Chaga tea consumption has been shown to aid in fighting cancer, regulating blood pressure, improving immune function and providing energy-enhancing effects similar to caffeine without disrupting sleep cycles. Although much of this evidence relies on folk medicine rather than scientific data, chaga does seem to have positive impacts on our bodies.

Traditionally utilized as a herbal remedy in Russia and other Baltic nations, chaga has long been utilized as an herbal remedy. Chaga mushrooms contain calcium, silicon, iron, copper, zinc potassium rubidium and sulfur as well as antioxidants which protect the body against free radical damage. Chaga mushroom has even been known to destroy cancer cells in Petri dishes; an encouraging sign though no cure. Chaga may help with chronic fatigue symptoms as well as heart and digestive health concerns although further research needs to be completed in this regard.

Chaga can be prepared as tea in various ways. Some prefer steeping it using similar methods and equipment as for coffee brewing; other people enjoy slowly simmering it over low heat for four hours to create a rich, dark, bitter, yet calming beverage which some find therapeutic. Chaga tea can also be sweetened with maple syrup, honey or milk and enjoyed as an early morning alternative to coffee; any leftover can even be stored in the fridge and rewarmed without losing flavor or nutrients.

To create your own pot of chaga tea, break one chunk into various sizes depending on how much tea you wish to make. Smaller chunks should be left in place and steeped for one hour while larger pieces may simmer up to four hours. Chaga can then be enjoyed either alone, sweetened and added to other blends to give an unique taste and nutritional benefits; or used as the basis for soups, stews, or smoothies.

Dried chaga can be broken down into fine powder for use with tea infusers or directly ground into coarser powder for soups, stews or as an ingredient for other tea bags. Any extra tea should be stored in the fridge and consumed within three days to avoid spoilage. Alternatively, dry chaga can also be used as a fire starter during backwoods expeditions, held close to flame until smoke begins erupting from within it before being wrapped securely in leather for transport.