Relaxing Mushroom Cacao: The Best Night-Time Ritual for Evening Calm

Relaxing Mushroom Cacao: The Best Night-Time Ritual for Evening Calm

In an age where stress is a constant companion and the evening rush never really ends, winding down has become something we must consciously learn to do. And for many, a relaxing night-time ritual is more than a luxury—it’s a necessity for maintaining emotional balance, quality sleep, and overall wellness.

One such ritual gaining popularity? A warm cup of DIRTEA Mushroom Cacao—a rich, velvety blend of raw cacao and calming Reishi mushroom, designed to be sipped slowly as part of your evening routine. While cacao on its own contains gentle, naturally stimulating compounds like theobromine, Reishi acts as a natural adaptogen, helping your body counterbalance that stimulation by promoting a grounded, restful state. This makes the blend particularly unique: it energises gently, while also calming the nervous system—ideal for a balanced wind-down.

That said, it’s best to enjoy your mushroom cacao at least 90-120 minutes before bedtime. This allows the body to benefit from its mood-lifting effects while still allowing time to fully relax. Think of it not as a sleep aid, but as a pre-sleep ritual—a transitional moment from day to night.

In this guide, we’ll explore how creating a wind-down ritual with mushroom cacao can help support your transition from overstimulation to deep calm. We’ll highlight the benefits of Reishi, cacao, and vitamin B12, all of which contribute to a soothing end-of-day routine. 

Why We Struggle to Wind Down

Modern lifestyles are filled with constant stimulation: endless scrolling, late-night emails, and never-ending to-do lists. According to NHS Inform, one in three people in the UK suffers from poor sleep, often linked to stress, screen time, and caffeine overuse.

Lack of sleep doesn’t just leave us tired—it can affect our mood, focus, immunity, and emotional resilience. And yet, very few of us give ourselves a proper chance to unwind before bed.

Common barriers to good sleep:

• Too much blue light exposure

• Caffeine too late in the day

• Inability to mentally switch off

• Lack of a consistent wind-down routine

This is where mushroom cacao steps in—not as a sleep aid, but as a grounding tool in your evening ritual, helping your body and mind transition gently into a restful state.

Meet Your New Evening Ritual: DIRTEA Mushroom Cacao

DIRTEA’s Mushroom Cacao Super Blend is more than a delicious drink. It’s a calming experience that invites your nervous system to slow down. Each cup contains a powerful combination of:

• Organic Reishi mushroom extract

• Organic cacao powder

• Organic Vitamin B12 and B6

• No added sugar or artificial sweeteners

Let’s take a closer look at how each ingredient supports your evening wind-down.

Reishi: The Mushroom of Calm

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as the “Mushroom of Immortality,” has been used for centuries to promote balance and relaxation. It’s not a sedative—rather, it supports the body's ability to deal with stress and restore internal calm. This makes it ideal for an evening ritual where the goal is to shift from alertness to restfulness.

In animal studies, Reishi extract has been shown to support extended sleep time by modulating the nervous system. While more human studies are needed, this aligns with its long-standing traditional use as a calming mushroom.

DIRTEA uses pure, dual-extracted Reishi from fruiting bodies to ensure maximum bioactive compound availability.

Raw Cacao: More Than Just a Chocolate Craving

Chocolate lovers, rejoice: raw cacao isn’t just a tasty indulgence—it’s also packed with nutrients that support a calm mind and relaxed body.

Key Benefits of Raw Cacao:

• Magnesium: Known to contribute to the normal function of the nervous system and muscle relaxation.

• Flavanols: Antioxidants that help counter oxidative stress.

• Mood support: Cacao naturally contains compounds like theobromine and phenylethylamine, which promote positive mood and mental clarity.

Sipping warm cacao can also tap into powerful sensory cues—it’s comforting, indulgent, and nostalgic, which helps prepare your body for a restful night.

The Role of Vitamin B12 in Your Night Routine

DIRTEA Mushroom Cacao is enriched with organic Vitamin B12, which contributes to:

• The reduction of tiredness and fatigue

• Normal psychological function

• Normal functioning of the nervous system

Though B12 is often discussed in the context of energy, it also plays a critical role in helping the body feel balanced and mentally sharp. In the context of a night-time ritual, B12 supports the gentle winding down process by keeping your nervous system functioning optimally.

