It was a few years ago during my tenure at Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop when my fellow wellness editor was raving about mushroom chocolate. The mini tins of Alice Mushrooms chocolates intrigued me, but of course, I had my doubts about what a little square of fair-trade, dark chocolate made with reishi, lion’s mane, and cordyceps could actually do for my brain and body. It turns out, quite a lot.
Mushrooms have long been “good” for you thanks, in part, to their super-nutrient bioactive compounds; and this new wave of functional mushrooms is pushing beyond the confines of wellness circles, making the the possibility of a natural support for mood, focus, energy, and sleep more accessible. “The future of supplements will look more like your fridge and pantry than your medicine cabinet,” explains cofounder of Alice Mushrooms, Lindsay Goodstein. “Our goal is to make mushrooms mainstream.”
Vogue’s Favorite Mushroom Chocolates
In finally trying Alice for myself, I noticed a difference quicker than I anticipated. I started with Brainstorm, a combination of cordyceps and lion’s mane, two cognitive-function darlings of the functional mushroom world. Crafted for daily use, Brainstorm somehow felt like it turned the lights back on in my brain—I felt a clear, fresh, laser focus I traditionally only feel in the early mornings. But it wasn’t just about the zoned-in claritys and focus, but also about what I didn’t feel: jittery, shaky, with a rough comedown crash. Over time, I found myself craving midday caffeine less and less—impressive for someone who typically enjoyed five espresso shots a day.
As my husband and my Oura ring never fail to remind me, I’m a terrible sleeper (perhaps related to my caffeine intake, but I digress); if I wasn’t physically required to do it, I probably wouldn’t. What can I say, it’s really hard for me to shut off the noise and wind down in the evening. As someone super-sensitive to melatonin (and other typical relaxation agents), I’m wary of sleep supplements; but I gave Nightcap—Alice’s chocolate designed to be taken an hour before bedtime—a try anyway. Via its soothing blend of magnesium, chamomile, L-theanine, and reishi mushrooms, I finally found my evening bliss. It’s slow and steady—a warm hug of calmness washes over me, and I’m gently pulled toward sleep. What’s most impressive is that I sleep deeply and wake up actually feeling rested—not tired, groggy, or worn down. The proof was in my Oura ring sleep score—96% and optimal restfulness.
Each and every chocolate mushroom from Alice was specifically designed with immediate gratification and long term benefits in mind. That’s because each tiny square of deliciousness is packed to the brim with functional mushrooms, but also other potent herbs and botanicals to give you the immediate effects that keep you coming back. “We formulated with what we call the ’now and later’ approach,” says Goodstein. “The benefits of functional mushrooms compound and build over time so it takes about three weeks of daily use to feel the effects. To give the instant gratification we all crave, we use other, potent herbs and ingredients that work quickly so you still get real benefits right away, too.” (I love how Alice breaks it down on the website that you’ll start to feel the functional mushroom effects at week three after daily use and the other ingredients within 30-45 minutes).
It somehow works as a wellness supplement, daily ritual, and indulgence at once—which is kind of the point. “We’re not trying to replace your regular routine or prescriptions,” says Goodstein, but rather work alongside it for extra support throughout your day. What I love most about this mushroom chocolate is that it’s so easy to incorporate into my day that it’s become a second nature—I simply break off a square, savor it, and move on. The longer I’ve taken it, the more benefits I’ve noticed in how I feel, how I zone in, or how I respond to stressful triggers long term.
By using chocolate, cofounder of Alice Mushrooms Charlotte Cruze and Goodstein wanted to remove the barrier—taste, texture, and more—associated with many functional mushroom supplements that come in powders, capsules, or tinctures. “We exhaustively tested so many different things to look for the ‘Goldilocks effect,” says Goodstein. “It had to hit our two non-negotiables: it had to taste great and it had to deliver real results you could feel.” Chocolate was also important to Cruze and Goodstein not only because it was delicious, fun, and easy, but because it naturally has benefits, like antioxidants. “By using chocolate as the delivery method, we’re able to connect with people emotionally—food holds so much power, emotion, and sensory connection to us,” Cruze adds. “When people take our chocolate mushrooms, they’re able to spend a moment of their day taking care of themselves and they’re able to enjoy it which is really really rare.”
On the scientific side, it also is effective as a delivery method for absorption. “Chocolate is a food so it starts breaking down in your mouth (enzymatically through your saliva) before it gets to your small intestine,” Cruze explains. “It also has lipids in the form of fat from the cocoa butter which helps increase absorption of nutrients.” It’s also incredibly dense which means they can include more nutrients in a dose. “It would take about seven to eight gummies to give you the dose we’re able to do in one square of chocolate.”
Shop Vogue’s favorite mushroom chocolate, below.
