What Are Chaga Mushrooms and How Long Do They Last
Chaga mushrooms live off the majestic birch tree. A unique fungus, this King of Herbs grows over a period of many years, resulting in nutrient rich health-giving components.
Chaga has a rich history to be proud of. This medicinal mushroom marvel stands apart as an ancient healer, and was widely recognized for hundreds of years by folk medicine.
In a world filled with all kind of dietary supplements, we look to chaga as a wellbeing contributor and a natural patron for better health. In fact, chaga mushrooms have one of the highest levels of antioxidants among all natural foods. This discovery assists us today with our need for health alternatives and wellbeing enhancers.
Did you know chaga is now revered as a superfood? This diamond of the forest sits happily among the other vegetables, herbs and berries, now seemingly trendy in this classification, however chaga extract mushroom and it derivative products are no trend.
Chaga tea is here to stay and is a is formidable competitor.
Once introduced to this powerful supplement, many people go on to speak of its many benefits with the consensus being that there is something very special about chaga. We must ensure chaga stays with us for centuries just as its ancient discoverers intended.
The Importance of Correctly Prepared Chaga
Once the chaga hunter sources and harvests the mushroom, it must be processed and prepared well to retain the best inherent qualities.
Like all complementary wellness products, the less intervention, the better.
How to harvest chaga?
Retaining the nutrient levels is paramount to having chaga enhance our health in the best possible way. Wrong preparation can lead to microbial growth and poor nutritional characteristics of the harvested mushroom. After harvesting, the finest chaga should be lab tested to ensure it is sanitary.
Remember that Chaga raw absorbs moisture, and should be dried correctly once harvested. Ideally, the moisture level should be around 14% or below. Any excessive moisture will attract mold and eventually chaga will simply rot.
The right suppliers are all important in the chaga industry. Chaga tea made from poorly preserved chaga chunks or powder, is likely to cause issues and possible unwanted effects.
Reputable chaga suppliers want to help you achieve your personal health goals and want better health for everyone, not simply sell a product. So our advice is to look for pure, and properly prepared chaga.
The best suppliers manufacture and process the chaga products from high quality sources. Look for a company with decades of experience, and a willingness to preserve only the beneficial nutritious elements of chaga. If you have any doubts – ask questions about how chaga mushroom was harvested, prepared and stored.
Through their dedication when harvesting, all the way through to advice and support, you will be able to tell the difference between a good and an indifferent. Sustainable harvesting, proper preparation and a trustworthy supplier ensures chaga will be with us for a long time. Chaga is a fantastic health booster. Let’s keep it that way!
Harvesting for the Best Outcome
At first glance, chaga mushrooms look like something that is difficult to call a mushroom. For the uninitiated, the growth or conk on the tree looks ominous, and almost something to avoid, however, beneath the rough black surface lies a flavored and nutritious substance which supports better health and well-being across the world.
The finest chaga can be found in the clear, pollutant free environments of birch forests in Siberia. Chaga’s hosts, the birch trees are healthy, and stand tall and proud in this environment. It is important to mention that Chaga mushroom properties absorbs pollutions and environmental toxins, so areas with cooler and cleaner air are best. Locations outside of large cities are preferable, and excellent places for growing the finest quality chaga mushrooms.
Chaga cannot be harvested from the birch tree roughly or without understanding that any damage, not only affects the chaga mushroom itself, but the living birch tree.
This care in handling equates to longevity of the product and the best consumer experience on all levels.
To ensure retention of the active, and beneficial ingredients chaga needs to be harvested correctly by true professionals with an understanding of the above key points.
Chaga, sometimes called, a gift from nature helps us to support our health. The respect shown when harvesting this King of herbs must be evident in the quality of the end products.
How to Store Chaga
Naturally, we all would like the best things in life to last as long as possible. How devotees feel about chaga is no different. So, how do you store Sayan chaga to ensure longevity?
