Myth Or Magic Brew: Why Mushroom Coffee Is The Newest Health Fad

Have you heard the words mushroom and coffee used together by an influencer you follow on social media? Well, you¡¯ve just been introduced to the latest fad in nutritional drinks: the mushroom coffee ¡°revolution¡±. It claims to include the health benefits of different varieties of mushrooms, is low on caffeine, and doesn¡¯t produce the crash that comes with the consumption of the original beverage. But does it have the same health benefits as adding mushrooms to your regular diet? Well, the jury¡¯s still out on that.

Mushroom coffee is only the latest entrant in a long legacy of faddish health drinks. It was wheatgrass powder at first, followed by green smoothies with raw kale, ¡°vitamin water¡± and turmeric infusions, and even coconut-oil-laced ¡°bulletproof coffee¡±. As far as health fads go, the average beverage gets an upgrade every few months, and this time, the humble fungi in its extracted powder form has made it to your brew.

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The trend has been around in the US and other Western countries for the last few years and has only recently hit India. A little digging into the history of mushroom coffee reveals that the concept isn¡¯t new at all. Adaptogens have been a big part of traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Medicinal mushrooms in coffee were used to treat ailments like stress and fatigue, among others.

It was also used in Finland during the Second World War, when essentials like sugar and coffee were rationed closely. The native Finnish chaga mushroom would be steeped overnight for a black morning brew that could supplement the morning coffee.

Shivam Hingorani, founder of Mumbai-based Ace Blend, one of the few Indian mushroom coffee brands, claims the knowledge is older and, in fact, dates back to the Vedas. ¡°Since modern science, clinical studies, and controlled trials weren¡¯t a part of their process back then, these mushrooms were simply considered magical,¡± he told me.

The Fuss Around Mushroom Coffee

Mushroom coffee is quite literally that: a blend of mushroom extracts with Arabica coffee. It is produced using medicinal mushrooms like chaga, lion¡¯s mane, cordyceps, and reishi. It has a range of active properties that give you results like greater focus, reduced anxiety and relaxation, and improved immunity. The taste of the coffee remains largely unchanged.

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Mushroom coffee is available in powder form, as instant or ground coffee, and can be brewed just as you would your daily cuppa. What if you are the type who scoffs at instant blends? Hingorani claimed that they use standardised caffeine extracts, not powders like in instant coffee, catering to the coffee conscious too. ¡°Mushroom coffee is for anyone and everyone who loves to have coffee and wants the same taste. But it is much healthier,¡± explained Rakesh Bhatnagar, founder of Rooted Active Naturals, another Indian seller of mushroom coffee. It was to produce nutrient-rich, easy-to-consume superfoods that led Bhatnagar to found the company in 2020.

The mention of mushroom coffee might conjure up all kinds of images, including one with floating fungi in a muddied cup. However, both Bhatnagar and Hingorani tell us that mushroom coffee isn¡¯t all that. ¡°It tastes 95 percent like regular coffee, and if a person is not aware that s/he is having mushroom coffee, they won¡¯t find any difference,¡± said Bhatnagar. Hingorani called mushroom coffee ¡°a warm embrace in a cup¡±, stating that it¡¯s aromatic, nutty, and flavorful.

At this point, it may all sound too good to be true. But there¡¯s more. Mushroom coffee is available in different variants. Which means you can choose the function or the bioactivity you want from your coffee. While some brands offer a single variety that helps with immunity, focus, and energy, those like Ace Blends have targeted ones that can be consumed at different times of the day. For instance, cordyceps mushroom coffee acts as an energiser, while reishi mushroom coffee calms your mind and puts you in a restful state.

Naren Sundaravaradan, a Bengaluru-based software engineer, tried mushroom coffee out of curiosity. He brewed it as a hot latte, expecting savoury notes. ¡°But that wasn¡¯t the case. I would compare it to instant protein powders with notes of coffee in them. It had a nutty taste and smell,¡± he told me. After having the instant mushroom coffee brew for a month, his preference for regular filter coffee took him right back to the decoction.

Is Mushroom Coffee Healthier?

The internet is filled with paeans to the benefits of mushroom coffee, and brands are capitalising on them. When we asked nutritionist and author Ishi Khosla about the fuss over mushroom coffee, she said, ¡°Mushrooms have been known to have immunity-boosting properties and several other health benefits. Caffeine has valuable benefits too. So it would be a low-calorie way of supplementing your body.¡± She added that, as a trend, it could be compared to the rise of bulletproof coffee that blended caffeine with a nutrient source like coconut oil.

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However, Khosla cautioned that the source and the quality of mushrooms are important and can greatly impact what you derive from them. Shraddha Vijan, a senior registered dietician at a Mumbai hospital, termed it yet another nutritional fad. ¡°There is a lot of data available on the nutritional value of mushrooms, but not as much research on this method of consuming them,¡± she said, adding that the high cost of these beverages should be weighed against the supposed benefits. ¡°I would also keep in mind a person¡¯s gastrointestinal issues and tolerance for mushrooms before trying it out.¡± Vijan said that those who take well to mushrooms could try it as an option, but that it shouldn¡¯t replace eating mushrooms.

While nutritionists may be wary, mushroom coffee in India has a niche but growing market. Ace Blends, which began its mushroom coffee offerings less than two months ago, reports "100% month-on-month growth¡±. ¡°We have sold over 2,00,000 brews with a retention rate of 35% in a short span of time,¡± Hingorani said. Bhatnagar, too, pins growth numbers at 25% every quarter and is gearing up to launch a host of new flavours.

Going by these figures and the entry of new brands into the market, the future of coffee, as we can tell, is healthier and nuttier. Bhatnagar also predicts the entry of 15-20 new brands in the segment, with new variants and flavours. The next step, according to Hingorani, is proliferation in the caf¨¦ space. ¡°We believe this is not a trend but a revolution. If modern cafes and bistros don¡¯t offer a wellness section on their menus soon, they will come across as outdated,¡± he said. The future may well be fungible.