Here at Mountainlife, we strive to source the most natural health superfoods from the wilds of our world. By doing so, we offer health supplements of unrivaled quality, supercharged with the nutrients our bodies need to thrive.

There’s no denying the fact that a herb grown and cultivated in its natural environment is going to be far superior to that of replicas created elsewhere. This is why we go the extra mile to ensure all of our mushroom powders and extracts are Di Tao Sourced.

Di Tao is the Ancient Chinese concept of sourcing tonic herbs from their authentic true source and habitat. Herbs that are grown in one geographical region differ greatly from herbs grown in another region. Di Tao is all about sourcing from the optimal environment to ensure you acquire the very best product with maximum potency and health benefits.

According to the Chinese Materia Medica around 200 of the 500 herbs featured have specific Di Tao forms.

When growing any sort of herb, there are several factors that will influence its potential to succeed:

• The quality of the water that nourishes it

• The condition of the soil it grows in

• The weather it endures

• The insects and microorganisms that live amongst it

Likewise, how a herb is harvested, cultivated, prepared and processed will have an affect on its potency and benefits. 

A mushroom grown in its natural environment, facing harsh weather, high altitudes and nourished with rainwater will vary greatly from a mushroom farmed away from its spiritual homeland, or even grown in a laboratory. You simply can’t rival nature. 

By choosing Di Tao sourced ingredients, you guarantee that the herb has grown in the optimal condition, meaning it will be high strength, well-balanced and contain the most phytochemicals.  

Di Tao is a concept that has been recognised in Chinese herbalism for centuries. Shen Nong Ben Cang Jing, known as the ‘Divine Farmer’ was the first to write about the value of production regions in the Divine Husbandman's Classic of Materia Medica (one of the oldest books on medicinal substances).

It was further discussed in 659 AD in the Tang Dynasty Newly Revised Materia Medica, which stated:

“If medicinal material is not produced from its native environment, it will be the same in substance but will differ in effect.”

In the past, it was much harder to find the legitimate source of herbs, as there wasn’t laboratory testing to go on. Hence why it became necessary to create a system to identify the highest quality herbs by their authentic source and specific region of production.

Today, Di Tao still plays a very important role in the world of herbal trading. In fact, Di Tao herbs make up around 80% of the Chinese herb market today and have a high economic value.

 It’s not just a philosophy recognised by dedicated herbalists but something that is acknowledged by the Chinese Government and modern Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners too.

However, the same, unfortunately, can’t be said for many western herbal companies. Despite the merit of Di Tao sourcing, it is still vastly overlooked, with many wholesalers opting for cheaper and less beneficial farmed and lab grown alternatives. This is why it’s important to be a savvy consumer. Always check the sourcing of superfoods to make sure you are receiving the best and most natural quality ingredients.