In the modern era, it’s incredibly difficult to avoid the influence of caffeinated substances. 

Whether it be tea, coffee, or an energy drink, many people use caffeine to help them with their productivity levels. However, as more and more people increase their caffeine intake, the body can start to get used to its effects. 

An excess amount of caffeine can lead to certain symptoms, like irritability, migraines, difficulty sleeping, and nervousness. Caffeine also triggers an adrenal response, leading to raised blood pressure and heart rate. 

Some people looking to decrease their caffeine intake may search for substitutes to help them along. 

MUD\WTR, known as Mud Water, is one of these products. It is a type of coffee substitute made to replace regular caffeinated drinks. The product comes in powder form, which makes it easy to mix in hot water. 

You’ll learn more about Mud Water in this post, including what it is, its ingredients, and what it tastes like. 

We’ve also listed its drawbacks for you to consider, so you can decide whether the product is right for you. 

More About Mud Water

Mud Water, known as Mud\WTR, is a coffee substitute that has a seventh of the amount of caffeine within coffee.

It claims to support natural energy levels and improve concentration and mental focus – all without the negative effects associated with caffeine. 

Mud Water is made with mushrooms, tea, and a mix of spices. These substances work collectively to improve blood flow toward the brain, improving memory and mental focus.  

Mud Water’s name comes from its interesting form, as the drink has a slightly earthy, gritty texture.

Made mostly from Water and mushrooms, the substance is free from preservatives or additives. 

This is a healthier alternative to soda and coffee, so you can feel safe giving it to other family members.

Mud Water has several health benefits associated with it, like lowered inflammation, weight loss, and better digestion.

It’s also free from artificial substances or sugar, making it suitable for people with allergies or diabetes. 

Other than its potential health benefits, Mud Water is a great tool for those wanting to lower their caffeine dependence. 

If you regularly drink a cup of coffee to start your day in the morning, shifting to Mud Water can lower your caffeine intake, while also enjoying its energy-boosting effects.

Ingredients In Mud Water

Mud Water contains the following ingredients:

• Himalayan salt
• Turmeric
• Cinnamon
• Masala Chai
• Reishi mushroom
• Lion’s Mane mushroom
• Chaga mushroom
• Cordyceps
• Cacao powder

We’ll look at each of these ingredients in more detail below:

Cacao Powder

Cacao plants are known for their use in cocoa butter, chocolate, and cocoa powder production. It’s also known as a superfood as it is very high in minerals, including iron, calcium, copper, zinc, and magnesium.

Cacao also has a lot of health purposes. It can help decrease blood pressure, prevent blood clots, and improve blood circulation.

These effects can also lower your risk of heart disease, inflammation, and diabetes, as well as improve brain function. 

Chaga Mushroom

Chaga mushrooms are a mushroom variety that forms in cold conditions on birch trees. It’s regularly used as a remedy for ailments in northern European countries; enjoyed as an herbal tea.

Chaga mushrooms are also high in vitamin D, B complex vitamins, iron, calcium, and potassium.

Its anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidant properties can improve the immune system and lower cholesterol, lowering your risk of heart disease and cancer.

Research has shown that Chaga mushrooms can lower blood glucose levels to aid insulin resistance. 

Cordyceps

This type of fungus was a part of traditional Tibetan and Chinese medicine. Cordyceps is believed to have anti-inflammatory, medicinal, and antioxidant effects.

Cordyceps is high in minerals, like iron, manganese, copper, calcium, zinc, and potassium, as well as vitamins B1, B2, B12, and E.

It may treat ailments like high cholesterol, and liver disorders, as well as improve a person’s athletic performance. 

Lion’s Mane Mushroom

These edible mushrooms have a shaggy look that is similar to a lion’s grown-out mane. They tend to form on dead tree logs in woodlands around North America. 

Lion’s Mane mushrooms are normally used in cooking, but they may help encourage better digestion, aid anxiety symptoms, and prevent mental decline conditions, like dementia or Alzheimer’s. 

The mushrooms may also help lower your risk of heart disease and aid in quicker recovery from nervous system damage. 

Reishi Mushroom

These mushrooms tend to form in humid, hot conditions. Reishi mushrooms may help improve immune function, manage blood pressure, lower stress, and improve sleep. 

Masala Chai

Masala Chai is the Hindi term for ‘spiced tea’. Masala chai mixes loose black tea leaves with warming, aromatic spices. 

Masala chai is rich in antioxidants, so it may help improve heart health, prevent cancer risk, aid digestion, and lower bodily inflammation. 

Note: Masala chai does contain black tea, a substance that does contain caffeine. However, there are only 0.75 grams of the chai in each Mud Water serving, so the caffeine content here is insignificant.  

Cinnamon

Known for its rich colors and warming fragrance, cinnamon is full of beneficial substances.

The spice contains antioxidants, like lutein, alpha-carotene, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene, which may all hinder oxidative stress.

