The Best Turkey Tail Mushroom Powder in Australia – Our Top 3 Picks

Are you on looking to purchase the best Turkey Tail mushrooms supplements in Australia? This guide will help you find the best source for this medicinal mushroom and ensure you’re getting the highest quality product. Turkey Tail is growing to be one of the most commonly consumed medicinal mushrooms in Australia.

Incorporating Turkey Tail mushrooms into your daily life can help improve your health and may help with the treatment of certain medical conditions. If you’re looking to buy supplements or already taking them, it is important to consider their quality which will influence their effectiveness. After all, there are many products in the Australian medicinal mushroom industry that are inferior in quality and may not have the desired effects. This is particularly important when using Turkey Tail to treat serious or potentially life-threatening illnesses. 

This being said, Turkey Tail and other supplements will rarely cure an illness on their own. They should be used in combination with a healthy lifestyle and potentially other conventional/alternative therapies. Having a high-quality supplement will ensure that Turkey Tail has its intended effect and can help in the treatment. Consuming low-quality products may not only be a waste of money, but it could reduce the effectiveness of treatments compared to using a high-quality product. 

Before you purchase Turkey Tail mushroom supplements from the Australian producers below, please read our buying guide below. Our objective here at WorldMushroomSociety.com is to help consumers choose the best medicinal mushroom products to get the full health benefits for themselves and whom they care for.

Our top 3 picks for the best Turkey Tail supplements in Australia are from 3 brands:

#1. Dr Noel’s Turkey Tail Mushroom Powder

Our Findings

#2. Teelixir Turkey Tail Powered Extract

Our findings

#3. SuperFeast Turkey Tail Powdered Extract

Our findings

Buying Guide for Turkey Tail Supplements in Australia

Mycelium vs Fruiting Bodies: What is the difference?

A lot of people ask us: Which products are better: the ones containing mycelium or fruit bodies? But before we get to it, let’s first understand the basics.

In the fungal kingdom, most people identify a mushroom by its cap and stem. This is known as the fruit body or the reproductive structure. Now, the majority of the mushroom exists underground, in soil, wood, or other material on which it is growing. This filamentous web-like structure is called the mycelium or the vegetative body.

The benefits of functional mushrooms are derived from their active compounds (like beta-glucans) which are found in abundance in the fruiting body of the mushroom.

Commercially cultivated Turkey ail is the mycelium grown on grain, sawdust, brown rice, oats, or wood chips. This is then dried and ground into a powdered form. While it is a simpler and faster process, and many studies do show the medicinal properties of mycelium, there are problems with mushroom products that are based on mycelium.

The most important issue is that the resultant mushroom supplement is of inferior quality. Essentially, it is mostly grain with some added mushroom mycelium. Turkey Tail mycelium produced on grains is low in fungal-derived compounds such as beta-glucans and high in plant-based starch.

Read the ingredients on the Turkey Tail mushroom supplement package to see which part of these fungi the producer used. It is always best to choose the one that is derived from the fruiting body as they contain higher concentrations of bioactive compounds than colonized grain products.

When a product does not specifically list the source of turkey tail in its product, you might be faced with a product that uses mycelium instead of the fruiting body.

Certain mycelium products may be produced with 100% mycelium. While the mycelium itself is medicinal, it is the non-bioactive grain materials that degrade the quality of many mycelium-based products.

Some studies even show that mycelium colonized grains may be helpful in the treatment of disease as they do have bioactivity.

How is the Turkey Tail mushroom extracted?

Another important thing to look out for when selecting Turkey Tail supplement is the extraction method.

For starters, the beneficial bioactive compounds in medicinal mushrooms like Turkey Tail are entrapped within the cell wall of the fungus. They are made bioavailable by different extraction methods.

While it may be tempting, for some, to try some of the raw Turkey Tail mushrooms, our bodies lack the enzyme to break down the mushroom cell wall. So, you are going to get few, if any, benefits. Besides, it’s kind of hard to chew the tough and leathery raw Turkey Tail.

That is where extraction comes in. So how is Turkey Tail mushroom extracted? They can be conducted in several different ways but the most common methods of extraction are done using water and alcohol.

Water extraction

Water extraction is done by simmering the Turkey Tail mushroom in hot water for several hours so that the water-soluble compounds are extracted out of the chitinous mushroom wall.

Protein-bound polysaccharides or beta-glucans are water-soluble, and turkey tail has many of those.

There are two types of beta-glucans in Turkey Tail:

1. Polysaccharide K, also known as PSK: Is a beta-glucan commonly used in Japan as an adjunct therapy in cancer treatment.
2. Polysaccharopeptide, also known as PSP: Is another beta-glucan that is commonly used in China for cancer treatment. It has chemicals like arabinose and rhamnose.

