How to make mushroom tea

Ötzi the ice man

Thirty years ago, a German tourist named Helmut Simon was hiking in the Tirolean Ötztal Alps, between Italy and Austria. Taking in the gorgeous scenery, he was totally unaware that the accidental discovery he was about to make would change anthropological science forever.

Coming to a rocky hollow, Helmut stumbled upon the mummified remains of a human body. Scientists would later discover that the strange, perfectly preserved figure dated back to 3300 BC. This makes ‘Ötzi’, as the body was nicknamed, over 5000 years old, and a denizen of the Copper Age.

Judging by the items found with Ötzi upon his discovery, he had led quite a life. 61 tattoos mark his body along joints and modern acupuncture points. During his lifetime, he appears to have suffered a broken nose and several broken ribs.

He carried a copper axe and a deerskin quiver, along with a supply of arrows. A lump of smouldering charcoal wrapped in maple leaves made it easy for him to start a fire quickly when he stopped to rest.

Scientists have a few theories about how Ötzi came to be in his final resting place. However the original researchers believed that he had been shot in the shoulder with an arrow and bled to death, simply remaining where he died until he was covered by ice flows.

Others suggest that he may have been deliberately buried there by his people as a kind of territorial marking.(1)(2)(3)

Ötzi and his mushrooms

Ötzi now resides in a special, carefully monitored cold chamber at the South Tyrol Museum of Archeology. He receives around 300,000 visitors per year, and is the regular subject of scientific study.

But why are we talking about Ötzi the iceman in an article about mushroom tea?

Well, as it turns out, Ötzi may well have been taking advantage of medicinal mushrooms himself, demonstrating just how long we have been using these fabulous fungi to nourish and heal ourselves.

Among Ötzi’s possessions, researchers found a girdle bag containing Fomes fomentarius (‘true tinder bracket’ fungus) and two pieces of Piptoporus betulinus mushroom mounted on a leather thong.(4)

It looks like the ‘true tinder bracket’ fungus was used primarily as tinder, but may also have been useful as a wound compress.

However scientists believe that Ötzi was using Piptoporus betulinus medicinally. In more modern times, this fungus has a long history of this kind of use, from Russia to Great Britain. It has been described as having anti-fatigue, soothing and immune-enhancing effects.

Why was Ötzi carrying around Piptoporus betulinus? It appears that he may have been consuming it to treat an ailment.(4)

How we use mushroom tea today

Before the advent of modern science, mushroom teas were hugely popular in folk medicine.(4) People used them to treat a wide variety of ailments.

However, in the modern day, with the benefit of targeted medicines for specific diseases, mushroom tea has taken on a new role.

That is, we tend to drink it now as a way to help support our body’s natural health. Rather than using them as a treatment for illness, medicinal mushrooms are becoming more popular as a regular part of our wellness routine.

Throughout most of the period that humans have been drinking mushroom tea, we’ve been making it simply by steeping the mushroom in hot water.

However, we’ve also been experimenting with flavour combinations that bring out the best in the mushroom. Below, we have some great ideas for how to make your mushroom tea a little bit more special.

Benefits of drinking mushroom tea

Mushroom tea is a great addition to any wellness regimen. While Ötzi and his contemporaries may have had an inkling of the benefits of consuming medicinal mushrooms, now we know quite a bit more about how they work.

Scientists have been investigating medicinal mushrooms such as reishi, chaga, lion’s mane and cordyceps for years, inspired by their long use in traditional medical systems.

For example, reishi and cordyceps have been popular in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years.

Yet, only in recent times have we learnt about their special abilities.

Which mushroom is right for you?

All the medicinal mushrooms we offer at Erbology are linked with supporting our natural immunity and - as adaptogens - helping us cope with stress.

However, lion’s mane is also thought to help support cognitive function, help you focus, and balance your mood.

Meanwhile, Cordyceps may have energising properties and help with athletic performance.

For a complete run-down of individual mushrooms and their properties, why not download our free guide to medicinal mushrooms?

It will also provide you with lots of information on where to source your mushrooms, the questions you should ask of suppliers, and many more helpful tips.

But for now, let’s take a look at the different options available for how to make mushroom tea.