Cinnamon was also popular within Chinese medicine, thanks to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. The spice may also lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cognitive decline. 

Turmeric

Turmeric is a bright yellow Indian spice that is a common household ingredient. Other than its culinary purposes, the spice has been used as a remedy for a variety of conditions.

Turmeric is especially rich in antioxidants to support overall well-being.

Research has also shown that this spice can improve depression symptoms, lower cancer risk, prevent cognitive decline, and improve skin condition. 

Himalayan Salt

Pink Himalayan salt comes from salt rock crystals sourced from Pakistan’s mountainous regions, near the Himalayas.

Its pink color is the result of minerals in the crystals, like potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

This salt is believed to be more healthy compared to regular salt, as it has several probable benefits. These include regulating blood glucose levels, improving sleep quality, and aiding respiratory conditions. 

How Does Mud Water Taste?

Mud Water has a unique taste that has many different notes. You pick up hints of mocha and cinnamon, and ginger, as well as an earthy finishing note. 

The natural flavors in Mud Water are an acquired taste, as it can be difficult to make it sweeter and more palatable. We wouldn’t recommend adding honey to the drink, as this does little to improve its overall taste. 

If you’re just starting to drink Mud Water, give yourself some time to adapt to its flavors, as it tastes very different compared to coffee.

If you usually add sugar to coffee, you may want to find another type of coffee substitute, as it doesn’t contain a lot of sweetness.

The cacao gives the drink bitter notes, while the mushrooms give it an earthy, slightly umami taste. 

However, one drawback is that Mud Water can have a gritty texture, as some of the powder may not dissolve fully when mixed with Water.

If this issue annoys you, you can use a handheld milk frother to help blend everything when making a cup. 

Is Mud Water Better Than Coffee?

The most important distinction between Mud Water and coffee is that Mud Water is much lower in caffeine. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that the daily limit for caffeine is 400mg each day. This works out to roughly four to five cups of coffee.

Exceeding these guidelines can lead to health issues, like raised blood pressure, anxiety, and upset stomach.

Mud Water has less caffeine compared to coffee, as there are around 35 milligrams of caffeine per serving. This is a lot lower than a cup of coffee, which has around 100 milligrams of caffeine per cup. 

As a result, Mud Water is ideal for anyone looking to lower their caffeine intake, as you would need to drink 11 servings of the product to reach your daily caffeine limit. 

Here are some more advantages linked with switching from coffee to Mud Water:

Caffeine Detox

Research has found that just 2 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight can be dangerous for certain organs, like the liver.

Mud Water only contains 0.3mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight, so it’s a lot less detrimental compared to coffee.

Better Energy Levels

Most people like to drink coffee because of its energy-boosting effects. Coffee can help give people more energy to help start their day, then get through a long, exhausting workday.

Mud Water has energizing effects, thanks to its ingredients that support blood circulation to the brain. This is all without side effects, like tiredness or anxiety, that are linked with caffeine in coffee. 

Coffee can also be associated with a caffeine crash once it wears off, but Mud Water will help improve your energy levels without a slump later on.

Limited Addiction Possibilities

As Mud Water is free from caffeine, you’re unlikely to develop an addiction to the substitute. 

It doesn’t lead to any jittery sensations related to caffeine, and as you won’t get a crash later on, there’s less chance of you developing a reliance on the product. 

Drawbacks Of Mud Water

Though there are several benefits linked with switching to Mud Water, there are some drawbacks to be aware of before you buy the product.

Taste

If you are a true coffee fan and like the way black coffee tastes, you may not appreciate Mud Water. 

The product has lots of different notes in it, like cacao, cinnamon, and cocoa. This may be ideal if you like flavored coffee, like lattes sweetened with syrup. 

However, if you don’t drink coffee for the caffeine, only doing so for the taste, you may struggle to adapt to Mud Water’s unique flavor. 

Calories

Coffee is free from calories, which is why many people that practice intermittent fasting enjoy a cup in the morning, as it won’t break their fast.

Each serving of Mud Water contains 20 calories, 4 grams of carbs, and 0.5 grams of fat.

This may not seem like a lot, but if you do practice intermittent fasting, you won’t be able to enjoy the drink without breaking your fast. 

The Bottom Line

Mud Water, or Mud\WTR, is a great coffee substitute for people, as long as they aren’t huge black coffee fans.

If you like the flavor of espresso and don’t drink coffee for its caffeine, you may struggle to make the switch.

Similarly, if you like to add sugar to your cup of coffee, you may want to look for another coffee substitute, as Mud Water isn’t very sweet. 

However, if you find that you rely on caffeine a lot, Mud Water can help you reduce your overall caffeine intake.

The mix of mushrooms, spices, and black tea helps to improve your energy levels without the jitters, anxiety, or crash related to caffeine. 

Mud Water can be a great tool for those looking to decrease their caffeine intake. As its flavor can take time to get used to, it may be worth purchasing a smaller amount to see if you like the taste.