A quick-reference glossary of the functional mushrooms we work with and the key terms you will find on our product pages.
Mushrooms
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
Known in Siberian tradition as the 'gold' or 'pearl of the north', Chaga grows on birch trees in cold climates. It naturally contains polysaccharides and phenolic compounds.
Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis)
Known as the 'caterpillar fungus', Cordyceps has been used for centuries in Tibetan and Chinese tradition. We grow it as mycelium in bioreactors.
King Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii)
A popular culinary mushroom with a meaty texture, naturally rich in dietary fibre.
Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
Named for its cascading white spines, Lion's Mane has a long history of use in Asian cuisine and tradition. It contains characteristic compounds called hericenones and erinacines.
Maitake (Grifola frondosa)
Japan's 'dancing mushroom', a prized culinary mushroom that grows in clusters at the base of trees.
Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)
One of the most widely eaten mushrooms in the world, a source of fibre, protein and some B vitamins.
Polyporus (Polyporus umbellatus)
A mushroom with a long history of use in traditional Asian practices, growing from an underground structure called a sclerotium.
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
Revered in Asia as the 'king of mushrooms', Reishi has a glossy red-brown cap and a notably bitter taste. It naturally contains polysaccharides and triterpenes.
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)
One of the world's most popular culinary mushrooms, rich in umami flavour and a natural source of ergosterol.
Sun Mushroom (Agaricus blazei Murrill)
Native to Brazil and later popularised in Japan, with a naturally high beta-glucan content.
Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)
Named after its fan-shaped, multicoloured bands, Turkey Tail grows on dead wood worldwide.
Key terms
Beta-glucans
Polysaccharides found in mushrooms, cereals, yeasts and seaweeds. We measure their content batch by batch. In Great Britain, authorised health claims for beta-glucans apply only to those from oats and barley.
Dual extraction
An extraction process using water and alcohol to obtain a wider range of characteristic compounds, such as polysaccharides and triterpenes.
Ergosterol
A compound found in mushrooms that converts into vitamin D2 when exposed to UV light.
Extract vs. powder
A powder is the whole mushroom, dried and milled; an extract concentrates selected compounds using water and/or alcohol.
Fruiting body vs. mycelium
The fruiting body is the visible mushroom; the mycelium is the network of filaments from which it grows.
Functional mushrooms
Mushrooms valued for their traditional use and composition, consumed as foods or food supplements as part of a varied, balanced diet.
Hifas Quality System
Our in-house quality standard: strain selection, analytical testing of characteristic compounds and purity testing (including heavy metals and pesticides) on every batch.
Triterpenes
A group of compounds found especially in Reishi and responsible for its bitter taste.
Find the right product for you
Every product page lists its full composition and recommended daily intake. Where a formula contains vitamins or minerals, their authorised health benefits are explained on that page. You can also take our online quiz or contact our team.