Best Cordyceps Mushrooms in Australia

Are you looking for the most potent Cordyceps mushroom supplements in Australia? There are hundreds of products available in the Australian market, and many low-quality products are marketed toward misinformed consumers. 

Out of over 700 species of medicinal mushroom that have been identified, two in particular (Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris) are highlighted for their medicinal properties.  Cordyceps mushroom supplements are made from either C. sinensis or C. militaris, but not all of them may be equally effective. 

While reputable companies will be eager to share information about the purity and quality of their Cordyceps products, there are also concerns about fraudulent information. And unfortunately, you won’t get the full health benefits of Cordyceps if you choose the wrong supplement.

Before you purchase Cordyceps from the following mushroom brands, we strongly recommend that you read our buying guide on how to purchase the best Cordyceps products. Our main goal is to help consumers to choose the best medicinal mushroom products to get the full health benefits for themselves and their families.

Our Selection Process for Potent Cordyceps Supplements in Australia

1. Mycelium vs Fruiting Bodies: What is the difference?

As the name suggests, Cordyceps (or Latin for “Club head”.) are mushrooms that grow in long, spindly shapes with a small “club” at the top. The stalks are called stroma, which is akin to the fruiting body of other mushrooms.

While the fruiting body is the most recognizable part of a mushroom, mycelium is the vegetative body of a fungal organism and is somewhat similar to the root system of plants. Mushroom fruiting bodies contain beta-d-glucans as well as other beneficial compounds that make you gravitate towards medicinal mushrooms. Mycelium of cordyceps has also been shown to contain many beneficial bioactive compounds. 

However, during the cultivation process, sterile grain is used as a growing medium. When ready for harvest, the mycelium and grain substrate are then dried and ground into a powder. The fillers like grain then end up in the final product, lowering the percentage of fungal biomass.  That is why mycelium-based products are generally considered inferior. 

A high-quality Cordyceps supplement is made from 100% fruiting bodies. There are also certain Cordyceps supplements that may actually be produced with 100% mycelium – on liquid rather than grain. These are called CS-4 (more on that below!)

Then how do you know if your product contains grain?

• Labels in your product will directly mention if it contains fillers like grains (which could be either oat, wheat, millets, or brown rice). 
• Read it carefully and check the ingredients before purchasing. Look for terms like mycelial biomass, the mycelium of Cordyceps mushroom, Cordyceps mushroom full-spectrum, and even grain spawn.
• Companies that do not mention fruiting bodies in their labels may indicate that they are not using the pure mushroom part.

2. Cordyceps Sinensis CS-4 vs Cordyceps Militaris

What is CS-4? (Also known as Cordyceps Sinensis CS-4)

Cordyceps sinensis (now known officially as Ophiocordyceps sinensis),  is the original mushroom that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuryies. However, this is very rare and expensive and grows out of wild caterpillars in the mountains of China. Instead, a variation is created which is called CS-4.

Cs-4 (which stands for Cordyceps sinensis 4) is a strain of Cordyceps that is cultivated in liquid fermentation. It is an anamorph: a vegetative or “asexual” form of the mushroom that doesn’t generate spores. It is only capable of producing liquid mycelium.

What is Cordyceps Militaris?

C.militaris is the second main strain of Cordyceps mushroom. This bright orange variety of Cordyceps which is sometimes called the “cordyceps flower” is easier to cultivate on a large scale. 

This variety of Cordyceps is cultivated on a highly nutritious substrate, in climate-controlled grow rooms indoors. This has resulted in the availability of Cordyceps fruiting bodies in reliable quantities. 

As compared to CS-4, C. militaris may contain higher amounts of beneficial compounds, like cordycepin. They are also made from mushroom fruiting bodies and are the more suitable alternative. 

Research on C. militaris has even demonstrated that the medicinal properties are similar to C. sinensis.

Which is better?

While both of these have distinct medicinal properties, Cordyceps militaris is generally thought to be superior for several reasons. These include the presence of unique compounds like cordycepin, the fact that it is created from the fruiting body, and that they are considered much more sustainable alternatives. There is 90x more Cordycepin in militaris compared to sinensis.

3. The Extraction Process

Chitin found in the cell walls of mushrooms is indigestible in the human digestive system. To obtain the biologically active compounds of the mushroom, processing the mushroom is essential to break it down. This is known as extraction. For Cordyceps, hot water extraction is usually considered the ideal method.

Mushrooms can be extracted using water or alcohol. When both of these are used as solvents in the process, it is known as dual extraction:  Let’s look at each of these to fully understand the process.

Water Extraction

Water extraction is a very traditional process and one that is used very commonly. In water extraction, pulverized mushrooms are placed in hot water for several hours. This process can isolate water-soluble components such as Cordycepin, Cordycepic Acid, Adenosine, and Beta-glucans.

○ Adenosine and Cordycepin are the most bioactive compounds found within Cordyceps. Cordycepin is exclusive to Cordyceps militaris and not found within Ophiocordyceps sinensis. 

○ Cordycepic Acid is also known as D-Mannitol and has various activities including anti-cancer properties. 

○ Beta-glucans are fungal polysaccharides shown to have great benefits to immune function. 

Alcohol Extraction

During an alcohol extraction, the entire process uses alcohol.  It is not particularly beneficial for Cordyceps as many of the important compounds are water-soluble. The process may however be used to extend the shelf-life of tinctures (the alcohol percentage should be over 20%)

4. Beta-glucan amount on the Cordyceps product label

Beta-glucans or beta-d-glucans are beneficial polysaccharides present in medicinal mushroom and it plays a vital role in fighting sickness, infections, and abnormal growths. Alpha glucans, on the other hand, are present in fillers like starch and have no medical benefits. 

