MUD\WTR Review: A Mushroom-Based Coffee Alternative That May Offer Some Health Benefits

Thinking about cutting back on caffeine? Here’s one way — replace your morning coffee with mushrooms.

MUD\WTR is a coffee alternative made from functional mushrooms — or mushrooms that offer some potential health benefits.

It contains just a fraction of the caffeine of coffee but promises improvements to your energy and focus, as well as your immune health.

The product has some research to support its claimed benefits, some mixed reviews regarding taste, and a high price tag. Still, it may be worth the cost for some people.

This MUD\WTR review can help you decide if it would be a good fit for you.

What Is MUD\WTR?

MUD\WTR is a powdered drink mix made with mushrooms, spices, and tea. It is marketed as a coffee replacement and contains just 1/7th of the caffeine of a typical cup of coffee.

The brand’s website explains that drinking MUD\WTR instead of or in addition to coffee can help improve your brain function, alertness, and immune health.

Its potential benefits come from the blend of medicinal mushrooms it contains, along with select antioxidant-rich ingredients like cacao, turmeric, black pepper, and cinnamon.

It also contains ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, black tea, and Himalayan pink salt.

It’s made with completely organic ingredients and is certified gluten-free.

To prepare MUD\WTR, you thoroughly mix one tablespoon of its powder into a cup of hot water using a spoon, a blender, or a milk frother. From there, you can add sweeteners or creamers if you prefer.

In addition to the original MUD\WTR, you can also purchase MUD\WTR :rest — a caffeine-free blend containing mushrooms, spices, and ingredients like chamomile and valerian root that may help you relax and sleep better. (1, 2)

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What Does MUD\WTR Taste Like?

Personally, I really liked the taste of MUD\WTR with a bit of added half and half and sweetener, but I wasn’t fond of it plain. It is a very heavily-spiced flavor that reminds me of a mocha with added pumpkin pie spice.

It does leave sediment at the bottom of the cup unless you stir continuously as you drink it.

According to reviewers around the web, they prefer the drink with added sweetener or creamer, and MUD\WTR does offer coconut-based creamers and sweeteners for sale on their website.

However, some customers said in their reviews that it is overly spiced, and others say that they dislike the earthiness or the thick sediment left at the cup’s bottom after finishing.

How Effective Is MUD\WTR? The Science

The key claims made on the MUD\WTR website are that it can help improve memory and increase your focus, energy, and immunity — all with significantly less caffeine than coffee.

Overall, there is limited research to support MUD/WTR’s claims. However, some small, high-quality studies in humans support claims of increased memory and energy specifically.

Below, we’ll dive into the scientific evidence behind these claims.

Focus and Memory

MUD\WTR contains Lion’s Mane mushroom for focus and memory.

Online, I have seen many people report improvements in their focus from taking Lion’s Mane mushroom.

However, although there is some evidence that Lion’s Mane improves focus and attention in animals, there’s been little human research done on the subject.

One high-quality human study tested the effects of taking 800 mg of Lion’s Mane mushroom daily for 12 weeks. Researchers noted that the mushroom did improve brain function and memory and prevent cognitive decline in people over 50.

However, there were only 31 participants in the study — so it was too small to draw any firm conclusions from for a larger population. This study also didn’t specifically address focus. (3)

One serving of MUD\WTR contains 562 mg of Lion’s Mane, so you would need approximately 1-1/2 servings each day to get the 800 mg used in the study.

May Increase Energy

Cordyceps and cacao in MUD\WTR are the two key energy-boosting ingredients found in the drink.

Cordyceps mushrooms may help increase your endurance and prevent fatigue. (4)

One high-quality study on 20 elderly people found that taking 333 mg of Cordyceps twice daily improved exercise performance compared to a placebo.

One serving of MUD\WTR provides 562 mg of Cordyceps, which is nearly the same amount participants in the study took in total each day.

Again, though, this was a very small study — so it may not be representative of the larger population. (5)

Additionally, cacao provides small amounts of caffeine, which has stimulating properties. The black tea in MUD\WTR also contains caffeine, so it may contribute to improved alertness as well.

However, MUD\WTR contains only about 1/7th of the amount of caffeine in coffee — so you may not feel a huge difference in energy levels after drinking it immediately, especially if you are replacing coffee or another more significant caffeine source with it.

May Support Immunity

Chaga and Reishi mushrooms present in MUD\WTR were included for their immune-strengthening properties.

Unfortunately, there is no strong human evidence for the use of Chaga or Reishi mushrooms for immune health — although some animal and test-tube studies (which test the effects of a substance on a single cell or group of cells) have noted that they may have antiviral and immune-strengthening properties. (6, 7)

Additionally, MUD\WTR contains antioxidant herbs and spices like turmeric, cinnamon, and black pepper. These ingredients add flavor to the brew, but also provide some potential benefits.

Turmeric, for example, contains curcumin — an anti-inflammatory agent that may help regulate immune health. Black pepper contains a compound called piperine, which helps the body to absorb curcumin much more effectively. (8, 9)

Cinnamon is also rich in antioxidant compounds, which can help to promote cellular health. (10)

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Side Effects and Safety

MUD\WTR is generally safe for most people. It’s free of common allergens and doesn’t contain ingredients that are likely to interact with drugs.

