Petrichor Lightning Functional Beverages
In the wide, wonderful world of mycology—the study of fungi— there is so much to appreciate, especially when it comes to the humble mushroom. The spectrum of mushrooms is extreme, to say the least. On one end you have tiny caps and stems that can kill you within hours, while on the other end you have tiny caps and stems that offer the promise of a life-changing psychedelic experience.
But somewhere in the middle, there exist a number of mushrooms that are, quite simply, delicious and healthy. These are called functional mushrooms, and it’s what our friends at Petrichor specialize in. Enter their new product: Petrichor Lightning Seltzer.
Petrichor Lightning is a what’s called a functional beverage— basically, a seltzer that’s non-alcoholic and provides health benefits beyond just hydrating. In Lightning’s case, it’s two nano-emulsified mushrooms (lion’s mane and cordyceps) as well as limonene. The 12-ounce tincture also contains blueberry juice, agave nectar, lemon juice, and lemon extract.
After downing a can, imbibers can expect “a rush of energy, motivation, and clarity. It is slightly euphoric while calming and grounding.” To glean some more insight into Petrichor Lightning, we talked with Michael Shea, one of the owners and founders of Petrichor, based in Sarasota.
“Petrichor started in 2021 as a hobby project among friends to grow fresh mushrooms for the community and share our passion for fungi,” says Shea. “Until recently, my business partner, Howard Schmidt, and I wore all the hats.”
If there’s one thing Shea and Petrichor are passionate about, it’s spreading the gospel of the functional mushroom beverage. “Functional mushrooms are mushrooms that offer benefits beyond simple nutrition, and that are non-psychoactive. Lightning, our functional mushroom seltzer, combines refreshing flavors with functional mushrooms and terpenes to support focus, energy, and well-being,” Shea says. “It’s more than a drink—it’s an invigorating elixir that empowers us to be our best selves using the incredible power of mushrooms.”
However, skeptics are inevitable. And for good reason. So-called magic elixirs have been around as long as civilization itself, many offering promises of euphoria, pain management, and clarity. But the feedback on Lightning has been nothing short of sanguine.
“Customers often report that Lightning gives them effects such as feeling energized, awake, in tune, in flow, etc. We formulated Lightning for these exact effects, which we can predictably deliver thanks to our world’s first, extremely unique, nano-emulsified mushroom extracts. Lightning uses lion’s mane for cognitive enhancement and mood support and cordyceps for increased energy, stamina, and vitality, alongside botanical terpenes such as limonene, which complement the effects of the mushrooms. The unparalleled bioavailability and rapid absorption thanks to our unique process keep people coming back for more.”
Right now, Petrichor Lightning is available online at drinkpetrichor.com, with a HQ pickup option for locals. There’s only one flavor—lemon-blueberry—but they’re working hard to create some more options. And there’s no denying they’re absolutely ecstatic about it: “We are extremely grateful for the positive response to our products,” Shea says, “and this response is truly the fuel for more innovation and more incredible products that help humanity to convene with the miraculous fungi that surround us.”
Petrichor Lightning: 1800 Northgate Blvd Suite A-11, Sarasota, drinkpetrichor.com
