Mushrooms aren't only for risotto, fellas! They are also ideal for your tea strainer. At least, the Chaga kind is!
Chaga tea will undoubtedly do the trick, whether you need to treat cold symptoms, decrease inflammation, raise your energy levels, or simply warm your gut with a healthy beverage.
How can you make this one-of-a-kind mushroom into a delightful cup of Chaga tea? This post will teach you how to make Chaga tea, from how and why this strange drink is so popular to how to steep your own at home.
So, start the kettle, and learn Chaga mushroom tea how to make to turn this black-and-orange fungus into a warm and delicious cup.
Understanding Chaga Mushroom And Its Properties
What is Chaga Mushroom?
Chaga mushroom or Inonotus obliquus is a type of fungus found in frigid climates such as Siberia, Northern Europe, Russia, Northern Canada, Korea, and Alaska. Other names for it include clinker polypore, black mass, cinder conk, birch canker polypore, and sterile conk trunk rot (of birch).
The fungus forms a conk or a woody growth resembling a burnt charcoal clump. This size is about 10-15 inches (25-38 centimeters). On the other hand, the inside displays a soft orange core.
Chaga has been used as a traditional medicine in Northern European countries and Russia for millennia, mostly to increase immunity and overall health.
The mushroom was traditionally ground into a fine powder and served as a herbal tea. It is now accessible not only as a tea but also as a capsuled or powdered supplement. Chaga may be used alone or in conjunction with other mushrooms in the tea. Taking Chaga with either warm or cold water is thought to release its medicinal powers.
Health Benefits Of Chaga Tea
Though research is ongoing, certain scientific studies suggest that Chaga extract may give specific health benefits, such as maintaining blood sugar levels that are already within healthy limits.
- Support heart health.
- Relieve fatigue.
- Allow for unrestricted and easy breathing.
- Purify your blood.
- Improve the health of your stomach, liver, and skin.
- For healing and topical skin treatments.
- Promote a healthy inflammatory response.
According to animal and test-tube research, Chaga extract can boost immunity by lowering long-term inflammation and eliminating harmful viruses and bacteria. Chaga(1) increases white blood cells, which are necessary for fighting off(2) harmful germs or viruses, by boosting the creation of helpful cytokines — specialized proteins that regulate the immune system. As a result, this mushroom may aid in the battle against infections ranging from simple colds to major illnesses.
Furthermore, animal and test-tube studies(3) demonstrate that Chaga can both prevent and decrease cancer progression. It is considered that Chaga's anticancer effect is due in part to its strong antioxidant content, which protects cells from free radical damage.
Chaga extract may also improve cholesterol levels, possibly lowering your heart disease risk. In an eight-week trial(4), the mushroom extract lowered "bad" LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol while raising antioxidant levels in rats with elevated cholesterol.
Now, let’s move on to Chaga how to make tea?
How To Make Chaga Tea
The walls of the Chaga mushroom are quite tough and loaded with chitin. To crack through and extract all the healthy compounds, you need heat. Consuming Chaga mushrooms as tea is the most practical (and delicious!) way to slay inflammation.
So,how to prepare Chaga tea?
Ingredients And Equipment
- A large, heavy-duty vessel such as a stove-ready, metal teapot or large pan
- 1 Liter of water.
- 3 to 5 dried mushrooms or 3.5g of Chaga Chunks.
- Alternatively, 1/2 teaspoon of Chaga powder.
Step-By-Step Brewing Instructions
Here’s a step-by-step guide on Chaga tea how to make:
Step 1: Get your vessel ready
Prepare your tea in your preferred vessel. Chaga takes a long time to brew, and if you use a delicate teapot made of porcelain, you may permanently stain it. One liter of water should be added to your vessel. When using mushroom powder, you should only need to heat enough water to fill a mug.
Heat your water between 140 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit or below boiling. Boiling water might damage the antioxidants in Chaga and should be avoided.
Step 2: Prepare your chaga chunks
If you're using Chaga chunks, split them into smaller pieces beforehand. Make 1-inch cubes.
Step 3: Allow to steep
Steep the mushroom powder in boiling water for 4 to 6 minutes. Using mushroom powder shortens the brewing time and yields a very mild and uplifting tea.
On the other hand, chunks must be steeped in warm water for at least 1 hour. You should wait until the tea turns a dark reddish-brown before drinking it.
Some people like to steep the tea by boiling it over low heat for up to 4 hours. This will result in a more bitter, rich, and soothing tea.
Step 4: Serve and have fun!
Allow your chaga tea to cool for a few hours before adding ice cubes and possibly a squeeze of lemon.
Flavoring and Enjoying Chaga Tea
Following the preparation of Chaga tea, you can add extra flavorings or additions to enhance the flavor of the tea, such as honey, maple syrup, or a slice of lemon. Even after a long brewing time, Chaga tea has a rather mild flavor.
The hot tea pairs well with a variety of flavorings, including cinnamon. But many people prefer to drink Chaga cold as an iced tea.
Leftover Chaga tea can be stored in a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to three days. Chaga tea is a great addition to smoothies, soups, and even cereal. If reheated on low heat, there will be no loss of taste or nutrition. Other teas can be used to flavor it.
Safety And Considerations
Chaga is typically safe to consume. However, no human trials have been undertaken to determine the safety or dose. Some common drugs can interact with Chaga, creating possibly serious side effects. Because of its effect on blood sugar, Chaga, for example, could be dangerous for people taking insulin or with diabetes.
There is no study on the safety of Chaga for pregnant or breastfeeding women. As a result, the safest approach is to avoid using it.
FAQs About How To Make Chaga Tea
Is It OK To Drink Chaga Tea Every Day?
Yes, you can consume Chaga tea on a daily basis. In fact, as long as you don't drink too much and don't have any chronic health conditions, there are numerous health benefits to drinking a daily cup of Chaga tea.
Does Chaga Tea Have Caffeine?
Chaga contains no caffeine and thus will not keep you awake. It has adaptogenic characteristics, which means it can help your body adapt to stress and relax.
When Is The Best Time To Drink Chaga Tea?
It's good to drink Chaga at any time of the day. Chaga tea, which is high in antioxidants, beta-glucans, and important nutrients, can be a powerful health booster.
Key Takeaways
Despite its growing popularity, Chaga tea is not a new beverage, particularly among herbal lovers. This strange drink has been consumed since ancient times and is praised for its health advantages all across the world. Now that you knowhow to make Chaga tea, sip away!
References
- Immunomodulatory Activity of the Water Extract from Medicinal MushroomInonotus obliquus, (1)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3774877/
- Inonotus obliquus extracts suppress antigen-specific IgE production through the modulation of Th1/Th2 cytokines in ovalbumin-sensitized mice. (2)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21820502/
- Antitumor activity of water extract of a mushroom, Inonotus obliquus, against HT-29 human colon cancer cells, (3)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19367670/
- Effect of the Inonotus Obliquus Polysaccharides on Blood Lipid Metabolism and Oxidative Stress of Rats Fed High-Fat Diet In Vivo, (4)https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5305591
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