However, if you are taking prescription medications, it may be a good idea to ask your healthcare provider before starting MUD\WTR.

Additionally, some ingredients in MUD\WTR — like cinnamon and functional mushrooms — may reduce blood sugar levels.

This could be a potential problem for people with type 2 diabetes or other blood sugar regulation problems, so these people should speak to a healthcare provider before drinking MUD\WTR as well. (11, 12)

If you are sensitive to caffeine and typically avoid it, the small amount of caffeine in MUD\WTR may be a problem for you.

If you switch suddenly from full-caffeine coffee to MUD\WTR, you may experience some symptoms of caffeine withdrawal — like a headache — until you adjust to this lower level of caffeine. (13)

Finally, if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you should ask your healthcare provider before using MUD\WTR to ensure that the ingredients will not affect your pregnancy or your breast milk.

Nutrition Facts

One tablespoon of MUD\WTR is a typical serving size. It contains 562 mg each of Chaga, Reishi, Lion’s Mane, and Cordyceps mushrooms. All of the ingredients are organic and non-GMO.

One serving provides:

• Caffeine: about 14 mg
• Calories: 20
• Fat: 0.5 grams
• Carbohydrates: 4 grams
• Fiber: 1 gram
• Protein: less than 1 gram
• Iron: 0.4 mg
• Potassium: 110 mg
• Dietary Fiber: 1 g

However, if you add creamer or a sweetener that contains calories, this will increase the calorie count and change the nutrition content as well.

How Much Does MUD\WTR Cost?

The regular cost of MUD\WTR is:

• 30-serving container: $50
• 90-serving container: $125

If you choose the Subscribe & Save option, your order ships free and you can save 20% — bringing the price down to:

• 30-serving container: $40
• 90-serving container: $100

You can also cancel or reschedule Subscribe & Save shipments at any time.

Alternatively, if you’re new to MUD\WTR, you may want to purchase their starter kit. The Morning Ritual Starter Kit costs $60 normally (or $40 if you choose Subscribe & Save, which is 33% off).

It comes with:

• A 30-day supply of MUD\WTR
• A USB-rechargeable milk frother
• Samples of MUD\WTR creamer and sweetener

For non-subscription orders, standard shipping costs $5 per order.

MUD\WTR does not offer any kind of satisfaction guarantee, and they do not accept returns on opened products. They only accept returns of unopened products within 30 days of your purchase.

Unfortunately, the company also doesn’t offer samples — so you’ll be out at least $40 if you purchase MUD\WTR but end up disliking the product after you’ve tried it.

It is significantly more expensive than coffee — including most organic coffees.

If you plan to drink more than one cup per day, MUD\WTR will cost even more. For this reason, some people may not find it a good value.

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How MUD\WTR Compares to Alternatives

Although MUD\WTR was one of the originals, there are now several powdered mushroom coffee alternatives on the market.

Here’s how MUD\WTR compares to two of its key competitors — Ryze Mushroom Coffee and Rasa Adaptogenic Coffee Alternative.

Ryze Mushroom Coffee

Ryze Mushroom Coffee is a powdered drink mix that contains a blend of mushrooms (including Cordyceps, Reishi, and Lion’s Mane), coffee, and herbs.

It is completely organic and has about 48 mg of caffeine per cup. MUD\WTR contains no coffee, so this is the key difference between these two products.

Ryze offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and is significantly less expensive than MUD\WTR.

The regular price for a 30-day supply of Ryze is $30, and a subscription is required — although you can cancel or skip shipments at any time. Shipping is free.

Ryze may be a good fit if you’re interested in incorporating mushroom coffee into your routine but don’t have the budget for MUD\WTR. It’s also a good choice if you want to decrease your caffeine intake but not necessarily cut it out altogether.

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Rasa Adaptogenic Coffee Alternative

Rasa also offers powdered mushroom drink mixes that can be used as an alternative to coffee.

Their original flavor contains a blend of 13 different organic herbs, including small amounts of Chaga and Reishi mushrooms.

It’s fully organic and caffeine-free. However, they also offer several other flavors — including Dirty, which combines original Rasa with ground coffee.

Rasa’s original coffee alternative is $28 for a 30-day supply, or you can subscribe for a 20% discount — bringing it down to $22.40.

Shipping is free on all subscription orders, and you can swap products, skip shipments, or cancel anytime. Additionally, Rasa offers sampler packs and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Rasa is a great fit if you want to cycle through a number of different flavors during your subscription, or if you’re new to mushroom coffee.

Their sampler packs are an inexpensive way to try several different flavors, and their products are about half the price of MUD\WTR.

Learn More About Rasa Coffee

Quick Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

MUD\WTR offers a low-caffeine, organic alternative to coffee that may provide some health benefits from the blend of mushrooms and spices it contains.

While some evidence supports its benefits on energy levels, additional long-term research is needed for its key ingredients that affect focus and memory.

Additionally, despite the mixed reviews for taste, the many positive reviewers say that MUD\WTR does seem to help with their focus and energy levels.

If you’re interested in consuming less caffeine, want a completely organic product that contains potentially health-promoting mushrooms and spices, and are okay with the higher price point, then MUD\WTR may be an excellent choice.

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