Last updated: October 2026
Reishi cacao is hot chocolate made with reishi mushroom, a fungus used for centuries in East Asia. Its main benefit is as a warm, low-caffeine evening ritual and a swap for coffee or a nightcap. Evidence that reishi itself improves sleep or stress in people is limited: most research is in animals or small trials.
Below: what’s in it, what the research on reishi and cacao shows, how to make it, who should avoid it, and how ours is made.
What is reishi cacao?
It’s a blend of cacao powder with reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), usually as an extract, mixed into warm milk or water like hot chocolate. Cacao is minimally processed cocoa; reishi is a woody, bitter mushroom, so the cacao makes it pleasant to drink. See reishi mushroom and functional mushrooms.
What the research shows
| Ingredient | Popular claim | What the evidence shows |
|---|---|---|
| Reishi | Better sleep | Animal studies only; no good human sleep trials. See reishi for sleep |
| Reishi | Less tiredness | One Chinese trial in people with fatigue (neurasthenia) found improvement over 8 weeks; not repeated in larger trials |
| Reishi | Immune support | Lab and small human studies; no authorised health claims |
| Cacao | Heart health | Cocoa flavanols are studied for blood flow, but only specially processed high-flavanol cocoa carries an authorised claim, at set doses |
| Cacao | Mood | Contains small amounts of caffeine and theobromine, which can feel gently lifting |
The honest benefit is the ritual: a warm, comforting drink that replaces coffee or alcohol in the evening. Both of those affect sleep. See reishi cacao as an alcohol alternative and caffeine and sleep.
How to make reishi hot chocolate
- Warm a mug of oat, almond or dairy milk, or water. Don’t boil it.
- Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of reishi cacao powder.
- Whisk or froth well so it doesn’t clump.
- Optional: a pinch of cinnamon or sea salt, or a little honey or maple syrup.
Want to add CBD? Stir your measured drops into the warm milk. See CBD tea and lattes.
When to drink it
Most people enjoy it 30 to 60 minutes before bed as part of a wind-down routine. Cacao contains a little caffeine, far less than coffee, so if you’re very sensitive to caffeine, have it earlier in the evening. See natural sleep aids and magnesium for sleep.
Who should avoid reishi
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women. We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- People on blood thinners or with bleeding disorders, or before surgery: reishi may affect clotting.
- People on diabetes or blood pressure medicines: check with a pharmacist.
- People with liver problems: rare cases of liver injury have been reported with reishi powder.
- Mushroom allergy.
Our Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex
Our Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex is a hot chocolate blend of organic cacao with reishi mushroom and maca, sweetened with organic coconut sugar. It’s vegan and made to be stirred into warm water or plant milk, 1 to 2 teaspoons a serving, as part of your evening wind-down.
Wondering whether a cacao drink will keep you up? See is hot chocolate good before bed? for caffeine compared with tea and coffee, and a healthy recipe.
FAQs
What are the benefits of reishi cacao?
Mainly a warm, low-caffeine evening ritual. Reishi’s effects on sleep and stress are mostly shown in animals or small trials.
Does reishi hot chocolate help you sleep?
There are no good human sleep trials of reishi. A caffeine-free or low-caffeine wind-down drink can still support a good routine.
Does reishi cacao contain caffeine?
A little, from the cacao, far less than a cup of coffee or tea.
Can you drink reishi cacao every day?
Many people do. Check with a pharmacist if you take blood thinners, diabetes or blood pressure medicines.
Is reishi cacao safe in pregnancy?
Reishi isn’t recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding, as safety hasn’t been established.
Sources
- Tang W et al. A randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract in neurasthenia. J Med Food, 2005.
- Wanmuang H et al. Fatal fulminant hepatitis associated with Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi) mushroom powder. J Med Assoc Thai, 2007.
- EFSA. Scientific opinion on cocoa flavanols and maintenance of normal endothelium-dependent vasodilation, 2014.
