Amber glass
Blocks UV light to protect compound integrity.
Whole raw material
Extracted from the full material, never an isolate.
Maitake Liquid Extract
Available to order · ships in 1 to 2 business days
Whole Maitake fruiting body, extracted and lab tested in Queensland.
A 60 mL liquid extract to take with a meal. Add 2 mL to water or juice with the same meal each day. One bottle lasts about a month.
- Fruiting body only. No mycelium grown on grain, no fillers, no isolates.
- Made by us. Our biocatalyst-assisted, triple-stage extraction is developed and run at our licensed facility in Redbank Plains, Queensland.
- Tested, with proof. Every batch is tested by a NATA-accredited lab. Read the current Certificate of Analysis on this page. For an older batch, email us the batch number and we'll send it.
- Honest about origin. The raw mushroom is grown in China. We extract and test it in Queensland.
How to take it: Shake well. Take 2 mL (1 full dropper) once a day with a meal.
Good to know: Check with your healthcare practitioner first if you take blood-glucose-lowering medication or warfarin.
What does it taste like?
Earthy and slightly bitter, with a gentle warmth from the alcohol. Reishi is the most bitter of the five. Most people take it in water, tea, coffee or juice rather than straight.
Can I take more than one extract?
Yes. Many people pair them by time of day, for example Lion's Mane or Cordyceps in the morning and Reishi in the evening. Keep each to its suggested 2 mL serve, and check with your healthcare practitioner first if you take medication or are managing a health condition. Buying 2 or more together saves up to 30%: see our bundles.
How long until I notice anything?
Mushroom extracts work gradually rather than straight away. Take it daily at a similar time and give it at least a month before you judge it. The What to expect timeline on this page shows how it typically builds. Everyone responds differently.
How much alcohol is in it?
About 20-25% food-grade ethanol, which carries and preserves the extract. A 2 mL serve contains about 0.3 to 0.4 g of alcohol, roughly 3 to 4% of a standard drink. If you avoid alcohol, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your healthcare practitioner before use.
How do I store it after opening?
Keep the cap tight and store the bottle in the fridge after opening to help preserve freshness, away from direct sunlight. Shake well before each use.
- Ships within Australia and New Zealand. Orders are processed within 1 to 2 business days.
- Australia: Standard ($5.00) 3 to 5 business days, Express ($7.00) 1 to 2 business days. Free Standard shipping on orders of $50 or more, and free Express on orders of $100 or more.
- New Zealand: Economy 5 to 10 business days, Express 3 to 6 business days. Free shipping on orders of $150 or more.
- Changed your mind? Unopened products can be returned within 30 days of delivery. Opened bottles can't be returned for change of mind, for hygiene and safety reasons. See our Refund policy.
- Faulty, damaged or incorrect orders: contact hello@vitalvial.com.au with your order number and a photo, and we'll arrange a replacement or refund.
- Full rates and details are on our Shipping & delivery page.
Whole fruiting body · 60 mL · about 30 days
about $0.99 a day- Supports immune response
- Healthy blood sugar
- Gentle for daily use
Whole Maitake fruiting body, extracted and lab tested in Queensland.
A 60 mL liquid extract to take with a meal. Add 2 mL to water or juice with the same meal each day. One bottle lasts about a month.
What makes it different
- Fruiting body onlyNo mycelium grown on grain, no fillers, no isolates.No mycelium on grain, no fillers.
- Made by usOur biocatalyst-assisted, triple-stage extraction is developed and run at our licensed facility in Redbank Plains, Queensland.Triple-stage extraction in our licensed Queensland facility.
- Tested, with proofEvery batch is tested by a NATA-accredited lab. Read the current Certificate of Analysis.Every batch NATA-lab tested. View the COA.
- Honest about originThe raw mushroom is grown in China. We extract and test it in Queensland.Grown in China, extracted and tested here.
How to take it
Ingredients Grifola frondosa (Maitake) fruiting body extract, filtered water, food-grade ethanol (about 20-25%).
Maitake · Grifola frondosa
Why choose Maitake
Everyday immune support, from the kitchen to the vial.
Best for
- Immunity
- Cold season
- Winter wellness
Best time: With a meal
- 60+Over 60s saw the biggest boost in flu vaccine response
- 12weeksOf daily use, with fewer cold symptoms
- CenturiesEnjoyed as a food in Japan
Maitake, also known as Hen of the Woods, is valued for its beta-glucans, natural fibres that interact with the immune system. It is the only mushroom in our range that produces grifolan, along with the protein-bound beta-glucans studied as D-fraction.
Maitake's own beta-glucans, natural fibres that interact with the immune system. Grifolan is produced only by Maitake among our mushrooms.
The benefits
-
Human trial
A stronger immune response
More antibodies after the flu vaccine, especially in people over 60.
See the evidence
Healthy adults who took Maitake fruiting body powder daily for 12 weeks made more antibodies after their flu vaccine than those on a placebo. The clearest effect was in people over 60.1
-
Human trial
Fewer cold symptoms
Fewer runny noses and headaches from colds.
See the evidence
In the same study, people taking Maitake had fewer severe cold symptoms, such as a runny nose and headache, than the placebo group.1
-
Animal study
Healthy blood sugar
Lowered blood sugar in animal studies.
See the evidence
In diabetic mice, Maitake fruiting body powder lowered blood sugar, along with insulin and blood fat levels, compared with untreated mice.2
-
Traditional use
Food-friendly and gentle
A culinary mushroom, gentle with meals.
See the evidence
Maitake has been enjoyed as a food in Japan for centuries. Its beta-glucans are a natural type of fibre, and we suggest taking it with a meal.
Maitake grows as one large rosette of overlapping, grey-brown fronds at the base of hardwood trees, which is why it is also known as Hen of the Woods.
What to expect
- 1First weeksTake with a meal, once or twice a day. Maitake works quietly, so you may not notice anything yet.
- 2After 1 monthKeep it in your daily routine. For winter support, start a month or more before the colder months arrive.
- 33 months and beyondBenefits build with steady daily use. Keep taking it right through the colder months.
Research references (2)
- Nishihira J, Sato M, Tanaka A, et al. Maitake mushrooms (Grifola frondosa) enhances antibody production in response to influenza vaccination in healthy adult volunteers concurrent with alleviation of common cold symptoms. Functional Foods in Health and Disease. 2017;7(7):462–482. doi:10.31989/ffhd.v7i7.363
- Kubo K, Aoki H, Nanba H. Anti-diabetic activity present in the fruit body of Grifola frondosa (Maitake). I. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 1994;17(8):1106–1110. doi:10.1248/bpb.17.1106
Study 1 was conducted in healthy adults; study 2 in animals. Neither was conducted on Vital Vial products. Individual results vary. Consult your healthcare practitioner before use if pregnant, breastfeeding, taking blood-glucose-lowering medication or warfarin, or managing a medical condition.
Our biocatalyst-assisted, triple-stage extraction is designed to release more of what the whole raw material holds, with every batch verified against defined quality specifications.
Whole raw material
We start with the whole mushroom: the fruiting body, or the sclerotium for Chaga. Never mycelium grown on grain.
Break
Biocatalysts break down the tough fungal cell wall that heat alone leaves largely intact.
Capture
A triple-stage extraction captures both water-soluble and alcohol-soluble compounds.
Verify
Every batch is tested by a NATA-accredited laboratory, with the current Certificate of Analysis published.
