Food & Drink

Medicinal Mushroom Brews already can be found at Starbucks

Chagaccinos are here to stay, and the taste is identical to that of coffee

By Mark Zuleger-Thyss

Chaga mushrooms look a lot like charcoal, but don’t worry, they’ll turn out a fine cup of frothy almond-milk Chagaccino. Call ahead, though, as not all Starbucks have mushroom coffees available.

What could be better than marriage between a complex Arabica Doppio and a Cordyceps mushroom extract? Mushrooms are a source of natural antioxidants and polyphenols, helpful for overall health, and added to coffee, they give you more reasons to be excited about staying healthy.

Coffee drinks will never go out of style, especially now that they can be infused with the powders of a multitude of mushrooms. Mushrooms are known for their umami flavor and will add depth and richness to your newly discovered coffee treat.

Blender pros are thrilled about combining elements of herbalism and plant medicine into their concoctions of adaptogen mushrooms and Ayurvedic plant-distilled extracts. For this reason, Chagaccinos and other out-of-the-ordinary healthy drinks might soon be in your future.

Mushrooms are All the Rage 

Mushroom coffee is not just another fad. It’s been a fixture in homes and cafés in Finland for generations. With fewer acids found in mushroom coffee—it’s less acidic than regular coffee—those with sensitive stomachs should have no excuse to try it.

Coffee blends made from ground medicinal mushrooms and coffee beans have gained popularity due to their lower caffeine content than regular coffee. Turkey’s tail, Reishi, Lion’s mane, Cordyceps, and Chaga mushrooms are just a few of the many types used.

Mushrooms have been proclaimed the “superfood of the year,” for the last decade, with good reason, as they provide numerous and impressive benefits. Known for improving immunity, bio compounds found in mushrooms can help reduce inflammation. 

Mushrooms are memory and brain boosters, hormone-helpful, immune-system sidekicks, and antioxidant powerhouses. Every mushroom type is unique and provides its own distinct health rewards.

Reishi Mushrooms are Nature’s Xanax

Relaxing with coffee now has more meaning. So, reishi in your coffee will both relax and jolt you awake.

Reishi is the most popular of all medicinal mushrooms. It can help you lose weight, keep your immune system in check, and fight cancer cells. And thanks to the abundant compound triterpene, Reishi mushrooms have calming properties.

Triterpenoids are used for medicinal purposes in many Asian countries for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, cardiotonic, sedative, and tonic effects.

These mood-boosting compounds may alleviate anxiety, ease depression, and encourage better sleep. In addition, triterpenes also affect the nervous system, promoting healing and sharpening focus.

Mushroom coffee could be a good fit if you’re looking for a coffee with less caffeine. Beware that the mushroom contains oxalate, which can cause kidney stones and digestive problems in some people.

There are many health claims about the benefits of mushrooms and mushroom coffee for various conditions but approach these claims both openly and dubiously.

© 2005 - 2023, Mark Zuleger-Thyss, Garden of Healing, LLC | The web property Garden of Healing dot com is fully owned and operated by Garden of Healing, LLC. All rights reserved.