Fungi fever brews in Pittsburgh's drinks and eats
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Mushrooms are sprouting up all over Pittsburgh: in coffee, soda, chocolate, protein bars and more.
Why it matters: Centuries after they were considered medicinal, mushrooms are today's go-to "functional" food — especially in Pennsylvania, which grows nearly 70% of the nation's mushroom supply, per the USDA.
State of play: "Mushrooms have such a health halo," says Chicago-based registered dietitian Janet Helm.
- "Particularly with Gen Z, if you put it in a beverage, they love it." That's largely because of sustainability and brain-boosting possibilities.
Between the lines: We're not talking about "magic" mushrooms.
- "Functional" mushrooms include lion's mane, chaga, reishi and cordyceps (something "The Last of Us" fans might be familiar with).
By the numbers: Sales of food and beverages with functional mushrooms are up over 450% in the U.S. since 2021, per NielsenIQ.
- Sales in Pittsburgh have risen nearly 500%, from $270,000 in the first half of 2021 to $1.6 million in the first half of this year, the market research company says.
Zoom in: Pittsburgh is home to a growing number of small mushroom farms, like Pittsburgh Mushroom Co. and Fun-gal Farms — some of which grow and supply mushrooms to coffee shops and restaurants selling functional mushroom products across the city.
How it works: To make the "coffee," mushrooms are blended with coffee beans or tea, or they're often used as part of a coffee alternative powder that might contain added caffeine.
- The drinks don't taste mushroomy, per se, but can err on the "earthy" side; they're often made with sweetener and prepared with milk.
🍄 1 cool thing: Pittsburgh Mushroom Co.'s recipe for cordyceps tea.
Context: Mushrooms are a good source of the antioxidant ergothioneine and B vitamins, which could all support the brain, Helm says, referencing a growing body of research on mushrooms' cognitive health benefits.
- Yes, but: Mushroom products — particularly those with mushroom powders and mushrooms low on the ingredient list — can oversell their mood-lifting effects, which haven't been widely studied.
Zoom out: The Kennett Square Mushroom Festival returns Sept. 6–7 to suburban Philly.
The bottom line: Fungi fever is taking root, but the only high you'll get is in antioxidants.