Ingredient Overview
Chaga forms a dark, charcoal-like growth on trees, particularly birch in colder regions. It has a history of use in brewed preparations, with research focusing on its polysaccharides and other constituents.
The material used for chaga preparations is the dense growth on the host tree, rather than a conventional mushroom cap. Drying and extraction turn this tough material into a more convenient ingredient. Chaga brings a distinctive woodland identity to mushroom blends, alongside interest in its fungal polysaccharides and naturally occurring triterpene constituents.