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I don’t doubt that foraging for mushrooms is a rewarding experience. However, the thought of accidentally eating something that could kill me is enough to keep me from plucking those delicious (sometimes deadly) morsels—or, should I say morels?—from their growing spots. However, I do very much enjoy sipping on a cup of mushroom coffee as I explore the woods, take a morning walk, or sit down to write.
Videos by Outdoors with Bear Grylls
I’d had my eye on MUD\WTR for a while before I had the chance to give it a try for Outdoors.com. The company sent me the Morning Ritual Starter Kit, the Latte version, which includes:
A 30-serving tin of :rise Cacao
A 30-serving bag of :creamer
A USB rechargeable frother
A guidebook
Free samples
Image by MUD/WTR
I am not an every-morning coffee drinker, so MUD\WTR didn’t have much to replace in my morning ritual. However, I’ve truly enjoyed adding the Original Blend, which is a masala chai and cacao flavor called :rise Cacao, to my rotation of things I like to drink. If you are intrigued by the idea of adding mushrooms to your diet in this way or, perhaps, replacing something you already drink with a mushroom-based drink, this review is for you.
How to Make a MUD\WTR Latte
The official instructions from MUD\WTR are simply to add a tablespoon of MUD\WTR to your favorite mug, pour in some hot water, stir (or froth), and then make it your own by adding honey, creamer, or nothing at all. I’ve found my perfect way, and I’m sure you will too, with some experimentation. For what it’s worth, here’s mine:
Add 1 tablespoon of MUD\WTR to a large mug
Add 1 tablespoon of MUD\WTR’s coconut-based creamer
Add a dash of sugar to taste
Heat 12 ounces of oat milk
Pour about half the warmed oat milk into the mug
Froth using MUD\WTR’s frother
Continue to froth while pouring in the rest of the warmed oat milk
Drink
I love the flavor that using oak milk as a base gives to my MUD\WTR latte, and I found that adding some form of sweetener makes it taste really good. Made with water and no sweetener, the :rise Cacao tastes very earthy. If that’s your thing, cool. It’s not mine.
Notes and Tips
Image by MUD/WTR
MUD\WTR’s frother (called the MUD Whip) is quite nice and effective. It also comes in a travel case, which makes it easy to transport on camping trips. No matter how much you froth, though, there’s going to be some stuff at the bottom of your mug. I don’t find this troubling or problematic, but I wouldn’t recommend drinking that last bit, lest you get hit with a super-concentrated glob of mushroom blend.
The :rise Cacao flavor is tasty, though, and has 35 mg of caffeine. The company also offers a matcha flavor with 55 mg of caffeine, as well as a turmeric version and a rooibos version that have no caffeine. Although I did not test these extras, MUD\WTR also sells a sweetener and a mushroom boost powder.
Why Drink Mushroom ‘Coffee’?
Image by MUD/WTR
MUD\WTR uses both the mycelial biomass and fruiting bodies of mushrooms to create their Organic Mushroom Blend, which includes chaga, reishi, lion’s mane, and cordyceps mushrooms. It also has turmeric and black tea powder, which gives it that little caffeine kick. All told, in this blend, you get over 2,200 mg of mushrooms packed into 20 calories with 0 grams of sugar—unless you add some, of course.
Those 2,200+ mg of mushrooms include more than 2 grams of adaptogens, which some claim can help our bodies manage stress. MUD\WTR says each mushroom has a benefit—there’s lion’s mane to support focus, chaga for phytonutrients, reishi for immunity, and cordyceps for natural energy. Of course, none of the above is backed by the FDA, so it’s best to do your own research before consuming adaptogens (or any type of dietary supplement).
While I’m not going to make any wild health claims based on my experience with MUD\WTR so far, I will say that I feel good about reaching for a mushroom latte in the morning, and I find that it gives me a great start to the day.
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