The Way To Use Chaga Tea
Chaga tea is extraordinarily versatile. Youll be able to retailer leftover chaga tea in a mason jar within the fridge and itll keep good for as much as three days. Chaga tea is a wonderful base for smoothies, soups and even oatmeal. It may be reheated with no loss in style or vitamin whether it is reheated on low warmth. It may be flavored with different teas. Many get pleasure from brewing espresso utilizing chaga tea, creating an additional energizing drink.
What Does Chaga Tea Taste Like
Chaga tea has a strong, earthy flavor with some hints of vanilla. That isnt to say that it tastes like vanilla, but rather that its faintly reminiscent of the vanilla bean once you get past the initial earthiness. Chaga tea is fairly bitter and does not taste like other mushrooms, meaning your first couple of sips might surprise you.
Like many other complex, earthy tastes, chaga tea is a bit of an acquired taste for some people. If you dont like it at first, try another cup later. Many people also add sugar, syrup, herbs, or other flavorings to their chaga. Its health benefits dont change when you add a bit of honey and turmeric, it just tastes different.
Where To Buy Chaga Tea
Foraged has the largest selection of sustainably harvested, traceable Chaga. Other brands like Four Sigmatic and MudWtr dont tell you where their ingredients are from, or who harvested the Chaga. Often, the Chaga comes from questionable sources abroard.
Foraged is the only online source to buy Chaga directly from USA-based foragers. You can browse our full selection of Chaga products here. You can also buy Chaga from different parts of the country on Foraged, including Appalachia, Maine, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and New York.
When making this Chaga tea recipe, be sure to always use the best Chaga mushrooms.
Don’t Miss: Can Green Tea Cause Kidney Stones
Soothing Properties And Blood Health
Chaga inhibits platelet aggregation, and clotting of the arteries, assisting in blood circulation. These properties make Chaga helpful for those, who are suffering from pain, neuropathy, and diabetes, and may prevent heart attack and stroke. Studies have shown that one Chagas component betulinic acid in Chaga can break down bad cholesterol. and 2.
How Do You Make A Chaga Tincture
Chaga tinctures can be prepared to serve specific purposes, including body detoxification, improved immune response, lowered stress levels, and the like. In addition to buying ready-made Chaga tinctures, you can also prepare your own compounds at home. Heres a brief outline of how to prepare a Chaga tincture using traditional homeopathic method.
Ingredients:
3. Close the jar or container tightly4. Place the container in a cool, dark place for 14 days5. Strain the jars contents through a cheesecloth6. Shake well before ingesting the tincture to ensure sediment doesnt collect at the container bottom
Read Also: Starbucks Have Boba
Chaga Tea: The Superfood Of The Future
As more science is done on the health benefits of chaga and it is becoming more popular. Its unique, earthy flavor pairs well with herbs, syrup, and root vegetables.
The antioxidant-rich fungus is chosen due to its ability to combat inflammation, aging, and even high blood pressure. Brewing a cup of chaga tea might take several minutes, but its absolutely worth it.
Have any tips on things to add to chaga tea or questions about it? Leave a comment below!
Is Chaga Good For Your Skin
Chaga has antioxidant properties which means it can also help protect skin against oxidative stress that can lead to signs of aging like wrinkles.
Yes, using a coffee grinder or a device like the Nutribullet should work well to grind the Chaga chunks into smaller pieces. Keep in mind that you dont want to grind it too fine if youre using it to make tea as you want the tea bag or ball to keep the Chaga inside.
Recommended Reading: Starbucks Have Boba Tea
Testing Chaga Tea In A Slow Cooker
So to make things easier, and more affordable, we tested if we could make chaga tea in a slow cooker. Slow cookers heat to about 190º on the low setting. The best way to find out how hot yours get is by using a thermometer, but it should be between 170 and 190º. This is slightly higher than our preferred temperature of 160º that we use with the sous vide – but after a number of test batches, we were happy with the resulting chaga extracts.
There are two ways to make chaga in a slow cooker. You can either just add your chaga chunks to the slow cooker and fill with water at a ratio of 25g/0.9oz chaga to 1 litre/4 cups of water. That’s perfectly fine and works if your slow cooker is wide and shallow, but filtering might be a little difficult.
How To Work With Dry Chaga
Chaga isnt the moistest or supple fungus, but it dries out to an almost rock-hard consistency within a few hours of being harvested. This makes it difficult to separate into chunks or grind into powder, especially if youve got a big block.
The easiest way to work with dry chaga is to simply place it in a clean bucket and hack at it with your favorite hacking tool. This might be a clean axe, a thick knife, or even a clean hammer. The bucket will help keep the shrapnel and dust contained while you go to work on the chaga chunk.
Chaga is definitely hard, but its not going to withstand a bit of determination applied via basic hand tools.
