Functional Mushrooms in Beverages: Market, Formats and B2B Applications
Functional mushrooms are increasingly making their way into coffee, cacao, matcha, instant drinks, shots, sparkling drinks and RTD blends. The category is growing alongside the functional beverages market — products meant to deliver more than just taste and hydration: energy, focus, relaxation, immunity support or a daily wellness ritual.
Version 1.0 · Published: 26.05.2026
Subject-matter reviewer: Mateusz Rosa, founder of Aloha Fungi, international TCM therapist (Doctor of Acupuncture Level A certificate issued by WFAS, an NGO in official relations with WHO, 2018)
Functional mushrooms are increasingly making their way into coffee, cacao, matcha, instant drinks, shots, sparkling drinks and RTD blends. The category is growing alongside the functional beverages market — products meant to deliver more than just taste and hydration: energy, focus, relaxation, immunity support or a daily wellness ritual.
The most commonly used mushrooms are Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Reishi, Chaga, Tremella and Turkey Tail. Each plays a different role in the product. Lion’s Mane appears around focus, Cordyceps around energy, Reishi in evening drinks, Chaga in immunity and antioxidation, Tremella in beauty and Turkey Tail in gut-and-immune products.
In short (60 seconds)
- 🥤 Global functional beverages market: 168.32 billion USD in 2025 → 314.04 billion USD in 2035 (Precedence Research, CAGR 6.44%).
- 🍄 Narrower mushroom drinks segment: 3.92 billion USD in 2024 → 5.78 billion USD in 2030 (Grand View Research, CAGR 6.8%).
- ☕ Mushroom coffee: 3.23 billion USD in 2025 → 5.56 billion USD in 2035, powders = 64% of the market (Precedence Research).
- 🏷️ Reference brands: MUD\WTR, DIRTEA, Odyssey Elixir, Four Sigmatic, Marks & Spencer.
- ⚖️ Communication: ritual + moment of day + dose, NOT “cures fatigue / improves memory / boosts immunity”.
How big is the functional and mushroom beverage market
The functional beverages market is a large category. Precedence Research estimates that the global functional beverages market reached 168.32 billion USD in 2025 and could reach 314.04 billion USD by 2035, at a CAGR of 6.44% between 2026 and 2035 [Precedence Research 2025].
Mordor Intelligence gives a different forecast: 151.80 billion USD in 2025, 163.84 billion USD in 2026 and 239.95 billion USD by 2031, at a CAGR of 7.93% [Mordor Intelligence 2025].
A narrower category is mushroom drinks. Grand View Research estimates that the global mushroom drinks market was worth 3.92 billion USD in 2024 and is set to grow to 5.78 billion USD by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.8% between 2025 and 2030 [Grand View Research 2024].
The mushroom coffee market is growing separately. Precedence Research reports that the global mushroom coffee market stands at 3.23 billion USD in 2025 and could reach 5.56 billion USD by 2035, at a CAGR of 5.58%. In this report, the powder segment accounts for 64% of market revenue in 2025 [Precedence Research 2025].
| Market segment | Base value | Forecast | CAGR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functional beverages (Precedence) | 168.32 billion USD in 2025 | 314.04 billion USD in 2035 | 6.44% |
| Functional beverages (Mordor) | 151.80 billion USD in 2025 | 239.95 billion USD in 2031 | 7.93% |
| Mushroom drinks (Grand View) | 3.92 billion USD in 2024 | 5.78 billion USD in 2030 | 6.8% |
| Mushroom coffee (Precedence) | 3.23 billion USD in 2025 | 5.56 billion USD in 2035 | 5.58% |
| Adaptogen drinks (FMI) | 1.30 billion USD in 2025 | 2.57 billion USD in 2036 | 6.4% |
The adaptogen drinks market is also growing. Future Market Insights forecasts growth in this category from 1.30 billion USD in 2025 to 2.57 billion USD in 2036, at a CAGR of 6.4%. In the same report, mushrooms are expected to lead the ingredient segment with a 26.5% share [Future Market Insights 2025].
💡 Mushroom drinks and mushroom coffee are growing faster than consumer education about supplementation. A drink delivers taste, a moment of day and a concrete usage occasion — everything a capsule lacks.
Why mushrooms are entering beverages
Beverages are one of the simplest carriers for functional mushrooms. The customer doesn’t have to change their daily routine. They can drink a coffee, cacao, matcha, chai, shot or sparkling drink that has an extra function.
That is why mushroom coffee and mushroom drinks are growing faster than classic supplement education. A drink is easier to test than capsules. It has a taste, a moment of day and a concrete usage situation.
