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How to Make Reishi Tea

Why reishi needs a longer simmer than ordinary tea and how to soften its natural bitterness.

Liona editorial · Updated September 22, 2026
The short answer

Reishi is woody and bitter. Follow the dried ingredient’s simmering directions; a quick steep is not equivalent to a decoction or a standardized extract.

Start with a labeled ingredient

Use identified food-grade slices from a traceable supplier. Do not brew a bracket fungus found outdoors based on an image match. Use the package’s amount and water ratio. This guide does not prescribe a medicinal serving or a daily dosing schedule.

Simmer and strain

A decoction uses a gentle simmer for tougher material. Follow the supplier’s stated time, maintain enough water, and strain out woody pieces. Reducing the liquid concentrates taste but does not make its biological strength predictable. Taste a small portion before adding other ingredients to the full batch.

Balance the cup

Cacao, ginger, or cinnamon can complement bitterness. Dilution often works better than extra sweetener. Concentrated reishi preparations are not automatically safe because they are called tea; review the specific ingredient and potential interactions with a qualified clinician. Our cacao recipe starts with an already prepared base.

Further reading

MSK: Reishi mushroom

This reference provides background, not an endorsement of Liona or verification of an unreleased product.