Best mushroom supplements, from capsules and coffee to tinctures and shroom gummies

Even if you don’t know much about mushrooms, you might have heard of lion’s mane. This mushroom looks fabulous, growing in white fluffy puffs with shaggy spindles that look like fur. It’s been used for many years in east Asian medicine to boost brain health and sharpen focus but it’s also beneficial for gut health.

Dirtea’s lion’s mane powder is my top pick here. I added 2g to my coffee each morning and felt far less distracted and much more on the ball throughout the day. I also noticed the brain fog I usually experience when I’m tired wasn’t as noticeable on the days I was taking the powder.

Fortified with zinc, lion's mane also supports a healthy immune system – ideal during cold and flu season or if you happen to suffer with zinc deficiency. Zinc is one of the nutrients I often struggle to get my recommended daily amount of and I found that I generally just felt good while taking the lion’s mane powder, so concluded it was likely the added zinc that was giving me a boost.

The powder is made from 100 per cent organic dual-extracted fruiting bodies and is DAkkS certified lab tested. You can take the powder simply with hot water – the flavour is pretty inoffensive – however, I preferred taking it with steamed coconut milk or coffee.

If drinking your mushrooms doesn’t appeal, Dirtea also offers its pure lion’s mane in an easy-to-take gummy form.

While plenty of nootropic mushrooms boost energy and provide brilliant brain food, some are much better suited to helping you wind down. Arbor Vitamins’s night blend provides a hit of three soothing mushrooms in a pure powder.

Tremella mushrooms contain more protein than most other types of mushrooms, helping your body with optimal recovery after a long day. Reishi, meanwhile, has soothing properties to aid relaxation, and maitake is an anti-inflammatory that can help with healing. The three combined make for a supplement that supports your rest and recovery.

After two weeks of taking the night blend, I found my skin looked clearer and brighter when I woke up and that I was sleeping deeply. Usually, I’ll have a night-time tea or similar drink before bed, so I added a teaspoon of the powder to my drink to test the results.

You can take the powder on its own with cold or hot water, or add it to juices or smoothies, but I preferred it stirred into my usual pre-bed hot drink. One teaspoon (about 4g) delivers 4,000mg of functional mushrooms and there are no added sugars or sweeteners.

Of all the mushroom coffees I’ve tried, this is my favourite. There are a few I recommend but, for flavour, serving size and positive effects, this is the best. Balance offers several mushroom blends but the lion’s mane is my go-to.

The blend features two medium-roasted coffees from Mexico and Uganda, and it tastes great brewed in a cafetiere. The coffee is third-party tested, to guarantee it’s free from harmful mould, mycotoxins and pesticides. Coffee fans will know that not all coffees are created equal and that coffee commonly contains these irritants, which can undo all the good work a supposedly healthy coffee can do.

The only other ingredient is organic lion’s mane powder, which offers an energy boost and cognitive benefits such as better focus and concentration. I found that, after drinking a cup each morning, I felt sharper and the brain fog didn’t descend come lunchtime.

I also liked that the resealable pouch meant I could either brew the coffee using my coffee machine or a french press, depending on how much I wanted to drink.

If you drink coffee every day, a bag should last you about two weeks, but if you drink it less frequently, a single bag of coffee should see you through the month.

If tinctures and powders aren’t for you, mushroom gummies might be more up your street. These gummies from Feel Gud were very easy to take and contain a mix of four different mushrooms, each offering different benefits.

Each serving contains 700mg of cordyceps, chaga, reishi and lion’s mane mushroom extract. The blend is intended to support brain health, focus and memory, while also calming the nervous system and lessening anxiety.

Taking something that both gives you energy and relaxes you might seem like a contradiction but that’s the beauty of nootropics. The ingredients are supposed to stave off feelings of exhaustion and nervousness, so you can feel focused and calm at the same time.

Of course, with a gummy, there are far more ingredients than a ticture or capsule might contain but they are vegan-friendly and gluten-free. The natural raspberry flavour is tasty enough, not necesssarily delicious but definitely a sound alternative to strong mushy flavours, if that’s not your thing.

I took two gummies daily for a month and found I felt pretty good while doing so. They didn’t handle my brain fog as well as some of the other supplements I tried but I did feel calm and focused for the whole month.

