Mushroom coffee: A new trend
Every day around 2.5 billion cups of coffee are drunk worldwide. Currently, there is a new ‘healthy’ trend: mushroom coffee. Why? You can read that in this article. Coffee is mainly grown in third-world countries. However, large consumers mainly live in the west.
Where does mushroom coffee come from?
Although the Dutch also know their way around coffee, it is the Finns who outperform us. When it comes to coffee drinking, Finland is clearly number 1. For many years there has been a scientific discussion about coffee. Is drinking coffee healthy or not?
It is not without reason that we previously wrote about how much coffee a day is healthy, we gave 9 tips on making your coffee healthier and the effects of caffeine. And even about caffeine powder and green coffee. We drink a lot of coffee, but we also talk a lot about coffee.
Coffee certainly contains a large number of healthy nutrients, such as antioxidants, but it also contains a lot of caffeine. During the roasting of the coffee, various new compounds are formed, the effect of which has not yet been scientifically established.
Of course, there is also coffee with very little caffeine, but in general coffee drinkers still miss that little bit of ‘boost’. It may be logical that an alternative to pure coffee has been developed in Finland: mushroom coffee, or mushroom coffee.
Mushrooms in your coffee?
Mushrooms are special life forms. The biologists have classified them as fungi, but when it comes to edible mushrooms, they are classified as vegetables. The annual mushroom trade is large. Worldwide sales of 35 billion dollars are achieved.
In addition, many mushrooms are also picked in nature. You better leave that to the experts, because some mushrooms are extremely poisonous. Some also resemble the most popular mushroom for consumption: the mushroom.
There are also mushrooms that have been used since ancient times for their hallucinogenic effect. Again, caution is advised.
What’s in mushroom coffee?
This coffee does not contain any mushrooms that have a hallucinogenic effect. Only species for which the medicinal effect has been demonstrated are used. Mushroom coffee is a combination of mild Arabica coffee and ground mushroom, often chaga or a similar variety.
PDO chairs in your coffee don’t sound very appetizing. Still, people like it. The earthy taste of the mushroom combines well with the coffee flavor. Naturally, tastes differ and there are various types of mushroom coffee available.
About the chaga mushroom
The chaga mushroom is mainly found in northern areas, such as Scandinavia. The harvest takes place in winter, when the concentration of active ingredients is at its highest. The mushroom has been used since ancient times for its medicinal properties.
Chaga is recommended for improving metabolism and the immune system. And is also considered soothing. Chaga is also sold in the form of a dietary supplement and, for example, in combination with tea.
As a supplement, it must comply with strict food regulations in the EU. No medical claims should be made for the product by sellers.
What are the active substances in chaga?
Chaga contains large amounts of good nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phenols and enzymes. Gluten is not present in these mushrooms. However, a high concentration of adaptogens has been demonstrated. This substance, which is also found in the ginseng root, provides peace of mind, but also keeps you active.
A fair number of coffee drinkers are agitated by the caffeine in regular coffee. Mushroom coffee can be a good alternative for them. You then get slightly less caffeine and the adaptogens.
Because of the many good nutrients in mushroom coffee, it is of course an interesting product for anyone who focuses on good health. You can also see that in the kind of shops and web shops that sell mushroom coffee.
Are there any known side effects of chaga?
In areas where the chaga occurs, they call it the ‘diamond of the forest’. The mushroom develops quickly on damage to a tree, usually a birch. Because chaga contains a large amount of good substances in winter, it is food for the local residents.
There they eat the chaga in quantities comparable to mushrooms in more southern regions. By the way, just like mushrooms, you can be allergic to some substances in the chaga. If you have a medical history of allergic reactions, talk to your doctor before using mushroom coffee.
What do users think of mushroom coffee?
It is striking that many drinkers of mushroom coffee find the taste very good. One person thinks that this product is almost indistinguishable from a normal cup of coffee. The other speaks of a completely new taste in which the mushroom predominates.
There are also different views regarding strength. The recommended 5 grams is not enough for some users to notice. While others have more than enough after a mug. The effect is now the same for everyone.
But for (almost) everyone it applies that they felt better, fitter and calmer if they regularly used this alternative to coffee. It is remarkable that most people who wrote a review regularly took a standard cup of coffee in addition to the mushroom coffee.
Where can you buy mushroom coffee?
Mushroom coffee is now for sale at the larger chains, such as Holland & Barrett. You won’t find it in the supermarket yet. Of course, there are also various specialized web stores that sell this trendy product.
You must always remain critical for this product. Always check the supplier. In Asia, for example, they also harvest chaga. Products sent to consumers in the EU must meet strict standards. But a chaga product usually arrives directly in your letterbox without checking.
How much does mushroom coffee cost?
As with many natural products, there is a great variation in the price. For a well-known Finnish brand, you pay between € 10 and € 15 for a box of 10 bags of 5 grams. One bag is sufficient for one cup of coffee. However, a price drop is expected as the product becomes better known.
