Lion's Mane vs Reishi: What's the Difference?

"What's the difference between Lion's Mane and Reishi?" and "Which one should I get?" I'd guess we hear those two questions more than any others at the booth.

They're both mushrooms, and we make both into tinctures, but they really couldn't be more different. Here's how we explain it to folks at the market, straight from our family farm in Huffman, TX.

Lion's Mane: The Shaggy One

Lion's Mane is one of my favorite things we grow, just to look at. There's no cap and stem. It grows in a white, shaggy clump covered in soft hanging spines. Some people say pom pom, some say waterfall, and kids usually just want to touch it.

In the wild it grows on hardwood trees. Here on the farm, Derek grows it on a hardwood based substrate in a clean, humid grow room. It grows pretty fast, and the spines get longer as it matures.

It's great in the kitchen too. Cooked, it's mild and a little sweet, with a texture people compare to crab or lobster.

Reishi: The Slow One

Reishi looks nothing like Lion's Mane. It's a shelf mushroom with a shiny, reddish brown cap that looks almost varnished. It's tough and woody, so you're not slicing it up for dinner.

It also grows on hardwood, but it's slow. Really slow. Reishi teaches you patience. Because it's so tough, people have traditionally made it into a tea or extract instead of eating it.

A Little History

Both mushrooms go way back, especially in East Asia.

Reishi has been part of traditional practices in China, Japan, and Korea for a very long time. In Chinese tradition it's called lingzhi, and in Japan, reishi. It shows up in old texts, paintings, and carvings, and it was held in high regard. People usually prepared it as a bitter tea or broth.

Lion's Mane has its own history in East Asian cooking and folk tradition. In China it's sometimes called hou tou gu, which means "monkey head mushroom." In Japan it's yamabushitake, a name tied to mountain monks. It was enjoyed both as food and as a tea.

We love that people all over the world have picked up these old traditions and made them their own.

How They Taste

Lion's Mane tincture is earthy and pretty mild. Most people mix it into coffee, tea, or water without much trouble.

Reishi is more bitter and woodsy. That bitterness is just part of who Reishi is. A lot of people stir it into a warm drink or tea, or something with a little sweetness to balance it out.

How People Fit Each Into Their Day

Everybody's routine is different, but here's what we hear most from customers:

• Lots of people take Lion's Mane in the morning, often in their coffee. Lion's Mane supports focus and memory.*

• Lots of people take Reishi in the evening, often in herbal tea while winding down. Reishi supports a sense of calm* and restful sleep.*

The label serving for each is 1 to 2 droppers a day, with about 30 servings in a 2oz bottle. Shake well before each use. Both tinctures are made with grain alcohol, so keep that in mind if you avoid alcohol. And if you're pregnant, nursing, or taking medication, please check with your doctor first.

Why Not Both?

Since they're so different, plenty of our customers don't pick one at all. They take Lion's Mane earlier and Reishi later, so each one has its own spot in the day.

That's exactly why we put together the Power Combo: one Lion's Mane and one Reishi for $54.99, which saves you a little over buying them separately.

About Our Tinctures

Every TKF tincture is a 2oz dual extract. We extract each mushroom in grain alcohol first, then with a hot water decoction, and blend the two, the traditional way to get more from the whole mushroom. We grow every mushroom ourselves, so we know what's in every bottle.

• Lion's Mane Tincture: $29.99

• Reishi Tincture: $29.99

• Power Combo (one of each): $54.99

• Big Box, any 6 tinctures: $145

• Subscribe and Save 20% with monthly delivery

Shipping is $5.95, and it's free on orders of $75 or more.

Come Say Hi

Lion's Mane, Reishi, or both, we'd love to be part of your routine. You can shop at https://www.tkfmushrooms.com/shop, or come find us at a Houston area farmers market and ask us anything. Fair warning, we can talk mushrooms all day.

Amanda & Derek

*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.