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You can make mushroom tea at home in about 20 minutes with just dried mushrooms, hot water, and your favorite tea or flavorings.
It’s a simple process that extracts the beneficial compounds from the mushrooms into a warm, soothing drink.
Whether you’re using culinary mushrooms like reishi, chaga, or lion’s mane, or you’re exploring functional blends, making mushroom tea at home is both easy and rewarding.
In this post, we’ll cover exactly how to make mushroom tea at home, the best methods for different mushroom types, and a few tips to get the most out of every cup.
Let’s get started.
How To Make Mushroom Tea At Home: The Basics
When you learn how to make mushroom tea at home, the first thing to understand is that not all mushrooms are treated the same way.
Some mushrooms, like reishi and chaga, have tough, woody structures that need a long simmer to release their beneficial compounds.
Others, like lion’s mane or turkey tail, can be steeped more like a regular tea, though a longer steep time still helps.
The key to making mushroom tea at home is matching your method to the mushroom you have on hand.
1. Choose Your Mushroom
The first step in how to make mushroom tea at home is picking the right mushroom powder or dried pieces.
Dried whole mushrooms or slices work great, but they require a longer simmer.
Mushroom powders, on the other hand, dissolve quickly and are perfect for a fast cup of tea.
If you want to make mushroom tea at home with reishi or chaga, go for the powder or small chunks.
If you’re using lion’s mane or cordyceps, powder is the easiest option because it blends smoothly into hot water.
2. Simmer Versus Steep
When you make mushroom tea at home, you’ll hear two terms: simmering and steeping.
Simmering means keeping the water just below boiling for 10 to 20 minutes.
Steeping means pouring hot water over the mushrooms and letting them sit, like you would with regular tea leaves.
Hard mushrooms like reishi need a simmer to extract the good stuff.
Soft mushrooms like lion’s mane can be steeped, but a quick simmer still gives a stronger cup.
The easiest way to make mushroom tea at home is to simmer everything for 15 minutes and then strain.
3. Add a Tea Base
Mushroom tea on its own can taste earthy and slightly bitter.
To make mushroom tea at home that you’ll actually enjoy, add a tea bag or loose leaf tea to the pot.
Green tea, black tea, or even a mint or chamomile blend pairs beautifully with mushrooms.
This not only improves the flavor but also adds an extra layer of antioxidants.
So when you make mushroom tea at home, think of the mushrooms as the star and the tea as the supporting actor.
Step-By-Step: How To Make Mushroom Tea At Home
Now let’s walk through a simple recipe so you can make mushroom tea at home without any guesswork.
What You’ll Need
You’ll need 1 teaspoon of mushroom powder or 1 tablespoon of dried mushroom pieces.
You’ll also need 2 cups of water and 1 tea bag of your choice.
Optional add-ins include honey, lemon, ginger, or a splash of oat milk.
Having these on hand makes it easy to make mushroom tea at home whenever the craving hits.
Step 1: Bring Water to a Gentle Boil
Start by heating 2 cups of water in a small saucepan or kettle.
You want the water hot but not rolling or boiling aggressively.
A gentle boil is around 200°F, just before a full rolling boil.
This temperature is perfect when you make mushroom tea at home because it extracts compounds without destroying them.
Step 2: Add the Mushrooms
Once the water is hot, add your mushroom powder or dried pieces.
Stir immediately so the powder doesn’t clump at the bottom of the pot.
If you’re using dried pieces, just drop them in and give the water a gentle stir.
This step is where the magic happens when you make mushroom tea at home.
Step 3: Simmer for 10–15 Minutes
Turn the heat down to low and let the mixture simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes.
If you’re using reishi or chaga, aim for the full 15 minutes, or even 20.
The longer you simmer, the stronger and more beneficial your tea will be.
Keep the lid on the pot to retain heat and water volume.
Step 4: Add Your Tea Bag
During the last 5 minutes of simmering, add your tea bag to the pot.
This allows the tea leaves to infuse without becoming bitter from over-steeping.
Stir occasionally to make sure everything is well combined.
This is an easy trick to make mushroom tea at home taste like a gourmet blend.
Step 5: Strain and Sweeten
After simmering, remove the pot from the heat and strain the tea into your favorite mug.
If you used powder, you can skip straining and just stir well before drinking.
Add honey, lemon, or ginger to taste.
And that’s all there is to it when you make mushroom tea at home.
How To Make Mushroom Tea At Home With Different Mushroom Types
The method above works for most mushrooms, but some require small tweaks.
Let’s break it down by type so you know exactly how to make mushroom tea at home with what you have.
Reishi and Chaga
Reishi and chaga are the toughest mushrooms to extract from.
To make mushroom tea at home with these, you need a long simmer of 30 to 40 minutes.
You can also use a slow cooker or a thermos to keep them hot for hours.
These mushrooms have a bitter, woody flavor, so add plenty of honey or cinnamon.
Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps
These are much easier to work with.
You can make mushroom tea at home with lion’s mane by simply steeping the powder in hot water for 10 minutes.
No simmering is needed, though a short simmer still works.
They have a milder, almost savory flavor that pairs well with chai spices or vanilla.
Turkey Tail
Turkey tail is another mushroom that benefits from a longer simmer.
Aim for at least 20 minutes when you make mushroom tea at home with turkey tail pieces.
If you have powder, 10 minutes of steeping is usually enough.
Turkey tail has a neutral, slightly earthy taste, so it’s a great canvas for other flavors.
Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Mushroom Tea
Making mushroom tea at home is easy, but a few small tricks make a big difference.
1. Always Use Hot Water, Not Boiling
Boiling water can destroy some heat-sensitive compounds.
Keep the water just below boiling to preserve the full spectrum of benefits.
This simple adjustment helps you make mushroom tea at home that’s both tasty and potent.
2. Don’t Skip the Fat
Some mushroom compounds are fat-soluble, meaning they dissolve better in fats.
Adding a splash of coconut milk, oat milk, or a small pat of butter to your tea can boost absorption.
This is a pro trick to make mushroom tea at home more effective.
3. Reuse Your Mushrooms
If you’re using dried pieces instead of powder, you can steep them twice.
After your first cup, just add more hot water and simmer again for a weaker but still beneficial second cup.
This way, every batch helps you make mushroom tea at home more economically.
So, How Do You Make Mushroom Tea At Home?
You can make mushroom tea at home easily by simmering dried mushrooms or powder in hot water for 10 to 20 minutes, then adding a tea bag and sweetener.
The process is forgiving, and you can adapt it to any mushroom you have.
Whether you prefer reishi for relaxation or lion’s mane for focus, the method stays basically the same.
Now that you know how to make mushroom tea at home, you can experiment with different mushrooms, flavors, and steep times to find your perfect cup.
Grab your favorite mug and enjoy the earthy, warming comfort of homemade mushroom tea.