Most common moments of use:
| Moment of day | Beverage format | Most common mushrooms |
|---|---|---|
| morning | coffee, matcha, latte, instant mix | Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps |
| work / study | coffee, matcha, sparkling drink | Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps |
| afternoon | cacao, chai, cold drink | Chaga, Reishi, Lion’s Mane |
| evening | cacao, infusion, caffeine-free blend | Reishi, Tremella |
| beauty ritual | matcha, cacao, drink powder | Tremella, Chaga |
| immunity / gut | shot, powder, blend | Chaga, Turkey Tail, Reishi |
Most commonly used mushrooms in beverages
| Mushroom | Most common function in beverages | Example formats |
|---|---|---|
| Lion’s Mane | focus, mental work | coffee, matcha, sparkling drink |
| Cordyceps | energy, performance, morning start | coffee, energy drink, shot |
| Reishi | winding down, evening ritual | cacao, infusion, chai |
| Chaga | antioxidation, immunity, autumn-winter | coffee, cacao, shot |
| Tremella | beauty, skin, hydration | matcha, cacao, beauty drink |
| Turkey Tail (Coriolus) | immunity, gut | shot, powder, functional blend |
→ Check our product pages: Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Reishi, Chaga, Tremella, Coriolus.
Main product formats
☕ Mushroom coffee
Mushroom coffee is the most recognisable format. It can be based on instant coffee, ground coffee, specialty coffee or a coffee alternative with cacao, chai and spices.
Grand View Research estimates that the global mushroom coffee market will reach 4.12 billion USD by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.5% between 2023 and 2030 [Grand View Research].
This format works because coffee already has a strong ritual. Mushrooms add a new functional layer to it. The most common combination is coffee with Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps.
🍫 Mushroom cacao
Cacao suits mushrooms with a deeper, more earthy profile. Reishi and Chaga are easier to combine with cacao than with delicate coffee. Cacao also works well as a carrier for evening and seasonal products.
DIRTEA markets its Cacao product as a hot chocolate with 2 500 mg of Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Tremella and B vitamins [DIRTEA].
🍵 Mushroom matcha
Matcha is a good carrier for brands that want to combine calmer energy, focus and beauty. In this format Lion’s Mane, Tremella and B vitamins often appear.
DIRTEA describes its Matcha product as ceremonial-grade matcha with 2 500 mg of Lion’s Mane, Tremella and B vitamins [DIRTEA].
🫧 Sparkling mushroom drinks
This format is closer to energy drinks and RTD beverages. Instead of a brewing ritual, the product offers convenience: a can, a ready-to-drink beverage, easy retail distribution.
Odyssey Elixir sells sparkling drinks with Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps. One product’s description mentions 2 750 mg of Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps extracts and 85 mg of caffeine [HEB / Odyssey].
🧪 Beverage add-ins
A separate category is add-ins: powders, extracts, sachets, liquid drops and blends to mix with coffee, cacao, matcha, smoothies or water. This format is attractive in B2B because it lets a brand quickly create a functional line without developing a finished RTD beverage.
The most common variants:
| Add-in format | Application |
|---|---|
| instant powder | coffee, cacao, matcha, smoothie |
| extract powder | B2B formulas, brand recipes |
| sachets | retail, travel format, samples |
| liquid drops | coffee, tea, cold drinks |
| functional blend | ready-made mix for a specific benefit |
Brand examples
🏷️ MUD\WTR
MUD\WTR is one of the most recognisable examples of a coffee alternative with mushrooms. The brand uses, among others, Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Reishi and Cordyceps, as well as cacao, masala chai, turmeric and cinnamon [MUD\WTR].
This is an example of a product that doesn’t try to be classic coffee. It builds its own ritual: less caffeine, more functional ingredients, the taste of cacao and chai.
🏷️ DIRTEA
DIRTEA develops many formats: Coffee, Matcha, Cacao and Chai. The brand communicates specific mushroom doses per serving. DIRTEA Coffee contains 1 000 mg of Lion’s Mane, Matcha contains 2 500 mg of Lion’s Mane and Tremella, Cacao contains 2 500 mg of Lion’s Mane, Reishi and Tremella, and Chai contains 2 400 mg of mushrooms [DIRTEA].
This is a good example of a brand that doesn’t rely on a single product. It builds a platform of functional beverages for different moments of the day.
🏷️ Odyssey Elixir
Odyssey develops the ready sparkling drinks format. The products are positioned around energy and focus. The descriptions mention Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps and caffeine from green tea [Amazon / Odyssey].
This is an example of mushrooms entering the RTD segment, closer to an energy drink than to classic supplementation.
🏷️ Four Sigmatic
Four Sigmatic is one of the pioneers of the mushroom coffee category. The brand started with coffee and mushroom drinks, and later extended the category to other wellness products. In industry articles, Four Sigmatic is regularly mentioned alongside brands such as MUD\WTR, RYZE, Everyday Dose and DIRTEA as one of the players building the mushroom coffee segment [WIRED].