Chaga’s rough outer exterior may suggest otherwise, but this mushroom actually contains moisture. It’s the moisture content in chaga that can cause issues if not stored correctly.
Another thing to keep in mind is that complementary health supplements chaga tincture are best used as fresh as possible. Like all food stuffs, it is wise to be aware of any ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ dates on the packaging. This ensures the freshest supplement for the consumer.
The more common question seems to be “how long does chaga tea last”? or “does it have a shelf life”?
We should start by saying that properly dried Chaga needs be brewed and cannot be consumed in its just harvested form. Not only is it unpalatable, but the human body cannot digest chaga in this way.
There are few different ways of storing chaga chunks or powder so it will retain health supporting properties for long time.
After drying it is best to store chaga chunks or ground powder in an airtight container. You can also store chunks in cloth bags which will allow chaga chunks to “breath”. Chunks or powder needs to be stored in dry dark place at room temperature. You can store chunks in refrigerator but we believe that this method doesn’t bring any extra benefits.
If you store chunks in sealed plastic bag, make sure that it won’t be left under the sun. Direct sunlight will make chunks “sweat”. You may notice small water drops inside the bag which potentially could make chaga perish. If it will be exposed to sunlight for a long period of time this water will increase chances of go bad. Most consumers will never see any bad reaction of chaga, but this kind of neglect will see many issues prevail.
Another way to preserve your chaga is to use a vacuum sealer. By removing the air from the package, you eliminate the chance of insects and moisture from your storage solution. There are a number of different vacuum sealers on the market which are perfect for domestic use.
What about storing after brewing?
Chaga mushroom powder tea can lose its potency after initial brewing, so it is recommended that chunks or powder be used only twice. After you brew your chaga, you need to dry it if you are going to use it again. You may not have an equipment at home to check for humidity levels, so just make sure chunks or powder are dry to the touch.
If you have a large amount of chaga you can freeze any unused portions after drying them out. Some people say that freezing the mushroom helps better preserve its potency and flavor, though this is still up for debate amongst the chaga community. Think about your chaga usage carefully. Plan your brewing and only use as much as you will need so you won’t need to re-use chunks or powder again.
If you wish to order chaga tea online, for the purposes of re-using, keep in mind that the size of the chunks could vary. Most packages of the mushrooms offer chunks which are medium or large in size. Uniformity is rare. It is really impossible to get all chunks with the same size since they all are chopped by hand.
Look for excellent quality chaga. If so desired, you should look how much “black crust” is included on the packaged chaga. Sayan exclusively offers all chunks with most beneficial outer “black crust” layer, our product offers you the purest, potent and powerful Siberian chunks!
If you follow these simple rules, either chaga chunks or powder could last you for a long time. It may seem unimportant, but for those who don’t plan on drinking the tea regularly but would like to buy a large quantity of chaga to get a discount, it’s important to know how long chaga tea can last so you can plan accordingly.
By now you are probably wondering what about already made chaga tea? Can I store it in liquid form? Yes, you can. But it is not recommended to store chaga tea after brewing for longer than 24 – 48 hours. Good analogy would be black, green or herbal tea. You probably would not enjoy drinking a tea which was made yesterday, right? We all like it fresh! How it should be stored? We would recommend to store it in thermos or keep it in refrigerator in glass container.
If you prefer to brew first and store later, another way how to store chaga tea can be frozen ice cubes. You can use them next time as an ingredient for your favorite flavored beverages.
You can also make up chaga tea enhanced teas with flavorings of your choice and freeze as a completed drink. There are many ways to enjoy frozen chaga. When brewed, this mushroom offers us a tonic full of immune system support.
Storing Chaga Extract
Since we’ve spoken about about chaga chunks and powder, take a moment and consider the storing of chaga extract powder.
Sayan chaga extract powder is made by a freeze-drying process. It conveniently, is a ready to use product. There’s no need to brew this type of chaga product.
