If you’re looking for the best lion’s mane supplements to give your grey matter a boost, there are many things to consider. Particularly as the “shroom boom” has flooded the market with functional mushroom supplements that vary wildly in quality and effectiveness.
Supplements containing the shaggy-looking hericium erinaceus mushroom – also known as lion's mane – might be all the rage, but it’s imperative that you’re taking the best product for your needs, and that it’s expert-approved.
Lion’s mane contains beneficial beta glucans and polysaccharides – complex carbohydrates that animal studies show can be beneficial to immunity and gut health. The mushrooms also contain compounds such as hericenones and erinacines, which other studies have shown can directly stimulate nerve growth factor in the brain to support cognitive function.
But if you want results, registered nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert says the type of extract, the concentration, the quality of the product and how long you take it for all matter when it comes to lion’s mane supplements. “I’d be wary of any brand promising results within a few days, as most of the studies have looked at daily use over several weeks or months,” she says.
She also points out that ideally, you want to know exactly how much lion’s mane is in the product and whether it’s a fruiting body extract, mycelium extract, powder or part of a blend.
Best lion’s mane supplements at a glance
Best overall excellence – Headstrong lion’s mane capsules: £28.99, Hollandandbarret.com
Best budget buy – Love Mushrooms lion’s mane capsules: £21.99, Lloydspharmacy.com
Best lion’s mane powder – Hifas Da Terra Lion’s Mane powder: £23.40, Healf.com
Best lion’s mane coffee – London Nootropics Flow coffee: £12.50, Healf.com
Best for adding to drinks – Dirtea focus powder: £34, Healf.com
Registered nutritionist Karen Preece Smith explains that “grain-based mycelium products can be up to half starch by weight, with very little active beta-glucan content.” So she recommends looking for a stated beta-glucan or polysaccharide percentage and third-party testing, “not just '1000mg lion's mane' on the label.”
Who can lion’s mane benefit?
The purported benefits of lion’s mane include sharper mental focus, improved immunity via improvements to gut health and the ability to soothe anxiety symptoms. Functional mushrooms rarely interact with other medicines; they cause very few side effects and people of all ages can take them.
In recent years they’ve become a particularly popular choice for menopausal people experiencing brain fog, teenagers struggling to focus during exams and people with ADHD.
Preece Smith says: “Early research shows beta-glucans can increase Akkermansia, a bacterial species that supports the gut lining. There's also promising early evidence it may raise brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein involved in brain cell growth and maintenance, though most of that data is still preclinical or from small human trials.”
Lambert adds, “I wouldn’t describe it as a magic solution for brain fog, productivity or mental sharpness. I think the main thing is to keep expectations realistic.”
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How do I take them and how often should I take them?
Lion’s mane supplements are safe to take every day, but that doesn’t mean they’re well tolerated by everyone. “I would be more cautious in pregnancy, breastfeeding and children, simply because we don’t have enough safety data in those groups,” advises Lambert.
Preece Smith adds: “Anyone with a known mushroom allergy should avoid it. I'd also urge caution for anyone on immunosuppressant medication or with an autoimmune condition, as lion's mane can stimulate immune activity, and for anyone on blood thinners, given a theoretical effect on platelets.”
You can mix powders in with foods or choose to take capsules with water. Tinctures are also a great option for those who struggle to swallow tablets. Personally, I avoid gummies because they contain additional ingredients that aren’t necessary and often fail to deliver the reported dose on the packaging.
“I'd always suggest starting low, around 500mg, and building up over a couple of weeks to gauge tolerance,” offers Preece. However, this might be a challenge with pre-dosed capsules, so consider a powder that you can measure out or a tincture if you’re hesitant.
She adds: “It's not a stimulant, so don't expect an instant effect. Most people notice changes gradually, over several weeks. It's a support, not a fix, and it works best alongside proper testing and a plan built around what your gut actually needs.”
How I tested
I’ve tested some of the products on this list for several years, though some have more recently entered my rotation and were put to the test over the course of several months. I assessed packaging, provenance, dose, whether the supplements were third-party tested and whether they were easy to take. I also looked at each supplement’s reported beta-glucan content, extraction techniques and for other certifications such as organic and non-GMO.