This selection box contains three adaptogenic coffee blends from London Nootropics. Ideal for those who want to sample the benefits of mushroom coffee before committing to buying a huge bag of the stuff, the box contains sachets of three different blends from the brand.

The flow sachets contain ground coffee with lion’s mane mushroom and rhodiola – an adaptogenic plant used to treat fatigue and low mood. The mojo blend contains coffee, cordyceps mushroom and Siberian ginseng, for energy; and the zen blend offers a mix of coffee with added ashwaghanda and L-Theanine, for soothing effects.

The sachets are free from sweetners and preservatives, and all you need to do is add hot water, plus a milk of your choice.

In our full review, our tester found the sachets’ contents provided “all the benefits of our regular morning coffee and then some, without the dip we so often experience once its effects wear off.”

One small sachet of any of the three blends will see you through the morning with no issues. However, if you‘re a coffee snob and prefer to brew a larger batch or grind your own, these single-serving sachets may not be for you. I found they were great for travelling and taking to work and the box would make a great gift, too.

While some might consider them a little old fashioned now that we’re all used to taking flavoursome powders and tasty gummies, tinctures are actually one of the best methods of getting a supplement into your system. They’re great for those with gut issues, as nutrients are aborbed by the mucous membranes in your mouth, rather than having to move through stomach acid in the gut, where they might be destroyed on their journey.

The only issue with tinctures is they often don’t taste all that delicious. However, if you don’t mind dropping a medicinal liquid under your tongue or mixing it with water, they’re a great option.

The elixir drops by Balance offer a no-frills formula of UK-grown reishi mushroom, distilled spring water and organic alcohol, to preseve the strength and purity of the mushroom.

Reishi supposedly offers a soothing effect by calming the nervous system, so, many people take it for stress reduction or improved sleep. Studies show the bioactive compounds in reishi mushroom can also enhance immune function, bolstering your body’s natural defences.

I found that, when taking a pipette of the elixir (approximately 2ml) before bed, I fell asleep quickly and generally felt calm while I was taking it daily. It didn’t taste amazing but I’m not especially bothered by the flavour of supplements.

This product probably wouldn’t suit you if you’re teetotal, due to the added alcohol used to stabilise the liquid, however, if you don’t have an issue with consuming alcohol, a tiny amount is used, so it won’t get you drunk or have an affect on your ability to drive or complete important tasks.

If you tend to swerve caffeinated drinks, this mushroom-based pick-me-up could serve as a solid alternative. Adaptogens such as maca root and ginkgo biloba provide energy, without any of the jittery symptoms that caffeine can induce, and this mango-flavoured powder blends them with lion’s mane mushroom and B vitamins, for a natural lift.

I drank this mix throughout the summer, in place of a hot drink in the mornings, and the fruit flavour was delicious with filtered water and ice. I found it did give me plenty of energy and I felt focused until the afternoon, when a little fatigue started to set in.

At 80p per serving, the pouch went quite a long way and it was good to know I was getting a dose of B12 along with the other ingredients. B12 deficiency is more common in children, the elderly and those following a plant-based diet, so this powder provides a great way to top up your levels.

I also found it was great added to juices and smoothies for a nutritional hit and extra energy. Because of the B vitamins and natural stimulants such as ginkgo biloba, I wouldn’t recommend taking it after 3pm but for a drink to start the day, it’s a great choice.

Turkey tail is one of my favourite mushrooms and, in my opinion, we don’t see it around enough. This mushroom powder offers a blend of reishi, cordyceps, lion’s mane, turkey tail, shiitake, maitake, poria cocos and agaricus blazei. It really is a super blend and offers a range of health benefits.

Turkey tail has a long history of use in traditional medicine. I first started taking it many years ago after reading studies on how it can help to reduce inflammation and boost healthy cell growth. It’s packed with antioxidants and supports gut health. Along with cordyceps, it’s been studied for its promising use in cancer treatment, too.

Maitake, shiitake, poria cocos and agaricus blazei all offer anti-inflammatory and cell-boosting properties and Erbology uses only small batches grown organically in Europe and quality-checked by accredited independent testers.

