The Benefits of Chaga and Everything You Need to Know
Chaga
Cha·ga | \ ˈchä-gə \
A dark brown to black, irregularly shaped, sterile, mycelial mass of a fungus (Inonotus obliquus) that grows parasitically chiefly on hardwood trees and especially birch in temperate climates of the northern hemisphere. Used traditionally as a tea or coffee substitute for centuries, chaga works as an adaptogen.
After ashwaganda, chaga is the second adaptogen that I was introduced to ( and if you aren’t familiar with adaptogens, read this post). I had it in tea form, which pending on the brand of chaga or whether you buy the conk in a jar and grate it into a dust or grind it, you can steep it a few times! I can understand why people drink chaga as a replacement to coffee as when you enjoy it any time of the day, it delivers this alertness that I can’t describe, the only word that comes to mind is clean. There is a certain level of uppity you feel when you drink coffee or espresso- chaga delivers that but you don’t crash from it!
What are the benefits of chaga?
Because of the abundance of beta glucans; sugars found in the cell wall of the fungus, chaga supports everything from stress relief to immune function and fighting inflammation. The beta glucans support the immune system- boosting it when needed and slowing it down if too much activity is taking place, this is also known as the adaptogen response. The polysaccharides present in chaga could provide energy (that clean uppity feeling I was mentioning above), lower blood sugar, and keep the liver healthy. The melanin present in chaga is a potent antioxidant, assisting in scrubbing the body of free radicals and potentially supporting in aiding immune response.
How do you use chaga?
As mentioned its typically used in tea form. Chaga coffee and adaptogen dusts are widely available in most grocery stores (blink and you’ll miss them however). Word of caution, many imposters do exist so make sure you know where you’re getting it from! Or if you’re a expert forager you can just forge for some chaga!
One of my absolutely favourite ways to enjoy chaga is adding raw cacao to the mix!
Chaga Hot Chocolate Recipe
1 tea bag of chaga or 1/2 tsp of chaga powder
1/4 cup non-dairy milk (oat, soy, almond, or coconut)
1 tsp raw cacao powder
*optional- 1 tsp of sweetener of choice (maple syrup or agave works well here)
- Steep chaga powder in boiling water for a few minutes, then combine all ingredients in a blender and blend for 30 seconds.
- Enjoy with a dusting of cacao powder.
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