Whole Food Mushroom Powders: The Versatile, Functional Ingredient
Elevate your formulations: M2 Ingredients’ functional mushroom powders deliver a potent blend of science-backed benefits, empowering product developers across Food & Beverage, Supplements, Personal Care, and Pet Care to create innovative, health-forward products that resonate with today’s discerning consumer.
OUR PRODUCT APPLICATION TEAM CAN HELP
Food and Beverage
Applications
- FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGE (HOT AND COLD)
- INSTANT COFFEE
- GROUND COFFEE
- SPORTS DRINKS
- PROTEIN BEVERAGES
- READY-TO-MIX
- READY-TO-DRINK
- Functional mushrooms are incredibly versatile, opening a world of creative possibilities in food product development. Here are some ideas, keeping in mind the importance of flavor pairing and targeted benefits.
Beverage Innovations
Functional Smoothie Powders:
Create pre-made smoothie powder blends with various mushroom species for targeted benefits.
Mushroom-Infused Elixirs and Tonics:
Develop concentrated elixirs with blends of mushrooms and other adaptogens for a potent wellness beverage.
Functional Teas and Infusions:
Beyond just the mushrooms themselves, create tea blends that pair well with certain mushroom types.
Functional Sports Drinks:
Delivering science-backed performance improvements for endurance athletes and anyone looking for a boost in performance.
Sweet Applications
Functional Bars
Protein Bars with Added Adaptogens: Enhance recovery and support a healthy stress response by incorporating mushrooms like cordyceps and reishi into protein bars, providing a balanced energy boost.
Indulgent Bars with Cognitive Benefits: Create decadent, dessert-inspired bars with reishi or lion’s mane offering a delicious treat that also help support immune and cognitive health.
Functional Chocolate and Confections:
Combine reishi or chaga with dark chocolate for a calming and antioxidant-rich treat.
Mushroom infused truffles – a delicious way to combine benefits into a decadent treat.
Mushroom-Enhanced Granola and Oatmeal:
Add dried mushroom powders into granola or oatmeal for a nutritious breakfast boost.
Functional Baked Goods:
Incorporate mushroom powders into muffins, cookies, or energy bars.
Mushroom Infused Honey or Syrups:
These items can be used in many other food products.
Savory Applications
Mushroom-Infused Broths and Stocks:
Enhance the umami flavor of bone broths, vegetable stocks, and miso soups with blends of reishi, shiitake, and maitake.
Functional Seasoning Blends:
Create savory seasoning blends with dried mushroom powders (like lion’s mane or turkey tail) combined with herbs and spices for use on roasted vegetables, meats, and grains.
Mushroom-Enhanced Pasta and Noodles:
Incorporate mushroom powders into fresh pasta dough or noodle formulas for added flavor and potential benefits.
Functional Dips and Sauces:
Add functional mushrooms to hummus, pesto, or creamy dips for a nutritional boost.
Mushroom gravies, or other sauces that benefit from an umami boost.
MUSHROOMS + COFFEE = PERFECT MATCH
What mushrooms go best with Coffee?
When it comes to incorporating functional mushrooms into coffee, certain species stand out due to their compatibility with coffee’s flavor profile and their desired effects. Here’s a breakdown of the mushrooms that typically blend best with coffee.
Lion's Mane
- Lion’s mane is highly popular in coffee blends due to its potential to support cognitive function. It blends well with the flavor of coffee.
- Many people seek lion’s mane to help support focus and clarity, making it a perfect complement to coffee’s stimulating effects.
Chaga
- Chaga has a naturally earthy and slightly bitter flavor that pairs well with the robust taste of coffee.
- It’s often chosen for its antioxidant properties.
- Chaga also has a history of being used as a coffee substitute.
Cordyceps
Cordyceps is frequently added to coffee to complement the energizing benefits of coffee.
Reishi
Reishi has a slightly bitter taste and rich almost nutty flavor. It’s valued for its potential to support relaxation and help manage stress, which can help balance the stimulating effects of caffeine.
Here's why these mushrooms work well in coffee
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Flavor Compatibility
These mushrooms generally have earthy, nutty, or slightly bitter flavors that complement the taste of coffee.
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Synergistic Effects
The properties of these mushrooms can work synergistically with caffeine to provide a more balanced experience, to help support focus, and reduce jitters.
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Focus
Highlighting the unique flavor and textural contributions of each mushroom.
Emphasizing the creation of custom blends for specific product profiles.
Supplementation
Unlock New Possibilities in Supplement Formulation
Personalized Blends
Empower consumers to take control of their wellness with customizable mushroom powder blends. Target specific areas like cognitive function, sport performance, immune support, and stress management.
