It somehow works as a wellness supplement, daily ritual, and indulgence at once—which is kind of the point. “We’re not trying to replace your regular routine or prescriptions,” says Goodstein, but rather work alongside it for extra support throughout your day. What I love most about this mushroom chocolate is that it’s so easy to incorporate into my day that it’s become a second nature—I simply break off a square, savor it, and move on. The longer I’ve taken it, the more benefits I’ve noticed in how I feel, how I zone in, or how I respond to stressful triggers long term.
By using chocolate, cofounder of Alice Mushrooms Charlotte Cruze and Goodstein wanted to remove the barrier—taste, texture, and more—associated with many functional mushroom supplements that come in powders, capsules, or tinctures. “We exhaustively tested so many different things to look for the ‘Goldilocks effect,” says Goodstein. “It had to hit our two non-negotiables: it had to taste great and it had to deliver real results you could feel.” Chocolate was also important to Cruze and Goodstein not only because it was delicious, fun, and easy, but because it naturally has benefits, like antioxidants. “By using chocolate as the delivery method, we’re able to connect with people emotionally—food holds so much power, emotion, and sensory connection to us,” Cruze adds. “When people take our chocolate mushrooms, they’re able to spend a moment of their day taking care of themselves and they’re able to enjoy it which is really really rare.”
On the scientific side, it also is effective as a delivery method for absorption. “Chocolate is a food so it starts breaking down in your mouth (enzymatically through your saliva) before it gets to your small intestine,” Cruze explains. “It also has lipids in the form of fat from the cocoa butter which helps increase absorption of nutrients.” It’s also incredibly dense which means they can include more nutrients in a dose. “It would take about seven to eight gummies to give you the dose we’re able to do in one square of chocolate.”
Shop Vogue’s favorite mushroom chocolate, below.
Best for Energy: Alice Mushrooms Brainstorm
My most tried-and-true chocolate, Brainstorm is a power-packed mix of lion’s mane and cordyceps, as well as guarana, a native Amazonian plant attributed with energy boosts, laser focus, and endurance thanks to its naturally-high caffeine content, and phosphatidylserine, a natural phospholipid that acts as a protective layer for your brain cells and attributed to cognitive function and stress regulation. A single square contains a little less caffeine than a single cup of coffee.
Best for Sleep: Alice Mushrooms Nightcap
Imagine waking up after a full night’s sleep feeling well-rested and recharged. If you, like me, have trouble drifting off to dreamland, this little sweet treat has all the good stuff: magnesium, chamomile, zinc, and reishi mushrooms, and L-theanine, the soothing amino acid found in green tea.
Best for Stress: Alice Mushrooms Zen X
If you looked up the definition of cool, calm, and collected in the dictionary, there would be a picture of Zen X at the top. It’s made with organic reishi and tremella mushrooms, rhodiola, and saffron, as well as magnesium and L-theanine to help arm you against never-ending to-do lists, quarterly reviews, or daily stress.