Mushroom Extract

A mushroom extract is a concentrated ingredient made by soaking or simmering mushrooms in a solvent, usually water, alcohol or both, and then separating and concentrating the liquid. The result may be sold as a liquid tincture or dried into a fine powder that blends easily into drinks, gummies and chocolate.

Why mushrooms are extracted

Many functional mushrooms, such as reishi, chaga and turkey tail, are woody and tough. Their cell walls are made partly of chitin, the same kind of material found in insect shells, which people cannot easily break down. Extraction pulls out compounds such as beta-glucans and triterpenes, leaving most of the indigestible fiber behind.

Main extraction methods

• Hot-water extraction: the traditional tea method, focused on water-soluble polysaccharides.
• Alcohol extraction: draws out compounds that do not dissolve well in water.
• Dual extraction: combines both steps for a broader profile.

Extract vs. whole mushroom powder

A plain mushroom powder is simply dried, ground mushroom, fiber and all. An extract has been processed to concentrate specific components. Neither is automatically better; they are just different ingredients. Labels sometimes list an extraction ratio, which describes how much raw mushroom went into a given amount of extract. Ratios are not standardized between brands, so on their own they say little about quality.

What to look for on a label

• The species, ideally with its Latin name.
• Whether the source is the fruiting body, mycelium or both.
• The extraction method used.
• Whether independent third-party lab testing information is shared.

Mushroom extracts and Polkadot

Our Polkadot Mushroom Shots are described as being crafted with select mushroom extracts, paired with bold fruit flavors like the Polkadot Blueberry Shot. Across the range, we pair a functional, adaptogenic mushroom blend with gourmet flavors.