Headstrong lion’s mane capsules
★★★★★
Best: Overall lion’s mane supplement
What we love: Organic and third-party tested, high-quality with attention to detail
Take note: This product is expensive, at more than £1 a capsule
Headstrong offers intense attention to detail when it comes to provenance, so these are possibly the best lion’s mane capsules you’ll find. Each capsule contains the equivalent of 2,500mg of mushroom derived from the organic fruiting body.
The brand boasts “clinically meaningful levels of hericenones and erinacines” and is proud of its ultrasonic triple-extract method, which ensures purity and ingredient effectiveness. You can also read the reports of third-party testing for heavy metals and pesticides on the brand’s website.
They are on the pricier side, with one daily capsule working out at more than £1 a day, but where quality is concerned, these supplements score highly. There’s also an option to subscribe and save, which makes them 20 per cent cheaper.
Buy now, Hollandandbarrett.com
Love Mushrooms lion’s mane capsules
★★★★☆
Best: Budget lion’s mane supplement
What we love: Organic and non-GMO, added Vitamin B12, and an affordable option
Take note: Lower beta-glucan content
These capsules are a sound choice for anyone curious about functional mushrooms and keen to take a daily capsule but who might be put off by the price of a new product. Wellness products like supplements can be ludicrously expensive, particularly if you’re taking several types, but often, opting for a cheaper product means compromising on quality. These Love Mushroom capsules are a strong choice for first-timers and cost-aware shoppers, and there’s an option to subscribe and save a further £3.
The capsules each contain 4000mg of certified organic lion’s mane mushroom extracted from the fruiting body using ultrasonic extraction. They’re made in the UK on a Soil Association-approved farm in northeast Scotland, without any fillers, binders or artificial additives.
The guaranteed beta-glucan content is a little lower, at 25 per cent. However, these capsules are a great option for vegetarians and vegans because they also contain added organic Vitamin B12 from shiitake mushroom extract. The brand also has excellent sustainability credentials and donates £1 of every sale of its lion’s mane supplements to registered charity Dementia Carers Count.
Buy now, Lloydspharmacy.com
Mama Shrooms Lion’s Mane Tincture
★★★★★
Best: For taking as a tincture
What we love: 50ml is small enough for travel, it’s got a decent beta-glucan content and is sourced and produced sustainably in the UK. A tincture is also great if you can’t swallow tablets
Take note: This product tastes a little funky
A tincture is a great option for anyone who struggles to swallow capsules or suffers with stomach issues, and it’s one of the oldest delivery systems for natural remedies. Mama Shrooms is a small independent brand but has fast become one of the most well-loved functional mushroom supplement companies in the UK due to its rigorous standards and joyful packaging.
I was one of the first to test this new lion’s mane tincture. The mushrooms themselves are grown and extracted on a small organic farm in South Wales, certified by the Soil Association – a traceable supply chain and organic certification is a great sign when shopping for any wellness product – and the product you’re taking is dual-extracted from the fruiting body of the mushroom.
The brand claims beta-glucans standardised to at least 35 per cent and third-party lab testing for its products, with certificates of analysis available to read on the website. The taste isn’t exactly delicious, but that’s because it’s unadulterated by synthetic flavours and simply tastes like the funky mushroom extract, purified water and ethanol listed on the ingredients label. You can also dilute your serving, which makes it much more palatable, so I take mine in the morning in a glass of water.
Buy now, Mamashrooms.co.uk
Hifas Da Terra Lion’s Mane powder
★★★★★
Best: Lion’s mane powder
What we love: Organic and non-GMO, leading industry quality, high beta-glucan content, and a pure powder with no additives
Take note: Powder needs to be added to food or drink
This brand has been leading the way on functional mushroom research, quality and traceable supply chains for many years, and several nutritionists recommend it, which bodes well. This powder is a great all-rounder for adding to foods like yoghurt, porridge and smoothies, but you can add it to just about any dish for a brain and immunity boost. It doesn’t have a particularly strong flavour, and you get a decent amount for the cost – particularly in comparison to newer competitors on the market.
