What are Functional Mushrooms?

By Barb Biagioli, CHC

Functional mushrooms are non-psychedelic mushrooms known for their health benefits. Beyond baseline nutrition benefits, these functional mushrooms are adaptogenic super-foods that offer immune support, stress reduction, cognitive enhancement, and inflammation reduction. Functional mushrooms like Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus), Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), Maitake (Grifola frondosa), Turkey Tail (Coriolus versicolor), Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), and Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) have been used in ancient cultures as traditional medicine for centuries.

Now, they’re making a major comeback.

You may have noticed mushrooms are everywhere – in power bars, coffee replacements, smoothie powders, and now teas – including here at Saratoga Tea & Honey Co.! You don’t have to search too hard or too long to find the reason - mushrooms are not only really, really cool, they’re really, really good for our health.

What are the Health Benefits of Functional Mushrooms?

Functional mushrooms are antioxidant loaded sources of phytonutrients and minerals. They contain protein, fiber, and vitamins that can help prevent cell damage, support your nervous and immune systems, and boost energy. Mushrooms are brain boosting, stress reducing, immunity modulating, and mood enhancing; and they’re considered functional because of their super-power healing properties.

Our most recent favorite mushrooms include Lion’s Mane, Maitake, and Chaga. These medicinal mushrooms are a great addition to your tea collection, sipped in an herbal brew, or steeped solo like Chaga for a sweet and savory alternative to coffee.

The Health Benefits of our Mushroom Tisanes

Awakening

Lion's Mane

Considered one of the functional mushrooms, Lion’s Mane can help bolster memory and mood (specifically related to depression and anxiety) and improve gut function and immune health. An adaptogenic mushroom that’s been used for centuries, it’s a wonderful remedy to support cognitive function, gut health, inflammation and immunity. Lion’s Mane contains two unique compounds - hericenones and erinacines - which improve the growth of brain cells, subsequently leading to better mental health, memory and mood. Lion’s Mane may also reduce inflammation and oxidative stress connected to heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune conditions.

The Key Health Benefits of Lion's Mane

Improves Focus & Memory
Promotes Positive Mood
Decreases Blood Sugar
Mends Gut Health

Maitake (Hen of the Woods)

Maitake mushrooms - also called Hen of the Woods - are highly regarded for their medicinal benefits. But first, an important aside about beta-glucans. If you’re not familiar with beta-glucans that’s ok! Beta glucans are a type of soluble fiber found in foods like maitake mushrooms, as well as oats and barley. Beta glucans in maitake can help reduce your cholesterol, improving artery functionality and overall cardiovascular health to lower your risk of heart disease. We want to be sure to note here that to receive the full spectrum and higher potency of beta glucans you would need to eat maitake mushrooms. Tisanes still provide some benefit, and potency can be extracted more efficiently from an overnight or more medicinal style steep - bringing water to a boil, adding herbs/mushrooms, simmering for 5 minutes and then covering overnight. Maitake is also considered an adaptogen and is known for being rich in antioxidants, vitamin B, vitamin C, copper, potassium, amino acids, minerals, and yes, beta-glucans.


The Key Health Benefits of Maitake

Fights Pathogens & Infections
Protects from Diabetes
Lowers Cholesterol & Blood Pressure
Improves Skin Health


Shop Awakening: Lion's Mane & Maitake Tisane

Awakening leaves and brewed tea. Dry, finely chopped mushrooms and herbs surround a cup of honey-brown brewed tea.

Awakening

$ 18.00

This functional and adaptogenic blend of mushrooms and herbs supports brain health and your immune system all in one delicious cup. 

Lion's Mane mushrooms may support focus and clarity while Maitake can give your immune system a little love. Rounded out by the adaptogenic powerhouse holy basil to align your central nervous system - along with anti-inflammatory cinnamon and antioxidant-rich orange peel and green rooibos - this blend is an excellent choice for those looking for a caffeine-free boost. 

Adirondack Chaga & No Joe

Chaga

A wonderful and warming mushroom, chaga is known for supporting the immune system, reducing inflammation, and aiding in blood sugar and cholesterol management. Like Lion’s Mane and Maitake, Chaga is rich in antioxidants, offering protection against free radicals and oxidative stress, lowering inflammation levels in the body. Chaga also contains beta-glucans and other compounds that help boost the immune system and regulate cytokine production. Chaga has been harvested for centuries as a traditional medicine and can be found on birch trees in cold climates.

The Key Health Benefits of Chaga

Boosts Immune System
Reduces Chronic Inflammation
Lowers Blood Sugar and Cholesterol

Shop Adirondack Chaga & No Joe

Adirondack Chaga grounds and brewed tea. Coarsely ground, brown chaga mushroom surrounds a cup with dark, reddish-brown brewed chaga.

Adirondack Chaga

$ 20.00

Chaga is a mushroom that grows predominantly on birch trees in Russia, Siberia, Northeastern Europe, the Northern United States and Canada. It has a naturally sweet earthiness to it with notes of caramel, dark berries, vanilla, and cocoa. Our chaga is foraged locally and sustainably from the Southern Adirondacks.

Chaga is rich in antioxidants and may benefit blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and your immune system. 

Chaga is best brewed hot over a long period of time to fully enjoy its benefits! Chaga is also very finely ground and we recommend straining through a coffee filter or using a tea filter to brew your Chaga.

No Joe leaves and brewed tea. Powdered chaga mushroom, chicory root, and carob surround a cup of brewed, dark brown caffeine-free coffee alternative.

No Joe 😉

$ 12.00

Calling all coffee lovers who want the taste, but not the caffeine! Our No Joe 😉 is no joke - there's no "Joe" but it certainly tastes like it!

A chicory and chaga based herbal tisane, this completely caffeine-free coffee substitute will give you the feeling of drinking coffee with none of the jitters and plenty of extra yummy benefits for your body. 

Made with organic roasted chicory, organic Carob pods, organic roasted dandelion root, and our wild foraged Adirondack Chaga, this herbal tisane is the ideal caffeine-free coffee substitute. Chicory root and chaga are both full of antioxidants and may help with digestion and blood sugar. Chaga, in particular, is recommended to help with blood pressure - one of the main reasons to stop drinking caffeine! Dandelion root also aids in digestion and carob pods are high in calcium and antioxidants. We specifically chose carob for this recipe, rather than cocoa, to make sure it stays entirely caffeine-free and doesn't include any pesky migraine triggers. 

Sources

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024116696
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8124789/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11068609/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7824844/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763424000162
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23735479/