The Beauty Mushroom - Tremella fuciformis

Why is Tremella known as the beauty mushroom?

Tremella may not be the most popular mushroom of the bunch (yet) but when it comes to beauty and skin benefits, this superfood mushroom can’t be beat!

Tremella fuciformis is also known as Snow fungus, white jelly mushroom or silver ear mushroom. Even though it has only recently caught the attention of the western world for its nutritional and medicinal properties, it is by no means a new discovery.

The use of Tremella dates back to the Tang Dynasty, where Yang Guifei who was known as one of the “Four Beauties of Ancient China” credited Tremella fuciformis for helping her maintain her glowing complexion. Today, it continues to be used in traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine, both for its beauty boosting abilities and its additional health benefits.

Modern science has confirmed these claims and many cosmetic products also include Tremella extract for topical use today. Tremella nourishes the skin from many different pathways. The hydro-phillic nature of Hyaluronic acid helps the skin draw in and maintain moisture, helping it become fuller and smoother which also slows down wrinkling. Tremella is a good source of Vitamin D which also plays a role in keeping the skin youthful and hydrated. The polysaccharides found in tremella also play a role in helping to fight signs of aging to promote a youthful complexion. In addition to their impressive water retention abilities, research has shown that polysaccharides extracted from mushrooms have antioxidant properties. It’s also worth mentioning that studies have shown Tremella to reduce inflammation which will further assist in the healthy function and recovery of the skin and beyond. Ergothioneine is another noteworthy compound found in all mushrooms including Tremella. It is an amino acid that acts as a potent antioxidant and has become a major point of interest for scientists studying longevity. They believe ergothioneine to be one of the most important nutrients for longevity and youth.

Good skin health starts on the inside, but some also add a little spoon of Tremella to their favorite face mask blend for topical use. Our skin is our largest organ and definitely deserves as much love and care as we can give it.

Where does Tremella come from?

Tremella does grow in the wild here in South Africa and I’ve personally found and eaten them many times, however they are rather rare in comparison to other wild mushrooms and have a very short window in which we can appreciate its texture in its full glory.

Tremella is also one of the most difficult mushrooms to cultivate since it needs a co-culture which requires extremely technical lab work to grow them at scale. The only place in the world where this has been successfully achieved is in China, where sophisticated biotech companies have been perfecting the art of mushroom cultivation with the help of government funding for centuries already.

Until the rest of us can figure out how to cultivate them at scale consistently and sustainably we will need to source them from certified organic farmers who already can! Our Tremella powder is CERES certified organic and third party tested for quality and potency assurance. Like all our powders in our range Tremella is also activated and micronized for easy use and bioavailability. Our tinctures are the same Tremella mushrooms dual-extracted using ultrasonic technology with high quality solvents - mountain spring water and organic ethanol.

Tremella powder is an amazing addition to soups, stews and noodle dishes. It provides a very mild flavor (mostly absorbing whatever it’s flavored with) and adds an amazing thickening quality. For that reason we also use it in our superfood Cacao hot chocolates for an extra soothing warm beverage.

The tincture can be added directly under your tongue, holding for about 30 seconds to benefit from rapid absorption through the mouth. If the taste is too much for you the tincture can be added to any beverage of choice - hot or gold, still or sparkling

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