🏷️ Marks & Spencer
M&S introduced functional mushroom drinks in the UK, including products described as a Lion’s Mane latte and Reishi shots. The Guardian described this launch as adaptogenic mushrooms entering large food retail [The Guardian, February 2025].
This is an important signal for the B2B market. Functional mushrooms are no longer just a DTC category — they are reaching grocery retail chains.
How to communicate mushrooms in beverages
In functional beverages, simplicity matters most. The customer should immediately understand when to use the product and what its function is about.
The safest communication directions are ritual, composition, taste, dose and moment of day. Medical claims have to be handled carefully. In the European Union, permitted health claims are regulated by the EU Register of nutrition and health claims. The register specifies which claims are authorised, what their conditions of use are and what limitations apply [EU Register of health claims].
| ❌ Risky wording | ✅ Safer wording |
|---|---|
| cures fatigue | a drink for the morning ritual |
| works on ADHD | a formula with Lion’s Mane for mental work |
| removes stress | an evening drink with Reishi |
| boosts immunity thanks to Chaga | a drink with Chaga and vitamin C, if the formula meets the claim conditions |
| improves memory | functional coffee with Lion’s Mane |
| acts as an anti-inflammatory | a formula with mushroom and plant extracts |
| replaces medication | a functional drink for the daily routine |
You have to be especially careful with β-glucans. In the EU register, authorised claims for β-glucans concern, among others, β-glucans from oats and barley, and not automatically β-glucans from mushrooms [European Commission - EU Register].
💡 The approved claim for β-glucans applies only to oats and barley in the context of LDL cholesterol. There is no automatic extension to mushroom β-glucans. Communication runs through mechanism and tradition, not a promise.
What a good mushroom ingredient for beverages should have
For a beverage brand, the mushroom name alone is not enough. The ingredient has to pass through R&D, taste, stability, production, documentation and communication.
| Requirement | What it means for a beverage brand |
|---|---|
| good water solubility | less sediment, easier mixing, better customer experience |
| neutral or predictable taste | easier combination with coffee, cacao, matcha or fruit |
| standardisation | the ability to maintain consistent quality |
| dose per serving | clear communication and control over per-serving cost |
| microbiological tests | raw-material safety |
| heavy-metal data | especially important for mushrooms and natural ingredients |
| stability in the formula | suitability for RTD, instant powders and sachets |
| quality documentation | needed for manufacturers, retail and private label |
| regulatory compliance | reduces the risk on claims and labelling |
In instant products, taste, solubility and dose matter most. In RTD, stability in liquid, pH, pasteurisation, sediment, colour and the extract’s impact on shelf life come into play.
→ At Aloha Fungi we provide beverage partners with full technical documentation and samples. Check the Beverages segment and HoReCa.
Product directions for the beverage market
1️⃣ Coffee with Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps
This is the most obvious format. Coffee delivers ritual and caffeine, Lion’s Mane fits mental work and Cordyceps fits energy. The product can be sold as instant coffee, ground coffee with extract, sachets or a blend for coffee shops.
2️⃣ Cacao with Reishi, Chaga and Tremella
Cacao masks the earthy profile of mushrooms well. Reishi and Chaga fit evening and winter products, and Tremella adds a beauty angle. Such a product can work as a coffee alternative and as a ritual drink.
3️⃣ Matcha with Lion’s Mane and Tremella
Matcha delivers a calmer energy profile than coffee. Lion’s Mane fits focus and Tremella fits beauty. This is a format for premium, wellness and beauty brands.
4️⃣ Sparkling drink with Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps
A ready drink in a can is a good format for retail, gyms, convenience stores and e-commerce. The biggest challenges are taste, ingredient cost and the stability of extracts in the formula.
5️⃣ Shot with Reishi, Chaga or Turkey Tail
A shot delivers a small volume and a high functional dose. It can be positioned seasonally, in the morning or in the evening. In this format it’s easier to combine mushrooms with vitamin C, zinc, ginger, acerola or plant adaptogens.
6️⃣ Beverage add-ins for coffee shops and private label brands
Mushroom add-ins for coffee, cacao and matcha can be rolled out faster than finished RTDs. This is a direction for coffee roasters, specialty coffee shops, matcha brands, cacao producers, hotels, spas and wellness brands.
→ See our case study: Aloha Fungi × Coffeedesk — how we introduced the Holistic Cacao and Faster Brew line into a specialty coffee shop menu.
