Although humans have been reaping the benefits of medicinal mushrooms for hundreds of years, these important fungi are just now gaining the attention they deserve in the Western world. This group of potent mushrooms ranges from the familiar (like shiitake, a classic stir-fry staple) to the almost alien (such as cordyceps, which grows out of a live caterpillar in the wild).
You’ve probably started to notice these superfoods pop up on ingredient lists in all kinds of health-promoting products, from ground coffee to nutrition snacks. If you’re looking for a sustainable way to incorporate them into your life, we recommend you try your hand at making your own mushroom powder at home!
There are nearly endless benefits to consuming mushroom powders. From overall immunity to improved cognition, functional mushrooms are considered superfoods for a reason. Below is a short list of some of our favorite benefits.
Mushroom powders are easy to use and incorporate into your daily routine. You can mix them into your favorite beverage, dissolve them in water, or add them to recipes for an extra nutrition boost.
There are a few different ways you can make your own medicinal mushroom powders, but we’ll share with you two of our favorite methods. The first is quite simple, while the second is a little more complicated. Choose the method that works best for you.
Turkey tail mushrooms have become very popular in recent years due to their many potential health benefits Studies have shown that turkey tail mushrooms may help boost the immune system, fight cancer and infections, and support gut health
While you can find turkey tail mushroom supplements, making your own powder at home is simple, affordable, and ensures quality. Read on to learn all about turkey tail mushrooms and how to turn them into a DIY supplement powder.
Turkey tail mushrooms, known scientifically as Trametes versicolor or Coriolus versicolor, are a common polypore mushroom found throughout the world. They grow in overlapping clusters on decaying logs, stumps, and trees, with an appearance similar to a turkey’s fanned tail feathers.
These mushrooms are nicknamed “cloud mushrooms” in China and “kawaratake” (“mushroom by the river bank”) in Japan. They have been used in traditional Asian medicine for centuries to promote health and longevity.
Modern research has taken interest in turkey tail mushrooms because they contain polysaccharides, antioxidants, and other compounds thought to modulate the immune system.
Turkey tail mushroom extracts have shown particular promise for boosting immunity in cancer patients. Studies indicate turkey tail mushrooms may help:
- Increase Natural Killer cell activity against tumors
- Enhance responsiveness to infection
- Reduce side effects of chemotherapy/radiation
- Potentially inhibit cancer cell growth and metastasis
In addition to cancer-related immune benefits, early studies suggest turkey tail mushrooms may also combat HPV, support microbiome diversity, and reduce inflammation.
Clearly, the health potential of these mushrooms makes them worth adding to your routine. But is it better to take turkey tail mushroom powder supplements or make your own?
The Benefits of Making Homemade Turkey Tail Powder
Purchasing turkey tail mushroom powder supplements is convenient. However, when you make it yourself, you get a few key advantages:
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Quality and freshness: By using mushrooms you harvest or source directly, you know exactly how fresh they are. The nutrient content degrades over time after harvesting.
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More affordable: Store-bought turkey tail supplements can be expensive. DIY is cheaper per dose.
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Control over ingredients: Supplements may contain unnecessary fillers, while homemade allows you to control purity.
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High dosing flexibility: Commercial capsules only come in certain amounts, but homemade powder allows flexible dosing.
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Sustainability: Picking your own or buying from small foragers supports sustainable harvesting.
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Satisfaction: Foraging and preparing your own medicine is highly rewarding!
As long as you have access to fresh or dried turkey tail mushrooms, making your own supplement powder is simple and worthwhile.
How to Make Turkey Tail Mushroom Powder
Follow these steps to make turkey tail mushroom powder at home:
1. Harvest or Purchase Fresh Turkey Tail Mushrooms
Ideally, harvest fresh turkey tail specimens yourself. Look for mushrooms that appear moist, firm, and have bright white pore undersides. Older mushrooms may turn brownish.
If foraging isn’t possible, buy fresh mushrooms from online foragers or Asian grocery stores. Caps should be flexible, not dried out.
2. Clean and Slice the Mushrooms
Brush debris from mushroom caps. Trim off any excess dirt with a knife or scissors. Give them a quick rinse if needed.
Next, slice mushrooms into thin pieces. More surface area exposes more beneficial compounds during drying.