Alternately, if hacking it to bits doesnt do it for you, you can simply place dry chaga on a cutting board and slowly shave off bits with a thick knife. This will generate a lot of chaga dust, which is great if your goal is a fine powder for use in a tea infuser.
Finally, if youve got your chaga in small chunks, you can throw it in your coffee grinder. This is a great way to reduce the steep time of your chaga tea. Be sure to properly clean your coffee grinder before adding your chaga or youll wind up with quite a bit of coffee taste in your chaga tea.
Recommended Reading: Does Lipton Green Tea Help Lose Weight
Double Extraction: Chaga Tincture
Another way to prepare chaga is by making a tincture. A tincture is an alcoholic derivative of a plant, mushroom or herb.
Tinctures are more effective in extracting the medicinal components and preserving them for longer periods of time.
Tinctures are also useful because theyre simple to use, quickly absorbed, and easily added to recipes, drinks, etc.
A tincture uses the alcohol extraction method. This method extracts some of the water-insoluble components, such as betulinic acid, and phytosterols that the hot water extraction alone cannot do.
This extraction process is generally used in combination with hot-water extraction since alcohol alone will not break down chitin effectively.
How Often Should You Take A Chaga Tincture
The recommended frequency is once per week. And it should be taken on an empty stomach to ensure maximum potency. The typical course for a Chaga tincture is 1 to 5 months, the overall length depending on your particular needs. If you feel an additional course is warranted, you can repeat the process after a 10-14 day break.
How Much Chaga Tincture Should You Take?
Even if youre only consuming a weak Chaga tincture, the compound still has a relatively high alcohol content. As such, you shouldnt ingest more than 3 tablespoons of the compound per week.
Read Also: Long Island Tea Premix
Does Boiling Chaga Ruin It
Health experts have split opinions on the preparation of chaga tea. One school of thought, backed up by experts like Greg Marley, suggests that many of the beneficial compounds in chaga arent released at infusion temperatures below boiling.
Compounds like polysaccharides cant be found at all in tea thats steeped at lower temperatures rendering several of the health benefits of chaga useless. By contrast, a different school of thought suggests the exact opposite.
Cass Ingram claims that many other components of the chaga mushroom are medicinal, including catalase and peroxidase. These compounds are damaged by temperatures above 180 F, meaning that ideal extraction involves a gentle simmer, not a boil.
Followers of this line of thinking often steep their chaga for hours or even days, creating a strong syrup that they can add to other drinks or enjoy straight.
We know that chaga is full of potentially healthy compounds and have performed numerous animal studies that have reinforced the health benefits of the mushroom, but human trials have not been conducted.
Its unclear whether the benefits of the polysaccharides and other chemicals that dont come out to play until the water is boiling outweigh the losses of destroying catalase, peroxidase, and other heat-sensitive compounds.
Youll still get plenty of value out of either preparation method, so use the one that preserves the compounds youre attempting to ingest or simply the one thats easier for you.
Exactly How To Make Chaga Tea
Knowing how to make Chaga tea is important as this special mushroom has several methods to brew. Chaga is a remarkable medicinal mushroom that grows in living trees. It grows most abundantly in nearly all species of birch found in the circumpolar temperate forests of Earths northern hemisphere¹. Chaga tea is a safe and important health-food product for all ages.
Chaga tea is the healthiest beverage on the planet. Chaga tea purifies the blood and regenerates organs and glands. It is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body. Chaga is widely used in Poland and Russia as a folk remedy against cancer.² It has been harvested for centuries as traditional medicine. Its benefits include improved brain function, fat loss, a lower risk of cancer and many other impressive benefits.
Also Check: Dunkin Donuts New Drinks Boba
Chaga Tea May Aid In Cancer Treatment And Prevention
In many cultures, its believed that chaga can help prevent and aid in cancer treatment. In Norway, chaga mushrooms are even called kreftkjuke which translates to cancer fungus, Dr. Kim says. Although more research is needed to confirm this benefit, initial studies do seem promising.
There have been a number of studies on the aqueous extract of chaga that demonstrate its potent anti-tumor and anti-cancer activities in several countries, Keller says. Chaga has also demonstrated an ability to suppress the progression of cancer. One study found a 60-percent tumor reduction was observed in tumor-bearing mice, while in metastatic mice, the number of nodules decreased by 25 percent compared to the control group. However, the actual effect and underlying mechanisms are still unclear.
Preparing Chaga For Use In Drinks & Other Recipes
If purchasing chaga, this step is not required and the chaga will be ready for consumption immediately.
If you did forage your own chaga though, you will need to clean and prepare it for use.
Also Check: How To Pass A Math Test Without Studying
Chaga Tea Serving Reccommendations And Ideas
- Add ice cubes to make an iced tea. Great with a slice of lemon and maple sweetener.