🇵🇱 Polish research lead
Research on functional mushrooms in the context of functional beverages in Poland is conducted by, among others, the team of prof. Bożena Muszyńska at the Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow. From the portfolio relevant to the beverage industry: Reishi (quantification of indole compounds in Ganoderma mycelium - Molecules 2022), Lion’s Mane (influence of plant substrate on the accumulation of bioactive compounds - Molecules 2025), Cordyceps (pioneering analysis of cordycepin and adenosine bioavailability in simulated digestive juices - Int J Food Sci Tech 2024, a study unique on a global scale) and Coriolus (PSK/PSP review - Postępy Fitoterapii 2016). The Polish scientific base for mushroom drinks is an additional credibility argument for brands operating on the EU market.
What this trend means for the beverage industry
Functional mushrooms fit beverages well, because they give brands a new product layer: a function, a ritual and an ingredient with a story. The strongest formats are coffee with Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps, cacao with Reishi and Chaga, matcha with Tremella and ready sparkling drinks.
The winners will be products with a clear moment of use, a sensible dose, a good taste and raw-material documentation. The mushroom’s name on the label alone is not enough. The customer has to understand when to drink the product, why the composition makes sense and what makes it different from ordinary coffee, cacao or an energy drink.
🗣️ According to Mateusz Rosa, founder of Aloha Fungi:
“In functional beverages, the brands that win are those that can fit one mushroom into one moment of the day. Lion’s Mane in the morning coffee has one job. Reishi in evening cacao has another. The customer doesn’t have to understand the whole of mycology — but they have to understand when to reach for which drink.”
Two paths of cooperation
| 🤝 B2B Beverage brands, roasters, coffee shops, hotels, spas | 🍵 B2C End customer |
|---|---|
| Working on a functional beverage line with mushrooms? | Looking for a good mushroom coffee or evening cacao? |
| We’ll select fruiting-body extracts with technical documentation. We support recipe testing, samples and private label. That’s how we worked with Coffeedesk. | Fill in the questionnaire and get a recommendation. |
DM us: B2B | DM us: MATCH |
| → Beverages segment or HoReCa | → Matching quiz |
Check out our product lines too: 🟡 PRIME: energy and performance (Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane) 🟣 LONGEVITY: regulation and winding down (Reishi, Chaga, Coriolus)
We don’t sell mushrooms. We match them. Regulation, not magic.
About the author
Mateusz Rosa is the founder of Aloha Fungi, an international TCM therapist with 8 years of therapeutic practice. He holds a Doctor of Acupuncture (Level A) certificate issued by the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS, an NGO in official relations with WHO, 2018). Author of the books “Awakening of Health” and “Functional Mushroom Supplementation”. At Aloha Fungi he is responsible for extract selection, raw-material standards, customer education and product collaborations with food, coffee, cosmetic and beverage brands (including Coffeedesk).
Regulatory disclaimer
A food supplement cannot be used as a substitute for a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. The educational content in this article does not replace medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment. Consult supplementation with your doctor if you take medication, are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a chronic illness or are planning a surgical procedure.
Functional beverages and food supplements in the EU are subject to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims. Product communication must comply with the EU Register of nutrition and health claims. The mechanisms of action described are based on scientific research and the market communication of the cited brands. They do not constitute a promise of a health effect for an individual reader.
Bibliography16 sources
- Precedence Research (2025). Functional Beverages Market Size to Hit USD 314.04 Bn. precedenceresearch.com
- Mordor Intelligence (2025). Functional Beverage Market Size & Share Analysis. mordorintelligence.com
- Grand View Research (2024). Mushroom Drinks Market Size, Share & Growth Report, 2030. grandviewresearch.com
- Precedence Research (2025). Mushroom Coffee Market Size to Hit USD 5.56 Billion. precedenceresearch.com
- Future Market Insights (2025). Adaptogen Drink Market - Global Market Report. futuremarketinsights.com
- Grand View Research. Mushroom Coffee Market Size, Share & Trends Report, 2030. grandviewresearch.com
- DIRTEA. DIRTEA Mushrooms for Focus, Energy, Calm. dirteaworld.com
- DIRTEA. Quality Ingredients - DIRTEA Functional Mushrooms. dirteaworld.com
- HEB / Odyssey. Odyssey Sparkling Elixir - Orange. heb.com
- MUD\WTR. Ingredients. mudwtr.com/pages/ingredients
- Amazon / Odyssey. Odyssey Functional Energy Drink for Focus, Cognition. amazon.com
- WIRED. The Best Mushroom Coffee, WIRED Tested and Reviewed. wired.com
- The Guardian (February 2025). Mushroom magic? M&S introduces ‘shots’ said to bring you up or down. theguardian.com
- European Commission - Food Safety. EU register of health claims. food.ec.europa.eu
- European Commission. EU Register on nutrition and health claims (PDF). ec.europa.eu
- Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods.