What is Lion's Mane? Potential Health Benefits and Uses

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a large, white mushroom with a distinctly fluffy, long appearance that resembles a lion's mane. It is one of the better known medicinal mushrooms, with a long history of traditional use across Asian countries including Japan, China, India, and Korea.

At Austral Herbs, we offer powdered lion's mane in 250g, 1kg, 5kg, and 10kg packaging. Research suggests lion's mane may have effects on focus, cognitive function, and mood, though human studies remain limited. In this guide, we will go through what lion's mane is, the best ways to prepare it, and what benefits it may offer you.

• Lion’s Mane is a type of mushroom that grows icicle-like spines that look like a lion’s mane. It typically grows on hardwoods.

• It is native to North America and Eurasia, and has been traditionally used as a medicine, food and a cooking ingredient in China.

• Research suggests lion's mane may have effects on brain cells, mood, and lipid metabolism, though most of this comes from lab and animal studies.

• Lion’s Mane can be taken raw, cooked, powdered, or as a supplement.

• Austral Herbs offers lion’s mane as a certified organic powder.

There's no single best way to take lion's mane. The right method depends on what you're after, whether that's flavour, convenience, or something you can stir into a drink each morning.

Raw

Lion's Mane can be eaten raw, though it's not the most popular option. The texture is rough and hard to chew, the flavour turns bitter and spongy, and raw mushrooms in general can unsettle some stomachs.

If you do eat it raw, make sure to clean it gently but thoroughly and trim the base to remove any tough or woody material. TIP: Breaking it into slices or chunks makes it easier to eat.

Cooked

Cooking lion’s mane brings out a mild, savoury flavour often compared to crab or lobster, and makes the mushroom easier to digest. It can be roasted or torn into shapes, but the most common approach is to cut it into small slabs and pan-sear them, like steak. Press each slab into a hot pan for 3 to 4 minutes a side, until the excess water has cooked out, then finish with a pat of butter, garlic, or soy sauce for another 20 seconds.

Note that excessive cooking temperatures may reduce some of the heat-sensitive bioactive compounds.

Rehydrated

Dried lion's mane needs rehydrating first. Soak it in warm water or broth for 20 to 30 minutes, then gently press out the excess liquid so it doesn't go soggy in the pan. Make sure to hold onto that liquid though, as it carries flavour and nutrients, and works well as a base for soups and sauces. From there, cook it as you normally would.

As a tea

Lion's Mane tea has a mild umami flavour that is slightly sweet and earthy, making it a popular choice for tea.

For sliced or dried pieces, add them to a pot of boiling water and simmer on low for 15 to 20 minutes, then strain into your cup. For powder, add it straight to the cup, pour over boiling water, and stir until fully dissolved. Feel free to add some milk, honey, or any other additions from there.

Stirred into drinks or condiments

Powder is the simplest way to work a lion's mane extract into a routine. It gives you the flexibility to stir it into your morning coffee, matcha, or chai, blend it into smoothies and protein shakes, or whisk it into warm milk for a caffeine-free latte. It can also be used as a spice or folded into sauces.

Lion's Mane is also sold as capsules, tablets, and liquid extracts, though Austral Herbs supplies the powder only.

At Austral Herbs, we offer certified organic lion's mane mushroom powder made from the fruiting body of the mushroom. Our lion’s mane powder is a grade 4 powder, medium-fine grind, Mesh size approx #50, and is sourced from China.

To store your lion’s mane powder, we recommend placing it in a sealed container and keeping it in a dry, cool place. Make sure the seal is airtight, and consider placing a silica gel packet or oxygen absorber inside. Avoid placing it in a transparent container if you are storing it on an open shelf.

With its unique savory flavor, anti-inflammatory properties, and potential cognitive benefits, Lion's Mane is an effortless boost to your daily coffee or smoothie. Order our lion’s mane powder today to experience the benefits for yourself!

1. Hericium erinaceus, a medicinal fungus with a centuries-old history: Evidence in gastrointestinal diseases - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10280799/ 

2. Prevention of Early Alzheimer’s Disease by Erinacine A-Enriched Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Pilot Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7283924/ 

3. Association of inflammation with depression and anxiety: evidence for symptom-specificity and potential causality from UK Biobank and NESDA cohorts - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8873022/ 

4. Antihyperglycaemic and organic protective effects on pancreas, liver and kidney by polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus SG-02 in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5589823/ 

5. Hypolipidaemic Effect of Hericium erinaceum Grown in Artemisia capillaris on Obese Rats - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3714447/ 

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Any references to traditional or historical uses are for context only and do not represent any therapeutic health claims for the products supplied by Austral Herbs.

Austral Herbs supplies ingredients only and does not claim that any products are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Customers should consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any ingredients, particularly if pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or managing a medical condition.

Customers are responsible for ensuring that any finished products manufactured, marketed, or supplied using these ingredients comply with all applicable Australian laws and regulations, including those administered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and relevant food standards legislation.