Hifas da Terra standardises its formulations to ensure that beta-glucans constitute approximately 50 per cent of the total analytical profile of their cultivated mushroom strains – that’s the highest offering on this list. This product also uses organic fruiting body extract and is pesticide-free and non-GMO.
Some find powders a little fiddly, but if you’re looking for purity, they’re your best bet. The shells and contents of some capsules can sometimes bother people with existing gut issues, so a pure powder delivers the product with no unnecessary additions. I like to add this powder to my morning yoghurt or fruit smoothie – it mixes well, and I don’t taste it at all.
Buy now, Healf.com
London Nootropics Flow coffee
★★★★☆
Best: Lion’s mane coffee
What we love: Ideal for people who don’t like pills, tastes great, comes in pre-dosed individual sachets, and uses industry gold standard lion’s mane
Take note: Coffee purists may not enjoy the flavour, and the rhodiola rosea dose is low
If you’re the kind of person who simply cannot remember to take a supplement, there are plenty of options for you and one of the best is a functional mushroom coffee. London Nootropics is a pre-mixed coffee brand ideal for those who want to feel the benefits but forget to take pills. The coffee comes in individual sachets, pre-dosed like a supplement, which means you know how much lion’s mane you’re consuming, and you can travel with it pretty easily – which I often do.
The Flow coffee uses 250mg of Hifas da Terra lion's mane extract, so you know the beta-glucan content is at least between 40 and 50 per cent and is free from artificial sweeteners and preservatives. It’s made with ground coffee but is arguably more supplement than coffee with added rhodiola rosea, though the dose of this added ingredient isn’t particularly high at 83mg.
The flavour is tasty, a little earthy, which might put coffee snobs off. But for anyone seeking an easy way to consume lion’s mane and enjoy a pleasant hot drink at the same time, it hits the spot. Simply add hot water and your favoured milk and drink; no capsules needed.
Buy now £12.15, Healf.com
Dirtea focus powder
★★★★☆
Best: Lion’s made to add to drinks
What we love: Fortified with zinc, organic, and produced in the UK
Take note: Very expensive, particularly as you get 100g of Hifas da Terra for £26
If you’ve shopped for adaptogenic mushrooms in the past, you’ll probably have heard of DIRTEA. It’s one of the most well-known shroom brands on the market, and the lion’s mane powder is a hero product. I’ve used the Focus powder for many years and have found it blends beautifully into coffee.
One serving offers 2000mg of organic lion’s mane, double extracted from fruiting bodies produced in the UK. The brand claims 40 per cent or higher beta-glucan content and its products are third-party tested, though the testing results aren’t available for the public to read.
The brown powder is very fine with added zinc bisglycinate for further brain support and comes in cute little tins that can be refilled. Though the brand is very stylish and looks great, it’s the most expensive product on this list. Subscribing for regular deliveries will get you 30 per cent off, which takes the cost down considerably, but other powders that are just as good will cost you less.
Buy now £34.00, Healf.com
What are the best lion's mane supplements?
For the best lion’s mane supplement, it totally depends on what you want from your shrooms and how you like to take them. If beta-glucan content and value for money matter most, Hifas da Terra's powder is the standout: 50 per cent beta-glucans (the highest on this list) for £26, from a brand with a genuinely industry-leading traceable supply chain.
If you want the ease of a capsule and don't mind paying for it, Headstrong's triple-extract capsules are certainly worth the £1-a-day price tag for the transparency around testing alone, not to mention the clever extraction methods.
And if pills aren't for you, Mama Shrooms' tincture, London Nootropics' coffee and Dirtea’s clever powder all solve the swallowing problem in very different ways. For beginners, the Love Mushrooms capsules are a great place to start if you’re looking to test the waters without committing to a hefty price tag, and they tick organic and UK-grown boxes too.
Why trust me?
I’ve been taking lion’s mane on and off for four years as a brain fog fix (hormones be damned) after reading the available studies on functional mushrooms. Having been a health and wellbeing journalist for more than a decade, I’m well-versed in supplement due diligence, have learned to separate ridiculous claims from genuine science, and I’ve made it my mission to call out wellness washing and health misinformation.
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