceps, fungi that support the production of ATP to wake the muscles up.


Mushroom Soda

With no added sugar and no caffeine, mushroom sodas are designed to be a functional alternative to alcoholic bevvies and other sugary softies. These sodas from new female-founded brand jAGA combine sparkling water with fruit flavours like pomelo & passionfruit and Mexican lime & mint with a blend of adaptogenic Reishi and Cordyceps mushrooms, along with Ashwagandha, Magnesium, L’Tryptophan and L’Theanine, for an uplifting yet calming (and not boring) thirst-quenching experience.


Mushroom Skincare

So you can drink your shrooms in the morning and in the evening, but if you don’t fancy that, why not put them on your face? Many mushrooms are packed with antioxidants, which help the skin fight away free radicals; more specifically, cordyceps can strengthen the skin barrier and shiitake and reishi have been proven to encourage cell renewal. Sound up your street? A couple of products to try are the Jardin Collective Reishi Rescue Balm and the Youth To The People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream.


Mushroom Supplements

While there are some mushrooms of the magic kind that possess proper mind-altering properties, there are plenty that you can use to boost your brain without sending you to another planet. Supplement brand The TwentyTwo uses pure organic lion’s mane in its capsules, which promise to improve cognitive performance, reduce inflammation and lower anxiety, whereas The Herbtender uses blends of adaptogens, like reishi with ginseng and cordyceps with rhodolia, in its capsules to support immunity, sleep, and physical training. DIRTEA delivers its mushroomy magic – sharper focus, hydrated skin, stronger immune system – in powder form, with lion’s mane, chaga, cordyceps, tremella and reishi extracts available to mix into a drink, or you can get turkey tail, shiitake, reishi and more shroom extracts to drop straight under your tongue from Fruit Bodhi Mushrooms.


Mushroom Crisps

Like peas, hummus, lentils and quinoa before them, mushrooms have finally been turned into crisps. Other Foods is transforming a range of shrooms, including trumpet, oyster and shiitake, into something to reach for when the munchies strike, without losing any of their nutritional benefits. If you’ve been put off eating mushrooms because you find them slimy, these snacks will have you chowing down on fungus in no time.

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