Chaga is one of the more visually striking functional mushrooms – less a classic mushroom shape than a dark, cracked mass on the side of a tree. Here's what it is and how it's used.
What is chaga?
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) grows primarily on birch trees in cold northern regions such as Scandinavia, Russia and parts of North America. Rather than a typical cap-and-stem mushroom, it forms a hard, charcoal-like growth. It has a long history of traditional use in northern cultures, most often prepared as a tea, and today is also sold as powder, capsules and extract.
An honest note on what we can say
Chaga does not currently hold authorised health claims in Great Britain. Whatever you may read elsewhere, we're not able to tell you it does specific things for your health – and we'd rather be honest about that than repeat claims we can't stand behind. What we can do is tell you what it is.
How is it taken?
Traditionally chaga is simmered into a tea, and that remains popular; it's also widely available as a powder, capsule or concentrated extract for convenience.
Should I take chaga?
An individual decision, best discussed with a healthcare professional rather than based on online reading – particularly if you take other medication, or you're pregnant, breastfeeding or managing a health condition. Your pharmacist can advise for your circumstances.
You can read more in our Discover blog piece, Chaga mushroom benefits explained.
Explore our chaga range, or browse all our functional mushrooms.