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Mushroom extracts can be used for multiple purposes, such as baking, cooking, smoothies, teas, coffee, and more. Infuse any dish you desire and receive the benefits from your mushroom powder extracts. These extracts are packed with nutritional benefits and may be fun to play with the different flavors each extract powder holds.
Each extract differs in flavor; some may be mild while others may be bold.
- Reishi tends to have a more earthy or chocolate flavor with light hints of bitterness. This mushroom is used in Chinese medicine as a nervous- system tonic, the importance in promoting balance and calmness in the whole nervous system. Also serving as a symbol of well-being, divine power, and longevity in Chinese culture.
- Tremella has been long hailed as the ‘beauty mushroom’ this mushroom is slightly sweet with notes of vanilla, almond, and light flavor. This mushroom is a nice versatile tonic herb. Tremella is known for its incredible ability to break down free radicals, helping prevent fine lines and wrinkles while absorbing into the deeper layers of skin and rehydrating the body from the inside out.
- Chaga grows on gold or white birch trees which makes this mushroom extract powder taste earthy, sweet, and aromatic. It has an earthy sweetness with a mild taste and is dark in coloring. Asian herbalists believe this mushroom preserves youthfulness, promotes overall health, and encourages longevity. This “superior herb” is categorized as a Qi tonic also considered being a superb kidney tonic.
- Lion’s Mane powder is lighter in color, the aroma is considered neutral and unlike many other medicinal mushrooms, lion’s mane doesn’t have a bitter or unpleasant taste. Many people compare the taste of this mushroom to crab or lobster! Infuse your favorite seafood pasta with lion’s mane! This mushroom is a powerful tonic food for brain health, helps elevate mood, and improves memory.
- Shiitake mushroom powder has a strong meaty flavor, often discussed as a creamy or buttery flavor. It carries a pleasant taste and aroma. Koreans put this mushroom first in taste among other mushrooms, preferring soups made from dried mushrooms or from their powder. It is a popular delicacy all over the world for those who love delicious food with health benefits. During the Ming Dynasty period (1368-1644), Shiitake developed a reputation as a “tonic,” this substance is believed to increase energy, prevent disease, aid restoration from illness, slow bodily deterioration caused by aging, and acts as a general immune system booster.
- Turkey Tail mushrooms have been described as slightly bitter, somewhat earthy, and mild in flavor. There is no distinctive taste or odor of this mushroom. It tends to be bland to mildly sweet. This mushroom isn’t something you want to ingest for the flavor. Adding the dried mushroom powder to smoothies, oatmeal, soups, or salad dressings helps with receiving the beneficial compounds while not knowing the mushroom is involved. Scientific studies show this mushroom works by stimulating the immune system while the holistic view of this mushroom is they have an ‘adaptogenic’ effect acting to balance the immune system, which enables the host to fight cancer cells. Turkey Tail contains a variety of polysaccharides; one, in particular, is polysaccharide K (PSK). Preliminary research indicates that PSK has anticancer activity and may also slow down various cancers. It is also thought to protect healthy cells from radiotherapy so aids the function of cancer treatments. In traditional western herbal medicine, Turkey tail is used for its benefits to the immune system. It is specifically useful in post-viral fatigue and for those who are prone to infections. It can be taken regularly to keep immune function at top performance.
- Cordyceps mushrooms hold a savory umami-quality. Umami means “essence of deliciousness” in Japanese. This mushroom taste includes sweet, sour, bitter, and salty while promoting deep earthy- nutty flavors. Infuse any dish or beverage with this mushroom and receive increased energy. Cordyceps have been used as a tonic and restorative in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years. In Ayurvedic medicine, they are said to be beneficial at enhancing vigor and vitality. The benefits of Cordyceps have also been linked to improved athletic performance. A 2010 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed that supplementation with Cs-4 (Cordyceps Sinensis) improved exercise performance and contributed to overall markers of wellness in older adults. Studies show this mushroom increases oxygen capacity and ATP production within muscle cells. This improves athletic performance while assisting in fighting fatigue.
References
- What’s The Tremella Effect?
- How to Boost Brain Power With Lion’s Mane Mushroom
- What is Lion’s Mane Mushroom Powder, Anyway?
https://www.518farms.com/shiitake
https://www.handmadeapothecary.co.uk/blog/2017/2/2/medicinal-mushrooms-turkey-tail