The Tamesis
It serves as a health supplement, a daily ritual and an indulgence in part – that’s the whole point. “We’re not trying to replace your regular treatments or prescription medications, but rather work alongside it to give you extra support throughout the day,” says Goodstein. “What I love most about this mushroom chocolate is that it fits so easily into my life that it’s become second nature to me—I just snap off a cube, taste it, and keep going.” The longer I take it, the more I notice benefits in the way I feel, the way I focus, or the way I react to chronic stress triggers.
By using chocolate, Alice Mushrooms co-founders Charlotte Cruze and Goodstein wanted to eliminate the barriers (taste, texture, etc.) associated with many functional mushroom supplements in powder, capsule or tincture form. “We exhaustively tested a lot of different things to look for the ‘Goldilocks effect,'” Goldstein said. “It had to meet our two non-negotiable requirements: It had to taste good, and it had to deliver real results that you could feel.” Chocolate was also important to Cruze and Goodstein not only because it’s delicious, fun and easy, but also because it naturally has benefits like antioxidants. “By using chocolate as a delivery method, we are able to connect with people emotionally – food has so much power, emotion and sensory connection for us,” Cruz added. “When people take our chocolate mushrooms, they are able to spend the day taking care of themselves and It’s really rare that they get to enjoy it. “
From a scientific perspective, it is also effective as a delivery method for absorption. “Chocolate is a food, so it starts breaking down in your mouth (via salivary enzymes) before it reaches the small intestine,” Cruz explains. “It also contains lipids in the form of fat from cocoa butter, which help increase the absorption of nutrients.” It’s also incredibly dense, which means they can pack more nutrients into a dose. “It takes about seven to eight gummies to get the dose that we get in a bar of chocolate.”
shop fashion magazine My favorite mushroom chocolate, below.
best for energy: Alice Mushroom Brainstorm
My most tried-and-true chocolate, Brainstorm is an energy-rich blend of lion’s mane and cordyceps, along with guarana (a plant native to the Amazon that has energy-boosting, laser-focusing, and endurance benefits due to its naturally high caffeine content) and phosphatidylserine (a natural phospholipid that acts as a protective layer for brain cells, aiding in cognitive function and stress regulation). One cube contains slightly less caffeine than a cup of coffee.
Best for sleeping: Alice Mushroom Nightcap
Imagine waking up after a full night’s sleep feeling well-rested and energized. If you’re like me and have trouble falling asleep, this little treat has all the good stuff: magnesium, chamomile, zinc, reishi, and the soothing amino acid L-theanine found in green tea.
Best for stress relief: Alice Mushroom Zen X
If you look up the definitions of “calm,” “cool,” and “calm” in the dictionary, a picture of Zen X will appear at the top. It’s made with organic reishi and tremella mushrooms, rhodiola and saffron, plus magnesium and L-theanine to help you tackle your never-ending to-do list, quarterly review, or daily stress.
