A Delicious Morning Mushroom Latte [RECIPE] (2024)

By Nick Polizzi

  • 21 Comments

Home » A Delicious Morning Mushroom Latte [RECIPE]

A Delicious Morning Mushroom Latte [RECIPE] (1)

We love mushrooms in my house.

I’m not talking about the mushrooms you buy at your local grocer (although, we love those too!)… I’m talking about the superfood variety, such as the chaga mushroom.

My wife and I often use chaga as a natural morning pick-me-up in the form of tea (yes, mushroom tea), as well as a seasonal remedy for boosting our immune systems. It truly works wonders at fending off straggling germs during flu season.

Haven’t heard of chaga before? It’s one of the most powerful and mysterious natural remedies in the Western world.

Chaga has been used for centuries by shamanic healers and various cultures throughout Asia, Russia, and other Northern European countries. And for good reason… It’s loaded with antioxidants and healing properties.

The chaga mushroom grows on birch trees throughout the northern hemisphere and is often mistaken for burnt wood due to its dark crusty appearance.

Known scientifically as Inonotus obliquus, chaga is one of the most powerful medicinal mushrooms yet discovered. So much so, it’s been deemed as the “King of the Medicinal Mushrooms”. And in some areas, it’s even been called the “gift from God.” Those are some pretty big titles to live up to, but this fungus is more than deserving.

Here’s why…

Chaga contains one of the highest levels of antioxidants. This alone makes it a powerhouse healer. Antioxidants are vital for fighting off free radicals – the very things that attack our healthy cells and make us sick.

Thanks to its high antioxidant concentration, chaga has shown to be beneficial in fighting many different diseases, including certain cancers, diabetes, and even heart disease.

This is primarily because of its ability to build up and boost the immune system — and a healthy immune system is vital for overcoming any type of illness.

Chaga is referred to as an immunomodulator, meaning it adapts to the needs of the immune system, similar to an adaptogenic herb. It’s able to do this because of its rich abundance of beta-d-glucans – a type of polysaccharide found in a variety of fungi. These compounds help balance the immune system by calming an overactive system or stimulating a slow one.

When you’re sick, or on the verge, your white blood cells take a beating. Hence, the lethargic feeling you experience. These cells are your body’s first line of defense when trying to ward off infections, whether viral or bacterial.

Chaga works by stimulating the activity of your white blood cells, giving them the strength they need to target viruses and other infections.

And when you add chaga’s anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties to the mix, your immune system has the great protective barrier it desperately needs today!

Chaga is harvested and then either dried or ground into a powder for consumption. It can be made into a tea, extract, or tincture, and can also be taken as a dietary supplement in the form of a capsule.

Brewing chaga tea or adding chaga powder into beverages are quick and easy ways to reap its many healing benefits. And because it has a bitter and earthy taste, it can make a great substitute for coffee.

Here’s a recipe for one of my favorite ways to get my daily dose of chaga. It gives you the boost of energy and vitality you need first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon when you’re feeling a bit drained.

Chaga Latte Elixir

Ingredients:

  • 1 tsp Chaga mushroom powder*
  • 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
  • Sprinkle of Nutmeg (optional)
  • 1 tbsp Coconut butter
  • 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 1 cup Hot water
  • 1/4 cup Almond milk (warmed)
  • 1 tsp Raw honey (More to taste if desired)

(*If you’re using chaga mushroom chunks, brew chaga tea per the brand’s instructions in place of powder and hot water.)

Directions:

  1. Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth and frothy.
  1. Pour into a mug and top with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon if desired.
  1. Enjoy!

You can easily find varieties of chaga online at Mountain Rose Herbs, Vitacost, or any other reputable supplement company. Check your local health food store as well, as most carry some form of chaga.

With the wide range of chaga supplements, it’s easy to add this mushroom into your diet.

Give it a shot!

Stay curious,

Nick Polizzi
Host of Remedy: Ancient Medicine for Modern Illness
& Founder of The Sacred Science

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  • Filed Under: Recipes
Nick Polizzi

Nick Polizzi has spent his career directing and producing feature length documentaries about natural alternatives to conventional medicine. Nick's current role as executive producer of the docuseries "Healing Kitchen: Let Food Be Thy Medicine" and "Remedy: Ancient Medicine for Modern Illness" stems from a calling to honor, preserve, and protect the natural healing knowledge and earth-based medicines that our ancestors passed down to us.

