I have been having so much fun playing with medicinal mushrooms so today I’m sharing my two favourite chaga mushroom tea recipes, one with chia spices and the other with vanilla. Chaga Mushrooms are known for their incredible healing powers, especially when it comes to cancer as they are the highest food source of antioxidants.

Health Benefits of Chaga

Chaga is a mushroom that grows on birch trees, it actually looks like a big tumour on the side of a tree.  It is known for its cancer fighting and prevention properties. Chaga mushrooms are also:

• Antifungal so they work as immune system modulators and fight candida
• Packed with antioxidants, so much so that they have one of the highest ORAC values of foods ever found on earth
• Adaptogenic so they actually repair DNA and protect the body against tumour growth
• Detoxifying
• Chaga is excellent for boosting the immune system due to high levels of Beta-D-Glucans.
• If you struggle with digestion, chaga is great because it helps reduce bad bacteria in the gut.
• The acids found in chaga can break down bad cholesterol in the body which reduces the risk of high blood pressure and other symptoms of high cholesterol.
• Chaga chunks can be steeped or added to broth, the powder and extract can be added to hot chocolate, coffee, or smoothies.

Chaga is an amazing energy boosting superfood. Learn how to incorporate it into your meals and learn about other energy boosting foods in my online course Eat Clean for Energy.

 

Chai Chaga Mushroom Tea

(sugar-free, vegan, gluten-free)

Prep time: 2 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes to 10 hours | Serving size: 1 liter

Ingredients:

• 1 liter filtered water
• 4 chaga mushroom chunks
• 1 cinnamon stick or 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1-inch ginger or 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 5 whole cloves or 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 3 cardamom pods or 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 1 star anise or 1/4 tsp ground star anise
• ½ Tbsp black peppercorns or 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1/8 tsp stevia
• Splash of nut milk

Directions:

1. Place the water and chaga into a large pot along with spices if using whole spices.
2. Increase the heat to low and simmer gently for at least 30 minutes. It is really important that you do not boil, the hot temperature can corrupt the active ingredients in chaga mushrooms. If you would like a stronger brew, continue to gently heat for up to 10 hours, adding spices for the last 30 minutes.
3. Once brewed, remove the chaga mushroom chunks and store in the freezer. You can use them again up to 5 times as long as the brew is still a dark coffee like colour. If you used whole spices, remove and discard them. If you are using ground spices, add them now with the stevia.
4. Enjoy hot or chilled with a splash of nut milk. Store in the fridge for up to 14 days.

Vanilla Chaga Mushroom Tea Recipe

(sugar-free, vegan, gluten-free)

Prep time: 2 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes to 10 hours | Serving size: 1 liter

Ingredients:

• 1 liter filtered water
• 4 chaga mushroom chunks
• 10 drops of vanilla stevia

Directions:

1. Place the water and chaga into a large pot.
2. Increase the heat to low and simmer gently for at least 30 minutes. It is really important that you do not boil, the hot temperature can corrupt the active ingredients. If you would like a stronger brew, continue to gently heat for up to 10 hours.
3. Once brewed, remove the chaga mushrooms chunks and store in the freezer. You can use them again up to 5 times as long as the brew is still a dark coffee like colour.
4. Add 10 drops of vanilla stevia and enjoy hot of chilled. Store in the fridge for up to 14 days.

 

 

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