Functional mushrooms have taken the Western world by storm in recent years. Originally utilized in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean medicine and cooking, they have earned the title “mushrooms of immunity” for a reason.
They come with a variety of health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, the ability to boost the immune system, as well as providing the body with a nutrient-dense source of food.
While many people fear the taste, texture, or even sight of these powerful superfoods, supplements have been introduced to make this lifestyle much easier. One of the companies on the front lines of this movement is Four Sigmatic, and they offer a wide variety of functional mushroom supplements — including Four Sigmatic Ground Mushroom Coffee, Four Sigmatic 10 Mushroom Blend, and Four Sigmatic Mushroom Cacao Mix, which is the one we’ll look at it in this review.
What Is Four Sigmatic Mushroom Cacao Mix?
Mushroom Cacao Mix is a powdered supplement that converts a hot glass of water into a functional mushroom lover’s nighttime remedy. Combining cacao powder and the power of the Reishi mushroom, consumers receive the perfect glass of hot cocoa.
Served in easy-to-carry individual packets, Four Sigmatic is dedicated to making functional mushrooms accessible to anyone and everyone.
Their founder, Tero Isokauppila, grew up foraging functional mushrooms on his family’s farm in Finland. Exposed to the beautiful nature of these mushrooms early, Isokaupilla realized how much they were neglected in Western parts of the world.
His product line features a variety of unique supplements that feature a wide range of different functional mushrooms. If you’re a hot cocoa lover or are looking for the perfect beverage to drink before bed, Four Sigmatic Mushroom Cacao Mix is the supplement for you.
Are Reishi Mushrooms Worth It?
Did you know that there are over 2,000 different species of mushrooms all over the planet? Despite the large number of different kinds, only 15 of them have earned the “functional mushroom” title.
The Reishi mushroom is one of those 15, though it’s rarely used in cooking. They look like a saucer and can be found in a range of colors — from red to black. Reshi mushrooms will grow on logs, grain, cork, or sawdust.
As far as taste goes, they are rather bitter and won’t be the most enjoyable thing to eat. This is a large reason why they aren’t utilized in cuisine often, but that doesn’t mean they don’t come packed with benefits.
Here’s a list of some of the more prominent benefits the Reishi mushroom provides:
- Immune-Booster – Reishi mushrooms contain a high amount of beta-glucans and triterpenoids, which can improve immune response and allow immune cells to become more active.
- Antioxidant Properties – like most functional mushrooms, Reishi mushrooms can help reduce oxidative stress and neutralize free radicals in the body.
- Gut Health – containing a large amount of prebiotic polysaccharides, Reishi mushrooms are known to promote healthy bacteria in the gut and make them more resilient.
- Stress-Reducer – Reishi mushrooms are adaptogens, meaning they help the body react, adapt, and resist the various stressors we experience in our lives.
- Sleep-Enhancer – while Reishi mushrooms are non-sedatives, meaning they won’t put you in a sleepy state, they are known to promote healthy sleep cycles. This is especially true when taken daily.
As powerful as the Reishi mushroom is, they are widely unheard of in the Western world. You’ll be able to find them in some stores across the country, but even then, most people simply don’t know they exist — or know the benefits behind them.
Does Four Sigmatic Make Any Claims With This Product?
One thing I really enjoy about Four Sigmatic is their transparency. They do make claims with Mushroom Cacao Mix, but they are directly related to the benefits with a growing amount of scientific research to back them.
We’ll list all the claims they make below before we dive into the various ways you can add it to your daily diet:
- Great beverage before bed and tastes like a dessert
- Organic, Gluten Free, Vegan, 2 g added sugar, and 3rd party lab-tested
- Perfect alternative to a glass of hot cocoa
- Antioxidant properties that support a healthy immune system and digestion
- New look in 2020, but same great formula
If you’re looking for an easy and delicious way to calm down after a long day, Mushroom Cacao Mix will get you there in a jiffy. You’ll be ready to slip into your pajamas, brush your teeth, and prepare for what lies ahead of you tomorrow.
How To Take Mushroom Cacao Mix
As we’ve mentioned, Mushroom Cacao Mix is designed to be your new and favorite hot-cocoa-alternative. Four Sigmatic recommends adding one individual packet of their powder into a hot glass of water — that’s it!
If you would like to spice it up a little bit, you can always add natural sweeteners, nut milk, or coconut oil. This will also add a little bit of flavor to your beverage that wasn’t there before.