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21 Responses

  1. Where can I buy Chaga in the Pam Springs Rancho Mirage, Calif. area. I live in the Rancho Mirage area. Can I buy it on line? Or get it shipped to me? Thanks so much…Carole

    Reply

  2. When looking for mushroom powders make sure the mushrooms are grown on logs not grain media. You want mushrooms that contain the fruiting body where most of the medicinal compounds reside. The mycelium does contain immune boosting compounds but it doesn’t provide all the benefits you can derive from medicinal mushrooms. My favorite company is Real Mushroom Company. Their blog contains articles on the difference between mushrooms growing on log and those grown on grain media. Many of the cheaper Mushroom powders on the market are grown on grain media.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for sharing! We love that company, Real Mushrooms.

      Reply

  3. I have harvested and brewed Chaga for about 10 years now. The Best Way to brew it as a tea or coffee substitut is to heat it in chuncks, to a simmer, let it simmer 5 hours for tea and 8 for coffee, you May want to add more to the brew for coffee substitut as well. The great thing about chuncks, I find, is that if I use too much, I Can brew on it again. Were as fine grounded one tends to drink it.. in the end, when the tea only get a light brown color, you Can ground the chuncks to powder and eat it. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Awesome! Thanks for your insights and tips!

      Reply

  4. I have grown sh*takes on logs for 25 years. Is there a source for the spawn I could get or has not the spawn been domesticated, or are they only in the wild? I live in the bottom row counties in Michigan about 60 miles east of Lake Michigan shore.

    Reply

  5. Muy buenas recetas. Gracias!

    Reply

  6. Thanks for the Garam Masala recipe. I’ve been making my own curry powder for years, which has some of the same ingredients.. I put it in a great recipe for Melagatawney! Addictive!!

    Reply

  7. You might not have to buy chaga. If you are near birch trees, look for some. I am lucky to have birch trees and we found a giant piece of chaga some years ago. It will take us a long time to use it up.

    Reply

  8. I have bought mushroom spawn for logs from Paul Stametz.

    Reply

  9. i love this drink

    Reply

  10. I think i used to grow this mushroom…possible?

    Reply

  11. I have been following from past couple of months. Can I mix Chaga mushroom powder with my Jade Matcha drink?

    Reply

  12. Thank you for this information about the chaga mushroom.
    I’m wondering where it can be purchased.

    Reply

  13. I’ve only found the Host Defense Chaga Mushroom Mycelium Powder. Is the taste and nutritional benefit similar to the mushroom itself?
    Many thanks,
    mjs

    Reply

  14. Thanks for the Chaga info. I see in the recipe you used 1teaspoon. I have Reishi mushroom powder. The instructions say to 1/3 of a tea spoon, so I naturally measure by sight. Do you know why the manufacturers/ mill may advise such a small portion.
    Thank you in anticipation of your advice.

    Reply

  15. HI,
    Doesn’t chaga need to be decocted and tinctured to get out all the constituents? I am not know that powder will do it. Thank you

    Reply

  16. Like the suggestion for Chaga Latte Elixir;however, I need substitutes for cinnamon, vanilla and coconut, my blood serum indicates that I experience negative responses and reactions to those foods. I feel sad because like all three. I am always creatively deciding the exchange food source for recipes. Your Chaga Latte Elixir has been a challenge …perhaps, cardamom to replace cinnamon, yet I am puzzled regarding the vanilla and coconut. Thanks for your assistance.

    Reply

  17. Thank for all thosse recipeis so helpefull.Any ploblen if i use in furure web?

    Reply

  18. My son told me about chaga tea and chaga coffee about 2 years ago. I had been diagnosed with stage 4 small cell lung cancer. I weighed a whopping 88 lbs. I am down to 1 small spot. I have been doing immunotherapy for about 2 years and drinking chaga tea and coffee. I believe it has everything to do with helping get rid of the cancer. I am now back up to 105 lbs.

