How to Make Chaga Tea – Step-by-Step*
Chaga is wonderful in many ways. That’s probably one of the reasons you’re looking for ways to make chaga tea.
Chaga tea is relatively easy to make and it can be made in many different and enjoyable ways. You can also include various flavorings to give your tea the taste you prefer and you can mix things up after chaga becomes part of your routine.
In this step-by-step guide, we will looking at various methods for making chaga tea. Chaga is versatile and comes in a few different forms. As a result, there are a few ways to make chaga tea. Each provides a little different taste, but they all provide the wonderful benefits of chaga.
So let’s get right into some of the ways you can make chaga tea!
Chaga Tea Bags
Instructions:
- Bring water to a boil
- Place chaga tea bag into mug
- Pour hot water over tea bag
- Let sit for 3 minutes
- Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 1 chaga tea bag
- 8 ounces of water
Cook Time:
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Servings: 1 cup
Notes: You can bring water to boil using a standard pot and cooktop or you can use a water boiling or warming device as you would with other tea mixtures.
Pros/Cons: Many people intuitively know how to make tea. You get some hot water and dip in the tea bag until it’s saturated in the water. Then you let it sit for awhile so the tea bag ingredients can dissolve fully into the water.
One of the biggest pros with getting your chaga from chaga tea bags is that it’s very intuitive to use. One of the cons would be the extra cost associated with the labor and materials that go into using the tea bags versus using a more do-it-yourself method like suing chaga chunks.
Chaga Tea Bags*
- Exclusive blend of raw and freeze – dried extract powder
- Organic, All natural and sustainably harvested
- Unbleached tea bags
- High ORAC value
- Contains Polysaccharides, Polyphenols, Triterpenes, Beta glucans
- Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, Vegan
- No added fillers, mycelium, or grain of any kind
- Verified for quality at ISO accredited Micro Quality lab
Chaga Tea From Chunks
Instructions:
- Place the water into a cooking pot
- Place chaga into the water
- Bring the water to a simmer, no more than than 122º F
- Simmer for 60 minutes
- Pour water into mug and enjoy!
Notes:
You can reuse chaga chunks multiple times. Once the chaga tea you are making with a chunk begins to lose its dark color, it is time to discard the chunk.
You can add flavorings to the chaga tea. Some popular ones include maple syrup, stevia and honey.
You can use a pot on a stovetop or you can use a crock pot to simmer the chunks in water.
Ingredients:
- 4 ounces of chaga (approximately 1 chunk)
- 20 ounces of water
Note: You can adjust the amounts to meet your needs, but continue to use the 1:5 ratio (1 parts chaga to 5 parts water).
Cook Time:
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Servings: 2.5 cups
Advanced Instructions:
You can boost the benefits of the chaga tea with the following instructions:
- Simmer the chaga in the water for up to 3 hours.
- Let the water cool, then pour the water with the chaga into a freezer-safe container. Place the container in the freeze until the water is frozen. Allow to freeze for 24-hours.
- Remove the frozen tea from the freezer and bring to a simmer for another 3 hours.
This advanced process allows for even more of the chaga’s vital compounds to be released into the tea.
Pros/Cons: Chaga chunks are a great way to use chaga. They’re very close to their natural state. Relatively, there is very little manufacturing and labor that goes into producing the chunks. Obviously the sourcing is still done. So the packaging. But if you’re looking to save a little on costs while also getting a very pure form of chaga that you can use the way you see fit, chaga chunks is a wonderful options.
But obviously there is a bit more work and time that goes into preparing tea using chaga chunks. You can see that from the instructions for the tea. That is not for everybody. If you haven’t tried using chaga chunks we still recommend doing it if it fits your personality. If not, another option might be better. At least for starting out.
