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Charlene Chai knew next to nothing about mushrooms when she joined Tivoli Mushrooms, based in Hillsdale, NY. She didn’t let that stop her, though, and soon thereafter, Charlene agreed to build out the medicinal brand of Tivoli Mushrooms, GO Mushrooms. 

Charlene first met Devon Gilroy, former chef and founder of Tivoli Mushrooms, in the fall of 2021. She had just finished helping a large specialty food purveyor with their financing and was looking for a new project to take on. 

“Devon had a strong and infectious vision, and there is something about seeing a mushroom farm that brings a sense of awe and wonder,” Charlene shares. “I had never considered mushrooms to be beautiful before then. I was fascinated! I found myself agreeing to be a partner in Tivoli Mushrooms, which surprised me, let alone everyone who knew me.”

Because they were very busy building out the entire Tivoli Mushroom brand during this time, there was little time to dedicate to GO Mushrooms. Charlene, passionate about the concept and despite being incredibly busy, managed to find time (mostly late at night!) to develop the GO Mushroom brand. Devon helped with the earliest extractions, and from there, Charlene moved the laboratory and operations into her garage. More often than not, she would find herself waking up at two o’clock in the morning and running downstairs to check on the latest extraction batch. “I’ll always look back on those early days with a strange fondness!” 

Everything from creating the name, the website, and the branding and visuals, to purchasing a pallet load of organic ethanol and buying lab equipment for extracts took an immense amount of research. “I read every book I could find on medicinal mushrooms. I talked to extractor experts around the world to figure out the best methodology and equipment, and our extractions gradually got better and better,” she shares. “Now, they are excellent!” 

GO Mushrooms has been in full operation for about two years. They have an office and laboratory in Hudson, NY, the farm located in Hillsdale, and a distribution center in Brooklyn. 

“Our mission remains clear: We want to bring the power and awareness of functional mushrooms to everyday wellness,” she says. “Medicinal mushrooms seem like something radical, but the reality is that fungi have been used in the pharmaceutical industry for many years from penicillin and other antibiotics, immunosuppressants, and statins. We want to educate people about the incredible health benefits of medicinal mushrooms.”

Why extractions? 

While Charlene notes that mushrooms are delicious to eat and have some health benefits, she says extractions are necessary to acess the potency of their medicinal properties. GO Mushrooms’ extraction process breaks down the tough chitin cell walls to extract the beneficial compounds and make them bioavailable. 

If Charlene had to name her favorite products, she would pick the three powerhouse mushrooms that they’ve dubbed their “Power Trio” – lion’s mane, cordyceps, and reishi. 

Lion’s mane mushrooms stimulate the growth and repair of brain cells and neurons by enhancing nerve growth factors. Benefits of taking lion’s mane may include potential improvement of mild cognitive impairment, improved heart health, and lower inflammation markers, among others. “I feel a sense of amazement when I think about this, but I have experienced the support of lion’s mane directly and rarely miss a day of taking this amazing medicinal mushroom,” Charlene shares. 

Cordyceps are a popular mushroom that most may have first heard of in HBO’s post-apocalyptic show The Last of Us. GO Mushrooms’ lab-grown cordyceps are designed to have a higher concentration of cordycepin, which is a compound with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Cordyceps are purported to improve the way the body uses oxygen and deliver more energy to the muscles, fight cell damage, and may be beneficial for reducing inflammation. 

Reishi mushrooms are said to potentially boost immunity and overall general health. Like the mushrooms previously mentioned, reishi mushrooms may improve immunity, reduce fatigue and depression, improve heart health, and help manage blood sugar levels. 

“At GO Mushrooms, we always say that reishi is good for all!” Charlene says. “Reishi helps to modulate cortisol, so it’s the first tincture I reach for when I want to feel calm. I’ve seen such amazing things happen for people who take reishi. It’s helped a friend with arthritis, another with asthma, and has immune modulating support that is off the charts.”

“The ‘Power Trio’ also helps with stabilizing mood and anxiety,” she continues. “Medicinal mushrooms work incredibly well with each other, and the combination is powerful.” 

Grow to go 

For Charlene, one of the most important parts of operating GO Mushrooms was ensuring that they did not take any shortcut throughout the extraction process. “We take sourcing and accountability seriously. We could have purchased extracted mushroom powders like many other brands out there, but we chose to build a solid vertical that is transparent. We have our farm, Tivoli Mushrooms, we have our own lab, and a biomedical engineer running our lab production,” Charlene shares. “We think long and hard about every product that we produce. It’s important to us to heal with integrity.” 

GO Mushrooms has many plans for expansion, including launching new functional products, starting with beverages. Consumers can expect GO Mushrooms’ chaga tea, hot chagalate line, and grab-and-go mushroom drinks to debut in early 2026. They’re also looking to expand their affiliate and practitioner network with an increased focus on education and outreach.  

Charlene notes that some may be hesitant to try medicinal mushrooms. “First, do some research on the brand, as there are many different products out there and many do not do their own extractions. Be intentional and consider the specific issues you would like to address. Remember – consistency is key as the effects are subtle and cumulative, and very powerful over time.” 

“I’m constantly moved by the stories we hear from our customers, how their lives are changing, their symptoms easing, or their energy returning. There are many stories that stand out and this always pushes me to keep expanding GO Mushrooms and to keep making a difference,” she continues. “We just had our joint GO Mushrooms/Tivoli Mushrooms company party a few days ago, and I must say that I felt proud and grateful to be a part of a team that can work together to build the businesses that we are building. I love working with this team and I love working on GO Mushrooms.”

You can find products and more information about GO Mushrooms on its website, gomushrooms.com and at over 25 farmers markets across upstate New York, Westchester County, and New York City. Keep up with GO Mushrooms on Instagram at @go.mushrooms. 

*Disclaimer: All medical claims made in this article are information provided by the subject. The information is general in nature and not specifically meant for any particular individual. You should always seek out medical assistance from a medical professional based on your individual needs and circumstances.