When a brand asks us for a mushroom ingredient, one of the first questions is whether they need a single extract or a dual extract. The answer has less to do with which method is better and more to do with the material, the finished format, and what you want the ingredient to carry.
What each method does
A single extract uses one solvent. For mushrooms that is usually hot water. For many botanicals it is alcohol, or a mix of alcohol and water, as in a standard tincture.
A dual extract uses both. The material goes through a hot water extraction and an alcohol extraction, and the two are brought back together. Water and alcohol dissolve different things, so using both gives you a broader picture of what was in the starting material.
Why the solvent matters
Polysaccharides, including the beta-glucans mushrooms are known for, dissolve readily in hot water and very little in alcohol [1]. Many of the less water friendly compounds, like the triterpenes in reishi, come out much better in alcohol [2].
So a hot water extract of reishi will be rich in polysaccharides and comparatively light on triterpenes, and an alcohol extract tends to go the other way. Each one carries a different part of the mushroom.
How to choose
- Start with the material. The difference matters most for species with a meaningful alcohol soluble fraction, reishi and chaga being the usual examples. For others, a hot water extract may cover most of what your formula is after.
- Think about the finished format. A tincture can carry both fractions in its liquid. Gummies and beverages usually need an alcohol free ingredient, so the extract is concentrated and the alcohol removed, which is where solid extracts and concentrates come in. Glycerin based formulas are another option when you want a liquid without alcohol.
- Match it to your label. If your product story is about the whole mushroom, a dual extract lines up more closely with that.
- Weigh cost and timeline. A dual extract is two processes instead of one, so it takes more time and labor. For some products, a well made single extract is the sensible choice.
Where spagyrics fit
A spagyric extract goes one step further and returns the purified mineral salts from the spent plant or mushroom material to the finished extract. Our guide, What Is a Spagyric Tincture?, walks through that process.
Talk it through with us
We make single, dual and spagyric extracts, and we can help you weigh them against your format, budget and timeline. Tell us about your project and we will reply within 2 to 3 business days.
References
- Leong YK, Yang FC, Chang JS. Extraction of polysaccharides from edible mushrooms: emerging technologies and recent advances. Carbohydr Polym. 2021;251:117006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117006
- Ruan W, Lim AH, Huang LG, Popovich DG. Extraction optimisation and isolation of triterpenoids from Ganoderma lucidum and their effect on human carcinoma cell growth. Nat Prod Res. 2014;28(24):2264-2272. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2014.938337