    Reply

A Delicious Morning Mushroom Latte [RECIPE] (2024)

FAQs

What are the benefits of mushroom latte? ›

Possible benefits of mushroom coffee

A review of studies published in 2023 in the journal Molecules notes several benefits of medicinal mushrooms. According to the review, they have compounds that may help prevent cancer, manage diabetes, regulate the immune system, fight obesity and slow aging.

How to make mushroom powder taste good? ›

You can stir additional spices into the blended mushrooms. Consider the following: 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon ground black or white pepper, and 1 tablespoon fine sea salt.

What is the downside of mushroom coffee? ›

The main downsides of mushroom coffee is that human studies are lacking to support health claims and verify safety of intake and potential interactions. It's also more expensive than regular coffee.

Is it safe to drink mushroom coffee everyday? ›

“There's really nothing wrong with mushroom coffee as long as you're not adding in a ton of sugar or creamer,” she adds. “But you'll also experience the same benefits — and more, including the fiber — if you just eat mushrooms normally in your diet.”

What do doctors say about mushroom coffee? ›

Based on these findings, mushroom coffee companies claim that drinking coffee with added medicinal mushroom extract or powder can help with anything from reducing your stress levels to improving your immune function. Unfortunately, there's no solid evidence linking mushroom coffee to any health benefits.

Is mushroom coffee inflammatory? ›

If the adaptogens in mushroom coffee reduce the amount of cortisol in your system, that may help reduce the effect that stress can have on your body. Reduced inflammation: Mushrooms contain compounds called polyphenols, as well as a variety of antioxidants. Together, they can help reduce inflammation in the body.

What is the number one mushroom coffee? ›

Best Mushroom Coffee Brand Overall: Nootrum

On this front, they've got two options: traditional ground coffee with mushrooms added and mushroom powder. Overall, we prefer the tea-based powder in the office (I like the coffee), but the powder has an excellent taste and performance.

Can you mix mushroom coffee with regular coffee? ›

Mushroom coffee blends are typically half mushroom powder and half ground coffee. If you make your own, you can brew it with your favorite kind of coffee. If using whole bean coffee, store your beans and your mushroom powder separately and mix when you grind your coffee for brewing.

Can I drink mushroom powder with milk? ›

Yes, you can eat mushrooms and milk together. The combination of mushrooms and milk can be used in various dishes. Eating mushroom and milk together will cause any harm.In fact, both mushrooms and milk are healthy foods that offer a variety of health benefits.

Is mushroom coffee really worth it? ›

So experts believe that mushroom coffee can provide antioxidants that support your immune system. There's less caffeine. While this doesn't mean that mushroom coffee itself can help you get better sleep -- as some suggest -- taking in less caffeine does help some people get a better night's rest.

Do you add creamer to mushroom coffee? ›

Quick hacks: 1-Pour a tiby bit of hot water into the glass first and put the mushroom coffee in AND the coconut creamer so that it actually dissolves! Stir, then add the remaining water and anything else you want to add! 2- It doesnt actually need honey if you add in a sweetened creamer! 3- Use any creamer.

What is mushroom latte? ›

Mushroom coffee is a popular coffee drink made by blending coffee and mushroom extract powder produced from Reishi, Turkey tail, and Shiitake mushrooms, as well as other varieties of medicinal mushrooms.

What does mushroom coffee do for the body? ›

If the adaptogens in mushroom coffee reduce the amount of cortisol in your system, that may help reduce the effect that stress can have on your body. Reduced inflammation: Mushrooms contain compounds called polyphenols, as well as a variety of antioxidants. Together, they can help reduce inflammation in the body.

Does mushroom coffee have health benefits? ›

Contains Protective Plant Compounds

This means that drinking mushroom coffee over regular coffee may help increase your intake of certain antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds, such as polyphenols and β-glucans.

What are the advantages of mushroom coffee? ›

Possible Benefits of Mushroom Coffee
  • It can support your immune system. Mushrooms have beneficial compounds, such as:
  • There's less caffeine. ...
  • It could help ease stress. ...
  • It may ease inflammation.
Jun 3, 2023

Is mushroom coffee actually good for you? ›

Some possible health benefits of mushroom coffee include managing stress, lowering inflammation, and boosting the immune system. Plus, it contains less caffeine than regular coffee. People have eaten mushrooms for medicinal and nutritional value for over 2,000 years.

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