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How to Use Turkey Tail Mushroom Powder: 6 Easy Recipes
Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) is a thin, fan-shaped mushroom with striped bands of colour that look like a turkey's tail feathers. It grows on dead wood and is too tough and leathery to eat whole, which is why it's traditionally simmered as a tea or dried and milled into powder. Turkey tail mushroom powder has an earthy, slightly bitter taste, so it works best in drinks and dishes with plenty of other flavour. Here's how to use it.
The quick answer
The easiest way to use turkey tail mushroom powder is to stir a small amount into a hot drink, such as tea, coffee, chai or hot chocolate, or blend it into a smoothie. Start with a little and follow the serving suggestion on your pack.
1. Classic turkey tail tea
Stir the powder into a mug of just-boiled water and leave it to steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Add a slice of fresh ginger, a squeeze of lemon and a teaspoon of honey. For a stronger brew, simmer it gently in a small pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then strain through a fine sieve.
2. Turkey tail smoothie bowl
You'll need: 1 frozen banana, a cup of mixed berries, a splash of milk, turkey tail powder, and toppings such as granola, seeds and sliced fruit. Blend the banana, berries, milk and powder until thick, pour into a bowl and add your toppings.
3. Turkey tail chai latte
Brew a strong chai tea, then whisk in warm milk, turkey tail powder and a little honey or maple syrup. The warming spices in chai complement the earthy flavour well.
4. Mushroom hot chocolate
Whisk cacao powder, turkey tail powder and a sweetener into warm milk until smooth. Add a pinch of cinnamon or a drop of vanilla for extra depth.
5. Savoury mushroom broth
Stir turkey tail powder into a pan of vegetable or chicken stock with garlic, ginger and a splash of soy sauce or miso. Simmer for a few minutes and use as a sipping broth or a base for noodle soups.
6. Cacao bliss balls
Blitz oats, dates, cacao powder, nut butter and a little turkey tail powder in a food processor. Roll into balls and chill for an easy snack.
Tips for cooking with turkey tail powder
- Mix the powder with a splash of liquid first to avoid lumps.
- Strong flavours such as cacao, coffee, ginger and chai work best alongside it.
- Add it towards the end when making soups and sauces.
How to store it
Keep the pouch sealed in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, and use a dry spoon each time.
Before you start
Turkey tail powder is sold as a food ingredient. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, have a health condition or have ever reacted to mushrooms, speak to a healthcare professional before adding it to your diet.
Shop our Organic Turkey Tail Mushroom Powder, or browse all our mushroom powders.
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How to Take Lion's Mane Powder: 7 Easy Ways to Use It
Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) is an edible mushroom with shaggy, cascading spines. Dried and finely milled, it becomes a pale beige powder with a gentle, earthy flavour that blends easily into drinks and food. If you've just bought a pouch and are wondering how to take lion's mane powder, the short answer is: stir it into something you already eat or drink every day. Here are seven easy ways to do it.
The quick answer
Mix a small amount of lion's mane powder into a hot or cold drink, a smoothie or your cooking, once a day as part of your normal routine. Start with a little and follow the serving suggestion on your pack. Because the flavour is mild, most people find it easiest in coffee, lattes, hot chocolate and smoothies.
1. Stir it into your coffee
Add the powder to your cup before pouring in the coffee, then stir well, or use a small milk frother for a completely smooth drink. Lion's mane pairs nicely with a pinch of cinnamon or a drop of vanilla. It works with filter coffee, espresso-based drinks and instant coffee alike.
2. Make a lion's mane latte
Warm a mug of your favourite milk, oat and almond both work well. Whisk in the powder with a little cinnamon and a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup, then froth until silky. It makes a comforting warm drink any time of day.
3. Blend it into a smoothie
Smoothies are one of the easiest ways to use lion's mane powder because the other ingredients carry the flavour. Try banana, a spoonful of nut butter, oats and milk, or add it to a berry and yoghurt smoothie. Add the powder with the liquid so it blends in evenly.
