Reishi Tea, Powder and Coffee: What Differs
How reishi tea, powder, extract and mushroom coffee differ as product types, what research does and does not transfer between them, and the caffeine and safety points to know.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Short answer. "Reishi" on a label can mean a tea, a ground powder, an extract or a coffee blend. These are different products, and almost every human trial we read tested a capsule, powder or extract, not a tea or a coffee. A result from one form should not be assumed for another. Proper evidence not found for trials of reishi coffee or reishi hot chocolate: we searched PubMed for "reishi mushroom tea" and "mushroom coffee caffeine content" and found no usable human study.
Safety first. Liver injury has been reported with powdered reishi. [1] A case report in a man who consumed reishi powder together with alcohol described acute hepatitis. [2] See reishi side effects and liver injury reports. Reishi can also interact with blood thinners and immune medicines; see reishi and medicines. If a coffee blend is involved, caffeine adds its own questions (below).
The plant and part
Reishi usually means woody Ganoderma mushrooms, with Ganoderma lucidum the species most research names; see reishi species, spores and fruiting body products. MSK lists capsules, tablets, extracts, powders and teas as the forms of reishi supplements. [1]How the forms differ
| Form | What it is | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Tea | Pieces or powder steeped or simmered in water | Traditionally boiled reishi is mentioned in a case report: both patients had taken traditionally boiled Lingzhi without toxic effect before liver injury followed powder. [3] Two cases cannot show tea is safe or that powder is unsafe. Trials of tea: Proper evidence not found. |
| Powder | Ground mushroom, or ground spores | A pilot trial used 6 g a day of micro-milled reishi fruiting body for 6 weeks in women with fibromyalgia. [4] Powder reports of liver injury are above. |
| Extract | Mushroom processed with a solvent (water, alcohol or both) and concentrated | NCI says most laboratory research used products made by several extraction processes, which produce mixtures of compounds. [5] In one lab study, polysaccharides from an optimized extraction had higher antioxidant capacity than those from traditional hot water extraction. [6] That is a lab measurement, not a health result. |
| Coffee blend | Coffee (or another drink) with mushroom powder or extract added | Reishi amount per cup, and which part and species is used: not described in the sources we read. Labels differ. |
| Mushroom cocoa or latte | Similar blends | Proper evidence not found. See mushroom cocoa, lattes and ready-to-drink products. |
Why the form matters: a mouse study concluded that the effects of reishi extracts depend on how they are prepared and administered. [7] A European and an East Asian strain also differed in triterpenic acids, which the authors linked to the bitter taste of the East Asian one. [8]
Mushroom coffee and caffeine
Reishi itself is not described as a caffeine source in the sources we read. The caffeine in a coffee blend comes from the coffee. The FDA has cited 400 milligrams a day, about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee, as an amount not generally associated with negative effects for most adults. [9] The FDA also notes there is wide variation in how sensitive people are to caffeine and how fast they eliminate it, and it recommends talking to a health care provider about limiting caffeine if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding. [9] Caffeine per serving for mushroom coffee products is not described in the sources we read, so read the label. See mushroom coffee and mushroom coffee side effects and who should be careful.MSK lists insomnia as a possible side effect of reishi, so a product taken in the evening may be a poor fit for some people. [1]
What this page does not cover
No brewing, simmering or home-extraction instructions are given here, and no amounts are recommended. For study amounts only, see reishi: amounts used in studies. Tea differences across mushrooms are on mushroom tea.Quality questions
Check the scientific name, the part used (fruiting body, spores or mycelium), whether the product is a powder or an extract, and whether a test certificate is available. NCI notes that ingredients can vary from lot to lot. [5] See how to read a mushroom supplement label and quality testing and certifications.Frequently asked questions
Is reishi tea the same as reishi powder?
No. They are different forms, and trials of one do not apply to the other. MSK lists teas, powders, extracts, capsules and tablets as separate forms. [1]
Does reishi coffee contain caffeine?
The caffeine comes from the coffee in the blend, and amounts vary by product, so check the label. The FDA cites 400 mg a day as an amount not generally associated with negative effects in most adults. [9]
Is reishi tea safe for the liver?
Not shown either way. The only tea-related information we found is a case report in which patients had taken boiled reishi without harm before liver injury followed powder. [3]
Does reishi tea help sleep?
Proper evidence not found for tea. MSK lists insomnia as a side effect. [1]
Can I use reishi coffee in pregnancy?
Reishi in pregnancy is not described in the sources we read. The FDA recommends talking to a provider about caffeine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. [9]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Who should ask first
References
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Reishi Mushroom (Information About Herbs, Botanicals and Other Products). Read 2026-10-23.
- Ganoderma lingzhi (Reishi Mushroom)-Induced Acute Liver Injury in the Setting of Alcohol Use: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Cureus. 2023. PubMed 37885515. Read 2026-10-23.
- Fatal fulminant hepatitis associated with Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi) mushroom powder. J Med Assoc Thai. 2007. PubMed 17621752. Read 2026-10-23.
- Ganoderma lucidum Effects on Mood and Health-Related Quality of Life in Women with Fibromyalgia. Healthcare (Basel). 2020. PubMed 33265969. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Cancer Institute. Medicinal Mushrooms (PDQ), health professional version. Read 2026-10-23.
- Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted extraction of polysaccharides and triterpenoids from the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum and evaluation of their in vitro antioxidant capacities. PLoS One. 2020. PubMed 33382761. Read 2026-10-23.
- The anti-fatigue and sleep-aiding effects vary significantly among different recipes containing Ganoderma lucidum extracts. Heliyon. 2024. PubMed 38770283. Read 2026-10-23.
- Distinguishing commercially grown Ganoderma lucidum from Ganoderma lingzhi from Europe and East Asia on the basis of morphology, molecular phylogeny, and triterpenic acid profiles. Phytochemistry. 2016. PubMed 27044336. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?. Read 2026-10-23.