Functional mushrooms – also called medicinal or vital mushrooms – have been used in East Asia for centuries, both as food and in traditional household practice. In Europe they arrived a few years ago, and with them a market that is hard to read. This article introduces the five species we carry and explains the two questions that actually matter when you buy.
The five species
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is the best known of them and has long been in use in China under the name Ling Zhi. 400 mg of fruiting-body powder per capsule.
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) grows on birches in northern latitudes and comes from the Siberian and Nordic tradition. Also 400 mg per capsule, in plastic-free packaging.
Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) grows on hardwood and stands out for its mane-like structure.
Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris) is made here from the whole fruiting body, 450 mg per capsule.
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is the culinary one among them and ubiquitous in Japanese cooking. 500 mg per capsule.
Question one: fruiting body or mycelium?
A mushroom has two parts – the mycelium, the thread-like network in the substrate, and the fruiting body, the mushroom you can see. Many cheap products on the market consist of mycelium grown on grain and milled together with that substrate; the finished product then contains a substantial share of grain. That is why the label is worth reading. The powders in this category use the fruiting body only, and they say so.
Question two: powder or extract?
For a powder the dried fruiting body is simply milled – you get the whole mushroom with everything in it, as close to a food as it gets. For an extract, particular compounds are dissolved out and concentrated. With mushrooms this is usually done twice over, with water and with alcohol, because different compounds dissolve differently. Both have their place. If you want to combine several species without lining up five jars, the Organic Mushroom Complex Extract holds reishi, lion's mane, chaga and cordyceps as standardised dual extracts.
In the kitchen
Shiitake can be cooked like any other mushroom, fresh or dried – in soups, broths and stir-fries. Reishi and chaga are traditionally drunk as an infusion; reishi is markedly bitter, chaga milder and earthy. If you dislike the taste, capsules are the answer.
Related categories
The full range sits under Functional Mushrooms. Lion's mane and cordyceps also appear under Energy & Focus, reishi and chaga under Immune System & Defences.
Note
Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet. Do not exceed the stated daily intake. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a pre-existing condition or take medication, seek medical advice before use.
