Not all mushroom products are created equal. Two products can both say "lion's mane" on the label and be very different inside. The difference often comes down to what part of the mushroom is used and how it's processed. Here's a guide to mushroom extraction.
Why extract mushrooms at all?
Mushroom cell walls are made largely of chitin, the same tough material found in insect exoskeletons and crab shells. Humans digest chitin poorly. That means many of the beneficial compounds in mushrooms, such as beta-glucans and triterpenes, are partly locked inside.
Extraction breaks down the cell walls and pulls those compounds out into a concentrated form. Simply drying and grinding a mushroom into powder doesn't do this.
Hot water extraction
The most traditional method. Mushrooms are simmered in hot water for hours, similar to making a tea or broth. Hot water is especially good at extracting water-soluble compounds, including polysaccharides like beta-glucans.
The liquid is then concentrated and dried, often by spray drying, into a powder.
Alcohol extraction
Some compounds, like triterpenes in reishi, dissolve better in alcohol than water. Alcohol extraction soaks mushrooms in ethanol to draw these out. It's often used for tinctures.
Dual extraction
Dual extraction combines both: a hot water extraction and an alcohol extraction, then blends the results. This aims to capture a broader range of compounds.
What extract ratios mean
You'll often see ratios like 10:1 or 20:1. These describe how much raw mushroom was used to produce the extract. A 20:1 extract means roughly 20 kilograms of dried mushroom was used to make 1 kilogram of extract.
Higher ratios mean a more concentrated product. But a ratio alone doesn't guarantee quality, since it depends on the starting material and how the extraction was done.
Fruiting body vs mycelium
- Fruiting body: The mushroom you can see, growing above ground or on wood.
- Mycelium: The root-like network that grows underground or through a substrate.
Many commercial products use mycelium grown on grain like rice or oats. When the mycelium and grain are dried and ground together, the final powder may contain a significant amount of starch from the grain. Some labs measure alpha-glucans (starch) to detect this.
Fruiting body and mycelium also contain different compounds. In lion's mane, for example, hericenones are found mainly in the fruiting body, while erinacines are found mainly in the mycelium.
Beta-glucans: a useful marker
Beta-glucans are a family of polysaccharides found in mushroom cell walls. Many quality brands report beta-glucan content as a percentage. Be aware that some testing methods measure total polysaccharides, which can include starch, making the number look higher than it should.
What to look for on a label
- Species name, like Hericium erinaceus.
- Part used: fruiting body, mycelium or both.
- Extract ratio or beta-glucan percentage.
- Amount per serving in milligrams.
- No hidden fillers, such as grain listed as "myceliated brown rice."
- Third-party testing for contaminants like heavy metals.
Red flags
- "Mushroom blend" with no individual amounts
- No mention of fruiting body or extraction
- Prices that seem too good to be true
- Disease-treatment claims
HYVE's lion's mane
We were specific about our lion's mane for a reason. HYVE Mind Focus & Memory contains 222mg of organic lion's mane extract at a 20:1 ratio, dual-sourced from 100% fruiting body, with no mycelium or grain filler.
Each 14g packet also includes 80mg of L-theanine, organic raw cacao, organic bee pollen and organic vanilla in 100% raw, USDA Organic honey, with every barrel third-party tested for pesticide residue. It's 45 calories, caffeine-free and vanilla-chocolate flavored.
Use code WELCOME20 for 20% off your first order.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Not for infants under 12 months or anyone with bee or bee-product allergies.
