4 Best Turkey Tail Supplements (To Boost Your Immunity)

best turkey tail supplements
  • Written by: Donovan Carper
  • Registered Nurse W/ Masters Degree
    Certified Personal Trainer & Coach
  • Last Updated on August 3, 2023

Contents

Turkey Tail mushrooms are a phenomenal way to boost your immune system and health–and the research backs them. 

And while the benefits of turkey tail mushrooms are clear, choosing the right supplement is a different story. 

There are 100s of options on the market–and since supplements aren’t regulated, it’s impossible to know which actually has what it says it has.

That’s where we come in. 

In the list below, I rounded up the top 4 turkey tail mushroom supplements on the market, all of which meet 3rd party testing standards for quality.

I am a nurse (with a master’s degree and training on research analysis), so I know a thing or 2 about health and research–and I spent hours ensuring all 4 supplements meet standards of quality. 

After reading this article, I guarantee you will find a high-quality turkey tail supplement within your budget. 

By reading below, you will learn:

  1. The 4 best turkey tail mushroom supplements money can buy (and why)
  2. The fascinating history of turkey tail mushrooms 
  3. What The Research Says About Turkey Tail Mushrooms

If you’re in a rush, I would recommend getting either of the following 2 options:

  1. Real Mushrooms Turkey Tail Extract Powder (Best Overall Option & Best Quality)
  2. Om Turkey Tail Superfood Powder: (Most Budget Option)
    • Enter coupon code “mushroom20” to get 20% off
 
  
 
Our Ranking
Why We Love It
Ratings
Real Mushrooms
Our Ranking : 1
Why We Love It : Best Overall. Excellent Quality, Organic, High in Immune-boosting Beta Glucans
Ratings: 5*
Om Mushroom
Our Ranking : 2
Why We Love It : Best Budget Option, Clinically Backed, Affordable
Ratings: 4.5*
Fresh Cap
Our Ranking : 3
Why We Love It : Organic, High In Immune-boosting Beta Glucans
Ratings: 4.2*
Host Defense
Our Ranking : 4
Why We Love It : Great Quality, Clinically Backed
Ratings: 4*

The #1 Best Turkey Tail Mushroom Supplement: Real Mushrooms Turkey Tail Extract Powder (Best Overall Option)

Mushroom Supplement
Features
Our rating
Real Mushrooms Turkey Tail Mushroom Supplements
product-image
Real Mushrooms Turkey Tail Mushroom Supplements
Features
  • Third-party lab analysis verified product integrity and purity
  • Certified organic
  • Contains pure turkey tail mushroom extract, no binders, fillers, or grain
Our Rating
Our #1 Rated
5 out of 5
Real Mushrooms Turkey Tail Mushroom Supplements

You won’t find a better turkey tail mushroom supplement than this one from Real Mushrooms.

In my opinion, Real Mushrooms is far and away the best option for mushroom supplements in general, and their turkey tail is no exception.

I know it’s not entirely relevant, but I’m a huge fan of their CEO, Jeff Chinton. I’ve heard him on multiple podcasts now, and his knowledge base and passion always blows me away.

He studied mycology back in the 60s, was one of the thought leaders in the education of mycelium in general, and was the 1st to bring Organic mushroom supplements to the U.S.

This shouldn’t be the reason you buy this one, but a CEO with credibility is important in my opinion, especially when it comes to supplements where there is no regulation.

But back to the benefits….

Real Mushrooms turkey tail is all mushroom fruit (e.g. high in beta glucans), and no mycelium (and no fillers).

While there is much debate here in the mushroom community as to which is best–mycelium or the mushroom fruit–there is strong evidence to suggest you want to get a supplement with the mushroom fruit, because beta glucans provide some amazing benefits (specifically, in boosting the immune system and fighting cancer/tumors).

I did some deep diving into the research, and according to an independent analysis by consumerlabs.com on their reishi supplement, they got the highest possible rating.

And while this isn’t Reishi, it’s safe to assume that their quality would be similar for both reishi and turkey tail. 

Not much more needs to be stated here–while it’s not the most affordable option on our list, I think it is well worth the price, and checks every box for what you would want in a turkey tail supplement.

Their reviews are also impressive–4.7 out of 5 stars based on nearly 200 reviews.

