How do you know if chaga is good?

Distinguishing Features. Chaga sclerotium (outer black surface) is what is most noticeable sticking out from the trunk of a birch tree. It is somewhat gnarly in appearance and has a very tough texture. The interior colour is a pleasing amber or a rusty yellow-brown.

What color should chaga be?

It is not part of the tree itself, but grows from the tree as a separate body. Under the hard crusted black outer layer of the sclerotium, Chaga mushroom is a light orange color, which, when fresh, has the consistency of cork.

Does chaga lose its potency?

Like most tea's, whether your chaga is in small pieces, chunks or powder, dried Chaga can expire and lose potency if not stored properly. Chaga mushrooms lose potency when exposed to direct sunlight and constant air circulation. This degrades the potency of your chaga as Chaga becomes less potent as it oxidizes.

What does chaga look like on the inside?

Its outer material is usually black, brittle, and cracked, while its interior is golden-orange and cork-like. Note the black, cracked outer appearance and the orange interior (visible at its point of attachment to the tree).

What does chaga mold look like?

“Chaga is a mushroom and if it is at all damp, it will grow mold,' she said. “That mold will look like confectioners sugar on the dark surface.” From getting moldy, if left unattended the chaga will start to rot and give off a very bad smell, Guay said. Damp, poorly stored chaga can start to spoil in 10 days.

Why Chaga Is The "King" Of Medicinal Mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus)

How do you pick chaga?

If you plan to harvest wild chaga mushroom, come prepared with a sharp, saw-like knife and a bit of arm muscle. The outside of chaga is hard, and the inside, though softer, still requires a bit of muscle to cut through. Please make sure to harvest responsibly.

Does boiling chaga ruin it?

The problem with boiling is that, according to Cass Ingram, the medicinal components of chaga include not only polysaccharides but proteins, sterols, SOD, and enzymes including catalase, peroxidase, RNAase, and DNAase, all of which are damaged or destroyed by temperatures above 180ºF.

How long should Chaga chunks steep?

Individual Cup

Boil the water, and pour directly over the ground chaga, and into the cup or pot. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes, then remove the tea bag/ball, or steeper, and serve the tea hot.

Does chaga mushroom expire?

Once they are dry, they can be stored in a paper bag in a dark place under constant temperatures. Processed properly, and your chaga will last up to five years, Guay said. Done, improperly and you end up with a moldy, useless chunk of fungus.

Does chaga have a smell?

Chaga, if taken from a living gold or white birch tree tastes sweet, earthy and aromatic. Especially when mixed in with coffees or teas. It tastes and smells a little like tree bark–but, in a good way. It has an earthy sweetness to it–very pleasant and mild.

Can I eat chaga raw?

Raw Chaga is not digestible and it doesn't taste good but retains properties health benefits of mushrooms. You should be aware that raw Chaga is not safe to consume in its natural form. All the dust and dirt should be carefully removed. After that Chaga needs to be chopped into smaller chunks and dried.

How long does chaga stay good for?

In general, most chaga products have a shelf life of one to two years. Coffee or teas that people blend may have a shorter shelf life and they often have limitations due to other ingredients in the tea.

How long does it take for chaga to take effect?

How long will it take to see results? ANSWER: If you are new to using chaga, it could take about three weeks of daily use to establish its benefits. You may wish to double up initially on the recommended dose of 2000mg for the first few weeks before settling into a single daily maintenance dose.

Can you use the black part of chaga?

The distinct black canker stands out well in contrast to the white snow, and light bark of birch trees. The harvested chaga mushroom is dried, and then broken into smaller pieces or ground into a fine powder for use in chaga tea, tinctures and decoctions.

How many times can I boil chaga?

Chaga tea should be drinking tea for health 2-3 times daily to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from the fungus. A teabag should be used a maximum of 2 times before discarding for getting effects of green tea.

How much is a pound of chaga worth?

While European chaga sells for $70 per pound, Icecube Enterprises' chaga retails for $25 per pound. While the chaga harvest is possible year around, it is much easier during the winter months due to the lack of foliage and bugs.

Can you reuse chaga chunks?

Chaga Chunks - normally cut into pieces of about 1.5 inches; can be reused about 4 times. Some users may choose to break the chunks into a smaller size (now known as Chaga Fine-cut/nuggets - these pieces can be reused about 2 times.

Did Native Americans use chaga?

Humans have used chaga for centuries. Native people from Russia and Siberia were possibly the first to use chaga as a natural medicine. In the 12th Century, Tsar Valdimir Monomakh purportedly used it to cure his lip cancer.

How do you know when chaga is dry?

It takes long time to dry chaga in room temperature so put the pieces in oven 50°-75°C overnight. If it was moist when you picked it, it might take longer. The smaller the pieces, the easier and faster they dry. You'll know when they will be dried because they will be stone hard.

What to do after you harvest chaga?

Leave at least 20 percent of the chaga on the tree.

Chaga can regrow after it's been removed, so make sure to leave a portion of it attached. This helps the tree and chaga survive longer so you can continue to harvest from it!

How rare is chaga?

You know, it tastes good. You could commercialize this.” But chaga is rare—by conservative estimates, it can be found on one out of every 4,000 birch trees—and impossible to cultivate domestically.

How does chaga make you feel?

If you suffer from Hypoglycemia, you may find that Chaga makes you feel weak, confused, overly thirsty, or irritable. You may also find that you have trouble speaking. Both of these instances are due to the fact that Chaga is believed to help lower blood sugar levels.

Who should not drink chaga tea?

Don't use chaga if you have a bleeding disorder. Surgery: Chaga might affect blood sugar control or increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using chaga at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Does chaga tea make you poop?

Chaga's effect is more focused on the digestive tract and the liver. It works well with "hidden pathogens" (I described it in the Mushroom Collection under the Coriolus mushroom). Thanks to its tropism, I use it for various intestinal problems and to support digestion. It is also used for constipation.