Red Reishi Mushroom Powder
Reishi is a bitter, woody mushroom that has been steeped into teas and broths across East Asia for centuries. The powder form puts all of that into a single spoonful.
What It Is
Reishi grows on hardwood trees and looks more like a lacquered shelf than anything you'd find in the produce section. It is rarely eaten whole because the texture is tough and the flavor is intensely bitter, almost like dark unsweetened cocoa crossed with tree bark. That bitterness is the point. In Chinese and Japanese tradition, reishi has been used for centuries as a daily tonic, simmered into broths or steeped into hot water, valued as much for its ritual place in the routine as for its flavor.
The powder is made by drying and grinding the whole mushroom. A little goes a long way.
What To Do
Start with half a teaspoon. Reishi is bitter enough that you want to mix it into something that can hold its own: strong coffee, a cacao drink, a blended smoothie with banana or peanut butter, or a slow-simmered broth. It will not dissolve the way cocoa does, so whisk or blend it well. Sweetness and fat soften the bitterness without hiding it entirely.
For a simple tea, whisk half a teaspoon into eight ounces of hot water with a spoonful of honey and a splash of milk of choice. Store the powder in a cool, dry spot away from light and use it within a year for the best flavor.