- Add a tablespoon of the concentrated tea to oatmeal, smoothies, soups, and stews.
- Flavor tea with ginger, cinnamon, anise, chai spice mix, vanilla, or mint.
- Add a few tablespoons to golden milk to make an extra-powerful immune-building drink.
- Add to hot chocolate!
Strange But Delicious: How To Make Chaga Tea
If you live in an area where chaga grows, such as New England or Canada, its likely you may have noticed this fungus protruding from birch trees in your regional ravine. Growing like a large mole in the white trunk of birch trees, wild chaga mushrooms stick out. Chaga is even stranger because it is black on the outside but has a bright orange flesh when opened.
Chaga grows for a period of around 15 years, swelling to a size of up to 11 pounds. It is often harvested by hand using axes and sold as a popular commodity in specialty and health stores. As teas go, chaga tea is one of the strangest varieties around.
How do you turn this unique mushroom into a tasty cup of chaga tea? In this article, well show you how to transform this black-and-orange fungus into a warm and satisfying brew.
Read Also: How Much Sugar In A Twisted Tea
Chock Full Of Antioxidants
Chaga contains antioxidants that can help to eliminate free radicals and oxidative stress that may cause serious health issues. Oxidative stress is the body’s form of rust and has been linked to a host of health problems from premature aging to a higher risk of certain types of cancer. Research shows that the antioxidant properties of this herbal tea may help to decrease the size of tumors . Researchers attribute the anti-cancer properties of chaga mushroom extract to the presence of triterpenes . It’s important to note that research of the anti-tumor activity of chaga so far has only been conducted in test tubes and on animals. Research is need in humans to establish these health benefits.
The antioxidants in chaga may also offer anti-aging effects. These compounds work to eliminate free radicals, which are highly reactive cells that can cause deterioration in cellular processes including the production of collagen.
General Instruction For Chaga Tincture Consumption:
1) Maximum weekly tincture dose: 3 tablespoons .
2) Consume tincture on an empty stomach .
3) Consume weekly tinctures for no more than a month at a time .
Smart Advice to Follow While on a Tincture Course:
- Reduce alcohol consumption
1) Put chopped Chaga in a glass jar or similar sealable container2) Add a liter of ethanol 3) Seal up the compound and place in cool, dry, dark space for 14 days4) After fermentation is complete, pour the solution through a wire strainer into a fresh glass container5) Squeeze the lemon wedge into the finished compound*
*Adding lemon improves the tinctures taste, while also infusing the mixture with additional immunity enhancing vitamin C.
Don’t Miss: Half And Half Twisted Tea Nutrition Facts
How Long Can You Take Chaga
Although chaga is a supplement that has be used and loved by many for centuries, there is still a great deal of lacking research understanding the full benefits of chaga. Having said this, if you find that you have been able to introduce chaga mushroom powder into your routine, without any negative side effects, you are able to continuously use chaga. As I have already mentioned, it is best to introduce chaga into your routine once you have been given the ok from your GP.
As for how long it takes to start seeing the results, if you are new to taking chaga you can expect to wait up to three weeks to see notable difference in their overall health and wellbeing.
How To Make Chaga Tea At Home
Brewing chaga mushroom tea is a simple way to extract the healing compounds of this versatile mushroom, by using hot water extraction. Anyone can learn how to make chaga tea, whether youre at home, or outdoors huddled around a fire!
The chaga mushroom is a wild growing fungus that grows on mainly white and yellow birch trees in the Northern Hemisphere. Commonly found throughout Canada, the Northern United States, China, and Russia, chaga has been used for centuries in healing teas and remedies. It can even be used as a fire starter!
This post contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated if a purchase is made through the links provided. For more information please read my affiliate disclosure.
Read Also: Swiss Premium Iced Tea
Why Would I Want To Drink Chaga
The information contained in this article should not be considered medical advice and should be used for informational purposes only. Nursing or pregnant women should seek the advice of a healthcare practitioner before consuming herbal remedies.
Why would anyone want to consume this funky looking fungus you may be wondering?
Chaga is an ancient herbal remedy filled with various vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. Said to help treat everything from tuberculosis, bad circulation, weight-loss, and even to help in the treatment of some cancers due to its extreme to betulinic acid content. It is easy to see why chaga is the go-to natural tea if you are interested in trying a natural health product.
How effective chaga is at actually curing these diseases is hard to say as there has been very little research into its effects. The potency of the chaga tea or tincture itself would also play a role in how effective a remedy it would be. If you plan on using chaga for medical purposes, always consult a healthcare practitioner first.
Regardless of if chaga is the miracle mushroom it is claimed to be , it is full of beneficial minerals, vitamins, and nutrients, so making chaga tea at home it cant be a bad thing!