This collection brings you Cordyceps militaris in two forms: ground powder and capsules. The powder is easy to stir into drinks and food, and the capsules suit anyone who doesn't like the mushroom taste.
What is Cordyceps militaris?
Cordyceps looks nothing like the mushrooms you know from the forest. Its fruiting bodies are thin, bright orange, about the size of a matchstick, and grow in clusters. In the wild, it lives on moth pupae that overwinter in the soil: it grows through them and pushes up to the surface as little orange sticks. That's where the genus name comes from, which roughly means "club head".
Cordyceps militaris vs Chinese cordyceps: what's the difference?
When people talk about cordyceps, they often mean the Chinese caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), which grows high in the Himalayas on caterpillars. It's picked by hand, it's rare and it costs as much as a precious metal, so the market is full of fakes. Cordyceps militaris is a different species and much easier to get. Interestingly, it usually contains more cordycepin, the compound that makes cordyceps worth studying in the first place, than the Chinese one.
How to use cordyceps powder
Cordyceps tastes mild and slightly sweet, with a light mushroom note and no bitterness. In Chinese cooking, the fruiting bodies go into chicken broth and soups, and the powder dissolves well in hot dishes too. You can stir it into tea, coffee or cocoa, or add it to a smoothie.
What the research says
Scientists have been interested in cordyceps for a long time, with most attention going to cordycepin and polysaccharides. They're studied in connection with endurance, energy metabolism and the immune system.
Most of this research has so far been done on cells and animals, and the results of small human studies are mixed. So it's too early to talk about any specific effect of cordyceps on the body. We sell it as a food product, not as a treatment or a way to prevent illness.
Warnings
Cordyceps may lower blood sugar and affect blood clotting. If you take diabetes medication or blood thinners, talk to your doctor first. The same goes for people with autoimmune conditions and anyone taking immunosuppressants. Stop taking cordyceps two weeks before any planned surgery.
We don't recommend cordyceps during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for anyone with a mushroom intolerance.
You can buy cordyceps powder or cordyceps capsules at Muhomornya, with delivery across Ukraine and abroad.