Four Sigmatic also recommends drinking it approximately one hour before bed. This will give the nutrients enough time to settle before you decide to lay down for the day. At that time, you can allow the “Queen of Mushrooms” to take over!
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Cacao Mix Ingredients
Claims and guarantees are great for marketing, but they simply do nothing for the body. It’s the ingredients that will provide the benefits in each and every supplement, which is why it’s always recommended to read the nutrition and ingredient label before purchasing one.
While we won’t get to see the exact dosages of all the ingredients, we will get a very good idea of what to expect out of Four Sigmatic Mushroom Cacao Mix. Let’s take a look at what ingredients they’ve utilized!
Organic Reishi Mushroom (500mg)
We’ve already talked a lot about Reishi mushrooms, but Four Sigmatic ensures they use the right type of Reishi mushroom in their Cacao mix. Targeting the red mushrooms, Four Sigmatic suggests the best-quality Reishi mushrooms are found on logs — opposed to grain, cork, or sawdust.
They extract the fruiting bodies and add 500mg of the Reishi mushroom powder to their formula. This will help manage stress, promote healthy sleep cycles, provide antioxidant benefits, and assist the immune system.
Recommended Dosage: 500mg per day
Organic Cacao Powder
Organic cacao powder has long been touted for being rich in antioxidants, iron, magnesium, and calcium. It can potentially help reduce stress, blood pressure, depression, and promote a healthy heart.
Four Sigmatic uses organic cacao powder from the high altitudes of the Dominican Republic, known for being extremely smooth — or as Four Sigmatic describes it, “sweep-you-off-your-feet-smooth.”
Recommended Dosage: N/A
Organic Coconut Palm Sugar
If you’re looking for an alternative to refined sugar, Four Sigmatic recommends the use of Coconut Palm Sugar. It is created from the sap of the coconut palm, after being dehydrated and boiled of course. Many call it the “maple syrup of the tropics.”
Coconut Palm Sugar is highly regarded for being a sweetener with the added benefit of only containing 2g of sugar per serving. It has a low glycemic index, is rich in antioxidants, has less fructose than refined sugar, more electrolytes, and is good for the gut.
Recommended Dosage: N/A
Organic Cinnamon
We all know what cinnamon is, but very few of us are aware of the many benefits they’re packed with. It’s loaded with antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties, improves insulin sensitivity, and can promote a healthy heart and metabolism.
Four Sigmatic uses enough cinnamon to pair well next to the cacao without overpowering it. It’ll be the addition to your hot chocolate you didn’t know you were missing.
Recommended Dosage: No more than 3g per day
Organic Cardamom
Cardamom is best known for its sweet taste, something many have compared to the taste of mint. It’s an intense flavor that will pair well with the cacao and Stevia extract. It is heavily used as a spice in Ayurvedic cuisine.
Researchers have concluded that cardamom is loaded with antioxidants, helps lower blood pressure. It has anti-cancer and anti-inflammation properties, can treat bad breath and prevent cavities, aid in digestion, and improve breathing when consumed.
Recommended Dosage: No more than 400-500mg per day
Organic Stevia
Four Sigmatic adds a pinch of Stevia extract to help balance out the taste of the Reishi. It’s a plant that is part of the ragweed family and is known as a nonnutritive sweetener. It is very appealing to those trying to lose weight due to its low-calorie content.
The Stevia used in Mushroom Cacao Mix is claimed to prevent the metallic taste that some supplements have when adding Stevia. With the Cardamom, you’ll barely even notice you’re tasting an actual Reishi mushroom in your hot chocolate.
Recommended Dosage: No more than 1.8mg per pound of body weight
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Cacao Mix Dosage, Packaging, And Pricing
One of the things you’ll notice on Four Sigmatic’s website is the fact that Mushroom Cacao Mix entered 2020 with a new look! There’s not a whole lot to the packaging, but it’s a simple and appealing design that matches the intention of the product.
The box it comes in is mostly white with blue lettering and semi-beige background graphics. Right on the front, you’ll see the word “CHILL,” which hints at what the product will do for you. Inside the box, you’ll have individually-wrapped packets of powder with a similar design than the box.
Each box will come with 10 packets, and each packet is intended for one serving. There will be 6 grams of powder in each packet, and they clearly state the nutrition facts on the back of the packet:
- 25 calories
- 0g fat
- 0g sodium
- 5g carbs (1g fiber, 2g sugar)
- 1g protein
They mention the 500mg of Organic Reishi Mushroom, but they don’t give exact dosages of the other ingredients.
