Page Created by Connecticut Foraging Club
Upcoming Events | Meet the Instructors | Plant Archive | Mushroom Archive
----------------
Upcoming Events | Meet the Instructors | Plant Archive | Mushroom Archive
----------------
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a medicinal mycelial mass that can be found growing on birch trees.
Chaga is a parasite that infects scarred birch trees and will kill the tree within 80 years. It can be found growing in colder regions throughout the world.
It is thought to be best harvested in the winter when the tree is dormant and the fungus appears to be at peak nutrient concentration.
Chaga has a black, burnt-looking, cracked exterior. It is irregularly shaped. The interior is golden and cork-like.
When harvesting chaga, be sure to leave 1/4 of the fungus on the tree so it can regenerate. Avoid cutting into the tree bark as this can expose the tree to other pathogens. Chaga is a very slow growing fungus, growing about 1 cm/year.
Chaga has more antioxidants than any known plant. It has been used to treat gut conditions, autoimmune disease, diabetes, and arthritis.
Chaga is most often consumed in a tea. To make Chaga tea, simmer the fungus in water for 2+ hours.
--
Written by Amy Demers, founder of the Connecticut Foraging Club. To learn more about foraging in Connecticut, check out our upcoming classes.