Best for Energy: Alice Mushrooms Brainstorm
My most tried-and-true chocolate, Brainstorm is a power-packed mix of lion’s mane and cordyceps, as well as guarana, a native Amazonian plant attributed with energy boosts, laser focus, and endurance thanks to its naturally-high caffeine content, and phosphatidylserine, a natural phospholipid that acts as a protective layer for your brain cells and attributed to cognitive function and stress regulation. A single square contains a little less caffeine than a single cup of coffee.
Best for Sleep: Alice Mushrooms Nightcap
Imagine waking up after a full night’s sleep feeling well-rested and recharged. If you, like me, have trouble drifting off to dreamland, this little sweet treat has all the good stuff: magnesium, chamomile, zinc, and reishi mushrooms, and L-theanine, the soothing amino acid found in green tea.
Best for Stress: Alice Mushrooms Zen X
If you looked up the definition of cool, calm, and collectsed in the dictionary, there would be a picture of Zen X at the top. It’s made with organic reishi and tremella mushrooms, rhodiola, and saffron, as well as magnesium and L-theanine to help arm you against never-ending to-do lists, quarterly reviews, or daily stress.
Best for a Night Out: Alice Mushrooms Party Trick
I love a martini as much as the next girl but these days alcohol tends to hit me a bit harder than in my 20s. This gives a similar feeling without the drawbacks—it cushions social situations and nights out with a sparkly, euphoric vibe but where you can still have the clear headedness to be present and engaged. It’s made with guayusa (a natural source of L-theanine and caffeine) and gotu kola (for modulating GABA). It also has popping rocks for a fizziness that feels extra fun.
What are functional mushrooms?
Before I got hip to Alice, I admit I was inherently biased against functional mushrooms mostly due to a lack of education. Would I start hearing colors? Could I get stopped at TSA? At their core, functional mushrooms are non-psychoactive fungi that are revered for their potential benefits beyond nutrition. While there is exciting emerging research around their benefits, Taylor Fazio, a New York–based registered dietitian and wellness advisor for The Lanby, notes that “there is still a gap between the potential around functional mushrooms and the strength of the evidence.”
Though mushrooms have been around since the dawn of time, we often get tripped up (no pun intended) on classifying them. There’s culinary mushrooms—think baby bella, oyster, or portobellos—we get at the farmer’s market and love to eat, psilocybin (magic) mushrooms that are hallucinogenic and being researched for psychedelic healing effects, and my personal favorite corner of the fungi kingdom, functional mushrooms that are said to have benefits beyond nutrition. “People often forget that like the animal kingdom and plant kingdom, fungi is a kingdom—there’s thousands and thousands of mushrooms,” says Cruze. “So comparing a functional mushroom to a psilocybin mushroom is like comparing an asparagus to an apple.”
What do functional mushrooms do?
Different functional mushrooms serve different purposes. “Functional mushrooms have many benefits for gut health, brain health, and immunity,” herbalist Rachelle Robinett, RH, AHG previously told Vogue. They’ve often been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and are known for supporting immunity, cognitive function, energy, and stress management.
- Lion’s mane is known for its potential cognitive, focus, and memory benefits.
- Reishi mushroom has a long history of being used for health and longevity benefits like stress reduction, calmness, and better sleep in China and Japan.
- Cordyceps is used for increasing energy levels, stamina, and boosting immunity.
However, it’s important to note that functional mushrooms are not an instant fix—their benefits gradually build up in your body. “The thing with herbal supplements like functional mushrooms is that for them to work, you have to take them, and you have to take them consistently,” says herbalist and formulator at French skin-care brand Verdoie, Blaire Edwards-Maschotta. “They don’t work as quickly as a cup of coffee or a Redbull does.”
How to Pick a High-Quality Functional Mushroom Chocolate
I like to follow the same rules I do for any supplement: When choosing a mushroom chocolate, I look for easy to read (and understand!) ingredient lists, no extra sweeteners, fillers, or unnecessary ingredients, and third-party testing, something Alice is stringent on. “We wanted it to be vegan and we wanted to have the cleanest ingredient label possible,” says Cruze on the choice to intentionally choose organic, fair-trade dark chocolate. “We don’t want anything unnecessary in it and want it to suit a wide-range of dietary restrictions and preferences."
But personal preference is what really narrows it down. Do you want laser focus and claritys? Try Brainstorm. Zen X helps totally chill out from a stressful day, but Party Trick brings the good vibes for a night out with friends. And Nightcap helps you drift off to sleep—and stay asleep for more quality rest. At the moment, Alice is leading the mushroom chocolate charge, and I’m keeping a close eye on the category moving forward.
Of course, it’s best to speak with your health practitioner before taking any sort of supplements, including functional mushrooms. If you’re allergic or sensitive to it, it could have major downsides and it’s best when used with comprehensive care.
Meet the Experts
- Blaire Edwards-Maschotta is a herbalist and formulator at French skin-care brand Verdoie.
- Taylor Fazio, MS, RD, SPN, is a New York–based registered dietician and wellness adviser for The Lanby.
- Lindsay Goodstein is a cofounder of Alice Mushrooms.
- Charlotte Cruze is a cofounder of Alice Mushrooms.