Functional Mushroom Powder

Mushroom powder UK: how to choose and use it

What is mushroom powder?

Mushroom powder is functional mushroom ground into a fine, loose powder. Unlike a capsule, you can see it, smell it and taste it, and you decide where it goes. A spoonful can go into your morning coffee, a bowl of porridge or a pan of soup. It is the most flexible format we sell, and it is a favourite with people who like to cook. Like every functional mushroom, these powders are not psychoactive. Because you can see and taste powder, it is also the easiest format for telling one mushroom from another.

Seven powders to choose from

Our range covers Lion's Mane, Reishi, Chaga, Shiitake, Maitake, Oyster and Agaricus. Lion's mane powder is the one people ask about most, with Reishi mushroom powder close behind. Each powder is a single product with a choice of size. Six of them cost £26.99 for 60g or £44 for 120g. Agaricus, which we source from Brazil, costs £29.99 for 60g or £52 for 120g. Lion's Mane is the shaggy white Hericium erinaceus, Reishi is the glossy bracket fungus known in Chinese as Ling Zhi, and Chaga is the charcoal-coloured growth found on birch. Cordyceps powder is coming soon.

What each powder tastes like

Taste is the biggest difference between powders, so it is worth knowing before you buy. Lion's Mane is mild and easy to hide in almost anything. Reishi is bitter, the same bitterness people have known since it was first simmered as tea, so it pairs best with strong flavours. Chaga mushroom powder is mild and earthy with a hint of vanilla, and the Chaga itself is wild-harvested from birch. Shiitake mushroom powder brings a deep umami note to savoury food. Maitake is prized in Japanese cooking, Oyster has a mild taste, and Agaricus is known for its almond scent.

Ideas for using mushroom powder

Follow the serving on the label, then choose a drink or dish to carry it. Stir it into coffee or hot chocolate once the drink is made. Blend it into a smoothie with banana or berries. Mix it through porridge or overnight oats. Whisk it into soups, stews, gravies and pasta sauces near the end of cooking. As a rule of thumb, the savoury mushrooms such as Shiitake and Maitake shine in food, while milder ones like Lion's Mane go almost anywhere. Shiitake powder makes a quick savoury seasoning for gravy or noodle broth, and Chaga sits nicely in a mug of hot chocolate.

60g or 120g?

Every powder comes in two sizes. The 60g size is a sensible way to try a new mushroom and find out how you get on with the taste. The 120g size works out cheaper per gram, so it suits a mushroom you already know you like. Any 120g powder also takes you past our free UK shipping threshold of £30 on its own. If you want two different mushrooms, two 60g sizes will do the same. Whichever size you pick, the powder inside is the same, and like everything we sell it is lab tested.

How to choose the best mushroom powder in the UK

• Drinks: Pick a mild powder such as Lion's Mane or Chaga if you want it to blend quietly into coffee or smoothies.
• Cooking: Choose Shiitake, Maitake or Oyster if you mostly use it in savoury food.
• Bold flavours: Reishi is bitter, so save it for dark coffee, cocoa or a spiced hot drink.
• Size: Start with 60g to test the taste, then move to 120g for better value.
• Price: Most powders are £26.99 or £44. Agaricus is £29.99 or £52.

Powder, capsules or coffee?

Powder is the most hands-on choice. If you would rather not taste the mushroom at all, mushroom capsules are quicker. If coffee is already part of your day, mushroom coffee blends ground coffee with one mushroom and one herb, ready to brew in a cafetière. Plenty of people keep a powder in the kitchen for cooking and use another format on busy mornings. Our products are lab tested, and we ship across the UK, with free delivery on orders over £30. For background on each mushroom, read our functional mushrooms guide.