As the mushroom is packed with several water-soluble polysaccharides, a hot water extraction method keeps the beta-glucan levels high.

Alcohol extraction

There is a lot of debate as to whether Turkey Tail mushroom requires an alcohol extraction as the most important compounds are water-soluble. However, triterpenes in Turkey Tail are not water-soluble. To get the benefits of this compound, the mushroom should be alcohol extracted.  

In tinctures, 20% alcohol content is usually used to ensure their shelf life. Since alcohol does not contain much of bioactive compounds, high content of alcohol is not necessary for Turkey Tail tinctures. It may even result in lower potency.

What is the ideal extraction method?

For most mushrooms, the most effective method is a dual-extraction using both water and alcohol and also why it is called “dual”. But for the case of Turkey Tail Mushrooms, hot water extraction is sufficient enough to isolate the water soluble compounds.

What are extraction ratios?

Extraction ratio simply means the volume of mushroom that was used to make the extract. For instance, a 4:1 extract would mean it took 4 lbs. of Turkey Tail mushroom to make 1 lb. of the extract.

You may be tempted to buy a mushroom with a crazy high extraction ratio. However, you should note that this number also depends on several physical characteristics and the density of the mushroom rather than the thoroughness of the extraction process.

What is the beta-glucan content of the Turkey Tail supplement?

Beta-glucans are the primary mushroom compounds that give their health-supporting functions. The most reliable and trustworthy producers are going to mention the number of beta-glucans in their products.

Both beta-glucans and the grains on mycelium-based products are polysaccharides. It is therefore important to discern between these two while reading product labels. A Turkey Tail supplement of high quality should contain low quantities of starches (<4%) and large quantities of beta-glucans (10-40%). If the label only mentions the polysaccharide and the total beta-glucan content, make sure the polysaccharide doesn’t exceed the beta-glucan content by more than 5%.

Australian grown Turkey Tail vs Chinese grown

It is important not to disregard Chinese grown Turkey Tail. China is the largest producer of Turkey Tail mushrooms in the world and has been growing and cultivating medicinal mushrooms for centuries. The majority of the best quality Turkey Tail products are grown in China. After all, Turkey Tail and other medicinal mushrooms have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years, long before usage by Western society.

While some cities of China have high rates of air pollution which can negatively affect the quality of soil, most Chinese mushrooms are grown in rural provinces in mountain communities. This is something to consider when purchasing Turkey Tail products in Australia. We suggest always looking for a Certification of Analysis that has stringent testing and on heavy metals and pesticides.

Certificate of analysis

If you are unsure of the quality of the Turkey Tail product, ask the Australian producer for a third party Certificate of Analysis (COA). A Certificate of Analysis from a third party lab is important to identify the beneficial compounds (eg. beta-glucans, PSP, PSK) in the Turkey Tail product, as well as to avoid heavy metals, pesticides and other foreign contaminants. Heavy metals that are typically tested for range from arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. If an Australian producer does not have this on their website, they may be able to provide a COA upon request.

Organic

Certified organic Turkey Tail products ensure that your products do not contain herbicides, fungicides or pesticides and other harmful chemicals. Look for the Australian Certified Organic logo stamp of quality and integrity on the label of the bottle or pouch.

Turkey Tail supplements you can buy in Australia

Turkey Tail powder

Turkey Tail dried powders are made from pulverizing the 100% fruiting body. Turkey Tail Powders are often called ‘full-spectrum’ as you get the ‘full entourage effect’ of consuming the entire mushroom and therefore getting all the nutritional benefits as a whole-food. Powders are generally made from mushrooms that have been heated or processed in a way to make the medicinal compounds bioavailable. When choosing a powder (non extract), make sure that it has been heated first to break down the cell walls, called chitin, so that the medicinal beneficial compounds are bioavailable. 

Turkey Tail extract

Extracts contain the individual medicinal compounds of Turkey Tail without the biomass. This is done via an extraction process with hot water and/or alcohol and solvents (dual extraction). This makes small doses of Turkey Tail highly potent, extremely compact, and have a longer shelf life. 

There are two different types of extracts available in Australia:

Turkey Tail tinctures

Tinctures are liquid extracts that most often use water and alcohol solvents. They are a convenient method of consuming Turkey Tail.

Turkey Tail powdered extracts

Powdered extracts are the dry powdered result of extracting the individual medicinal compounds from the Turkey Tail mushroom. Powdered extracts can be extracted from both the fruiting body and/or the mycelium.

