In our series "From Cities: Admiring the World's Cities," we bring you the latest local information on cities around the world, including Paris, Milan, New York, and more, including notable addresses and authentic city snapshots! We'll be sending you updates with the hope that you'll visit these places once travel abroad becomes possible again in the near future.

In this 15th installment, we'll focus on "mushroom coffee," a healthy drink that's become a hot topic in the United States.


Mushroom coffee is not yet widely known in Japan. To put it bluntly, it is "instant coffee with mushroom powder." Not only is it highly nutritious and good for your health, it is also attracting attention because many varieties contain nearly half the caffeine of regular coffee.

By the way, the "mushrooms" mentioned here do not refer to the familiar shiitake, shimeji, or enoki mushrooms we Japanese are familiar with, but rather to superfoods such as Lion's Mane Mushroom (Yerinaceus erinaceus) and Chaga Mushroom (Siberian Reishi).

In America, these mushrooms have recently been gaining attention as new superfoods for beauty and health. In addition to the aforementioned coffee made with them, powdered mushrooms (both single species and blends of multiple species) are also available on the market. More and more people are incorporating mushroom powders into their daily lifestyles to support their health by choosing the type that best suits their individual physical condition and adding them to dishes or smoothies.

This time, we've selected four mushroom coffees from popular American food manufacturers, using mushrooms, the latest superfood. Don't miss the comparison report by our New York-based staff, which documents the flavors and recommended ways to drink them! Check it out now!

01. Four Sigmatic "Instant Adaptogen Coffee Mix With Ashwagandha"
First up, a hot, black drink from the brand that sparked the mushroom coffee trend.

Four Sigmatic "Instant Mushroom Adaptogen Coffee Mix With Ashwagandha" (10 bags / $15.00 including tax)
This mushroom coffee is a blend of Arabica coffee beans, Chaga mushrooms (100mg), and the herb Ashwagandha. This is the perfect brand for when you want to take a break and relax. Made with Arabica coffee beans, it contains 50mg of caffeine per cup, about half the amount found in regular coffee. We recommend enjoying it hot and black, without milk or sugar.

《From: New York-based staff》
It has a slight herbal aroma and acidity, but no mushroomy notes. If you were told it was a unique single-origin coffee, you'd likely drink it without noticing. In fact, the aftertaste is cleaner than regular coffee, making it especially recommended for those who prioritize ease of drinking. Incidentally, in addition to the convenient instant version introduced here, Four Sigmatic also sells drip coffee. Coffee lovers who are particular about flavor might want to try the drip version.

02. Four Sigmatic "Instant Mushroom Coffee Mix With Lion's Mane"
This is the perfect black iced coffee!

Four Sigmatic "Instant Mushroom Coffee Mix With Lion's Mane" (10 bags / $15.00 including tax)

《From: New York-based staff》
When you pour hot water into it, you'll notice a unique, distinctive aroma. "Is this the mushroom aroma?" I wondered, but when I tried it iced, it somehow didn't bother me. The flavor is somewhat different from coffee, with a bitterness and acidity that adds a nice touch when made into iced coffee. The brand's official website recommends adding nut milk or coconut oil, but I personally find it refreshing and enjoyable as a black iced coffee.

03. Om "Mushroom Coffee Latte Blend"
Change your mood with a slightly sweet hot latte made with foamed milk.

Om "Mushroom Superfood, Mushroom Coffee Latte Blend" (10 bags / $19.99 including tax)
This is a type of mushroom coffee originally sold as a latte blend. Each cup contains approximately 2000mg of mushrooms...! This product contains ingredients from four types of mushrooms: Lion's Mane, Reishi, Cordyceps, and Chaga. The beans are also Arabica. The caffeine content is 116mg per cup, which is slightly higher than other products.

《From: Staff in New York》
The package says to pour in hot water or milk. I first poured hot water and tried it, and the taste and aroma gave off a unique, bitter flavor, which left me thinking, "Hmm..." When I made it into a hot latte with foamed oat milk, the sweetness was enhanced and it was delicious. It has a subtle chocolate-like flavor, but according to the ingredients, it doesn't actually contain chocolate; instead, it contains maple syrup powder and vanilla flavoring. Perfect for an afternoon break when you're craving something sweet.

04. La Republica "Mushroom Coffee"
Contains seven types of mushrooms, perfect for an iced latte.

La Republica "Mushroom Coffee" (60g / $24.00 including tax)
This brand contains seven types of mushrooms, including the Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion's Squash mushrooms mentioned previously in this article. In addition to Mane and Reishi, it also contains Turkey Tail Mushrooms, as well as Maitake and Shiitake mushrooms, which are also popular in Japan. This coffee is also made with Arabica beans, and contains 70mg to 90mg of caffeine per cup, which is about two-thirds the amount found in regular coffee. This brand also offers a rare decaffeinated version, so if you're concerned about caffeine, choose this.


《From: Staff based in New York》



That concludes our introduction to four popular mushroom coffee brands from a popular American food manufacturer.

Mushroom coffee is a highly recommended new New York souvenir! When you're able to travel freely again, try picking one up and drinking it while you're there. Some of the products introduced here can also be purchased from Japan through e-commerce sites like iHerb, which allow for personal imports, so if you're interested, it might be a good idea to check them out online first.

A mushroom coffee boom might hit Japan in the near future? Take a look at this as a new healthy habit.

>>Click here for the full series [From Cities: Admiring the Cities of the World]