Lion's Mane vs Reishi: How the Two Mushrooms Actually Differ
The short answer
- Lion's mane vs reishi: lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a soft, white, edible mushroom with hanging spines. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a hard, glossy, woody shelf fungus that is brewed rather than cooked.
- We won't tell you one is "better". Only authorized health claims may be used for foods in the UK, and we don't make health claims for either. The honest differences are species, appearance, format, serving and price.
- Our capsules of both cost 67p a serving. Our lion's mane tincture is 67p a serving and our reishi tincture £1.33, because its serving is 2ml.
- Both are sold as separate products and both count toward our current Buy 2, get 1 free offer.
About this guide: Mushroom Dispensary sells the lion's mane and reishi products discussed here. This is our own comparison, not an independent review. Everything below can be checked on a label or in a field guide.
"Lion's mane vs reishi" is a question we see often. Online comparisons often discuss claimed health effects. We do not make health claims for either product, so this guide compares verifiable differences: species, appearance, format, serving and price, from what they look like in the woods to what a serving costs.
Lion's mane vs reishi at a glance
| Lion's mane | Reishi | |
|---|---|---|
| Latin name | Hericium erinaceus | Ganoderma lucidum (also sold as G. lingzhi) |
| Looks like | A white, shaggy ball of long, soft, hanging spines; no cap, no gills | A hard, kidney-shaped cap with a glossy, lacquered red-brown top, a pale edge and pores underneath |
| Grows on | Dead or damaged broadleaf trees such as beech and oak | Hardwood stumps and logs, often oak |
| In the kitchen | Cooked as a fresh mushroom; its texture is often compared to seafood | Hard and woody, so not cooked; traditionally sliced and simmered as tea |
| Our formats | Capsules and an alcohol-based tincture | Capsules and an alcohol-based tincture |
| Our serving | 2 capsules, or 1ml of tincture | 2 capsules, or 2ml of tincture |
| Servings per pack | 30 (capsules or tincture) | 30 (capsules), 15 (tincture) |
| Our price per serving | 67p (capsules or tincture) | 67p (capsules), £1.33 (tincture) |
| Part used in ours | Fruiting body | Fruiting body |
| Extract ratio in our capsules | 10:1 | 10:1 |
Prices are full price on 6 October 2026; Buy 2, get 1 free brings a three of £19.99 items to £39.98.
Lion's mane in brief
Lion's mane is a tooth fungus: instead of a cap and gills it grows a mass of soft white spines that hang down like a beard. It appears on wounded or dead broadleaf trees, and in Britain it is rare in the wild and protected by law, so leave any you find alone. Fresh, it is a well-regarded cooking mushroom (see our lion's mane recipes).
As a supplement, ours comes two ways: Lion's Mane Capsules, 60 capsules of a 10:1 fruiting body extract, and Lion's Mane Tincture, 30ml with a glass pipette. Both are £19.99 and give 30 servings. More in how to take lion's mane and our lion's mane buyer's guide.
Reishi in brief
Reishi is a polypore: a tough, woody bracket with pores on its underside. The cap has a lacquered shine that makes it look varnished, and because it is hard and woody it is not cooked like other mushrooms. In China and Japan it has long been sliced and simmered into tea, which is still the traditional way to prepare it (see our reishi tea guide).
Ours comes as Reishi Capsules, 60 capsules of a 10:1 fruiting body extract (30 servings, 67p each), and Reishi Tincture, 30ml at 2ml a serving (15 servings, £1.33 each). Our reishi buyer's guide covers the formats in detail.
How each becomes a supplement
The two mushrooms could hardly be more different to handle. Lion's mane is soft and full of water, so it is dried before it is milled or extracted. Reishi is already hard and woody, so it is sliced or broken up first. Either can be sold as a raw powder (the dried mushroom, milled) or as an extract (processed to concentrate it, often with a ratio such as 10:1 on the label), and either can be made from the fruiting body or from mycelium grown on grain.