Real Mushrooms Turkey Tail Mushroom Supplements

Product features:

  • 1000mg pure turkey tail mushroom extract per ½ teaspoon serving
  • $34.95 / 45 servings, or $0.78/ serving.  Cost drops to $29.71 ($0.66/ serving) if you subscribe for routine delivery (which is free in the U.S. with subscription)  
  • Extract standardized for greater than 30% beta-glucans (a known immune stimulant compound of mushrooms)

Pros

  • Third party lab analysis verified product integrity and purity
  • cGMP certified to ensure quality
  • Certified organic
  • Contains pure turkey tail mushroom extract, no binders, fillers, or grain

Cons

  • Not the cheapest option on our list (but well worth the price considering the quality)

Final thoughts:  Real Mushroom’s turkey tail is excellent. It’s made from the fruiting body (so is high in immune boosting beta glucans), has high ratings from Consumerlabs.com, and is certified Organic. You won’t find one better.


The #2 Best Turkey Tail Mushroom Supplement: Om Turkey Tail Organic Mushroom Superfood Powder  (Most Affordable Option)

Mushroom Supplement
Features
Our rating
Turkey Tail Organic Mushroom Superfood Powder
product-image
Turkey Tail Organic Mushroom Superfood Powder
Features
  • Has fantastic quality: It’s GMP-certified, 3rd party tested, and manufactured in the U.S. 
  • Certified Organic, free of pesticides and GMOs
  • Mild, pleasant flavor
  • NO extraction process–it is a literal whole mushroom!
  • Meets the California Prop 65 Standards for purity, some of the most stringent standards in the world!
  • Enter coupon code “mushroom20” to get 20% off
Our Rating
Our #2 Rated
4.5 out of 5
om turkey tail

Another solid option on our list is this one from Om and is one I highly recommend. I still think, without question, Real Mushrooms is the better option at #1.

Let me explain why.

But first I need to give some context so you know what the heck I’m even saying.

Mushroom supplements contain one of two parts of the mushroom (or both)–mycelium and the fruiting body. If we compared this to plants, the mycelia would be the roots of the mushroom, and the fruiting body would be the flower.

Some research shows the fruiting body is beneficial (which is high in beta glucans), while other research is promising for mycelium. 

Real Mushroom turkey tail is made with the fruiting body while Om uses both the fruiting body and the mycelia.

While research shows mycelia is indeed beneficial, turkey tail Mushroom supplements that contain mycelia require a grain in which to grow it, kind of like seeds need soil.

This causes a problem as I’m about to show you in the Consumer Lab report below.

Below is the same Consumer Lab Report I referenced when talking about Real Mushrooms above. Again, as I mentioned before, that while a report on reishi is not the same as a report on turkey tail, it’s safe to assume that the analysis can be applied to both since it’s the same company. This is what Consumer Labs said about Om Reishi:

In simpler terms, this means that 1/3rd of the supplement you are consuming when you take Om is grain and not mushroom. I don’t know about you, but I want my mushroom supplement to be 100% mushroom.

With that being said, I still think Om is a great option and worth considering.

It has a high amount of ganoderic acid–the second most on our list (after Swanson at #3)–which has been shown to be beneficial at fighting cancer.

What makes Om turkey tail unique is that it’s the whole mushroom rather than an extract (the only one on the list)–this is great because there are benefits to both the fruiting body and the mycelium.

Additionally, it meets California Prop 65 standards for purity (the toughest in the world!) and is certified Organic.

And not just that–it’s also by far the most affordable option on our list–and honestly not even close.

Real Mushrooms comes out to $.77/serving while Om is at $.40/serving.

It also has some phenomenal reviews–it has a crazy high rating (4.7) and more than 302 reviews–and as Borat would say: “wow wa wee wa”.

OM Turkey Tail review

I did some searching online and found a coupon code “mushroom20” that brings the price down 20%.

Product features:

  • 1 serving = 2 grams powdered reishi mushroom + fermented oats with mycelium
  • Price ranges from $0.40 per daily serving (for 50 servings) to $0.29/ serving (for a 250 serving-sized container)
  • 20% savings when you enter promo “mushroom20” at checkout

Pros

  • Has fantastic quality: It’s GMP-certified, 3rd party tested, and manufactured in the U.S. 
  • Certified Organic, free of pesticides and GMOs
  • Mild, pleasant flavor
  • NO extraction process–it is a literal whole mushroom!
  • Meets the California Prop 65 Standards for purity, some of the most stringent standards in the world!

Cons

  • Controversy around value of inclusion of grain filler containing mycelium

Final thoughts: Om Turkey Tail has everything you could possibly want. It’s research-backed, meets all standards you could possibly think of for quality, and is the most affordable option on our list. It’s well-deserving of the #1 spot.