As both are forms of polysaccharides, product labels may be misleading. Many brands of Cordyceps supplements that are low in beta-glucans do not disclose their actual levels of it.

Read the labels carefully. A high-quality Cordyceps product should contain at least 10% beta-glucans and less than 4% starch content. The total polysaccharide content in the supplements should not exceed the beta-glucan content by 5%.

Also, look for products made from fruiting bodies. 

Usually, supplements made from fruiting bodies exclusively have over 25% beta-d-glucans.

Those made with mycelium alone don’t make it to 10%, and those with mycelium on grain are around 1-3%.

5. Australian Grown Cordyceps vs Chinese Grown

China is the largest producer of Cordyceps mushrooms in the world and has been growing and cultivating medicinal mushrooms for centuries. The majority of the best quality Cordyceps products are grown in China. After all, Cordyceps and other medicinal mushrooms have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years, long before usage by Western society. Currently, we are not aware of any producers who grow Cordyceps locally in Australia. Cordyceps are banned from being grown in Australia.

6. Certificate of analysis

If you are unsure of the quality of the Cordyceps product, you can request a third party Certificate of Analysis (COA) from the Australian producer A Certificate of Analysis from a third party lab is important to identify the beneficial compounds in a Cordyceps product, as well as to avoid heavy metals, pesticides and other foreign contaminants. Heavy metals that are typically tested for range from arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.

7. Organic

Certified organic Cordyceps products ensure that your products do not contain herbicides, fungicides or pesticides and other harmful chemicals. Look for the Australian Certified Organic logo stamp of quality and integrity on the label of the bottle or pouch.

Cordyceps supplements types you can buy in Australia

Cordyceps powder

Cordyceps dried powders are made from pulverizing the 100% fruiting body of Cordyceps Militaris. Cordyceps Powders allow for the full consumption of the entire mushroom and therefore getting all the nutritional benefits as a whole-food. Powders are generally made from mushrooms that have been heated or processed in a way to break down the indigestible cell walls, known as chitin, and make the medicinal compounds bioavailable. 

Cordyceps extract

Extracts contain the individual medicinal compounds of Cordyceps without the biomass. This is done via an extraction process with hot water and/or alcohol and solvents (dual extraction). This makes small doses of Cordyceps highly potent, extremely compact, and have a longer shelf life. 

There are two different types of extracts available in Australia:

1. Cordyceps tinctures

Tinctures are liquid extracts that most often use water and alcohol solvents. They are a convenient method of consuming Cordyceps. Tinctures can be made by extracting both cordyceps militarism and/or cordyceps sinensis CS-4.

2. Cordyceps powdered extracts

Powdered extracts are the dry powdered result of extracting the individual medicinal compounds from the Cordyceps mushroom. Powdered extracts can be extracted from both the fruiting body and/or the mycelium of Cordyceps Militaris, or the CS-4 cordyceps sinensis liquid mycelium.

Cordyceps capsules

Capsules and Tablets are usually either filled with Cordyceps mushroom powders or extracts. They are the most convenient way to dose and consume Cordyceps. Buying capsules are in growing demand in Australia as they are an easy option for those already regularly taking supplements or other medications in this form.

Cordyceps coffee and tea

Cordyceps can be incorporated into hot drinks such as coffee and tea. The big benefit these products have is that they are easy to incorporate into your daily routine.

Cordyceps Tea can be purchased as tea bags containing both Cordyceps powder and dried tea herbs; leaves.

Cordyceps Coffee products are sold as ground coffee beans mixed with Cordyceps powder.

Fresh Cordyceps mushrooms

Cordyceps Militaris fruiting bodies can be consumed fresh, but they are most often sold dehydrated. These can be easily prepared by decocting in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, they can be added to soups or cooked in other brothy dishes.
You cannot buy fresh Cordyceps fruiting bodies currently in Australia. They are also illegal to be grown in Australia. Some Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners can prescribe and dispense dried Cordycep Sinsensis fruiting bodies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cordyceps mushroom legal for purchase in Australia? 

Yes, Cordyceps is legal for purchase and consumption in Australia. Cordyceps supplements and medicinal mushroom products must be registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia (TGA), otherwise registered as a food product. 

Can Cordyceps be purchased from my doctor?

Cordyceps products cannot be purchased from a western doctor, but can be purchased through a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor. Cordyceps is considered a complementary medicine that can be purchased online or in stores, and does not require a prescription for purchase. The original Cordyceps Sinensis (not to be mistaken for CS-4) can be also purchased from a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. It is often quite expensive and can cost up to $500 per kilogram.

In Australia, medicinal products containing such ingredients as certain herbs, vitamins and minerals, nutritional supplements, homeopathic medicines and aromatherapy products are referred to as ‘complementary medicines’ and are regulated as medicines by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (the Act) and the supporting Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990.

Can Cordyceps products be purchased from a naturopath?

Yes, many Australian naturopaths sell Cordyceps supplements as part of their treatment for various illnesses.

Conclusion

Cordyceps is an expensive mushroom, and so CS-4 and Militaris are used as commercially viable options. Wwe hope our buying guide helps you get the best Cordyceps for your health or whom you care for. Look for points that we have discussed to get hold of high-quality Cordyceps mushroom products. Remember to look for beta glucans and organic on the label to be sure you are getting a top quality Cordyceps supplement.