Browse mushroom products and you'll see two words used a lot: powder and extract. They sound similar, but they're made differently, taste different and are used in different ways. Here's how to tell them apart and which one suits you.
UK law only allows authorised health claims to be made about foods, so this guide sticks to taste, preparation and how to use each product.
The quick answer
| Mushroom powder | Mushroom extract | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The whole dried mushroom, finely milled | A concentrate made by steeping the mushroom, then drying the liquid |
| Texture | Fine powder with some fibre; doesn't fully dissolve | Very fine; dissolves easily in hot drinks |
| Taste | Fuller, earthier | More concentrated, can be more bitter |
| Amount used | Usually more per serving | Usually less per serving |
| Best for | Cooking, baking, smoothies, larger sizes | Coffee, tea and drinks where you want it to disappear |
What is mushroom powder?
Mushroom powder is simply the mushroom, dried and milled. Nothing is removed, so you get the whole mushroom, including its fibre. That gives it a fuller, earthier flavour and a slightly grainy texture in drinks. It's great stirred into smoothies, porridge, soups, sauces and bakes, where texture doesn't matter.
Our mushroom powders, including lion's mane, reishi, chaga, cordyceps and turkey tail, are made this way from the fruiting body.
What is mushroom extract?
To make an extract, the dried mushroom is steeped in hot water (a hot water extraction). Some producers also use alcohol in a second step, which is called a dual extraction. The liquid is then filtered and dried back into a powder. The fibrous material is left behind, so the result is more concentrated and dissolves much more easily.
The GoMush® extract powders are made from mushroom fruiting bodies and come in 60g tins: lion's mane, chaga, reishi, cordyceps and turkey tail.
Fruiting body or mycelium?
Whether it's a powder or an extract, check what part of the mushroom was used:
- Fruiting body is the mushroom you'd recognise: the cap, stem or bracket.
- Mycelium is the root-like network the mushroom grows from. It's often grown on grain, and some products include that grain in the finished powder.
Labels that say "fruiting body" tell you it's the mushroom itself. If a label says "mycelium" or "myceliated grain", some of what you're buying may be the grain it was grown on.
How to read the label
- Extraction ratio (e.g. 10:1): this means roughly 10kg of dried mushroom was used to make 1kg of extract. It tells you how concentrated it is, not how good it is.
- Polysaccharide or beta-glucan percentage: some extracts list this as a measure of what's in the finished powder. Compare like with like, as testing methods vary.
- Ingredients list: look for 100% mushroom, with no fillers, starches or carriers.
- Recommended daily amount: extracts sold as food supplements must show one. Stick to it.
How much should I use?
Always follow the directions on the product you buy, because powders and extracts are used in different amounts. As a rough guide, people start with half to one teaspoon of powder, and a smaller amount of extract, then adjust to taste within the label's recommended amount.
Which should I choose?
- Choose a powder if you want to cook and bake with it, like a fuller mushroom flavour, or want larger sizes for regular use.
- Choose an extract if you mainly add it to coffee or tea and want it to dissolve completely.
- Choose mushroom coffee pods if you want it done for you. See our guide to mushroom coffee pods for Nespresso® Original.
Want to know more about individual mushrooms? Read our guide to mushroom powders, or our mushroom coffee guide.
Good to know
Don't use mushroom products if you've ever reacted to mushrooms. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, take medication or have a health condition, speak to your GP or pharmacist before use.