The #3 Best Turkey Tail Supplement: FreshCap Turkey Tail Mushroom Extract Powder (Best For Boosting Your Immune System)

Mushroom Supplement
Features
Our rating
FreshCap Organic Turkey Tail Mushroom Extract Powder
product-image
FreshCap Organic Turkey Tail Mushroom Extract Powder
Features
  • Manufactured in a GMP-certified facility, in accordance with FDA standards
  • Third party lab analysis verified product integrity and purity
  • Certified organic
  • Contains pure turkey tail mushroom extract, no binders, fillers, or grain
Our Rating
Our #3 Rated
4.2 out of 5
FreshCap Organic Turkey Tail Mushroom Extract Powder

At our #4 option, Fresh Cap Turkey Tail is another solid turkey tail choice.

Like the Real Mushroom option (at #1), FreshCap Turkey Tail Mushroom Extract powder is organic and made exclusively from the fruiting body of the mushroom (so no fillers).

FreshCap passes all purity and quality testing–they are GMP certified and 3rd party tested.

Their reviews are excellent–they have more than 67 reviews, most of which are 5 stars.

FreshCap Organic Turkey Tail Mushroom Extract Powder

Product features:

  • 1000mg pure turkey tail mushroom extract per scoop
  • $29.99 / 60 servings, or $0.50 serving.  Cost drops to $23.99 ($0.40/ serving) if you subscribe for routine delivery (which is free in the U.S. with subscription)  
  • Extract standardized for 35% beta-glucans (a known immune stimulant compound of mushrooms)

Pros

  • Manufactured in a GMP-certified facility, in accordance with FDA standards
  • Third party lab analysis verified product integrity and purity
  • Certified organic
  • Contains pure turkey tail mushroom extract–no binders, fillers, or grain

Cons

  • Lacks credibility of some other options on the list
  • Not reviewed independently by Consumer Labs

Final thoughts: This one from FreshCap is another solid option. It’s high in beta-glucans, 3rd party certified, Organic, and has no fillers.


The #4 Best Turkey Tail Mushroom Supplement: Used by the National Institutes of Health!!  Host Defense Turkey Tail Mushroom Mycelium Powder (Best Science-Backed Option)

Mushroom Supplement
Features
Our rating
Host Defense, Turkey Tail Mushroom Powder
product-image
Host Defense, Turkey Tail Mushroom Powder
Features
  • Grown and processed in the U.S.A.
  • Paul Stamet’s mushrooms are actually used in clinical research trials
  • Certified Organic
  • Use of a triple extraction process to get the most valuable compounds from mycelium using ethanol, cold water, and hot water extraction
Our Rating
Our #4 Rated
4 out of 5
Host Defense, Turkey Tail Mushroom Powder

I’m going to be honest–I love this one from Host Defense

Similar to Om, Host Defense Turkey Tail Mushroom is grown in the U.S. and is certified organic.  

Host Defense products are exclusively mycelium-based, containing no fruited mushroom (unlike Om that has both and Fresh Cap that is only the fruiting body). 

Like I mentioned above, there is research that shows mycelium is an excellent immune-stimulant.

Additionally, the mushrooms sourced for Host Defense products are also used as a source for research funded by the National Institute of Health, the Department of Defense, Washington State University, among others. 

Another attractive feature of Host Defense products is that they are NSF-certified.  NSF-certification provides third-party review of manufacturing and product quality, and integrity.

In fact, NSF-certification is so highly regarded, it is trusted by the NFL, NBA, PGA, and many other sports bodies for verifying supplement quality, integrity, and freedom from adulterants.

The reviews for Host Defense Turkey Tail Mushroom Mycelium powder are phenomenal, with a product rating of 4.8 stars out of 5 stars.  Users report improved immune function and mild flavor!

Host Defense, Turkey Tail Mushroom Powder

And while the price isn’t the highest on the list, it is more expensive than Om and slightly more affordable than Freshcap.  

Product features:

  • ½ teaspoon = 1.5 grams serving turkey tail mushroom mycelium/ fermented rice medium
  • $29.95 / 66 servings (or $0.45/ serving)
  • 20% savings if you buy in bulk (4 or more items from Host Defense)
  • Ships in 3 days (as long as they are in stock at time of order)

Pros

  • Grown and processed in the U.S.A.
  • Certified Organic
  • Use of a triple extraction process to get the most valuable compounds from mycelium using ethanol, cold water, and hot water extraction 
  • NSF certified & third party tested

Cons

  • Contains mushroom mycelium and fermented growth medium (brown rice), but no mushroom fruit body 

Final thoughts: These turkey tail mushrooms from Host Defense are high quality, scientifically-backed, and a fantastic turkey tail mushroom. While I think the research is more promising for the fruiting body, I think there’s enough evidence on the benefits of mycelia to add this one to the list at #4.


