11 Questions About Mushroom Extracts Answered

It seems like mushroom extracts are everywhere right now and we’re so happy that functional mushrooms are finally getting the attention they deserve.

You may be here because you’ve heard about Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Cordyceps, Chaga and other functional mushrooms. Or maybe you’ve been searching for natural ways to support your energy, focus, productivity, immunity or sleep and now you’ve found yourself going round in circles trying to understand mushroom extracts.

What are they? Are they different from mushroom powders? Do mushrooms have to be extracted? Why are there so many forms? Which one should I choose?

Or maybe you’ve already tried a mushroom supplement but don’t feel like it’s doing much and now you want to dive a little deeper.

We totally get it. Let’s break it down into 11 bite sized questions to help you on your mushroom discovery journey and help guide you how to choose a good extract.

1. What are mushroom extracts?

Mushroom extracts are concentrated preparations made from functional mushrooms. Instead of simply drying and grinding the mushroom, extraction uses a solvent such as hot water, alcohol, or both to draw out naturally occurring compounds from the mushroom.

These compounds can include beta-glucans, polysaccharides, triterpenes, antioxidants and other mushroom constituents. Different extraction methods pull out different compounds, which is why the way an extract is made matters.

Mushroom supplements are sold in several forms, including capsules, powders, gummies and liquid extracts.

Learn more about How To Take Mushroom Supplements For Best Effectiveness here.

2. Are mushroom extracts the same as mushroom powders?

No. Mushroom powders and mushroom extracts are related, but they are not the same thing.

A mushroom powder is usually dried mushroom that has been ground into powder. It may be whole (fruiting body & mycelium) mushroom powder, fruiting body powder or mycelium powder.

A mushroom extract has undergone an extraction process to draw out the relevant beneficial compounds.

A simple way to think about it is tea: tea leaves are the raw material, while brewed tea is the extract. With mushrooms, the extraction process is often more involved because mushrooms have tough cell walls and different beneficial compounds are extracted using different solvents.

3. What are the types of mushroom extracts?

The main types of mushroom extracts are:

Hot Water Extracts

These use hot water to extract water soluble compounds, especially polysaccharides such as beta-glucans.

Alcohol Extracts

These use alcohol to extract alcohol soluble compounds, such as certain triterpenes and phenolic compounds. Reishi is a common example of a mushroom often associated with triterpenes.

Dual Extracts or Double Extracts

These use both hot water and alcohol to capture a broader spectrum of water and alcohol soluble compounds.

Liquid Extracts, also known as Tinctures

These are mushroom extracts in liquid form, usually taken as drops.

Powdered Extracts

These are extracts that have been dried back into powder form and are commonly used in capsules, sachets or blends.

4. Are mushroom liquid extracts the same as mushroom tinctures?

Yes, in most cases, a mushroom liquid extract is the same as a mushroom tincture.

Traditionally, a tincture is a concentrated liquid extract made using alcohol and water to draw out naturally occurring compounds from functional mushrooms.

Some modern liquid extracts use a non-alcohol base, such as vegetable glycerine, instead of alcohol. These may still be called liquid extracts, although they are not always traditional tinctures.

Expert tip: Although we appreciate that alcohol is not for everyone, alcohol is one of the most effective extraction solvents for mushroom compounds. For a full-spectrum liquid extract, alcohol and purified water both play important roles.

5. What is a mushroom double extract or dual extract?

A mushroom double extract, also called a dual extract, is made using two extraction methods: hot water and alcohol.

This matters because not all mushroom compounds dissolve in the same way. Hot water is commonly used for water soluble compounds such as beta-glucans and polysaccharides. Alcohol helps extract compounds that hot water cannot capture as effectively, such as certain triterpenes and phenolic compounds.

A dual extract is often considered the gold standard for liquid mushroom extracts because it captures a broader spectrum of beneficial compounds.

Learn more about dual extraction here, or explore how we extract our tinctures here.

6. Which mushrooms are most commonly used?

Lion’s Mane

Is the best functional mushroom for focus, memory, mood and cognitive support. Lion’s Mane mushroom extracts have also been used in East Asian medical systems for many years.

Reishi

Reishi is one of the most popular mushrooms for relaxation, immune support and evening routines. It is often used by people looking to support rest, sleep quality and general wellbeing.

Cordyceps

Cordyceps is chosen for energy, stamina, productivity and performance support. It is commonly used in morning routines, pre-workout routines and daily energy blends.

Chaga

Chaga is known for its antioxidant content and is often used in products focused on immune support and general wellbeing. It also contains melanin, a naturally occurring compound that makes this great for skin health.

Turkey Tail

Turkey Tail is a powerful functional mushroom commonly used for immune and gut health support. Unfortunately it is currently classified as a “Novel Food” in the UK.

Expert tip: There are many functional mushroom blends on the market and many brands combine Reishi with Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps. We recommend choosing a range that allows you to take Reishi separately from more energising mushrooms.

There are two key reasons for this:

First, Reishi is often used in calming evening routines, while Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps are more commonly used during the day for focus, energy and productivity. You can take them on the same day, but many people prefer Lion’s Mane or Cordyceps in the morning and Reishi in the evening.

Second, although Reishi is generally well tolerated, it is often approached with caution by people taking blood thinning medication. If you are taking medication or managing a health condition, always speak to a healthcare professional before using mushroom extracts.

