Over the past few years, mushroom powder has become increasingly popular for its health benefits and flavor-boosting power. Coffee and drink replacements, superfood powders, smoothie add-ins, and broth bases are just a few of the ways mushroom powder is used.

While mushroom powder used to be reserved for your local granola grocer, recent popularity has led to these products becoming more widely available and affordable. Today, even grocery stores like Trader Joe’s have mushroom powder seasoning on their shelves.

What is mushroom powder?

Mushroom powder is typically made with finely ground dried mushrooms. While health benefits differ based on the type of mushroom used, they are generally known to help reduce inflammation and support the immune system. 

Besides being used for medicinal purposes, it can also be a powerful flavor booster for cooking.

The health benefits of medicinal mushroom powder

Medicinal mushroom powder has become a trending superfood in recent years. While it’s always helpful to look deeper into any brand that claims to have a cure-all product, many studies have linked certain mushroom powders to improving the immune system response, reducing stress levels and inflammation, and even fighting cancer (1).

These benefits come from the nutrients and antioxidants found in mushrooms, specifically one called beta-glucan, which has been shown to help balance the immune system response. 

Some of the most common medicinal mushroom powders are:

• Shiitake: heart health, immune function, weight loss
• Reishi: balance hormones, reduce stress levels
• Chaga: reduces inflammation
• Cordyceps: increase athletic function and improve heart health
• Lion’s Mane: improves mental function and helps fight against Alzheimer’s (2)
• Turkey Tail: helps improve response to cancer treatments (3)

Note: mushroom powders can be made directly with whole dried mushrooms or from mushroom extracts. Typically, the dried mushroom method leads to a fuller range of health benefits because it preserves more of the mushroom during the processing. 

How to use mushroom powder

Each type of mushroom powder will recommend different dosages and methods based on the kind of mushroom and strength of the powder. Some of the most common ways that these powders are used include:

1. Mushroom coffee, teas, and lattes.
2. Add-ins for smoothies and other beverages.
3. Medicinal mushroom powder blends.

How to make your own mushroom powder

You don’t necessarily have to go out and purchase a ton of expensive supplements to reap these benefits; you can make your own mushroom powder at home for cooking!

The process is fairly straightforward: All you need is dried or dehydrated mushrooms and either a food processor or mortar and pestle to grind the mushrooms into a fine powder texture.

Porcini and shiitake mushrooms are great beginner options because of their familiar flavors. However, you can always experiment with different types of mushrooms to make the best flavor for your taste and needs. Keep them in an airtight container like a mason jar, and store them in the fridge or freezer once they are ground.

How to cook with mushroom powder

Mushroom powder is an excellent way to add an earthy, umami flavor to any recipe. They also are great for vegetarian recipes like this vegan Taco Bell Recipe because it adds a rich, savory flavor that can mimic the taste of meat.

Here are a few other ideas for cooking with mushroom powder:

• Use as a seasoning for sauteed or roasted veggies
• Use to replace chicken broth and bouillon in soups and stews
• Use in marinades for meat or meat replacements

Daily routine ideas for mushroom powder

You don’t need a perfect daily mushroom powder routine to reap the benefits; you can start by incorporating it into routines that you already have. We’ve included a few ideas below on how to get started:

In the morning

• Wake up with a Four Sigmatic’s Ground Coffee with Lion’s Mane & Chaga Mushrooms by itself or as a 5-minute at-home mushroom latte
• If coffee isn’t your thing, you might enjoy making a mushroom powder golden milk latte, a drink made from tumeric, coconut milk, and other spices.
• Add mushroom powder to your scrambled eggs for a savory flavor boost

In the afternoon

• Replace your afternoon slump with lion’s mane mushroom powder to help you refocus and reenergize.
• Try out a simple mushroom ketchup recipe on your lunchtime sandwich or fries.

In the evening

• Add a scoop of reishi mushroom powder to your nighttime tea and hot water to promote relaxation and healthy sleep function.
• Add a small amount of mushroom powder to a brownie or cookie recipe to add a unique spiced flavor profile.

These are just a few ideas, but there are limitless possibilities for adding mushroom powder into your life. Maybe you’ll use this powder to achieve some of the fantastic health benefits mushrooms offer, or perhaps, you want to experiment with new unique, rich flavors in the kitchen. Nonetheless,  your body, mind (and tastebuds!) will thank you.

References

1. Venturella, Giuseppe, Valeria Ferraro, Fortunato Cirlincione, and Maria Letizia Gargano. 2021. “Medicinal Mushrooms: Bioactive Compounds, Use, and Clinical Trials.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22 (2): 634. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22020634
2. Lai, Puei-Lene, Murali Naidu, Vikineswary Sabaratnam, Kah-Hui Wong, Rosie Pamela David, Umah Rani Kuppusamy, Noorlidah Abdullah, and Sri Nurestri A. Malek. 2013. “Neurotrophic Properties of the Lion’s Mane Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium Erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia.” International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms 15 (6): 539–54. https://doi.org/10.1615/intjmedmushr.v15.i6.30
3. Stamets, Paul. 2012. “Trametes Versicolor (Turkey Tail Mushrooms) and the Treatment of Breast Cancer.” Global Advances in Health and Medicine 1 (5): 20–20. https://doi.org/10.7453/gahmj.2012.1.5.007