Explainer | Mushroom coffee: how this trending drink can improve our brain health, boost our energy levels and reduce inflammation

A growing number of people are replacing their morning cup of joe with superfood-packed mushroom coffee. This trending brew is made from ground coffee beans mixed with a ground medicinal mushroom blend. There is also a caffeine-free blend, made just from medicinal mushroom extracts. “Most of the time, though, when people talk about mushroom coffee, they’re referring to coffee with the added mushroom blend – think of it as your regular morning cuppa with extra bioactive compounds,” chemicals that promote good health, says Katia Demekhina, a nutritional therapist at the Integrated Medicine Institute in Hong Kong. This trend is driven by factors such as mushrooms’ medicinal benefits and the demand for more sustainable products and functional foods that taste good and offer health benefits. Leading commercial mushroom coffee brands on the market include Clevr, Four Sigmatic, Rheal Shroom Coffee and Ryze. You may be familiar with culinary mushrooms such as oyster, shiitake and portobello, but mushroom coffee generally uses medicinal varieties such as reishi, lion’s mane, chaga and cordyceps. Your gut affects your mental and physical health; here’s how to optimise it Medicinal mushrooms are mostly inedible when raw. But they are loaded with nutrients, which are extracted using a solvent like alcohol or hot water, Demekhina says. All mushrooms have immune-system-modulating and prebiotic properties that foster the growth or activity of beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Non-culinary mushrooms – species typically too tough to eat, with an unpleasant taste, texture or smell – typically have higher concentrations of beta glucans (polysaccharides) and, often, other bioactive compounds, Demekhina says. The next big thing? Mushroom coffee to destress and slow ageing gains fans Good for the heart, beta glucans stimulate the growth and activity of intestinal microbiota and may improve everything from brain function to cancer prevention. The other compounds, such as triterpenes, have traditionally been used for their antiviral properties to support energy levels, vitality and a healthy immune system; some are used as adaptogens, which help the body to respond to stress. “To understand why mushrooms have so many bioactive compounds that can influence our health, we need to remember that they grow in an incredibly competitive environment,” Demekhina says. “Bacteria, viruses and other fungi prey on mushrooms so they have evolved the capacity to produce a wide range of antimicrobial compounds to survive and defend against those pests; and they may confer those to us when we eat them.” Reishi mushrooms, for example, contain 140 active compounds, in addition to polysaccharides, and are known for their ability to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection and disease. They may also reduce asthma and hay fever symptoms, and lower the risk of chronic inflammation and inflammatory responses following viral infection, such as in long Covid. Lion’s mane is popular for brain health, focus, and its neurological properties. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners use lion’s mane to treat gastric ulcers and gastritis. Three coffee alternatives, and why a dietitian sticks to her cup of joe Another medicinal mushroom, cordyceps, has antiviral and energy-enhancing properties and may improve physical performance. Demekhina says different factors determine the health benefits of drinking mushroom coffee. For instance, are you replacing coffee with a medicinal-mushroom-based drink without added coffee, or are you complementing your cuppa with medicinal mushrooms? Which medicinal mushrooms are you using, and are they high quality? Adding quality mushroom blends to your cuppa may … fortify the antioxidant benefits of the coffee, aid digestion, and mitigate coffee’s jittery effect on the body Katia Demekhina, nutritional therapist Mushrooms are like sponges and can absorb all the toxins around them. Therefore, when buying mushroom coffee, Demekhina says to choose one that is certified organic and to ensure that the product is free from fillers, carriers and other additives. She adds: “Generally, adding quality mushroom blends to your cuppa may help you maintain a healthy immune system, fortify the antioxidant benefits of the coffee, aid digestion, and mitigate coffee’s jittery effect on the body. “But it’s worth noting that mushroom blends used in coffee don’t have the same benefits as highly concentrated mushroom extracts, such as those used in high-quality supplements.” 5 little-known but must-try mushrooms from China full of health benefits There are a few downsides to drinking mushroom coffee. If the drink has a coffee base, you should watch out for its caffeine content, especially if your body is slow to metabolise the stimulant, Demekhina says, since caffeine can stay in your system for up to 10 hours. Caffeine can also increase secretion of the stress hormone cortisol. During times of stress, caffeine can cause an even bigger jump in cortisol levels. Having coffee when you feel stressed may prolong the duration and intensity of the stress response. “For this reason, coffee is not recommended if you feel stressed and/or anxious, and you should limit your caffeine intake to one or two cups a day before lunchtime,” Demekhina says. “There is no research on the use of medicinal mushrooms during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. So it is generally recommended that women stick to culinary mushrooms during these stages.” Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.

Explainer | Mushroom coffee: how this trending drink can improve our brain health, boost our energy levels and reduce inflammation

Mushrooms have many protective properties, and drinking mushroom coffee can boost your brain and improve your energy level Nutritional therapist Katia Demekhina explains the prebiotic and immune system boosting properties that medicinal mushrooms can add to your brew

Mushrooms have many protective properties, and drinking mushroom coffee can boost your brain and improve your energy level

Nutritional therapist Katia Demekhina explains the prebiotic and immune system boosting properties that medicinal mushrooms can add to your brew