Turkey Tail Mushroom

Capsules of 100% turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) mushroom powder in vegan cellulose shells, at 500 mg per capsule as shown on the pack. The brand lists the product as organic, lab tested and manufactured in the UK from a supplier approved under UK novel food rules. If you are looking for turkey tail mushroom in the UK as a whole powder rather than an extract, this is the Herbastore own-label version.

Turkey tail is the striped, fan-shaped bracket fungus common on dead wood across the UK. It is too tough to eat, so it is dried and ground. This is whole powder, not a concentrate.

What it is

Turkey tail is probably the most common bracket fungus in British woods: thin, leathery fans in bands of brown, grey, blue and cream on fallen logs, which is where the name comes from. For supplements it is cultivated, dried and ground. This product is whole mushroom powder, which means the 500 mg per capsule is dried mushroom rather than a concentrated extract.

That distinction matters when you compare labels. Whole powder and extract are not directly comparable by milligrams: 500 mg of a 10:1 extract represents about 5000 mg of dried mushroom, while 500 mg of whole powder is 500 mg of dried mushroom. Neither is better by definition; they are different products, and the Mushroom Dispensary turkey tail capsules are the extract version if you want to compare.

Turkey tail supplements in the UK fall under novel food rules. The brand states that its supplier is approved, and we repeat that as the brand's statement. The brand's original description discusses health topics at length; we do not repeat them here.

This is a food supplement and should not be a substitute for a varied diet.

How to take it

3 capsules a day with a drink of water, close to a meal, per the brand. The pack holds 90 capsules, so at 3 a day it is a 30 day supply. Most people take all three with the same meal to keep it simple.

• 500 mg whole mushroom powder per capsule, as shown on the pack
• 3 a day with a meal
• 90 capsules per pack, a 30 day supply at 3 a day
• £19.99 per pack, about 22p a capsule

Store closed in a cool, dry cupboard away from sunlight, as the pack directs.

What's inside

• 100% turkey tail mushroom powder, 500 mg per capsule
• HPMC cellulose vegan capsule shell
• 90 capsules per pack
• Organic (Soil Association symbol on the pack) and lab tested, as stated by the brand
• Manufactured in the UK, as stated by the brand

Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) is a polypore with a pored underside and a velvety, multicoloured upper surface. It grows in overlapping tiers on dead hardwood. It is well known as a source of polysaccharides, which is the general class of long-chain sugars found in all mushroom cell walls; we note the chemistry without making claims about it.

Who it's for

People who want turkey tail as a whole mushroom powder rather than an extract, in a capsule taken with meals. It suits anyone who has read about the mushroom and wants a straightforward UK-made version, and anyone who prefers to know that what is in the capsule is simply the dried mushroom. Taken with breakfast or dinner, three capsules is a quick routine.

If you want a concentrated extract with a labelled ratio, the Mushroom Dispensary capsules and tincture are the alternative. If you want turkey tail alongside other species, none of our blends includes it; the six mushroom complex covers chaga, cordyceps, lion's mane, reishi, shiitake and maitake.

Pairs well with

The Mushroom Dispensary turkey tail capsules are the 10:1 extract version, and the turkey tail tincture the liquid one. People who take turkey tail often take reishi capsules too, the other bracket mushroom on the shelf. Browse the whole mushrooms department or every capsule under capsules.

Frequently asked questions

What is turkey tail mushroom?

Trametes versicolor, a thin, banded bracket fungus that grows on dead wood across the UK and much of the world. It is too tough to eat and is dried and ground or extracted for supplements.

Is this an extract?

No. The brand states 100% turkey tail mushroom powder in cellulose capsules, at 500 mg per capsule.

How do I take turkey tail?

3 capsules a day with water, close to a meal, per the brand. A pack of 90 lasts 30 days at that rate.

Is it made in the UK?

Yes, according to the brand, from a supplier approved under UK novel food rules.

Our label guide explains the difference between whole powder and extract and why the two are not comparable milligram for milligram. Herbastore ships this product from the UK, with free UK shipping on orders over £40. Orders are packed by Herbastore UK, so if you are buying from more than one of our brands everything arrives together.