Turkey Tail capsules

Capsules and Tablets are usually either filled with Turkey Tail mushroom powders or extracts. They are the most convenient way to dose and consume Turkey Tail. Buying capsules are in growing demand in Australia as they are an easy option for those already regularly taking supplements or other medications in this form.

Turkey Tail coffee and tea

Turkey Tail can be incorporated into hot drinks such as coffee and tea. The big benefit these products have is that they are easy to incorporate into your daily routine.

Turkey Tail Tea can be purchased as tea bags containing both Turkey Tail powder and dried tea herbs; leaves.

Turkey Tail Coffee products are sold as ground coffee beans mixed with Turkey Tail powder.

Fresh Turkey Tail mushrooms

Turkey Tail Mushrooms are not considered “edible mushrooms” because of their tough, rubbery, and indigestible fibers. They can be cooked and simmered in water for 2-3 hours and then used in tea, soups, and broths. Consuming the mushroom fruiting body itself is not toxic, but may cause some digestive issues if consumed in large quantities.

Fresh Turkey Tail mushrooms as whole fruiting bodies are rare to find for sale in Australia. Turkey Tail mushrooms grow quite commonly in National Parks and forests across Australia and can be foraged.

Health benefits of Turkey Tail mushrooms

Turkey Tail For Adjunct Cancer Treatment – Clinical Trials:

• Oba, 2006, Torkelson, 2012 | Wong, 2005 | Tsang, 2003 | Ito, 2012 | Chay, 2017 | Go, 1989 | Mitomi, 1992 | Nakazato, 1994
  

Turkey Tail Has Anti-Cancer Properties – Laboratory Tests:

• Zhou, 2007 | Hirahara, 2013 | Wan, 2010 | Roca-lema, 2019 | Luo, 2014 | Hsieh, 2006 | Satoh, 2012
  

Turkey Tail For Gut Health – Studies:

• Pallav, 2014 | Yu, 2013 | Beong, 2011
  

Other Potential Health Benefits

• Protein-bound beta-glucan from Turkey Tail could have the potential for use against obesity. (Chen, 2019)
• Turkey Tail mushrooms were shown to ameliorate insulin resistance and could help in the treatment of diabetes. (Xian, 2018)
• Turkey Tail has some anti-inflammatory activity and could help in the treatment of pain for patients with osteoarthritis. (Wang, 2019)
• Could help improve the health of the liver from alcoholic liver injury (Wang, 2019)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Turkey Tail mushroom legal for purchase in Australia? 

Yes, Turkey Tail is legal for purchase and consumption in Australia. All Turkey Tail supplements and medicinal mushroom products must be registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia (TGA). 

Can Turkey Tail be purchased from my doctor?

Turkey Tail cannot be purchased from a western doctor, but can be purchased through a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctor in the form of dried fruiting bodies. Turkey Tail is considered a complementary medicine that can be purchased online or in stores, and does not require a prescription for purchase.

In Australia, medicinal products containing such ingredients as certain herbs, vitamins and minerals, nutritional supplements, homeopathic medicines and aromatherapy products are referred to as ‘complementary medicines’ and are regulated as medicines by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (the Act) and the supporting Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990.

Can Turkey Tail products be purchased from a naturopath?

Yes, many Australian naturopaths sell Turkey Tail supplements as part of their treatment for various illnesses.

Does Chemist Warehouse sell Turkey Tail?

Yes, Chemist Warehouse sells some mushroom products that contain Turkey Tail in their ingredients. 

How much does Turkey Tail mushrooms cost in Australia?

The price of Turkey Tail in Australia can vary, depending on the product type and producer.
Turkey Tail Extracts, powders and capsules can range from $20 per product to over $100.

Best medicinal mushrooms Supplements in Australia

Aside from Turkey Tail mushrooms, we’ve also done a lot of research for other medicinal mushroom supplements in Australia. Our team applies the same criteria of looking for organic, fruiting body and proven beta-glucan amounts within our review process when looking for the best medicinal mushroom powders and capsules on the Australian market. Check out the articles below for high quality supplements in Australia.

• Best Lion’s Mane Supplement in Australia
• Best Chaga Supplement in Australia
• Best Cordyceps Supplement in Australia
• Best Maitake Supplement in Australia
• Best Reishi Supplement in Australia
• Best Tremella Supplement in Australia

Conclusion

Turkey Tail should be used as a supplement to a holistic treatment that often includes changes in diet, habits, and daily lifestyles. We hope this guide gives you all the right information to choose a top quality Turkey Tail product in Australia. All the best with your Turkey Tail purchase!

Are you in North America? Check out our recommendations for the best Turkey Tail supplements in the United States and best Turkey Tail supplements in Canada.