Functional Mushrooms, Explained (Without the Hype)

"Functional mushrooms" is everywhere right now: in coffee, gummies, chocolate and protein powder. Here's what the term means, minus the hype.

What is a functional mushroom?

It's a common name for mushrooms people use for more than flavor. Lion's Mane, Reishi, Chaga and Turkey Tail are the usual examples. Many have been eaten or brewed into tea for centuries, especially across East Asia and northern Europe.

And no, they're not "magic" mushrooms. None of the mushrooms in MycoProtein are psychoactive.

The five in your scoop

• Shiitake. The fermenter. Its mycelium ferments our pea and rice protein. A kitchen staple in East Asia for over a thousand years. Known for: immune support.*
• Lion's Mane. Shaggy and white, with a texture cooks compare to crab. Known for: focus support.*
• Reishi. A glossy, red-brown shelf mushroom that people have brewed into tea for centuries. Known for: stress support.*
• Turkey Tail. Named for its striped, fan-shaped rings. It grows on fallen logs almost everywhere. Known for: digestive support.*
• Chaga. A dark, crusty growth found on birch trees in cold northern forests. Known for: heart health support.*

How to read a mushroom label

A few things worth checking on any mushroom product:

• Which part is used. Fruiting body, mycelium or both. Ours: Reishi, Lion's Mane and Turkey Tail are fruiting bodies, Chaga is mycelium, and Shiitake mycelium ferments the protein.
• Where they're grown. Ours are 100% USA-sourced.
• What else is in it. Read the full ingredient list, not just the front of the bag. Ours is right on the product page.

How to use them

The easiest way is to fold them into something you already do every day, like a morning shake or coffee. That's the whole idea behind MycoProtein: five mushrooms, one scoop. Try it in one of our recipes.