Energy & Endurance

Mushrooms for energy: Cordyceps, Maitake and mushroom coffee

Quick answer: When people search for mushrooms for energy, Cordyceps is usually the one they have in mind: a bright orange fungus with a long history in the mountain regions of Tibet and China. Ours is the cultivated species Cordyceps militaris, and we also sell Maitake, the "dancing mushroom" of Japanese cooking. Research is ongoing and no mushroom holds an authorised health claim in the UK, so instead of promises you will find Cordyceps capsules, Endurance Mushroom Coffee and Maitake capsules and powder, with honest notes on each.

Key facts

• Our Cordyceps: Cordyceps militaris, a related species to wild Cordyceps sinensis that can be cultivated.
• Traditional use: Cordyceps has long been used in Tibetan and Chinese traditional practice.
• Maitake: Grifola frondosa, or hen of the woods. Its Japanese name means "dancing mushroom".
• Caffeine: Endurance Mushroom Coffee is real ground coffee, so it contains caffeine.
• Formats and prices: Cordyceps 60 capsules £25.49, Endurance coffee £18.49, Maitake 90 capsules £24.80, Maitake powder from £26.99.
• Testing and delivery: Our products are lab tested, with free UK delivery on orders over £30.

Cordyceps for energy: where does the idea come from?

Cordyceps has a long story in the high mountain regions of Tibet and China, where it has been part of traditional practice for generations. Its bright orange colour and unusual history have made it one of the best-known functional mushrooms, and it is the main reason this collection exists.

A long tradition is worth knowing about, but it is not evidence. We group Cordyceps here because it is what people look for under this heading. The page title is a way to browse, not a promise about how you will feel.

Like all our mushrooms, Cordyceps is a functional mushroom and is not psychoactive. It has a mild, slightly earthy taste that blends easily into coffee and warm drinks.

Why Cordyceps militaris and not Cordyceps sinensis?

Wild Cordyceps sinensis grows at high altitude on the Tibetan Plateau. It is rare, hard to collect and very costly. Cordyceps militaris is a related species that can be cultivated, which makes it far more practical for everyday supplements.

Our Cordyceps is Cordyceps militaris. If you see a low-priced product sold as wild sinensis, it is worth asking questions. For more about the species, visit our main Cordyceps supplements page.

Where does Maitake fit in?

Maitake (Grifola frondosa) grows in frilly clusters at the base of oak trees, which is why it is also called hen of the woods. In Japanese its name means "dancing mushroom", and it is prized in Japanese cooking. It has been part of traditional Asian practice for centuries. Its Chinese name is Hui Shu Hua.

We include Maitake here for people who want a second mushroom to explore alongside Cordyceps. It comes as 90 vegetable capsules for £24.80 or as powder in 60g for £26.99 or 120g for £44.

What does the research say?

Researchers are studying both Cordyceps and Maitake, and new papers come out regularly. Most of the work so far is early-stage: laboratory studies, animal studies and small trials in people. That is a normal stage of science, but it does not tell anyone what a supplement will do for them.

In Great Britain, food supplements may only use health claims on the official register of authorised nutrition and health claims. No mushroom has an authorised claim. So we do not say Cordyceps or Maitake gives you energy, and we suggest a little caution with anyone who does.

Cordyceps coffee, capsules or powder?

Endurance Mushroom Coffee is our cordyceps coffee. It is proper ground coffee, not instant, blended with Cordyceps and Siberian ginseng, at £18.49 for 60g. You just swap it for your usual brew, which makes it the most popular way to start. It works in a cafetière, filter, moka pot or pour-over, hot or iced. Because it is real coffee it contains caffeine, and that caffeine comes from the coffee beans, not the mushroom. Compare it with our other blends in the mushroom coffee range.

Cordyceps capsules come in pots of 60 vegan vegetable capsules for £25.49. They suit anyone who wants Cordyceps without caffeine or without changing their drinks. A Cordyceps powder is coming soon.

Maitake capsules and powder give you a second option, with powder suiting smoothies, soups and sauces. See the full mushroom powder collection.

How do you take Cordyceps supplements, and when?

Follow the serving on the label of whichever product you choose. Capsules, powder and coffee all have their own servings. If you are watching your caffeine intake, count the Endurance coffee as a normal cup of coffee.

Many people take Cordyceps with breakfast before a busy day. The simplest route is the coffee: brew Endurance Mushroom Coffee in place of your usual one and nothing else about your morning changes. Capsule takers often keep the pot by the kettle so it becomes part of the same routine. Maitake powder can go into a breakfast smoothie or, later in the day, a soup.

What do Cordyceps and Maitake taste like?

Cordyceps has a mild, slightly earthy taste, which is why it disappears so easily into a cup of coffee. In capsules you will not taste it at all. Maitake is more savoury, closer to the flavour of a cooked mushroom, so its powder tends to suit soups, stews, sauces and savoury porridge better than sweet drinks. If you are unsure, start with capsules and move to powder once you know what you like. Store powder sealed in a cool, dry cupboard.

Buying checklist

• Species: Check whether you are buying Cordyceps militaris or sinensis. Ours is militaris.
• Caffeine: Choose the coffee if you drink coffee anyway, or capsules if you want to avoid caffeine.
• Testing: Look for lab testing. Our products are lab tested.
• Claims: Be cautious about energy promises. No mushroom has an authorised health claim in the UK.
• Value: Compare price per serving, not just per pot.