The latest morning drink is a cup of mushroom coffee. Here's what makes it different from the traditional cup of coffee.
You've probably heard some rumblings about people switching to mushroom coffee in the morning. Unless you've made the switch already, you may not know why people are leaving coffee for this new trend. In short, mushroom coffee is a combination of coffee and ground mushrooms. It's touted as a healthier alternative to coffee, mainly due to the nutritional benefits of mushrooms, which people have used as medicine for thousands of years. The benefits of this beverage aren't fully established yet, so there are a few things to keep in mind before incorporating it into your lifestyle. Let's take a look. What is mushroom coffee? When you hear the term "mushroom coffee," do you picture a cup of coffee with pieces of mushroom swirling through it? It's not exactly an appetizing thought. Fortunately, that's not how mushroom coffee works. In reality, mushroom coffee looks like a typical cup of joe -- but instead of being made from just coffee beans, it also contains dried and ground mushrooms. What does mushroom coffee taste like? Surprisingly, most mushroom coffee blends don't taste like mushrooms at all, which is great if you want to enjoy the potential perks of this trendy beverage but don't want the fungi flavor. While there are a handful of mushrooms that may find their way into your cup of joe, lion's mane mushrooms have made a big name in the mushroom coffee world. Ganna STRYZHEKIN/iStock/Getty Images Plus Manufacturers typically use medicinal mushrooms (like reishi, lion's mane, chaga and turkey tail) for their mental and physical health benefits when making mushroom coffee. These mushrooms are rich in healthy components known as adaptogens, which have been used in Eastern medicine to treat various ailments. You might also find shiitake mushrooms in some mushroom coffee products. Many mushroom coffee products are available on the market, including mushroom powder, coffee pods, instant coffee, ground coffee and latte blends. Some popular brands include Four…