7. How do I choose a mushroom extract?

When choosing a mushroom extract, look beyond the front of the label. A good mushroom extract should tell you exactly what you are taking.

Look for:

The mushroom species

The label should list the actual mushroom species, such as Hericium erinaceus for Lion’s Mane or Ganoderma lucidum for Reishi.

Fruiting body or mycelium

The fruiting body is the visible mushroom. Mycelium is the root-like fungal network, usually deeply intertwined with the medium it grows on, such as wood, corn or grain.

Some products use mycelium grown on grain, which may mean the final mushroom extract contains grain substrate as well as fungal material. Look for clear labelling that tells you whether the product uses fruiting body, mycelium or both.

Extraction method

Check whether the product has been extracted and, if so, how. Is it a single extract using water, alcohol or vegetable glycerine? Or is it a dual extract using both hot water and alcohol?

Extract ratio

Ratios such as 1:3 tell you how much mushroom material is used compared with the final extract volume or weight, depending on the product format.

Testing and transparency

Choose products that are third-party lab tested and can provide Certificates of Analysis.

Clean ingredients

Avoid unnecessary fillers, preservatives, artificial flavours and unclear proprietary blends.

8. Can you take too much of a mushroom extract?

Yes. Mushroom extracts are concentrated products, so more is not always better.

Taking too much may increase the risk of digestive discomfort, nausea, headaches or interactions with medication.

The safest approach is to follow the dosage instructions on the product label and avoid combining multiple mushroom products unless you understand the total daily dose you are taking.

9. Are there any contraindications when using mushroom extracts?

Yes, mushroom extracts may not be suitable for everyone.

It is advisable to speak to a healthcare professional before using mushroom extracts if you:

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Take blood thinners, antiplatelet medication or anticoagulants.
• Are preparing for surgery.
• Have liver, kidney or bleeding disorders.
• Take medication or are managing an existing health condition.

Please note that mushroom extracts should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

10. I have tried a mushroom supplement, but I don’t feel a difference. What am I doing wrong?

Firstly, you may not be doing anything wrong.

Mushroom extracts are not like caffeine, painkillers or fast acting medicines where you usually feel an obvious effect straight away. For many people, functional mushrooms work more subtly. Some people notice changes in focus, energy, sleep quality or general wellbeing, while others may not feel a clear difference at all.

There are a few common reasons why you may not be noticing results.

You may not have taken it for long enough

Mushroom extracts are often taken consistently over several weeks. Some people expect an instant effect, but many mushroom supplements are designed for gradual daily support rather than a quick “kick”.

The dose may be too low

Some products contain very small amounts of actual mushroom extract, especially if they are part of a blend, coffee, gummy or capsule with lots of added ingredients. Always check the amount of mushroom extract per serving.

The product may not be extracted properly

Not all mushroom products are equal. A basic mushroom powder is different from a hot water extract, alcohol extract or dual extract. If the mushroom has not been properly extracted, your body may not be getting the full range of medicinal compounds.

The product may contain mycelium on grain rather than fruiting body

Some mushroom supplements use mycelium grown on grain. These products may contain a significant amount of grain substrate rather than pure mushroom material. Look for clear labelling that states whether the product uses fruiting body, mycelium or both.

You may be using the wrong mushroom for your goal

Different mushrooms are used for different purposes. Lion’s Mane is commonly chosen for focus and cognitive support. Reishi is often used for relaxation and evening routines. Cordyceps is commonly used for productivity, stamina and energy.

If your goal and mushroom choice do not match, the product may not feel useful to you.

The product may not be high quality

We see this too often: taste over benefit.

While exotic mushroom drinks, functional mushroom coffees and flavoured gummies can be convenient, many contain low amounts of actual mushroom extract. Some also include added sugars, flavourings or unclear blends that make it difficult to know what you are really taking.

If a supplement does not state the mushroom species, extraction method, part used, dose, ratio or testing information, it is difficult to know what you are actually taking.

The best approach is to choose a well-made extract, take it consistently at the recommended dose and track how you feel over time. Look at practical changes such as energy, focus, sleep, stress levels, digestion and recovery rather than expecting an immediate dramatic effect.

If you still do not notice any benefit after consistent use, that particular mushroom or product may simply not be the right fit for you.

11. How are Mogo Farm dual liquid extracts different from others on the market?

Our dual liquid extracts, also known as tinctures, are formulated around quality, traceability and potency. We achieve this through:

1:3 dual extraction

Our mushroom liquid extracts are dual extracted using both alcohol and hot water to capture both alcohol and water soluble compounds.

We use a concentrated 1:3 extraction ratio, which means 1 part mushroom to 3 parts liquid. Our extracts are premium quality and contain 200g of fresh mushroom weight per 100ml bottle of extract.

UK-grown mushroom fruiting body only

Our double liquid extracts are made with carefully selected mushroom fruiting bodies grown on our farm, as well as other mushroom farms around the UK.

Every mushroom tincture is extracted, bottled and packaged on our farm in Derbyshire.

Third-party lab testing

Every tincture batch is independently lab tested by accredited third-party laboratories, with Certificates of Analysis available on request.

No fillers or additives

Our dual liquid extracts are free from fillers, preservatives, additives, flavourings and grain-based material.

Take a look at our bestsellers or get in touch with us for advice on which mushroom is right for you.