I Tried 3 Mushroom Coffee Alternatives—Here Are My Thoughts
Made with functional mushrooms, these coffee alternatives can help supercharge your brain health with lasting energy and focus—sans the jitters or shakes.
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For most of us, coffee is the lifeblood that makes mornings possible. But sometimes, the average cup of joe just doesn’t cut it. Whether you’re trying to cut down or you’re just not that into it, there are a few reasons to switch up your coffee game.
When you need a quick morning boost, mushroom drinks deliver. Medicinal mushrooms like Chaga and Lion’s Mane have been used for thousands of years to enhance energy and focus without the jitters. As more brands capture these benefits in tasty teas and powders, I decided to try three leading mushroom-based coffee alternatives: Four Sigmatic, Rasa, and MUD/WTR. Scroll through below to check out my thoughts on each of the mushroom coffee alternatives.
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Blend Mix
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Blend supplement packs a big punch: it contains ten different mushrooms, including Lion’s Mane, which is great for productivity, and lesser-known fungi like Enokitake, Agaricus Blazei, and Tremella, known to elevate overall well-being.
This organic, caffeine-free mix doesn’t have any added sugars or flavors, so the taste is quite, erm, earthy. But it isn’t meant to be taken alone, and the powder blends nicely into drinks like tea and coffee—making it one of the more versatile mushroom blends available. I added it to a smoothie and found that to be the best way to conceal its flavor and reap the benefits.
Mushroom Blend left me feeling focused and positive throughout the day (without the crash of caffeine). No matter what your go-to drink is, it’s easy to add Mushroom Blend to your morning. This was my favorite coffee replacement of the three formulas I tried.
Rasa Adaptogen Mushroom Coffee
Rasa specializes in helping folks who want to completely eliminate or reduce their caffeine consumption without suffering withdrawals. The adaptogenic mushroom coffee alternative brand offers a slew of different blends that taste strikingly similar to your standard cup of java while offering mood-boosting, focus-enhancing, and energy-elevating benefits—all sans the jitters, nerves, and shakes.
The Original herbal blend offers a nutty, chicory-like flavor, with a dash of cinnamon for a dash of sweetness. It’s packed with 13 different herbs, six adaptogens, and two types of mushrooms for energy without the crash.
Rasa’s blend is slightly more herbal than Four Signmatic but still offers better flavor than MUD/WTR (see below).
MUD\WTR
If you’re more inclined to order golden milk or dirty chai over coffee, you’ll love MUD\WTR. This organic, vegan, and whole-30 approved drink features the most popular mind-enhancing mushrooms: Chaga, Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and Cordyceps.
The addition of masala chai, turmeric, cacao, and cinnamon make it different from most mushroom brews. There’s something distinct about a fresh-brewed chai, and Mud provides the same cafe-level latte status at home.
The creamy, comforting satisfaction of MUD\WTR is matched by its mental effects. I drank this early in the morning and it made my mind feel stimulated, but in a stress-free way. I could easily see myself drinking it every day, but I’m also excited for its potential as a mood and flavor enhancer for baked goods. For coffee lovers though, this may taste a bit more earthy than you’d expect from a coffee alternative, but it’s perfect as a tea and chai replacement.
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