I Tried The Coffee Alternative Made Of Mushrooms: MUD\WTR Review

MUD\WTR also makes their own :creamer (from $20) and :sweetener (from $20) if you’re more of a latte kind of person. I followed the kit’s recipe book pretty closely and became a fan of Iced MUD\WTR and the MUD\WTR Shake (blend with a banana and almond butter). For those who prefer something hot, there were plenty of options from the standard latte to a butter version (add ghee or unsalted butter) to a spicy recipe (throw in some cayenne).

How does MUD\WTR taste?

MUD\WTR describes its natural, earthy flavor “like chai and hot cocoa had a lil hippy love child.” Others say it tastes like fall (cinnamon will do that). To me, it tastes like the kind of drink you’d get at a gourmet health food restaurant. Cacao and masala chai are the predominant flavors. The good-for-you health taste is there, but if you’ve come to love kombucha or wheat grass shots or green juice — and honestly, if you already like the taste of coffee — then acquiring a taste for MUD\WTR will take no time at all.

MUD\WTR ingredient rundown

The entire idea behind MUD\WTR is energy without jitters or dependency. This is accomplished with mushrooms that provide natural energy and focus such as lion’s mane, cordyceps, reishi, and more. Both the mycelial biomass and fruiting bodies of mushrooms are included to allow them to complete their full growth cycle. In :rise Cacao, there are 562mg of each mushroom per serving.

In more great news, MUD\WTR has certifications galore: It’s 100% USDA organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, Whole30-approved, and kosher. It will also be your best friend during cold and flu season, thanks to chaga and reishi mushrooms, which are known to support a healthy immune system.

The ritual

For coffee drinkers who are all about the prep process, you’ll find something to love in the ritual of making mud. For the past few weeks, the black canister of MUD\WTR has been my north star in the morning. Here’s how my routine has come together: After putting water on to boil, I put a tablespoon of :rise Cacao into a Pyrex measuring cup and get my frother ready (the kit includes two frother attachments so if you feel lazy you can forgo washing for a day). I tried the MUD\WTR :creamer and :sweetener (I also tried honey), but what I liked best (and made it a bit unhealthy, sue me) is Copper Cow’s sweetened condensed milk. I had some lying around from my Thai tea kit and I experimented by adding it to my mug and never looked back. Since I use almond milk to make my iced latte, I was craving some richness and this hack absolutely did the trick.

After a few days of immediately adding ice and milk after frothing, I decided to let the mixture sit in the fridge for a bit so the ice wouldn’t melt and dilute. This worked well for me, so even though it adds 10-15 minutes, I recommend this step for anyone who likes their iced drinks icy-icy.

Have MUD\WTR, will travel

While some people may enjoy that sudden spike in energy that coffee provides, I think both coffee drinkers and non-coffee drinkers will agree that a gentle ease into alertness is a much better way to meet the day. The best part of my new MUD\WTR addiction is that it’s easily portable — my canister of :rise Cacao and frother take up barely any room, so no matter where I go, so will my morning routine.

It’s no surprise that my MUD\WTR is running out quickly because I’ve recently added a late afternoon glass of it on ice to my day. As with my morning cup, I get energy without the jolt and I no longer look for that “boost” feeling that’s associated with caffeine. It’s so much better to just feel awake and quash that longing-for-a-nap feeling. As someone who previously felt indifferent toward morning beverages, I’d suggest getting your hands muddy and trying out the Morning ritual kit. You might just discover that frothing some MUD\WTR as you “:rise” to meet a new day is exactly the step your morning routine was missing.