Each box of 10 servings will cost you $20 on the Four Sigmatic official website. They also offer a subscribe and save option, which will save you 20% and lower the cost to $16.
Save up to 20% on Four Sigmatic Mushroom Cacao MixWe scour the web for the best deals on supplements. Want to get up to 20% off your Mushroom Cacao Mix order? Click the button below to get this deal!GET THE BEST PRICEFour Sigmatic Mushroom Cacao Mix Pros vs. Cons
As much as you’d like every supplement to be perfect, it’s rather unrealistic to expect in today’s market. With so many companies looking for the cheapest way of doing things, they will often give up a certain level of quality to their product.
Despite the growing concerns over trust and quality, Four Sigmatic is dedicated to keeping the integrity of functional mushrooms and what they stand for. They use healthy and organic ingredients, while staying away from unnecessary or harmful ingredients.
Let’s take a look at the various pros and cons of Mushroom Cacao Mix. Quick hint, you’ll find a lot more pros than cons.
Pros
- Can be taken on a daily basis to provide long-term benefits
- Effectively gets rid of the bitter taste behind the Reishi mushroom
- Formula contains all organic ingredients
- Gives a beneficial twist to one of America’s favorite nighttime beverages
- Gluten-Free, Vegan, and tested in a 3rd-party lab
- Easy to use, individual packets can be taken with you anywhere
- Coconut Palm Sugar is a sweetener that only adds 2g of sugar
- Stevia extract is another sweetener added for taste
- Cinnamon and Cardamom are rich in antioxidants
- Highly reputable company with a passionate owner
- Can be combined with Four Sigmatic’s other products for maximum daily performance
- Money-back guarantee
- You receive a free Chai Latte with an order above $50
Cons
- Four Sigmatic isn’t the only company taking advantage of functional mushrooms
- Can become rather expensive if taking every day (about $48 per month)
- If you don’t like chocolate — especially hot chocolate — this is not for you
Mushroom Cacao Mix Claims vs. Reality
Four Sigmatic is very clear about what this product is designed and intended to provide consumers. They utilize ingredients with scientific evidence backing them and are mindful of the dosages of each ingredient.
When it comes to a supplement, you can’t ask for much more than that.
Earlier in this review, we mentioned the few claims made by Four Sigmatic, which were highlighted by the following:
- Perfect alternative to a glass of hot cocoa
- Antioxidant properties that support a healthy immune system and digestion
- Great beverage to drink before bed and tastes like dessert
Of all the functional mushrooms, there’s only one with significant effects on sleep cycles — the Reishi mushroom. Combining it with cinnamon and cardamom will increase the antioxidant power this beverage has.
In addition to that, they effectively reduce the bitter taste of the mushroom by using Coconut Palm Sugar and Stevia extract alongside the all-famous cacao powder.
As a result, we have an extremely tasty hot cocoa beverage with the added benefits of the Reishi mushroom — exactly what Four Sigmatic intended.
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Cacao Mix Alternatives
When it comes to Reishi mushroom supplements, there won’t be many that compare to the quality of Four Sigmatic. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a quality supplement outside of that. In fact, some companies will provide a cheaper option.
Moon Juice, Hyperion Herbs, Anima Mundi, and Om Mushroom Superfood are just some of the companies that offer a Reishi mushroom supplement. Unfortunately, these won’t contain the extra ingredients found in Mushroom Cacao Mix. In addition to that, they don’t offer the amazing hot cocoa taste.
There are also some companies that utilize a combination of functional mushrooms like Naturealm and Garden of Life. Even those supplements won’t provide the same quality as some of the other Four Sigmatic products available — which they offer a lot.
Final Verdict: Four Sigmatic Mushroom Cacao Mix
There’s not much to complain about with any of Four Sigmatic’s products. Even if you’re someone who’s 100% against the taste, smell, and texture of mushrooms, Four Sigmatic finds creative ways of making these mushrooms easy to consume.
With Four Sigmatic Mushroom Cacao Mix, they combine the relaxing and delicious hot cocoa beverage we all love with the nutritious and health benefits of the Reishi mushroom.
If you’re someone who drinks hot chocolate on the regular, it’s time to maximize the effectiveness of it. If you don’t drink hot chocolate often, it might be time to start!
Don’t worry if you’re one of the few rare ones that won’t enjoy a glass of hot cocoa. Four Sigmatic has plenty of other ways for you to try functional mushrooms out!
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