That means the same questions apply to both when you shop: is the Latin name on the label, is it the fruiting body or mycelium, is it an extract and at what ratio, how much is in a serving, and what else is in it. Our mushroom extract explainer covers ratios, and the checklist in our buyer's guide works for either.
Why we won't call one "better"
Comparisons of these two mushrooms often frame one as better for one thing and the other for something else. In the UK, mushroom supplements are sold as food, and only authorized health claims may be used for foods, so we don't make health claims about either. That isn't us dodging the question; it is the honest answer. The choice between them comes down to the mushroom you are interested in, the format you prefer and what it costs.
Choosing: three practical questions
- Which mushroom are you interested in? They are different species with different histories: lion's mane as a cooking mushroom, reishi as a traditional tea. Read about each and start with the one you want to try.
- Capsules or drops? Capsules are swallowed whole and give a fixed serving. A tincture is measured with a pipette and can be stirred into a drink if you would rather not swallow capsules.
- What is your budget per serving? Capsules of either cost 67p a serving; the reishi tincture costs £1.33 because its serving is 2ml. In a three under Buy 2, get 1 free, three capsule jars work out at about 44p a serving.
Still undecided? The mushroom finder asks a few of these questions for you.
Buying both
Lion's mane and reishi are sold as separate single-species products, so each label names the one mushroom species in that product. If you are considering taking more than one supplement, follow each label, don't exceed either serving, and ask your GP or pharmacist where the standard cautions apply, for example if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under medical care. When the amount is stated on the label, separate single-species products make it easier to see how much of each mushroom you are buying; we explain the reasoning in mushroom blends vs single species.
Example threes with Buy 2, get 1 free
Put any three qualifying items in your cart and the lowest-priced qualifying one-time item is free, applied in the cart. It mixes across species and formats and repeats for every three. The offer is for one-time purchases: the free item is never a subscription, and discount codes don't combine with the offer.
| Your three | Full price | You pay |
|---|---|---|
| Lion's Mane Capsules + Reishi Capsules + Lion's Mane Capsules | £59.97 | £39.98 |
| Lion's Mane Tincture + Reishi Tincture + Reishi Capsules | £59.97 | £39.98 |
| Lion's Mane Capsules + Reishi Capsules + Chaga Capsules | £59.97 | £39.98 |
UK delivery is free from £50 (six items with two free clears it), and unopened items can be returned within 14 days. Build your three, or browse the lion's mane and reishi collections.
What about the other mushrooms?
Lion's mane and reishi are not the only single-species options. Chaga is the black growth on birch, traditionally brewed as a tea in northern Europe (see our chaga buyer's guide). Tremella, the snow mushroom, is a translucent jelly fungus used in sweet soups in Chinese cooking (see our tremella guide). Everything is in the full range.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, lion's mane or reishi?
We don't claim either is better. They are different species with different histories in food and tea. Choose by the mushroom you are interested in, the format you prefer and the price per serving.
Can you take lion's mane and reishi together?
They are sold as separate products. If you are considering taking more than one supplement, follow each label and ask your GP or pharmacist where the standard cautions apply, including if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under medical care.
When should I take each one?
Follow the serving instructions on each label. The serving can be taken at a time that is convenient for you.
Do they taste different?
As whole mushrooms, yes: lion's mane is cooked and eaten, while reishi has a reputation for bitterness and is brewed instead. As capsules, you swallow the contents whole. As tinctures, you taste the liquid, so you may prefer to stir the serving into a drink.
Is one cheaper than the other?
Our capsules of both cost £19.99 for 30 servings (67p each). The lion's mane tincture is also 67p a serving; the reishi tincture is £1.33 because its serving is 2ml.
Are they the same as the mushrooms in the woods?
Same species, but don't forage them: wild lion's mane is protected in Britain, and identifying wild fungi takes real expertise. Our supplements are extracts, which are different from eating the fresh mushroom.
For the bigger picture, read our guide to the best mushroom supplements in the UK, or see where ours come from on our story page: harvested in Finland, bottled in Sheffield, dispatched from Barnsley.
Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under medical care, speak to your GP or pharmacist before use.