Last Updated on June 1, 2025 by Nico
Chaga tea is a simple and nourishing hot beverage to make. High in healthy antioxidants, this tea is perfect for the fall and winter months.
**A Note About Over-Harvesting Of Chaga**
I had planned to write this blog post a month ago and purchased my chaga from a local shop. However since then I have learned that chaga is being over-harvested, which can lead to the species going extinct.
I do not want to put something harmful out into the world. There are many alternative mushrooms that you can source which provide the same benefits as chaga that are not at risk of being over-harvested. I’ve listed those below.
Because I had already purchased the chaga, I decided to share this post so I could show you how to make mushroom tea using a mushroom like chaga. I also wanted to be able to use my youtube platform to highlight the over-harvesting of the mushroom and provide alternatives to chaga.
Here are some alternatives (thanks to Grass Roots Remedies for this information)
- Turkey Tail
- Birch Polypore
And if you’re not at the ‘mushroom tea’ stage of your herbal/natural remedies journey yet, you could also try making this immune boosting hot chocolate or nettle tincture.
FAQ
I find the flavour to be similar to a mild green tea.
Chaga is a mushroom that grows primarily on birch trees in cooler climates. It is thought to be a potent antioxidant and have strong anti-inflammatory properties. It is thought to ease inflammation and support the immune system.
Making chaga tea is a helpful way to extract these beneficial compounds out the mushroom and into a liquid which is then consumable.
It is recommended that you do not consume more than 2 small (6 oz) cups per day.
Watch The Video
Tips
I bought my chaga pre-prepared. If you are foraging, please seek information elsewhere to learn how to clean and prepare the mushroom.
Tools
Saucepan
Strainer
Ingredients
Chaga Mushrooms (or alternative mushrooms such as Turkey Tail or Birch Polypore – see Note)
Water
Optional – Raw Honey or Maple Syrup (for sweetness)
For complete measurements, see the printable recipe card below.
Instructions
Add 4-5 chaga chunks to a small saucepan.
Bring the mixture to a low simmer.
Simmer the liquid for at least 20 minutes, but ideally for an hour. The longer you simmer, the most nutrients will be extracted from the mushrooms.
Strain off the mushrooms and either compost them or add them to a freezer-safe container to use again.
You can add raw honey or maple syrup for sweetness and consume immediately.
Store any leftover tea in the fridge for about 5 days. You can consume the tea cold or you can re-heat it.
How To Serve
I like to drink the tea plain but you can add sweetener to it, such as maple syrup or honey. Or you can add milk or cream to it if you prefer.
Expert Tips
While I haven’t tried this yet, I have read that you can reuse chaga mushrooms to make tea. I used my chunks for this tea and then stored them in a small glass container in the freezer. You know to compost the mushrooms once the liquid no longer becomes brown when simmering.
What to read next
How To Make Homemade Cinnamon Extract (Simple Recipe)
How To Make Lavender Infused Honey
How To Make Lemon Balm Tincture
Immune Boosting Hot Chocolate With Cacao
How To Make Echinacea Tincture
How To Make Elderberry Tincture
Simple Garlic Tea For Coughs And Colds
If you make this recipe and enjoy it, please consider giving it 5 stars. Find me on Instagram @documentingsimpleliving and show me what you’ve made!
How To Make Chaga Tea
Ingredients
Method
- Add 4-5 chaga chunks to a small saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a low simmer.
- Simmer the liquid for at least 20 minutes, but ideally for an hour. The longer you simmer, the most nutrients will be extracted from the mushrooms.
- Strain off the mushrooms and either compost them or add them to a freezer-safe container to use again.
- You can add raw honey or maple syrup for sweetness and consume immediately.
- Store any leftover tea in the fridge for about 5 days. You can consume the tea cold or you can re-heat it.
Nutrition
Video
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!I’m not a medical professional and do not intend to offer medical advice in any content I create. As always, do your own research and speak to your doctor or paediatricians.
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