I ditched coffee for mushrooms - these caffeine alternatives shocked me

The UK's love for coffee is no secret, with an estimated 95 million cups being consumed daily. Coupled with our nation's notorious addiction to tea and energy drinks, caffeine has stealthily become an integral part of our everyday lives.

Yet, there's been a surge in the market for purportedly healthier substitutes. Matcha has recently emerged as a popular choice on cafe menus, and there's growing interest in natural beverages like mushroom-based coffees.

Noticing the absurd amount I was shelling out on takeaway coffees, the Red Bulls dominating my fridge, and my overflowing tea cabinet, I pondered how effective these caffeine alternatives would be.

I opted to test some of the more unusual options that had caught my eye online, using them exclusively for a week each without any other stimulants. Five weeks down the line, I can confidently say I dread going back.

Matcha

After ditching coffee and energy drinks, I turned to matcha, a readily available alternative. This powdered green tea is known for its health benefits, but experts suggest that matcha could be even more potent as the entire leaf is ground up and consumed.

The earthy beverage satisfied my coffee cravings without leaving an aftertaste. Although the caffeine kick wasn't as intense, it lasted longer. I noticed a slight decrease in my productivity and physical activity, but the focus was sustained over extended periods, which seemed to regulate my sleep pattern too. However, waking up to a cup of matcha isn't as enticing as a latte.

Adjusting to the taste takes time, but establishments like Black Sheep Coffee offer flavoured blends that have quickly become my favourite drink, regardless of the energy boost. However, it can be a pricier habit than coffee, with 30 grams of Perfect Ted matcha powder at Tesco costing £10.50, while on-the-go options like Black Sheep Coffee are around the £4 mark.

Mouth Spray

Venturing into more unusual territories, I sampled the Move Mouth Spray from Lucid. This product, which boasts a Blood Orange and Rosemary flavour, promises to deliver sustained energy and focus.

It contains ingredients such as Lion's Mane, Cordyceps, Guarana, Gingko Biloba and Vitamins B6 and B12, and retails at £25 for 30ml.

Regrettably, this mushroom mouth spray tastes exactly as you'd imagine. While some might find it enjoyable, it was quite a shock to my palate. However, the hard-to-swallow spray is well worth the benefits. The recommendation is to use up to 8 or 9 sprays of daily to boost your energy or focus. Yet, I found that just 3 or 4 were throughout the day enough to keep me as productive as I was on 4 to 5 cups of coffee, without any subsequent crash.

Although it didn't elevate my physical energy levels as much as coffee did, it certainly enhanced my focus and creativity. Plus, it didn't interfere with my sleep, regardless of how late I took my last dose.

Mushroom Coffee

Despite being labelled as "coffees", these products are far from what you might expect. I tried the Focus Blend from Sixways, which features an enhanced nootropic blend of Lion's Mane, Maca Root and Ginkgo Biloba, along with a Vitamin B Complex. This naturally mango-flavoured blend costs £32 per pouch, which provides 30 servings.

This fruity concoction had me as eager to brew my morning cup as a mocha once did, the only difference being there's no lingering aftertaste hours after your last sip. It provided a similar short-term boost, enhancing my energy, productivity, motivation and focus.

However, I noticed this effect began to wane significantly towards the end of the day - not so much a caffeine crash, but more that the benefits became increasingly apparent as they faded.

The experts at Sixways enlightened me on my mistake, explaining that it can be used in conjunction with regular coffee consumption or ideally to replace your afternoon cuppa as it doesn't interfere with sleep. The brand also offers other mushroom-based products that can all be taken together with each other and regular coffee, among which the Unwind Mushroom Blend has become my preferred sleep aid.

Mushroom Gummies

Finally, I opted to try a non-liquid coffee substitute in the form of Feel Gud's Mushroom Gummies, which delivers 700mg of a blend of mushrooms, including reishi, lion's mane, and cordyceps in a single serving. These retail for £24.99 for a one-month supply, or 60 gummies, with the recommendation to take two a day to enhance brain function, natural energy, immunity and even your skin. This last unexpected benefit was a pleasant surprise, and while it boosted my motivation and physical energy, I didn't find any mental benefits as my productivity and focus waned.

In the final week, I found the perfect substitute when I combined these coffee alternatives - opting for matchas when out and about, grabbing a Gummie on my way to the gym or switching from the Move Spray to the Focus Blend during late-night work sessions. I can confidently say that I would never revert back to coffee or energy drinks, questioning why I even started consuming them so heavily in the first place due to their lingering aftertastes and caffeine crashes.

However, the reality is that none of these alternatives are as readily available or affordable as a regular Americano, so I know I'll be back in Starbucks or Pret soon enough. But with these additional caffeine boosters, I'll definitely be visiting less frequently.