Mushroom supplements in Canada: lion's mane, reishi, chaga, cordyceps and turkey tail compared

Lion's mane, reishi, chaga, cordyceps and turkey tail are the five functional mushrooms people ask us about most. This guide is for anyone choosing a mushroom supplement in Canada: what each mushroom is, how the formats differ, and how to read the label, with the Canadian makers on our shelves.

For mushroom coffee and elixirs, see our mushroom coffee guide. This one sticks to capsules, powders, tinctures and gummies.

What are functional mushroom supplements?

Functional mushrooms, sometimes called medicinal mushrooms or functional fungi, are species eaten or taken for more than flavour. People have used mushrooms this way for thousands of years: reishi appears in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, one of the oldest Chinese herbal texts, and chaga has a long history of folk use in Siberia and parts of Asia.

Today's mushroom supplements concentrate those species into capsules, powders, tinctures and gummies. Their best-known active compounds are beta-glucans, a family of fungal polysaccharides found in the cell walls of mushrooms, along with triterpenes in reishi and chaga and hericenones and erinacines in lion's mane. Research into many of these mushrooms is still young, so we talk about them by their traditional use and keep our claims modest.

The five mushrooms at a glance

What is lion's mane mushroom?

Lion's mane is the shaggy white mushroom that grows on hardwood trees like a cascade of icicles. It has traditionally been used to support memory, focus and concentration, and in Chinese folklore it promised "nerves of steel and the memory of a lion". It's the mushroom people ask for most when they want support for cognitive function and mental clarity, and its mild, slightly sweet taste makes the powder easy to hide in coffee or a smoothie.

Each capsule of St. Francis Herb Farm Lion's Mane is the equivalent of 1,390 mg of dried mushroom and is third-party tested for beta-glucans. Harmonic Arts powder packs the equivalent of 2,800 mg of mushroom into one small serving.

What is reishi used for?

The reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is a glossy, red-brown shelf mushroom with more than 2,000 years of use in traditional Chinese medicine. It's used as an adaptogen and is traditionally taken to help support immune health, vitality and relaxation, which is why many people take reishi in the evening and cordyceps in the morning. Reishi is bitter, so tinctures and powders go best in tea, cocoa or a splash of juice, taken with food.

Purica is a family company in Duncan, British Columbia, that grows its own mushrooms and micronizes them into a very fine powder. Its Red Reishi includes the mycelium, fruiting body and spores, and it's gluten-free in a vegan capsule.

What is chaga?

Chaga isn't a typical mushroom with a cap. It's a hard, dark, woody mass that grows on birch trees in cold northern forests, including here in Canada. It draws compounds from the birch and contains polysaccharides, polyphenols and triterpenes such as betulinic acid, and it's a source of antioxidants. Chaga makes a dark, earthy, slightly bitter tea with a hint of vanilla.

Suro, from Quebec, harvests its organic chaga by hand in northeastern Canada without harming the tree. The extract is the quick option; the Harmonic Arts tea is for simmering a pot on the stove.

What is cordyceps?

Cordyceps was first found in the Himalayas, and it has been used in Chinese medicine for energy and endurance for more than 1,300 years. The cordyceps in the supplements below is Cordyceps militaris, a cultivated species. It's a favourite with runners, hikers and anyone who wants support for energy and stamina, and it's a natural fit for the morning.

What is turkey tail?

The turkey tail mushroom is the fan-shaped, banded mushroom you'll find on fallen logs and stumps in woods across North America, Europe and Asia. It's one of the most studied mushrooms, and it's rich in protein-bound polysaccharides. Turkey tail is traditionally used to help support immune function, and it's the mushroom most often chosen for gut health: its polysaccharides act as prebiotics.

Living Alchemy, from British Columbia, ferments its turkey tail in a kefir-kombucha culture to make the polysaccharides more available, in a plant-based capsule.

Mushroom blends: several species in one

If you'd rather not choose, a mushroom blend combines different mushrooms in one capsule, powder or bottle. Most blends include reishi, lion's mane and cordyceps, and many add chaga, turkey tail, maitake or shiitake.

