Mushroom extracts are a hot trend in clean beauty, often making an appearance as a multitasking ingredient in face serums and moisturizers. But these little ground dwellers aren’t just trendy — they’re full of powerful nutrients that help us heal, protect, and thrive. This Link: gbmushrooms.net
To make a mushroom extract, a desired species of mushrooms is dried and ground into a fine powder. This powder is then cooked in a solvent to help remove beneficial compounds. Traditionally, this has been done with hot water (called a “decoction”) and/or alcohol. Some preparation makers and herbalists use both methods in a double extraction process, which helps ensure that both water-soluble and alcohol-soluble compounds are extracted.
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Once the extract is made, the resulting liquid is strained and discarded. The remaining solids are then combined with a second batch of mushrooms and simmered for a bit to create a double-extraction tincture. The resulting liquid is then allowed to evaporate. The resulting dry powder is ready to be incorporated into supplements, added to food, or turned into a topical treatment.
While the distinction between whole mushroom powders and mushroom extracts may seem minor, the difference is actually significant when it comes to the quality of a product. For example, most whole mushroom products do not undergo a dual extraction with alcohol like many high-quality mushroom extracts do, which helps unlock the most valuable non-water-soluble compounds. In addition, some mushrooms, such as chaga and reishi, have very thick cell walls that require a more advanced method of processing to fully release their bioactive compounds.