Turkey Tail Mushrooms: Used as a Medicinal Mushroom Since Antiquity

Turkey tail (Coriolus Versicolor) mushrooms are one of the most exciting mushrooms researched to date in terms of promoting immune health and general health. Found in the northern hemisphere all across the globe–in Asia, North America, and Europe–traditional usage as a medicinal mushroom can be traced back thousands of years.

In Chinese Medicine, turkey tail mushrooms have been used to promote longevity, improve endurance, and promote general wellness.

Turkey Tail Mushrooms & Current Research Findings 

Research findings are mounting regarding turkey tail mushrooms and their potential to promote immune system health and overall wellbeing.  In fact, turkey tail mushrooms are one of the most extensively researched medicinal mushrooms!  

Featured in our article 7 Types Of Mushrooms To Eat (To Supercharge Your Immune System), turkey tail mushroom compounds may have the following research-backed benefits:

  • Direct cancer cell toxicity against breast, lung, leukemia, colon, melanoma, cervical, stomach, liver, ovarian, prostate, and brain cancer cells
  • Stimulatory activity of genes responsible for apoptosis in cancer cells
  • Animal studies demonstrate turkey tail mushroom compounds’ abilities to prevent cancer onset, reduce tumor size, and reduce vascular formation within tumors
  • Use in multiple human subject trials notes improved cancer survival in patients with breast, gastric, and colorectal cancer when used in addition to standard anti-cancer therapies
  • Reversal of chemo-induced immune suppression (in animal studies)
  • Improved immune activity
  • Strong antioxidant activity
  • Reduced inflammation 
  • Heart and liver organ protection 
  • Reductions in diabetes and obesity

How Safe are Turkey Tail Mushrooms?

While the research findings above are promising, such results are even more exciting given turkey tail’s excellent safety profile.  Numerous animal and human studies suggest turkey tail mushrooms are safe and non-toxic.  

Choosing the right supplement is key.  

While turkey tail mushrooms are safe, fraud is prevalent in the supplement market. Adulterants, lack of active ingredients, impurities–all these can undermine your health and fitness goals when taking a supplement. That’s why we do what we do–researching supplements and companies and sharing our top findings with you!

Mycelium Versus Mushroom Fruit

Trouble in the mushroom kingdom!  Supplement companies levy allegations back and forth at one another about the value (or lack of, according to the opposing side) of mushroom mycelium (root-like structures of the mushroom).   

What is the truth?  

Is mycelium truly “worthless” filler? Are the benefits found exclusively in the mushroom fruits?  

Research noting the immune stimulating effects of mycelium is mounting, such as noted in this study. It is also true that much of the existing mushroom research available has been conducted using only the fruit of mushrooms and not the mycelium.  

In reality, it appears all parts of the mushroom offer unique benefits. That is why the Om option is worth considering, since it has both!  

If you find yourself preferring one versus the other, our selection includes options with the fruiting body only (Real Mushrooms), both the mycelium and fruiting body (OM), and only the mycelia (Host Defense).

Wrapping it up

Turkey tail mushrooms are a fascinating species of mushroom, with demonstrated immune-stimulating properties. While debate continues regarding which “parts” of the mushroom are most valuable in terms of health benefits, the truth is likely that all parts offer unique benefits. 

Whether you choose Real Mushrooms or Om (or any option on our list), one thing is certain: supplementing with turkey tail gives you a wide range of research-backed benefits. 

If you are interested in learning about other types of mushrooms, turkey tail mushrooms are just one of the 7 mushrooms we reviewed in our research-packed article written by yours truly: 7 Types Of Mushrooms To Eat (To Supercharge Your Immune System).

Got a hankering for more awesome mushroom content? Check out the following pieces authored by yours truly…

Still Unsure Which Option Is Best For You? Here’s The Recap, Based On Our Testing & Research

  • Real Mushrooms Turkey Tail Extract Powder: This is the best overall option and has the best quality. It is third-party lab analysis verified for product integrity and purity, certified organic, and contains pure turkey tail mushroom extract with no binders, fillers, or grain.
  • Om Organic Mushroom Nutrition Turkey Tail Mushroom Superfood: This superfood is a blend of organic turkey tail mushroom powder and organic reishi mushroom powder. It also contains organic acacia fiber, which is a prebiotic that supports gut health. This superfood is great for anyone who wants to boost their immunity and digestion with a delicious chocolate flavor.
  • FreshCap Mushrooms Turkey Tail Capsules: These capsules are made from organic turkey tail mushrooms and high in immune-boosting beta-glucans. These are best for people who want to improve their overall health.

Donovan Carper

Donovan has training and experience in healthcare as a Master's prepared RN (MSN). He is trained in critically evaluating science-based research and implementing evidence-based practice interventions to improve health outcomes. He is also a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Health Coach with ACE and

Like what you read? We would love a share :)