Chaga Raw Chunks*
- All chunks come with black crust which is most nutritional part
- Organic, All natural and sustainably harvested
- Properly dried to less than 14% humidity
- Our Chaga Chinks can be brewed up to two times
- Contains Polysaccharides, Polyphenols, Triterpenes, Beta glucans
- High ORAC value, Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, Vegan
- No added fillers, mycelium, or grain of any kind
- Verified for quality at ISO accredited Micro Quality lab
Chaga Tea From Powder
Instructions:
- Add chaga powder to a small saucepan (or similar cooking container)
- Pour water over chaga powder
- Bring water to a simmer (no more than 122º F)
- Simmer for 30 minutes
- Pour water into mug and enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons of chaga powder
- 1 cup of water
Cook Time:
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Servings: 1 cup
Pros/Cons: Using chaga powder is a relatively quick and easy way to have the wonderful benefits of chaga tea. It’s one of the most popular forms of chaga that we sell and see in the industry. The powder is very versatile. Tea is one of the most popular ways to consume chaga, but the powder can be used for other things as well. Some people use the powder in shakes. Others use it in bars and other foods.
The powder can be a little on the messy side. No matter what you do, you will likely lose a little each time you use it. That’s the same as with any powder. There is also a little more manufacturing that goes into producing the powder so the price may be a little different. Some of the nutrients may be lost. But overall, it’s a great way to get the chaga benefits you’re looking for.
Chaga Raw Coarse Powder*
- Increased surface area provides faster and effective nutrition release
- Organic, All natural and sustainably harvested
- Properly dried to less than 14% humidity
- Our Chaga Coarse always fresh and powder easy to use
- Contains Polysaccharides, Polyphenols, Triterpenes, Beta glucans
- High ORAC value, Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, Vegan
- No added fillers, mycelium, or grain of any kind
- Verified for quality at ISO accredited Micro Quality lab
Chaga Tea From Chunks
Each of the methods above for brewing chaga tea have pros and cons. We went over a few of them above with each of the methods. But if you still have questions on what method is right for you then here is a quick overview of each:
Chaga Tea Bags
- Pros: Fast
- Cons: Less cook time results in fewer chaga benefits
- Chaga Tea From Chunks
- Pros: Easy, Great benefit from raw chaga
- Cons: Time consuming
Chaga Tea From Powder
- Pros: Easy, Fast
- Cons: Medium benefits from chaga
Final Takeaway
These methods, and others, all provide great ways for brewing chaga tea. The best method depends on your situation and your preference for consuming chaga tea. If you have lots of prep time and want to receive as much benefit as possible, using the raw chaga method is likely the best fit.
FAQs
Can you cold brew chaga tea?
Yes. However, the cold brewing process, which is common with other teas and coffees, takes 16-24 hours to steep. The process doesn’t seem to extract any additional benefit compared to the other methods mentioned and thus we typically don’t recommend it. But if you prefer cold brewing it is certainly safe and effective for chaga tea.
In addition, you can use the brewing methods mentioned above and allow the chaga tea to cool to the temperature you prefer.
How to store brewed chaga tea?
You can store brewed chaga tea in a container in the refrigerator for up to 14 days. This is a great option if you choose to brew multiple cups at once, perhaps with the chaga chunks method. Many people like this method because it allows them to prepare an entire week of tea at once.
How long does brewed chaga tea last?
You can safely consume brewed chaga tea for about one day without refrigeration. If the tea won’t be consumed in that time then store it in a refrigerator and enjoy for up to 14 days. It is also possible to freeze chaga tea. We recommend consuming frozen chaga tea within two months.
What does chaga tea taste like?
Expect a slightly bitter taste when drinking chaga tea. Some also describe the taste as having an earthy flavor. That is something you get with most mushrooms. But don’t be confused, chaga doesn’t taste like most mushrooms that you will have. And it doesn’t taste like most teas you will drink either. Many enjoy the natural taste of chaga and chaga tea. Some add a little natural flavoring or use chaga with dishes just as they would with other herbs and mushrooms.
How to make chaga tea taste better?
There are many ways to adjust the taste and flavor of chaga depending on your preferences. Some options include: honey, maple syrup, sugar, stevia, cinnamon, all spice, cacao, fruit and more.
How much chaga tea can you drink daily?
We recommend starting with 1 cup in the morning. You can then build up to 3 cups per day.
What color should chaga tea have?
Chaga tea should have a dark brown color. Not quite black, but between a normal tea and a coffee. If you’re using chaga chunks to make chaga tea you will notice a nice dark color initially and the more you use the chunks the more color the tea will lose. Once it lightens too much, more watery than brown, it’s time to move on to a new chunk.
*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.
