Meet Lion's Mane

Discover why this remarkable mushroom has become one of the most talked-about ingredients in modern wellness.

If you've been hearing more about Lion's Mane lately, you're not alone.

Once known primarily as a culinary mushroom, Lion's Mane has become one of the fastest-growing ingredients in the wellness world. Researchers continue to explore its unique compounds and potential role in supporting healthy brain function, while consumers are looking for natural alternatives to the afternoon coffee slump.

At Forge, we've been quietly enjoying Lion's Mane for years. Our founder, Kelly, has made a cup of Lion's Mane Turmeric Chai almost every afternoon for the past four years—and after sharing it with family, friends, and neighbors, we finally decided it was time to make it available to everyone.

What Is Lion's Mane?

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a distinctive white mushroom that grows on hardwood trees throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

Its long, cascading spines resemble the mane of a lion, giving the mushroom its memorable name.

For centuries, Lion's Mane has been enjoyed as both a food and as part of traditional wellness practices in several cultures. Today, it's attracting renewed interest as scientists continue studying its unique compounds and potential applications.

Why Are People Interested in Lion's Mane?

Interest in Lion's Mane has grown rapidly over the past decade for several reasons.

People commonly incorporate Lion's Mane into their daily routines because they're interested in supporting:

  • Focus and concentration
  • Mental clarity
  • Healthy cognitive function
  • Overall brain wellness
  • A calm, productive afternoon

Research into Lion's Mane is ongoing, and while many findings are promising, scientists continue to study how these compounds work in humans.

Rather than making bold promises, we believe it's important to follow the science as it develops.

Whole Mushrooms vs. Extracts

One of the first decisions you'll face when shopping for Lion's Mane is whether to choose a product made with whole mushrooms or concentrated extracts.

Both approaches have their place.

At Forge, we chose whole Colorado-grown Lion's Mane mushrooms because they align with the same philosophy that has guided us since 2019:

Real ingredients.

Meaningful amounts.

Honest value.

➡ Read: Why We Chose Whole Mushrooms Instead of Extracts

How We Enjoy It

Everyone develops their own favorite way to prepare Lion's Mane. At Forge, our favorite is a warm cup of Lion's Mane Turmeric Chai in the afternoon.

Some people enjoy it black. Others add whole milk, oat milk, coconut milk, honey, maple syrup, or their favorite creamer.

During the summer, it's equally refreshing brewed hot, cooled, and poured over ice.

Why Forge Created a Lion's Mane Chai

When Kelly founded Forge Hemp, the goal wasn't simply to sell CBD.

It was to build wellness products that contained meaningful amounts of the ingredients that mattered.

That same philosophy led us to mushrooms.

After watching the mushroom category grow—and seeing many products rely on proprietary blends and undisclosed ingredient amounts—we decided to build the kind of product we wanted to drink ourselves.

Different ingredients. Same Forge philosophy.

Continue Learning

If you'd like to dive deeper, we've created additional educational resources:

Ready to Try It?

Our Lion's Mane Turmeric Chai features:

  • 1,000 mg Colorado-grown whole Lion's Mane per serving
  • Organic turmeric
  • Organic ginger
  • Cardamom
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
  • Cloves

No extracts. No added sugar. No fillers. No added gluten. Vegan.

Just real ingredients you can taste—and feel.

Shop Lion's Mane Turmeric Chai →