Chaga Tea – Why Chaga is The King of Medicinal Mushrooms

Chaga has been used for centuries due to its mass healing capabilities. Learn how to brew chaga tea, the many benefits of the chaga mushroom, & mo

The first time I heard of Chaga tea, was last winter when I was living in Sweden. Lee From America, was raving about this “mushroom tea” that was made in a crock pot & that’s about all I remember. So fast forward to this past winter when I was living in Ontario, Canada with my fiancé…I was introduce to chaga tea for real this time. We frequently went to a healing spa near where we were living, where I learned SO much about different ways to heal the body. Chaga tea was one of the forms of healing!

Now, I’ve already introduced chaga in the form of skincare here on the blog. But now I want to introduce chaga in the form of a tea. After coming back to New Hampshire from Canada, I now religiously brew & drink chaga tea every single day. The healing capabilities are vast & it’s just something that I know my body needs. I primarily drink chaga tea to flush out toxins, purify my blood, reduce inflammation, & because it’s a powerful adaptogen. Keep reading to check out more amazing benefits that drinking chaga tea can provide!

I personally love drinking & brewing chaga & it certainly doesn’t hurt that its one of the most healing plants found on Mother Earth. I am so thankful that I was formally introduced to it this past year & I’m so happy I can potentially do the same for you!

What is Chaga?

Chaga is known as the “King of Medicinal Mushrooms” & it has been used for centuries due to its healing capabilities. Chaga grows on the bark of live birch trees in cold climates. The harvested & dried mushroom has a similar look to a piece of burnt charcoal.

What are the health benefits of consuming Chaga Tea?

The healing health benefits of regularly consuming chaga tea are very extensive! Chaga is an Ayurvedic practice & is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants on planet Earth. It’s a super adaptogen, which helps & supports the body return to its natural state of being.

Below are just some of the many ways chaga tea can help you HEAL:

• Nutrient dense
• Anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-candida, anti-stress
• Supports the liver & purifies the blood
• Powerful antioxidant properties
• Powerful cancer fighter & can shrink cancerous tumors due to the presence of Betulinic Acid
• Amazing source of phytonutrients
• Reduces oxidative stress – which contributes to inflammation & all disease!
• Prevents oxidation of free radicals within the body
• Improves immune system
• High in Amino Acids, Dietary Fiber, Vitamins, & Minerals
• Lowers high blood sugar, high blood pressure, & cholesterol

& MORE! Read more about the many benefits of the chaga mushroom & drinking chaga tea HERE!

How to properly brew & prepare the Chaga mushroom?

I couldn’t wait to come home from Canada to start brewing my own chaga in my crock pot! The thing about chaga is that you don’t want it to overheat or boil, because high heat will take away from the minerals & nutrients found within the mushroom. This is why brewing chaga in a slow cooker is perfect! I have my slow cooker on “warm” all day long with my chaga chunks brewing!

The “warm” setting is perfect, because even the “low” will get a little too hot, & you definitely will not want to use the “hot” setting! To brew the tea, I take a few good chunks of chaga, rinse them under warm water to remove any dust or dirt on the chunks, before putting them into the slow cooker with a good amount of spring water.

You don’t want to use tap water to make the chaga. You want to use healthy spring water in order to get the most out of the tea. I don’t have access to fresh spring water where I live so I just purchase it.

So all you have to do is fill a slow cooker with spring water & use the “warm” setting to brew the chaga mushroom chunks for at least 24 hours. Once the chaga brews for 24 hours, it will be dark & very rich in its coloring! And it will be ready to drink!

Every time I take some chaga tea out, I replace the water immediately, so I always have plenty ready to go! I find this is the easiest & most convenient way to brew it! I don’t change the chunks until the water turns light in coloring & most of the flavor is watered down. When it gets to that point, I start the entire process over again with fresh chunks of chaga.

Chaga tea can be consumed either hot or cold, & you can enjoy it in a variety of ways including in soups, in the place of veggie stock, you can make chaga lattes…the options are endless! 🙂

Preference for Chaga chunks or chaga mushroom powder?

I LOVE using & brewing chaga tea in the form of the chaga chunks (shown below). I have not personally tried chaga in the form of a fine mushroom powder, my mom has, & she said she prefers the chunks over the powder. The fine powder needs to be brewed, as do the chunks, but it can also be sprinkled on top of food or into something like a smoothie.

Where to buy pure Chaga?

I purchased my initial chaga mushroom chunks from the HEAL spa I was going to in Sudbury, Canada. The owner & developer of the spa harvests the chaga himself. If you want to be in contact with him regarding the purchase of pure chaga mushroom chunks or a chaga skincare moisturizer, please feel free to reach out to me directly or leave a comment below!

Another wonderful place to buy chaga online is through a company called Annanda Chaga. I found this company when I was researching for the last time I wrote about chaga. Annanda Chaga is a Canadian brand that specializes in wild harvested Canadian chaga! All of their chaga is the highest of quality & their website is a wonderful source of information regarding all-things chaga related!

SHOP CHAGA TEA

You can get 10% off anything from Annanda Chaga if you purchase directly through the link!

Where does the Chaga mushroom grow?

The chaga mushroom grows on Birch trees in very cold climates, predominately in the United States, Canada, Europe, Korea, & Russia. It’s important to make sure where your chaga is harvested from because you don’t want the chaga to be grown on trees where it is exposed to an excess of pollution. The cleaner the air, the better! Canada has some of the best chaga!

Is Chaga Tea safe? Are there any Chaga Tea side effects?

As with anything, it’s best to consult with your doctor if you are experiencing any side effects or if you are on any medication, pregnant, or breastfeeding. Chaga can potentially lower blood sugar, which may pose an issue for anyone who takes insulin. Although rare, it’s best to be aware & take note if you think the chaga tea is causing an allergic reaction within the body. Individuals with a Birch Tree allergy should avoid chaga in any form. Overconsumption may cause harm to the kidneys & or liver. Since chaga is such a powerful detoxifier, some individuals may notice the body detoxing in a variety of ways.

Chaga is natural medicine which can and should be taken every day, but in reasonable amounts.  As with all things, too much can hinder rather than help. – Annanda Chaga

How much Chaga should you drink daily?

Depending on if you are consuming the chaga mushroom brewed chunks or the chunks ground into a powder or tea form, it’s best to consume 1-2 cups of chaga a day.

I really love starting my day with a cup of chaga tea, about 6-8 oz. And I’ll sometimes have another cup throughout the day or in the evening. I drink my chaga, first thing on an empty stomach. Chaga also doesn’t contain caffeine, so you’re good to drink it anytime during the day!

What does Chaga Tea taste like?

Chaga should never taste bitter, & if it does, it may be a result of it being poorly harvested or moldy chunks, which is yet another reason why it’s important to purchase chaga from a reputable source. The taste of brewed chaga almost has a mild caramel taste in my opinion, it’s seriously delicious & not earthy by any means.

And that’s that! I hope this post answered any questions you may have regarding what chaga tea is! I’m currently sipping on a hot cup of chaga as I finish writing this post!

Have you ever tried chaga tea? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!