Extract or powder?

Mushroom extract and mushroom powder in comparison

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Extract or powder?

Extract and powder are different ways of processing raw mushroom material. Neither is fundamentally "better": The key factors are the starting material, the processing, the composition, and the specific product form.

DIFFERENT PROCESSING

Three paths. Different properties.

Powder, extract, and combinations differ primarily in how the mushroom material is processed.

Mushroom powder

With mushroom powder, dried starting material is finely ground. This means the mushroom material used remains as a whole component of the powder. Therefore, the choice of the starting material used is crucial.

Mushroom extract

During extraction, specific soluble components are extracted from the mushroom material. Depending on the process, this results in a product form with a different composition.

Extract + powder

Combinations contain both processing forms within a single product. In this way, mushroom powder and extract can be combined with one another.

FROM RAW MUSHROOM MATERIAL TO PRODUCT FORM

Two paths of processing.

The starting point may be the same – the processing differs.

Mushroom powder

Raw mushroom material Starting material for further processing

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Drying The mushroom material is dried

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Grinding The dried material is finely ground

The result

Finely ground mushroom material

Mushroom extract

Raw mushroom material Starting material for extraction

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Extraction Soluble components are extracted

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Further processing The extracted phase is processed further

The result

Extracted soluble components

Extraction process of raw mushroom materials

EXTRACTION EXPLAINED

What happens during extraction?

Mushrooms possess complex cell structures. Certain components are bound within them and can be released from the starting material using a suitable extraction method.

In hot water extraction, water-soluble components in particular pass into the liquid. These include certain polysaccharides, among others.

Subsequently, the liquid phase is processed further. This creates a product form that differs in its composition from the original mushroom powder.

Mushroom powder and raw mushroom material

STARTING MATERIAL

"Powder" doesn't say everything.

The term "mushroom powder" primarily describes the processing form – not automatically the composition of the starting material used.

Therefore, for classification purposes, it is important to know which mushroom parts are processed and whether components of the growth material or substrate used are also part of the final product.

This is precisely why we consider the product form and the starting material separately from each other.

GOOD TO KNOW

Extract or powder is not a quality ranking.

The terms describe different processing forms. For evaluating a vital mushroom product, other factors such as the mushroom species, starting material, processing, composition, and analytical control are also relevant.

PRODUCT FORMS

Different forms for different products.

Vital mushroom products can be offered in various processing and dosage forms.

Powder

Dried and finely ground mushroom material.

Extract

Product form obtained through an extraction process.

Extract + powder

Combination of both processing forms within a single product.

Liquid extract

Extract in liquid dosage form.

Various dosage forms of vital mushroom products

EVEN MORE PRODUCT FORMS

Processing and dosage form are not the same.

Extract and powder describe how the raw mushroom material was processed. Dosage form, on the other hand, describes how the finished product is offered – for example as a capsule, powder, liquid extract, grits, or tea.

Discover dosage forms

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