Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) looks like a piece of charred wood, and it is not a mushroom in the usual sense either: what is harvested is not a fruiting body with cap and stem but a sclerotium – a hard, knobbly growth the fungus builds up over years on living birches. Deep black and cracked on the outside, rust-brown within.
Where it grows
Chaga needs cold. It occurs in the birch forests of Siberia, Scandinavia, the Baltic, Canada and Alaska, and only sporadically in Central Europe. A conk usually takes five to ten years to reach harvestable size. That is precisely what makes wild harvesting delicate: demand has risen sharply in recent years, while supply grows only as fast as the trees. Responsible harvesters take part of a conk and leave the rest on the tree so it can regrow.
The Nordic tradition
In Siberia, Finland and the Baltic, chaga has been prepared as an infusion for generations – the conk is broken up and simmered for hours. The decoction tastes mild, slightly earthy and faintly of vanilla, which makes it considerably more approachable than, say, reishi. In Finland it served for a time as a coffee substitute.
Powder or extract
Chaga is as hard as wood, and a large part of its substance is insoluble fibre. That is why extracts are usually made by dual extraction, with water and with alcohol. For a powder the dried conk is simply milled – closer to the raw material, but less concentrated. Our Organic Chaga in capsules contains 400 mg of milled chaga per capsule from certified organic sourcing, in a plant-based HPMC shell and plastic-free packaging. If you want to combine several mushrooms, chaga also appears with reishi, lion's mane and cordyceps in the Organic Mushroom Complex Extract.
Related reading
The whole mushroom range sits under Functional Mushrooms. The difference between fruiting body and mycelium, and what else to check when buying, is set out in Functional mushrooms: the five classics.
Note
Chaga naturally contains oxalic acid. That is relevant if you have kidney stones or reduced kidney function – in that case speak to your doctor first. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet; do not exceed the stated daily intake. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, seek medical advice.
