For several months now, mushroom coffee has been a rage on several social media platforms, from TikTok to Instagram, where hundreds of thousands of users are reviewing and recommending it. For many, it seems like an unusual combination, and some are already skeptical about the flavor. According to a study, not only is it delicious to drink, but it's also a real health booster.
A Healthy Elixir Ready to Drink
Published in Harvard Health Publishing, the medical portal of the prestigious Harvard University (Massachusetts), the study focused on the possible benefits this combination could offer to those who drink it. Indeed, mushroom coffee is gaining popularity among those seeking a "healthier" alternative to caffeine. This type of coffee, according to researchers, contains half the caffeine dose (compared to that found in a regular espresso), making it a "less aggressive" beverage. Continuing their analysis of the research, the experts then explained that mushroom coffee can offer a more stable energy boost. The explanation lies precisely in the type of mushrooms used (medicinal), which are chosen from various varieties such as reishi, cordyceps, chaga, and lion's mane.
Often used in traditional Chinese medicine, these mushrooms are renowned for their antioxidant power, effective against weakened immune defenses, difficulty concentrating, asthenia, cholesterol, and diabetes. Essentially, it's a drink that's been around for a long time, but with the trend of healthy eating and social media, it's gained tremendous popularity, making it one of the most searched for and clicked on drinks of the year.
Good, Healthy and Expensive
Social media users' opinions on this coffee are diverse, and sometimes even conflicting. Many who have tasted it say they prefer mushroom coffee to traditional espresso, not only for its benefits and energizing properties, but also for its lower caffeine content, which allows for drinking multiple cups a day without risk. However, not everyone agrees on the flavor. From the various reactions on TikTok, you might even stumble upon videos of people expressing disgust upon tasting it. Furthermore, mushroom coffee isn't exactly an accessible drink for everyone due to its decidedly high price. A one-kilogram bag of the blend can cost up to $75.
Returning to the beneficial effects, the Harvard study explains that research on this beverage is still in its infancy, but there are pages and pages of research on the beneficial properties of medicinal mushrooms, starting with ancient and traditional Chinese studies. Among the three types of mushrooms that make up this coffee, Harvard explains, chaga and cordyceps contain anti-inflammatory and stimulant properties, reishi is known for its ability to reduce stress and improve sleep quality, and lion's mane is associated with improved memory function.
It's still unclear whether the multitude of social media users are actually enraptured by this product or are simply promoting mushroom coffee, given that the ones shown are jars and sachets from various brands. A question remains, and in fact, right now, it seems unlikely that such a product will even replace espresso, the quintessential Italian drink. Meanwhile, thanks to the sources and studies, mushroom coffee, whether you like it or not, is certainly a product worth trying.
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