Simply open the package, take out a measure of powder with a spoon and add it to your favorite juice, tea, coffee, smoothie, shakes or even soup.
You can store chaga extract in the same way as chunks but keep in mind that in general, the shelf life of extract is approximately two years. This can make it a better product for long term use.
Does Chaga Go Bad?
Naturally occurring foods spoil the same way as any processed food. There are no preservatives in natural foods (for good reason) therefore they perish sooner.
What should you look for? Best practice is to let your senses be your guide. Any growth or powdery substance on or in the chaga may be mold.
Mold on food is a microscopic fungus. Certain molds will appear as spots or patches, and others will resemble a powdery substance. The present of any kind of mold of consumable products needs further evaluation. Be aware that some kinds of mold can make you very sick. Chaga effects aims to help with health, not hinder it.
Does chaga go bad? It’s a concerning thought, especially today where we are all conscious of the food and beverages we consume.
Freshness, and the ability to ensure we are getting the best quality are all high on the list of priorities. Those new to chaga can learn from those with more experience.
Trial and error is a great teacher, but when it comes to food, and food storage, failure to recognize good preparation can cause a negative experience. If you treat chaga with the respect it deserves, you can enjoy your chaga for months and years to come.
Sayan, always guarantees high-quality products. Order our Siberian Chaga and your health will thank you!
Shelf Life
Ordering a large quantity and storing it for use later can be a great way to save money on your favorite variety of high-quality chaga tea. But you need to be aware of common storage pitfalls. The shelf life of chaga will depend on how it is treated and stored.
In general, most chaga products have a shelf life of one to two years. Coffee or teas that people blend may have a shorter shelf life and they often have limitations due to other ingredients in the tea.
Be sure to check expiry dates. These dates are located somewhere on the packaging. If you are unsure, please contact the manufacturer to obtain some advice.
Remember that It is illegal in USA to sell food product without an expiration date!
If you harvest chaga mushrooms yourself, write the date you purchased the chaga on the bag and make a note to consume it all for up to a year after that date.
In order to maximize your product’s life, ensure to adhere to all the necessary precautions. Keep it dry, cool and away from the sunlight.
Be sure to use these suggestions, common sense and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Awesome Chaga!
As a health supplement, Siberian chaga stand along the finest in the world. Caffeine free Chaga tea is a great healthy alternative to other types of warm or cold drinks. It is harvested by professionals and process by our experts to ensure that you, as a consumer, have an excellent product. Get the best out of our Siberian chaga and enjoy your improved health!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Ask a question
If you want to order high-quality Siberian Wild Chaga in bulk or you have questions about wholesale price, please give us a call or email us with questions, we will be happy to answer them all.
Contact Us
If you want to order high-quality Siberian Wild Chaga in bulk or you have questions about wholesale price, please give us a call or email us with questions, we will be happy to answer them all.
33 responses to “How Long Do Chaga Mushrooms Last?*”
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Bill (Maine) –
I have been making triple decoction chaga and combined it with equal part 60-90 day old chaga tincture in 151 proof vodka. Any opinion on storage (enclosed in sealed canning jar at 50-60 degrees) or freezing? And any opinion on shelf life of either storage method?
David Vartanian –
Dear Bill,
Thank you very much for contacting Sayan. It is really hard to provide you with the shelf life for the product that you made. Usually if it not vacuumed sealed we do not recommend to store it for a longer time period in order to avoid bacterial overgrowth. In order to extend shelf life storing in refrigerator would be a better option.
David Vartanian –
Dear Margaret,
Thank you very much for contacting Sayan. Please accept our apologies, but it is very hard to advise you on the chaga that were stored for several months. When you store chaga there are a few things that you need to be aware of:
1. Product expiration date?
2. How the chaga was stored?
3. Was the product used and dried before storing?
4. Was the jar closed or opened and stored closed to the water?
5. Was chaga stored in a cool dry area, refrigerator or outside?
If the chaga stores properly you should always go by the expiration date that was on the packaging.