This nutrient synergy—Reishi for calm, cacao for nervous system support, and B12 for neurological balance—makes mushroom cacao a unique, functional option for your evening routine.

How to Use DIRTEA Mushroom Cacao in a Night-Time Ritual

Building a routine around calm can help retrain your body and brain to switch off in the evenings. Here’s a simple ritual you can start tonight:

Step 1: Set the Mood

Create a relaxing space:

• Dim the lights

• Put your phone on Do Not Disturb

• Light a candle or diffuse lavender essential oil

This signals to your brain that it’s time to decelerate.

Step 2: Make Your Mushroom Cacao

How to prepare DIRTEA Mushroom Cacao:

1. Heat 200ml of your preferred milk (we love oat or almond).

2. Add 1 tsp of DIRTEA Mushroom Cacao.

3. Stir slowly while inhaling the aroma—use this as a moment to pause.

Sip slowly and allow yourself to feel grounded. This is not just a drink—it’s an evening ritual.

Step 3: Pair with a Calming Activity

As you enjoy your cacao, try one of the following:

• Journaling: Reflect on what went well today.

• Reading: Choose fiction or poetry to help shift your thoughts away from the day’s tasks.

• Breathwork: Try 4-7-8 breathing to lower your heart rate.

Research shows that mindfulness practices like these can significantly improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety.

Recipes to Enhance Your Cacao Routine

Want to get creative? Here are a couple of easy ways to enjoy your mushroom cacao beyond the mug.

Calming Cacao Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 banana (fresh or frozen)

• 1 tsp DIRTEA Mushroom Cacao

• 1 tbsp almond butter

• 1 cup oat milk

• A pinch of cinnamon

Method:
Blend and sip as a post-dinner treat.

DIRTEA Cacao Overnight Oats

Ingredients:

• ½ cup rolled oats

• 1 tsp DIRTEA Mushroom Cacao

• 1 tbsp chia seeds

• 1 tsp maple syrup

• 1 cup almond milk

Method:
Stir ingredients together, leave overnight in the fridge, and top with berries in the morning.

Why Night-Time Rituals Work

Having a consistent wind-down routine teaches your brain to associate certain actions with sleep. This is rooted in behavioural psychology—routines create predictability, and predictability calms the nervous system.

Research confirms that evening rituals, especially those involving mindfulness or self-care, can significantly improve sleep quality in people with insomnia.

Even if you don’t struggle with sleep directly, rituals provide much-needed emotional decompression after a mentally taxing day.

Final Thoughts: Turn Your Evenings into a Ritual

Sleep doesn’t happen on command—it emerges from the conditions we create. By building a ritual around DIRTEA Mushroom Cacao, you're not just drinking something delicious. You're telling your mind and body:

"It’s time to let go."

From Reishi’s grounding energy, to cacao’s relaxing minerals, to B12’s support for the nervous system, this is a ritual that wraps your evening in warmth, calm, and intention.

Whether you pair it with journaling, slow reading, or breathwork, remember: it's not just what you take—but how you take it. Calm is cultivated.

FAQs

Can I drink DIRTEA Mushroom Cacao every night?

Yes! It’s designed to be enjoyed as part of a daily night-time ritual.

What does it taste like?

It has a rich, velvety cacao flavour with earthy undertones from Reishi—deeply indulgent but with no added sugar.

When should I drink it?

We recommend sipping it 90- 120 minutes before bed, after your last meal.

Is Reishi safe to take regularly?

Yes, Reishi is generally considered safe for daily use. As with any supplement, consult your healthcare provider if you have specific health concerns.

How is it different from regular hot chocolate?

DIRTEA Mushroom Cacao contains functional mushrooms, B vitamins, and no added sugar—making it a wellness-focused upgrade to a childhood favourite.

References

1. NHS Inform. (2024). Insomnia. Retrieved from https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mental-health/insomnia/ 

2. Cui, X. Y., Cui, S. Y., Zhang, J., Wang, Z. J., Yu, B., Sheng, Z. F., Zhang, X. Q., & Zhang, Y. H. (2012). Extract of Ganoderma lucidum prolongs sleep time in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 139(3), 796–800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.020 

3. Chen, T.-L., Chang, S.-C., Hsieh, H.-F., Huang, C.-Y., Chuang, J.-H., & Wang, H.-H. (2020). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on sleep quality and mental health for insomnia patients: A meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 135, 110144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110144