How To Make Chaga Tea

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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.

Close up shot of a mug of chaga tea in front of a stone wall.

**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

What Does Chaga Tea Taste Like?

I find the flavour to be similar to a mild green tea.

What Are The Benefits Of Chaga Mushrooms?

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.

How Much Chaga Tea To Consume?

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.

An overhead shot of chunks of chaga mushroom on a light countertop.

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.

An overhead shot of chaga mushroom chunks on a light countertop next to a jar of chaga tea.

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.

A shot of chaga tea in a glass pint jar with chunks of raw chaga on a light countertop.

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.

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How To Make Lavender Infused Honey

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Simple Nettle Tincture Recipe

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!