How to Make Chaga Tea

July 09, Leave a Comment

Author: admin

Chaga is a mushroom, but to prepare it, it is not sautéed, grilled, or even eaten fresh, the way many mushrooms are. It appears as a hard conk that protrudes from a birch tree. This charred looking conk is full of healthy components such as antioxidants, betulinic acid, and melanin. However, these healthy components need to be released from thick cell walls, so that the body can absorb them. One of the easiest ways to do that is to make Chaga tea. The warm water breaks down the chitin in the cell walls and allows the body to absorb beneficial components. Making Chaga tea is simple, and it can easily become part of your daily health routine. 

Tea Concentrate

Chaga comes in a variety of forms; chunks, powder, extract, and even tea. You can make a tea concentrate from the Chaga chunks. Simmer the chunks on a consistent heat in a slower cooker. You can do this overnight, or all day, up to 12 hours. The longer the chunks simmer the thicker and stronger the tea will be. This creates a tea concentrate. You can store the Chaga tea concentrate in the fridge and simply add water and warm for a quick cup of tea. Or, you can use the concentrate to make smoothies, lattes, or blended drinks. The chunks can be steeped at least one more time if you store them in an air tight container between uses.

Steeping Tea

If you enjoy the process of steeping tea a cup at a time, you can use Chaga powder. Place a few teaspoons of Chaga powder into a tea ball. Pour  water that has been heated to just below boiling over the tea ball, and then let it steep until it reaches the desired strength. 

Using Chaga Extract

Chaga also comes as an extract. This powerful form of Chaga is like a fine powder. Dissolve the powder directly in hot water and enjoy as tea instantly.

Making Chaga tea with Chaga extract is simple and easy. Add ½ teaspoon of extract to warm water. The water should be 122º at the warmest so that the beneficial compounds aren’t damaged. Extract makes the non-water soluble compounds in Chaga available because the processed mushroom itself is being dissolved in the water, not just steeped. 

Preparing Tea with Chaga Powder

A few methods can be used to prepare Chaga tea. The most straightforward way is to use Chaga powder. Chaga is cut into chunks, the chunks are dried and then ground into a powder. The powder can be placed in a tea ball, or any other method you choose for steeping. Pour hot water over the tea ball and let it steep to the strength you enjoy most. The powder can be steeped more than once, so save it in your tea ball to use until the water no longer turns a rich brown when you steep the tea.

Preparing Tea with Chaga Chunks

You can also get Chaga in chunks. This is the stage before the powder. Chunks work similarly to the powder, but they are ideal for brewing larger batches of concentrated Chaga tea. Use a slow cooker to simmer the Chaga chunks in water. The longer you simmer the chunks, the richer the tea will be. Remove the chunks and store the concentrate in your fridge. Add water and heat it up for a cup of tea. Pour some in a smoothy, or use the concentrate to make a creamy latte. There are all kinds of uses for Chaga tea concentrate and it is very convenient to use and easy to make.

Additions

Chaga tea has a strong earthy flavor, with just a hint of vanilla. A touch of bitterness indulges coffee lovers, but is an acquired taste for others. To doctor your tea a bit, add a splash of almond milk, and a touch of honey. The nutty flavors of the almond milk complement the earthy flavors of the tea. It also adds a richer texture to the tea. The sweetness of the honey takes off the bitter edge of the tea. If you would rather use a low calorie sweetener, try stevia instead of honey.

Your Daily Routine

Making Chaga tea part of your daily health routine can give you a boost of energy when you need it. It can also support your immune system, and help your general well being. Incorporate Chaga tea into your morning routine, your afternoon snack break, or your pre-bedtime ritual. A cup or two a day might be what you need to feel well all day long.

Sources

“Chaga Concentrate: Easy to Make at Home” A Life in the Wild