If you can’t live without your daily cup of coffee, but want something different to start your day, think about mushroom tea. The tea in question is known to dissolve stress and boost gut health, as well as your immune system. Maybe you’ve seen mushroom drink mixes popping up in stores like Whole Foods—it’s become pretty popular lately. But, like with a lot of new trends, this isn’t new. Mushroom tea has been around for thousands of years because of its health benefits.

While there’s little concrete science backing the tea, that doesn’t mean it’s without benefits. And if you want a coffee alternative that isn’t the ultra-expensive matcha (which is just green tea), mushroom tea might be your answer. If you want to know more about it, you’re in the right place…and no, not “special” mushrooms —just the regular ones.

What are the benefits of mushroom tea?

Mushrooms are super healthy. For starters, they’re a great source of prebiotics, like kombucha. Also like kombucha, they’re great for your gut. Good gut health is a necessity. Additionally, they contain adaptogens, which are fungi that helps your body adapt to new things. Adaptogens can help stabilize your body when you’re stressed, which is incredible. They help keep you balanced.

Additionally, mushrooms have fiber that boost the immune system, called beta-glucan. So if you see a type of mushroom tea, like lion’s mane, reishi, shiitake, chaga, or tremella, these are called functional mushrooms, meaning they have adaptogens and fiber.

What mushrooms are good for us?

Like mentioned above, there are certain type of mushrooms that provide the benefits you’re looking for. Like we all know, not all mushrooms are created equally. Here’s the ones to look for:

Boost your immune system

For this, turn to chaga, cordyceps, reishi, shiitake, turkey tail, and maitake. Additionally, maitake mushrooms can help regulate blood sugar, pressure, and cholesterol.

Assist with wellness

Cordyceps is said to work great by athletes when they want to boost endurance, energy, and performance. Similarly, lion’s mane helps out with productivity, as well as focus. Shiitake also supports a healthy heart. Reishi has those greats adaptogens for stress.

Help your skin

For this, turkey tail is a good go-to. It’s packed with antioxidants that reduce inflammation. In addition, tremella is optimal for the skin. It has properties that helps the skin glow, and increases hydration.

Are there any side effects of mushroom tea?

It’s important to note that some people don’t have the best digestive experience after consuming mushrooms, and mushroom tea isn’t any different. For those taking any medication, check with your healthcare professional before taking in mass amounts of the drink. The tea is mostly likely safe in small amounts, but blood thinners may interact with the tea.

Brew your own mushroom tea

If you don’t have the instant kind readily available to you, don’t worry. You can just as easily buy mushrooms from the store. Clean them (please, and thoroughly), and boil the mushrooms in water for a few hours. You can also put them in a slow cooker for 8-12 hours before you strain them. Remember, raw mushrooms are a no-go, always.

To keep things safe your first time, do your research and get the right mushrooms. You can always buy mushroom tea if you don’t want to spend the time learning how to brew it safely.

If you struggle with bloating, try these 8 different teas to help.