Chaga Mushroom Tea

Embrace the art of wild foraging and the ancient practice of brewing medicinal tea with this Chaga Mushroom Tea recipe. Hailing from birch trees, chaga mushrooms are revered for their health benefits, making this a natural and nourishing beverage. Follow this step-by-step guide to harvest, prepare, and brew your chaga tea, all while respecting sustainable practices.

Ingredients

🍄 Wild-harvested Chaga Mushroom Inonotus obliquus from birch trees
💧 Fresh Water for brewing tea
🥛 Optional Milk or Cream to customize
🍯 Optional Honey or Maple Syrup sweeten as desired

Instructions

1- Harvesting Chaga:

• Locate chaga mushrooms growing on birch trees in clean and uncontaminated forest areas
• Use a hatchet, machete, or large camp knife to carefully remove the chaga from the tree, leaving about 1 cm of mycelium for regrowth
• Collect the harvested chaga pieces and note that the ideal harvest time is winter, when the sap is frozen

2- Preparing Chaga for Storage:

• Immediately cut the chaga into small, nugget-sized pieces upon returning home
• To make powder:
  • Use a box grater for smaller batches
  • For larger quantities, blend using the ice crush setting, blending in short pulses to avoid heat
• Spread the ground chaga in a thin layer on baking trays to air-dry, stirring daily
• The chaga is dry when its color lightens to a pale beige and a fine dust emits when disturbed

3- Storing Dried Chaga:

• Transfer the dried chaga powder into an airtight container with an oxygen absorber sachet if available
• Store in a cool, dark place or freeze for long-term storage

4- Brewing Chaga Tea:

• Place a tea filter or infuser in a mug and add a scoop of dried chaga powder
• Pour freshly boiled water over the chaga and cover the mug with a saucer
• Infuse for 10-15 minutes, then remove the filter
• Serve the tea plain or customize with milk, cream, honey, or maple syrup

Prep Time: Varies with harvesting; cutting and grinding require effort
Cook Time: 10-15 minutes for brewing
Total Time: Several days for drying; active prep and cook time minimal
Servings: Varies depending on the amount harvested
Equipment: Hatchet, Machete, Large Camp Knife, Kitchen Knife, Box Grater or Blender, Baking Trays, Airtight Container, Oxygen Absorber Sachets, Tea Filter/Infuser, Electric Kettle, Mug and Saucer, Small Pitcher, Spoon
Calories, Proteins, Fats, Carbs: Not specified but rich in nutrients as discussed in recommended literature

Cooking Tips

• Sustainably harvest chaga, leaving some behind for regrowth
• Dry away from direct heat, stirring daily
• Infuse instead of boiling to preserve medicinal properties

#chaga #wildforaging #mushroomtea #naturalbeverage #healthydrink #sustainableharvesting

Teacher SBD: https://www.youtube.com/@TeacherSBD

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Chaga Mushroom Tea

Posted by Waivio guest: @waivio_hivecooking