Mushroom powders are simply mushrooms that have been dried and finely milled. They're an easy way to add mushrooms to drinks and food, especially varieties that are too tough or woody to cook with fresh. This guide covers eight of the most popular types, how they taste and how to use them.

What are mushroom powders?

To make a mushroom powder, the mushroom is cleaned, dried and ground into a fine powder. Some mushrooms, like shiitake, are everyday cooking ingredients. Others, like reishi, chaga and turkey tail, are too hard to eat whole, so they have traditionally been simmered as teas, and powder is the easiest way to use them at home.

8 types of mushroom powder

Reishi

A glossy, reddish-brown mushroom that grows on hardwood trees, known as lingzhi in China. Taste: Very bitter and woody. Try it in: Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and savoury broths. Shop reishi powder

Lion's mane

A shaggy, white mushroom with long, hanging spines, which is where its name comes from. Taste: Mild, slightly sweet and savoury. The easiest to start with. Try it in: Coffee, porridge, smoothies, soups and baking. Shop lion's mane powder

Chaga

A dark, crusty growth found on birch trees in cold northern forests. Taste: Earthy, with a hint of vanilla. Try it in: Tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Shop chaga powder

Turkey tail

A thin, fan-shaped mushroom with striped bands of colour like a turkey's tail. Taste: Earthy and mildly bitter. Try it in: Tea, chai, broths and smoothies. Shop turkey tail powder

Cordyceps

A bright orange, club-shaped mushroom. Taste: Mild, earthy and slightly savoury. Try it in: Coffee, smoothies and hot drinks. Shop cordyceps powder

Shiitake

The familiar cooking mushroom with a brown cap, widely used in Japanese and Chinese food. Taste: Rich, savoury and full of umami. Try it in: Soups, stews, gravies, sauces and seasoning blends. Shop shiitake powder

Maitake

A frilly, clustered mushroom also called hen of the woods. Taste: Rich, earthy and savoury. Try it in: Soups, risottos, stir-fries and broths. Shop maitake powder

Agaricus blazei

A relative of the common button mushroom, with a sweet, almond-like aroma. Taste: Mild, nutty and slightly sweet. Try it in: Smoothies, porridge, soups and baking. Shop Agaricus blazei powder

Which mushroom powder should I start with?

If you're new to mushroom powders, lion's mane is the mildest and easiest to use. For cooking, shiitake and maitake add a rich, savoury depth to soups and sauces. If you like strong, bitter flavours such as dark chocolate and black coffee, try reishi or chaga.

What to look for when buying mushroom powder

• Fruiting body, mycelium or extract: check the label. A fruiting body powder is made from the mushroom itself; mycelium is the root-like network; an extract has been concentrated. These are different products.
• Ingredients: a single-mushroom powder should list that mushroom and nothing else.
• Organic certification: look for a certification logo if organic matters to you.

How to use mushroom powders

• Stir into coffee, tea, chai or hot chocolate
• Blend into smoothies
• Mix into porridge, overnight oats or yoghurt
• Add to soups, stews, gravies and sauces
• Bake into muffins, brownies or bliss balls

For recipes, see how to take lion's mane powder, 7 ways to use reishi and 6 turkey tail recipes.

Before you start

Mushroom powders aren't suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for children. Speak to your GP or pharmacist before using them if you take any medication or have a health condition, don't use them if you've ever reacted to mushrooms, and don't exceed the serving suggestion on the pack.

Browse all our mushroom powders.