Host Defense was founded by mycologist Paul Stamets. Rainbo is a woman-owned, family-based Canadian company that started in Toronto in 2018. Suku Vitamins Super Mushrooms are vegan, non-GMO and pectin-based, sweetened with stevia, for anyone who'd rather chew than swallow a capsule. Our Suku Vitamins explainer covers the rest of the range.

Fruiting body, mycelium or full spectrum?

The fruiting body is the part of the mushroom you'd recognise above ground. The mycelium is the root-like network that grows underground or through wood. Supplements use one, the other, or both, and the label should tell you which.

Each approach has its fans. Extracts concentrate the compounds the mushroom is known for; mycelium products keep the whole growing organism. If beta-glucans matter to you, look for a product that states its beta-glucan content or is tested for it.

Capsules, powders, tinctures or gummies?

How to read a mushroom supplement label

1. Find the species. Look for the common name and the Latin name, such as Hericium erinaceus for lion's mane. A blend should list every mushroom species.
2. Check the part used. Fruiting body, mycelium or both. Neither is wrong, but you should be able to tell.
3. Look at the extraction. "Hot water", "dual extract" (water and alcohol) and a ratio like 8:1 tell you how the mushroom was processed and concentrated.
4. Look for testing. Beta-glucan content, polysaccharide percentage and third-party testing for purity are good signs.
5. Check for an NPN. An eight-digit Natural Product Number on the label shows the product is licensed for sale in Canada.
6. Match the format to your day. Alcohol-free capsules, a powder for your morning coffee, or drops you can take anywhere.

Choose the mushroom first, then the format you'll actually take every day.

Canadian mushroom makers on our shelves

Many of the mushroom products we carry are made in Canada, several by small family companies.

• Harmonic Arts: a family herbal company on Vancouver Island, Canadian owned and operated, known for its 5 Mushroom blend.
• Purica: a family company in Duncan, BC, that grows and micronizes its own mushrooms.
• Rainbo: a woman-owned, family-based company from Toronto, with mushrooms cultivated in Canada.
• St. Francis Herb Farm: certified organic herbal products from the Ottawa Valley since 1988.
• Suro: organic chaga, hand-harvested in northeastern Canada, from Quebec.
• CanPrev and Living Alchemy: full-spectrum and fermented mushroom capsules from Ontario and BC.

Questions we get a lot

What is the best mushroom supplement in Canada?

The best one is the mushroom that fits what you're looking for, in a format you'll take every day. Lion's mane is the usual pick for focus, reishi for the evening, cordyceps for the morning, and a blend if you'd like several at once. Look for a clear species, part used and extraction on the label, and an NPN.

Can I take more than one mushroom supplement?

Many people do, and that's exactly what mushroom blends are for. If you take single mushrooms, a common pattern is cordyceps or lion's mane in the morning and reishi in the evening. Follow each label's directions.

Is fruiting body better than mycelium?

They're different, not better or worse. Fruiting body extracts concentrate the mushroom itself; mycelium products use the whole root network grown on grain. Choose the approach you prefer and look for clear labelling and testing.

Do mushroom tinctures contain alcohol?

Most do. Tinctures are usually dual extracts in water and alcohol, which helps draw out compounds that don't dissolve in water. If you'd rather avoid alcohol, choose capsules, a powder or gummies.

Is mushroom coffee the same as a mushroom supplement?

Not quite. Mushroom coffee blends coffee with a mushroom extract, usually lion's mane or chaga, so you get a smaller amount alongside your cup. Our mushroom coffee guide covers those.

Where can I buy mushroom supplements in Halifax?

At both Luminate stores, in Bedford and Dartmouth, and online. In HRM, order by 11 am for same-day delivery with Luminate Express, and orders over $80 ship free anywhere in Canada.

Find mushroom supplements at Luminate

Mushroom supplements are in the supplement aisle at both stores, part of Atlantic Canada's largest selection of natural health supplements: 486 Starboard Drive in Bedford and 590 Portland Street in Dartmouth, open seven days. In HRM, order by 11 am with Luminate Express for same-day delivery, or choose pickup. Anywhere else in Canada, orders over $80 ship free, usually in 1 to 3 business days within Atlantic Canada.

This article is general information, not medical advice.