Clean Label Solutions
Our minimally processed whole mushroom powders contain no additives or fillers, appealing to the growing demand for natural plant-based whole food ingredients
Innovative Delivery Systems
Explore novel formats like effervescent powders, gels, liposomal deliveries, syrups, chews and gummies infused with our mushroom powders to expand your product line and capture new markets.
Crafting Custom Blends for Optimum Performance
Daily Wellness Blend: Combine Turkey Tail, Reishi, and Chaga for a comprehensive approach to overall well-being, to help support immune function, manage stress, and cellular health.
Focus Blend: Help support cognitive function, memory, and mental clarity with a blend of Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, and other applicable species.
Recovery Blend: Optimize physical performance and recovery with a blend of Cordyceps and other species that have scientific support for post workout recovery.
Targeted Gut Health Solutions: Formulate supplements that leverage the unique prebiotic and gut-modulating properties of functional mushrooms to support a healthy microbiome and promote overall gastrointestinal wellness.
Personal Care
Unlocking the Natural Potential of Functional Mushrooms for Skin and Hair
Growing Science-Backed Use Cases
Antioxidant Defense
Many mushrooms are indeed rich in antioxidants, such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, and ergothioneine. These antioxidants can neutralize free radicals, which are implicated in skin aging and damage from environmental stressors like UV radiation and pollution.
Skin Hydration and Barrier Support
Certain mushroom compounds, like polysaccharides (especially beta-glucans), have demonstrated humectant properties, meaning they can attract and retain moisture. They can also support the skin’s barrier function by promoting the production of ceramides, which are essential for maintaining skin hydration and integrity.
Soothing and Calming Effects
Some mushrooms, such as reishi, contain compounds wich can modulate our immune inflammatory response, which can help soothe irritated skin and reduce redness.
Enhanced Skin Radiance
The potential for mushrooms to contribute to a brighter skin tone is related to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. By reducing oxidative stress and modulating the immune inflammatory response, they can potentially improve skin clarity and evenness.
Applications: Expanding Personal Care Formulations
Ingredient Blends for Topical Applications:
- Create custom blends for serums, creams, lotions, and balms, targeting specific skin concerns.
- Incorporate mushroom powders into facial masks, scrubs, and body wraps for a luxurious and beneficial treatment.
Formulation Base for Natural Personal Care Products:
- Develop clean and sustainable personal care products using mushroom powders as a key ingredient.
- Create natural alternatives to traditional skincare and haircare products, appealing to eco-conscious consumers.
Ingredient Blends for Adding Unique Qualities to Existing Products:
- Enhance the performance of existing formulations by adding mushroom powders for their antioxidant, hydrating, or soothing properties.
- Add unique textures and visual appeal to products with the natural colors and consistencies of mushroom powders.
Emphasizing Natural Beauty and Sensory Appeal
Highlighting the Unique Textural and Visual Properties of Mushroom Blends:
- Showcase the natural colors and textures of mushroom powders to create visually appealing and sensory-rich personal care products.
- Emphasize the earthy and natural aesthetic of mushroom-infused products.
Pet Care
Elevate Your Pet Products with M2’s Whole Food Mushroom Powders: Natural Vitality for Modern Pets
Addressing Modern Pet Wellness Challenges
The Changing Landscape: Studies indicate that certain functional mushroom compounds, such as beta-glucans and ergothioneine, may support immune function and antioxidant protection in animals.
Meeting Consumer Demand: Pet owners are increasingly seeking natural and holistic solutions for their animals. M2’s certified organic mushroom powders align with this growing trend.
Why Choose M2's Whole Food Mushroom Powders?
A Full Spectrum of Bioactive Compounds: Our gentle processing methods preserve the naturally occurring bioactive compounds that support animal vitality and immune health.
Versatile Ingredient Solutions: Our powders seamlessly integrate into a variety of pet product formats, allowing for flexible formulation.
Formulation Opportunities
Supplement Blends
- Develop targeted supplement blends to support overall animal wellness, coat and skin health, and immune function.
- Use our powders as a base for new supplement formulations.
Treats and Chews
- Immune Support: Studies have shown that certain beneficial compounds found in mushrooms, such as those from reishi and turkey tail, can support immune function in animals. These extracts may help strengthen the immune system and enhance the body’s ability to fight off infections.
- Joint Health: Preliminary research suggests that certain mushroom compounds, particularly beta-glucans, may have anti-inflammatory properties that could benefit joint health in pets. This could be beneficial for older pets.
Topical Applications
- Create soothing balms, salves, and rinses to address skin and coat concerns.
- Leverage the natural properties of mushrooms in targeted topical formulations.
Grooming Products
- Enhance shampoos, conditioners, and grooming sprays with functional mushrooms.
- Offer natural grooming solutions that promote healthy coat and skin.