4. Mix it into hot chocolate or cacao
The earthy notes of lion's mane sit naturally with chocolate. Whisk it into a mug of hot chocolate, or make your own with cacao powder, warm milk and a little sweetener.
5. Stir it into soups, broths and sauces
For savoury dishes, stir lion's mane powder into soups, stews, gravies or a miso broth towards the end of cooking. Its mild, savoury flavour disappears into the dish while adding a little depth.
6. Bake it into muffins, bliss balls or granola
Mix the powder into the dry ingredients of muffins, banana bread, flapjacks or homemade granola so it's evenly spread through the mixture. No-bake bliss balls made with oats, dates and nut butter are another simple option.
7. Shake it with water or juice
If you prefer something quick, add the powder to a glass of water or juice and shake it in a lidded bottle. Orange and apple juice help round off the earthy taste.
Tips for smooth, lump-free mixing
- Make a paste first: mix the powder with a splash of liquid, then top up.
- Use a milk frother or small whisk for hot drinks.
- For smoothies, add the powder with the liquid rather than on top of the ice.
- Stir hot drinks again just before drinking, as fine powders can settle.
What does lion's mane powder taste like?
Lion's mane powder has a mild, earthy and slightly savoury flavour. On its own in water it tastes gently of mushroom, which is why most people prefer it in coffee, chocolate or smoothies where other flavours take the lead.
How to store lion's mane powder
Keep the pouch sealed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, and use a dry spoon each time so moisture doesn't cause clumping.
Before you start
Lion's mane powder is sold as a food ingredient. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, have a health condition or have ever reacted to mushrooms, speak to a healthcare professional before adding it to your diet.
Ready to try it? Shop our Organic Lion's Mane Mushroom Powder, available in sizes from small pouches to larger bags, or browse all our mushroom powders.
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2 Easy Vegan Spring Recipes: Wild Rice Salad and Creamy Pasta Salad
Spring is the perfect time to fill a basket with fresh greens and get cooking. These two vegan recipes are colourful, simple and full of spring flavour: one warm, one cold, and both made mostly from pantry staples.
One-pan wild rice and mushroom salad
Serves 2 to 3
Ingredients
- 150 g white mushrooms, chopped
- 1 tsp oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 180 g (1 cup) wild rice and 750 ml water
- 2 large handfuls of baby spinach
- To garnish: chopped spring onions, coriander or parsley
For the tahini dressing: 2 tbsp tahini, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp maple syrup, a pinch of salt and 2 to 3 tbsp water to loosen.
Method
- Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the mushrooms and garlic for a few minutes until browned.
- Add the wild rice and water. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat down, cover and simmer for 40 to 45 minutes until the rice is tender. Drain any excess water.
- While the rice cooks, whisk the dressing ingredients together until smooth.
- Stir the dressing through the cooked rice and mushrooms.
- Add the spinach and stir until it just wilts.
- Serve topped with spring onions, coriander or parsley.
Creamy pasta salad with edamame and red cabbage
Serves 1
Ingredients
- 1 serving of your favourite pasta
- 50 g frozen edamame beans
- 75 to 150 g red cabbage, finely chopped
- Chopped spring onions and black pepper, to serve
For the 4-ingredient cashew cream: 60 g cashews (soaked in hot water for 15 minutes, then drained), 60 ml water, 1 tbsp lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Blend until completely smooth.
Method
- Make the cashew cream and set it aside.
- Cook the pasta following the pack instructions, adding the edamame for the last 2 to 3 minutes.
- Drain, rinse under cold water and tip into a bowl.
- Add the red cabbage and stir through as much cashew cream as you like.
- Serve topped with spring onions and black pepper.
Stock up on pantry staples like nuts and seeds and quinoa, or find more ideas in our 5 easy superfood recipes.
