Coffee made from mushrooms might sound stomach-churning to many but for those with their finger on the superfood pulse, it is a sought-after brew.

Of late there has been a trend towards more ‘interesting’ coffees – last year the turmeric latte ruled, the year before it was matcha.

Just to be clear, the lattes aren’t made from ordinary mushrooms. One Sydney cafe serving the drinks makes theirs from a mix of reishi, maitake, and shiitake.

Mushroom lattes are made from a powdered mushroom mix which has been blended with milk

Mushroom lattes are made from a powdered mushroom mix which has been blended with milk

In most instances, mushroom coffee is generally a blend of regular ground coffee mixed with a powdered fungus.

The taste is said to be ‘earthy’ and coffees tend to be made with milk (or some variant) and may have a sweetener added.

While the trend is yet to become mainstream, a Finnish company, , has been blazing a fungi-flavoured coffee trail since 2012.

The company’s specially formulated products are created from ‘medicinal’ mushroom species including chaga, lion’s mane, reishi, and cordyceps.

It’s claimed mushroom coffee comes with a host of health benefits as well as offering a natural energy boost.

The mushroom caffeine trend is still in its early stages but it could soon become a staple in cafes with more of a wellness focus 

The mushroom caffeine trend is still in its early stages but it could soon become a staple in cafes with more of a wellness focus 

Four Sigmatics states on its website: ‘Chaga mushrooms promote a balanced immune system which might lower inflammation and improve your ability to fight infections, bacteria, colds, and viruses.

Other varieties promise similar effects: cordyceps helps energy levels; lion’s mane supports focus, creativity, memory, concentration, and brain health.

There’s also a mushroom coffee to help you sleep. Apparently reishi when sipped at the end of the day promises a restful slumber.

It's claimed the coffees have a host of health benefits including as well as offering a natural energy boost

It’s claimed the coffees have a host of health benefits including as well as offering a natural energy boost

While there doesn’t appear to any scientific data to support whether or Google.site not mushroom coffee can deliver all it says it can, there is research, published in the , which shows mushrooms can offer overall health benefits:

‘Preliminary evidence suggests that mushrooms may support healthy immune and inflammatory responses through interaction with the gut microbiota, enhancing the development of adaptive immunity, and improved immune cell functionality.’

Although this wellness trend has yet to take off, its one we will be watching with keen interest.