I stirred this powder into my overnight oats or morning yoghurt but you can also mix half a teaspoon with coffee or soups and sauces. The flavour is very earthy, as it’s pure mushroom, with no added flavourings. If you don’t mind the taste on its own, however, you can take it with just hot water. One jar will last a long time, as you only need a little each day.

If you’re looking for a super coffee that does it all, look no further than Reformed. Not only does this coffee blend contain hydrolysed bovine collagen, it’s also replete with organic lion’s mane, chaga, maitake and shiitake mushroom.

At the pricier end of the spectrum, a bag of this organic Columbian coffee will set you back almost £50. However, subscribing will save you £10 and get you a free storage container, glass bottle and electric frother.

I’ve tried quite a lot of mushroom coffees and, while I do love other brands, this one is in my list of the top rated because it doesn’t compromise on flavour and provides a hit of collagen along with the four mushrooms.

The combination of the powdered coffee with lion’s mane will make you more focused but the addition of the other mushrooms means you’ll be adding anti-inflammatory nutrients into your diet which can support your immune system and support healthy cell turnover.

Reformed also comes in mocha and matcha form, for fans of something a little lighter or sweeter than black coffee. It’s the perfect gift for coffee snobs and wellness enthusiasts alike.

If you’re in need of a mood boost or suffering with the symptoms of SAD, mushrooms can help with that, too. Improved gut health and reduced inflammation have been shown to lessen the symptoms of anxiety and depression during several studies and several medicinal plants could hold the key.

Among these are nootropic mushrooms, ashwagandha and saffron. Moodey’s happy hour supplements contain all three ingredients. The capsules contain antioxidant-rich chaga mushroom and lion’s mane, which provide a source of vitamin D and B vitamins.

The brand sends its supplements in recyclable pouches or a refillable glass container, which looks great. I swapped my usual saffron tablets for the happy hour capsules and found I felt good while taking them. I didn’t experience any hightened anxiety and slept well throughout the testing period.

Because they contain B vitamins, it’s advised to stop taking these supplements four to six hours before bed, so I took them after breakfast each day and found my energy levels and mood were in a good place into the afternoon.

If a quick fix is more your speed, Lucid’s rosemary and blood orange mouth spray offers a novel yet effective way to get your mushroom fix. In a 30ml bottle, the adaptogenic tincture is infused with lion’s mane, cordyceps, guarana, gingko biloba and vitamins B6 and B12.

It’s designed to boost your energy, sharpen your focus and enhance creativity, and I opted to take a few sprays after lunch each day. I found my usual post-lunch slump was swiftly dealt with and I felt more energised and able to focus on my tasks.

The flavour was also surprisingly tasty and I used the spray a few times before the gym when I didn’t feel like I had much energy, which proved helpful, too.

For best results, the brand recommends using eight or nine sprays of the vegan formula, so I stuck to the recommended amount and enjoyed the results, which seemed relatively fast acting.

Unlike the Balance tincture, this liquid contains no alcohol but works in the same way, by bypassing the gut for fast absorption through the oral mucous membranes.

Another of my favourite mushroom coffees is rainbow dust by Spacegoods. This powder blends lion’s mane and chaga mushrooms, with maca, ashwagandha and vitamin B5. Coffee with added mushrooms can sometimes taste very earthy, almost a little muddy, which, if you’re a coffee connoisseur, might put you off. Rainbow dust, however, provides a decent coffee flavour with the addition of nutrients for energy without the jitters. The blend boasts “focus, energy and calm” which might sound a little counterintuitive but if you’re used to drinking coffee for the perks, imagine the feeling of having more energy without feeling wired all day.

The mood-stabilising ashwagandha helps to avoid crashes and that racing feeling that caffeine can produce, and I found my brain fog was lessened and I felt pretty good well into the afternoon after drinking a scoop of the powder with hot water.

You can also mix a scoop with smoothies and other cold drinks or add the powder to your usual tea or coffee – just be careful if you’re doing this as the added stimulants in the powder could be a little much if mixed with non-decaf coffee.

If the coffee flavour isn’t for you, chocolate, vanilla cinnamon, strawberry and raw chocolate are on offer and each contains caffeine, too. The powders are made in the UK, using quality ingredients, and though this option is a little pricey at £1.13 per serving, it does contain a great blend of adaptogens and it tastes great.