What Is Chaga, And How Do We Use It?

     It was a Friday night in Amery, Wisconsin. The fire was high, and it was surrounded by like minded folks, all assembled to enjoy the Winter Camping Symposium. Enter the newcomer, a bushcrafter from Michigan. He appeared carrying a tripod made from deadfall, a metal pot full of water, and a pot stick to hang it from.
     "Would anybody be interested in some Chaga tea?" asked the bearded woodsman.
     And the questions flew!
     "What the heck is Chaga?" asked an older gentleman in a down vest and Stormy Kromer hat.
     "It's a mushroom that grows on Birch trees." Responded the newcomer.
     Several people shied away, while some of the younger crowd were all, "I'll try the mystery mushrooms!" Yes, it was just as funny as it sounds!

     Chaga (Inonotus Obliquus) is a parasitic fungus found frequently on live Birch trees and sometimes on recently dead trees. It has a blackened, charcoal like color on the outside. I, as well as other teachers of the craft, quite frequently describe Chaga as resembling a large hunk of bear crap, usually just out of reach.
     When removed from the tree, the inner core of the fungus is cork like in texture, with a dark orange color. Quite often the fungus will have grown into the tree trunk, and the closest part of the fungus to the tree will have powdered pieces of wood stuck to it. This is where the fungus is actually breaking the tree down.                        
     Chaga is found all across the Northern part of the Northern hemisphere. It has been used as a folk remedy in Russia, Eastern and Northern Europe, and can be found in the Northern US and throughout Canada. While laboratory tests have been conducted concerning Chaga's qualities as an antioxidant and cancer fighting properties, many in the positive, no clinical studies have been done assessing the safety of Chaga's possible interactions with other medicines.
   
     Chaga is known as True Tinder Fungus. While the dark outside and deep brown outer layers are excellent for tea, the orange, cork layer makes an excellent coal extender when dried. A traditional flint and steel, ferro cerium fire steel, or even a match will create an ember in the Chaga that can only be extinguished by drowning, or by cutting out the burning area.I have even spun a bow drill coal into a piece of Chaga.

     False Tinder Fungus (Fomes Fomentarius) resembles a grey horse's hoof. It is also found on Birch trees, mostly on dead specimens. It can indeed produce a coal, but some processing is necessary.

     Chaga Tea:
Break the black and dark chocolate colored layers into small pieces, or keep them in palm sized chunks and reboil later.

Place in a pot of cold water and place pot over heat.

Heat until a rolling boil is achieved, then adjust the pot to maintain a rolling boil for several minutes without letting the pot boil over.

When the brew is dark in color, (like a super dark coffee) remove from heat and tap the sides repeatedly, letting
the ripples settle the grounds.

Serve hot,cold, or even with cream and sugar.

Things like Wintergreen, Labrador Tea, or Pine needles can be added to create a potent bush tea with many nutritional properties.

     Safe journeys!
          ~Jeffy!                     http://www.commonfolkselfreliance.com/Default.asp