Reishi Mushroom Tea: Key Benefits + How To Make It

Though Reishi mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine practices for thousands of years, they have only recently become more mainstream. These functional mushrooms that were once reserved only for Chinese royalty are now widely available. In fact, their use is expected to increase as the global market for Reishi is forecasted to reach more than $5 billion by 2027. 

Maybe you’ve heard about the benefits of this “mushroom of immortality.” Maybe you’re curious about its growing popularity around the world as a dietary supplement. Or maybe you just want to know how to make Reishi mushroom tea and extract its key benefits. Either way, these answers to frequently asked questions should provide some guidance. 

Commonly Asked Questions About Reishi Mushroom Tea 

Reishi is part of a select group of fungal species classified as functional mushrooms. These are fungi that have health-supportive benefits beyond simple nutrition. While some of them may be cooked and eaten as culinary mushrooms, others are tough and woody—making them more suitable as dried and powdered products or as extracted products. Reishi fits the latter category and is often consumed as mushroom tea. 

What Is Reishi Mushroom Tea Good For? 

On a list of beneficial mushrooms, Reishi places near the top. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is known as a “three treasure” herb that harmonizes jing (life force), qi (energy), and shen (spirit). Its impressive health benefits include: 

• Stress management: Reishi is considered a “superior adaptogen” and is the functional mushroom most often recommended for stress management. Adaptogens support the body’s ability to maintain homeostatic balance when challenged by physical and emotional stressors. ‡ 
• Relaxation: Reishi has been used by Chinese and Japanese herbalists for its “sleep-promoting factor.” Reishi has a calming effect that can help promote relaxation. In this way, it can support restful sleep.‡ 
• Immunomodulation: Thanks to reishi’s antioxidant content, it promotes healthy immune system functioning. Its beta glucan polysaccharide content supports the body’s immune system by stimulating a response when appropriate 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 oxidative stress that may otherwise result in tissue damage. Reishi promotes energy at the cellular level.‡ 

Reishi’s adaptogenic effects support optimal balance in many of the body’s systems. Likewise, its antioxidant content has widespread effects. 

When Should I Drink Reishi Tea? 

Reishi may be taken at any time throughout the day, but the most important thing is to take it regularly. Its support for focus and concentration levels makes Reishi a natural choice before meditation. And since it promotes relaxation, many people make it part of their evening routine. Sipping a calming Reishi tonic is a lovely way to wind down at the end of day. 

How Can I Make Reishi Mushroom Tea? 

Traditional preparation of Reishi mushroom tea involved steeping the dried fruit bodies in boiling water for up to two hours and then straining out the mushroom pieces. Fortunately, there is a much easier way to brew this beneficial beverage, and that is with the use of mushroom powder. Here’s how: 

• Choose a whole food powder that contains both fruit bodies and mycelium. This type of product will provide the benefits of both phases of the Reishi mushroom’s life cycle. 
• Choosing a ground mushroom powder gives you the benefits of the entire mushroom, including nutrients that would otherwise be strained out or denatured in various types of extraction processes. These include the prebiotic fiber that nourishes the beneficial bacteria in your gut as well as other components contained in the cell walls of the mushroom mycelium and fruiting bodies.‡ 
• Reishi mushroom tea made from a whole mushroom powder suspended in liquid can be prepared almost instantly. It does not require hours of steeping to extract the beneficial compounds. 

• Reishi fruiting bodies have a bitter flavor due to their triterpene content—a trait that may have evolved to discourage animals from consuming it in nature.  In contrast, Reishi mycelium has a sweet and earthy flavor that helps to moderate the bitterness of the fruiting bodies. You may wish to add some flavor-enhancing spices and/or a sweetener. 

Reishi Mushroom Tea Latte Recipe 

Makes 1 serving: 

1 teaspoon Reishi mushroom powder 

½ teaspoon raw cacao powder 

1 cup steamed milk (dairy, nut, or oat) 

Honey, sugar, or sweetener for added flavor—optional 

Dash of cinnamon 

Add the Reishi mushroom powder and cacao to the steamed milk. Stir in sweetener if desired, and froth with a small whisk or milk frother. Top it with a sprinkle of cinnamon. 

Things To Consider When Choosing a Reishi Mushroom Powder Product 

There are several factors to consider when selecting aRreishi mushroom powder product. First, since Reishi is a natural product, it is important to find a trusted source for your mushroom powder. As bioaccumulators, mushrooms found in nature may contain toxins or pesticides absorbed from their environment. This makes organic Reishi mushrooms cultivated under controlled conditions in the USA a safer than Reishi sourced from the wild or from foreign producers. 

For added assurance, look for Reishi mushroom products that have been certified by third party auditors. This is another way to ensure you’re receiving a quality product. Organic, Kosher, and non-GMO certifications denote important information about the cultivation and manufacturing processes of the product. 

Next, consider your personal preferences and lifestyle factors. If you enjoy cooking from scratch, Om’s Reishi mushroom powder blend offers a great deal of versatility. It can be brewed as tea or mixed into your favorite recipes. If you prefer the ease of a supplement, however, our Reishi mushroom capsules are the way to go. And finally, if flavorful convenience products are more your style, our functional mushroom superfood beverages are a great option.

Getting the Benefits of Reishi Mushroom Tea to Work for You 

Many people around the world are embracing the benefits offered by Reishi mushroom tea. Though Reishi was once rare and reserved for emperors, good quality, organically grown Reishi is now widely available to everyone. By finding a trusted source and choosing products that fit your lifestyle, you can customize your experience with a functional mushroom that has endured the test of time. 

For easy Reishi mushroom tea, try high-quality Om Mushroom products created from functional, whole food, organic mushrooms with life-changing health benefits. Our reishi products include options that fit your lifestyle. To take advantage of the benefits of functional mushroom products, shop now or subscribe to save! 

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^‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Functional mushroom products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.