Chaga mushrooms are found growing on Birch trees in only a few areas in the world. This Chaga mushroom powder has been sustainably wild harvested from the forests of Northern Michigan and ground and graded into a fine powder which breaks down the chitin helping to get a more thorough infusion in hot water.

Can you find Chaga mushrooms in Michigan?

You will find Chaga on birch trees which tend to grow in moist wetland areas, usually alongside many Cedar trees here in Northern Michigan.

How To Identify Chaga. The first step to finding chaga mushrooms is to look for birch trees that grow in the proper region. You’ll then want to be on the lookout for a rough-looking, blackened mass protruding from the trunk of a birch tree, typically taking a dome or cone-like shape.

Where can I find Chaga mushrooms?

Where does chaga grow? Chaga grows predominantly on birch trees, but may also be found on ash, elm, beech, alder, and perhaps some other species. Infrequently it is also found on other trees in the birch family.

Where can you find Chaga Mushrooms? These Mushrooms grow best on the outside of yellow and white birch trees in cold climates (e.g., Canada, Russia, northeast China, and northern areas of Europe and the United States).

Is chaga good for high blood pressure?

Chaga’s antioxidant properties may help combat oxidation and lower blood pressure. In addition to regulating the immune system, the types of beta-D-glucans found in chaga have also been shown to help lower blood sugar levels.

Is chaga hard or soft?

What Does Chaga Look Like: … Instead Chaga has a hard, black outer layer that looks like the tree has a burnt growth on it. Once the conk is opened the inside is completely different instead of the hard, black surface, a soft, porous, rusty colour.

Are there any poisonous Chaga look-alikes?

That softer, squishy yellow/orange core of Chaga contains “fungal lanostances” and also helps to differentiate it from it’s closest potential look-alike, the evil “black knot fungus” or other look-alikes.

Does Chaga grow on Aspen?

Chaga can be found on birch trees in forests across central and northern Minnesota. It can also be found on aspen, alder and elm trees.

Is black knot the same as Chaga?

Dibotryon can in fact resemble chaga, but chaga does not occur on cherry. Furthermore, black knot will most often be seen on small twigs and chaga occurs on large limbs and more usually the main stem of larger host trees. There is one more case of a chaga false alarm worth noting.

Can you eat Chaga from a dead tree?

Never harvest chaga from a dead or fallen tree, as the canker is only sterile and live while the tree lives. Once the host birch dies, the chaga mushroom will die along with it and develop fruiting bodies to spread to another host.

How long do Chaga mushrooms take to grow?

A parasitic fungus, Chaga infects birch trees in the hardwood forests of the Northern hemisphere, and thrives in colder climates. It is slow growing, taking 3-5 years to fully form.

How much is Chaga worth per pound?

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.

Why do we harvest Chaga in winter?

Harvest chaga in the late fall or winter. At this time, the trees that chaga grow on have gone dormant and the mushroom has the peak amount of nutrients. In the summer, the chaga will have the most water content and all of the nutrients will be flushed out until the following fall.

Does Chaga grow on maple trees?

Chaga grows almost exclusively on birch, though as stated previously, it has been found rarely on elm, beech, and hornbeam.

What does Chaga taste like?

Chaga mushrooms do not taste like a typical mushroom found in a grocery store. It has a somewhat earthy flavor with a slight bitterness. It also contains a naturally occurring form of vanillin, the same as what is found vanilla bean. You can drink chaga mushroom straight, but the flavor may not be appealing to most.

Is chaga good for arthritis?

However, long-term inflammation is linked to conditions like heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis ( 4 ). Animal and test-tube studies suggest that chaga extract can positively impact immunity by reducing long-term inflammation and fighting harmful bacteria and viruses.

Is chaga good for liver?

Protects from Liver Damage Chaga mushrooms may also prevent or reduce certain liver diseases. One study found that chaga extract was able to protect liver tissue from the effects of tetra-butyl hydroperoxide, a chemical known to cause liver damage.

What medications does chaga interact with?

Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with CHAGA. Chaga might slow blood clotting. Taking chaga along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

Does Chaga grow on gray birch?

When and where to find them: (ecology) Chaga can be found all year round since it persists on the tree for many years. It is most always found on yellow, or white birch. It’s probably possible to find it on gray birch but gray birch is more likely to be infected with Piptoporus betulina, the birch polypore.

What does Chaga tea smell like?

Chaga, if taken from a living gold or white birch tree tastes sweet, earthy and aromatic. … 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.

How do you make Chaga tea chunks?

How does Chaga make you feel?

With it’s adaptogenic properties, Chaga helps your body adapt to stress and calm down after a long day. This is why it is the perfect beverage to have before going to bed at night to ensure you get a great sleep and are well rested for the next day.

What does dead Chaga look like?

The Chaga fungus is in fact a type of white rot fungus attacking the heartwood of the tree. … Never harvest chaga from dead or fallen trees, also known as ‘dead chaga’ will appear black inside and out and will most likely contaminated with mycotoxins.

Does Chaga grow in northern Wisconsin?

Inonotus Obliquus chaga mushroom) is a sclerotium that grows on birch trees in northern climates. … In Wisconsin it’s pretty hard to find a Chaga mushroom in the southern half of the state. I have found a few growing in the Mead Wildlife Area in marathon county but rarely south of that.

What does birch chaga look like?

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.