3. Dry the Sliced Mushrooms
You can use a food dehydrator set to around 115°F (46°C). It takes about 24 hours to fully dehydrate an average-sized turkey tail mushroom.
If you don’t have a dehydrator, oven drying works too. Place sliced mushrooms on a baking sheet on the lowest oven setting, leaving the door propped open. This takes longer (up to 48 hours), so rotate trays and check frequently.
Once completely dry and brittle, they’re ready to grind.
4. Grind Into Powder
Use a food processor, spice grinder, vitamix, or even mortar and pestle to pulverize the dried pieces into powder. Make sure powder is very fine.
5. Store in an Airtight Container
Transfer finished mushroom powder into a glass jar or plastic bag. Exclude excess air and store away from light and moisture to preserve potency.
Powder will remain effective for 1-2 years if stored properly. Consider keeping it refrigerated or frozen for maximum longevity.
And that’s it! With minimal time and effort, you can make your own high-quality turkey tail mushroom powder.
How to Take Turkey Tail Mushroom Powder
Turkey tail powder offers flexibility in how you can consume it:
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Tea: Simmer 0.5-1 teaspoon powder in hot water for 10+ minutes. Strain and drink when cool enough. Add herbs or ginger to improve flavor.
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Capsules: Fill empty gelatin or vegetarian capsules with powder to make your own custom-dosed pills. Take with water.
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Blended Drinks: Add turkey tail powder to smoothies, juices, or protein shakes. The earthy flavor combines well with cocoa or chocolate.
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Broths & Sauces: Whisk turkey tail powder into any broth, soup, gravy, or savory sauce. It infuses nicely while cooking.
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Baked Goods: Mix powder into cookie dough, breads, muffins, etc. Can substitute for up to 25% of the flour.
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Raw: Those comfortable with raw mushroom consumption can eat the powder straight, chased with water. Start with just a small amount.
Be sure to pay attention to how supplementing makes you feel. Especially when consuming daily, take occasional breaks to avoid overstimulating immunity.
With its broad therapeutic potential, turkey tail mushroom powder is worth integrating into your health regimen. Creating your own allows you to customize strength, maximize quality, and avoid extra additives or unnecessary cost.
Making turkey tail powder takes minimal hands-on time. The process is simple enough for even beginners in the kitchen. For those serious about natural health, having this glowing medicinal fungus in your wellness toolkit is empowering.
Method 2: Make an Extract Powder
Method two is a bit more complicated, but it has its benefits. This method involves first making an extract, which will pull out more of the medicinal qualities of the fungi. After the extract is made, we’ll need to dry it before processing.
Note: If you plan on making a powder out of reishi antlers, we highly recommend this method. Because of its leathery texture, its more difficult to make a fine powder out of reishi without first making an extract.
To make a mushroom extract powder:
- If using fresh mushrooms, first clean the fruiting bodies by rinsing or brushing, if necessary. Chop the mushrooms into small pieces and place in a large pot with about 10 times as much water as mushrooms. Simmer for 2-3 hours.
- Allow to cool completely. Pour into a blender (including the water and the fruiting bodies), and blend to a creamy consistency.
- Dry the mixture. You can do this by pouring the mixture onto fruit leather trays in a dehydrator and drying at 95°F or by pouring onto lightly oiled baking trays in an oven on its lowest setting with the door ajar.
- Break the dried mix up into chunks and process them in a spice grinder or food processor into a fine powder.
Turkey Tail Extract 2018 – Super easy to make / very healthy mushroom -Trametes versicolor tincture
FAQ
How to make turkey tail mushroom powder at home?
The simplest way to turn your mushrooms into powder is to process dried mushrooms in a food processor or spice grinder. If you’re starting with fresh mushrooms, you’ll need to dehydrate them first. This can be done in a food dehydrator or a low oven.
What is turkey tail mushroom powder good for?
People use turkey tail mushroom to improve response to cancer medicines and radiation. It is also used for muscle strength, fatigue, UTIs, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
How to make mushroom powder at home?
Simply add dried shiitakes and salt to a blender and blend until you get a very fine powder. Your mushroom powder is now ready to use!Sep 9, 2024
How to dry and powder turkey tail?
I do mine in the oven on the lowest setting (150F) for about four hours, but you could also use a dehydrator or just leave them out to airdry over a few days. You’ll know they’re fully dry when you can crack them like a potato chip.