Chaga / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible
The Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a unique fungus prized for its medicinal properties and revered in traditional medicine for centuries. Growing primarily on birch trees in colder climates, this irregular, black, crusty growth may not look like a typical mushroom, but its benefits are anything but ordinary. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and bioactive compounds, Chaga is often used to make teas, tinctures, and extracts thought to support immune health, reduce inflammation, and promote overall wellness.
While not widely found in the UK, it’s becoming increasingly popular among foragers and herbal enthusiasts for its therapeutic potential.
In this post, we’ll explore how to identify Chaga, its traditional and modern uses, and how to sustainably harvest and prepare it to unlock its health-boosting properties.
Scientific Name
Inonotus obliquus
Common Names
Chaga, Clinker Polypore, Cinder conk, Black mass and Birch canker polypore
Family
Hymenochaetaceae
Habitat
Chaga is parasitic on birch and other trees and causes a white heart rot to develop in the host tree. They can be found in forests all across the Northern hemisphere, but are more common in places where air quality is good.
Description
An occasional find in the UK. The conk is irregularly formed and resembles burnt charcoal. It is not the fruiting body of the fungus, but a sclerotium or mass of mycelium, mostly black because of a substantial amount of melanin.
Identifying Features of Chaga:
Sclerotium:
Chaga’s sclerotium (the bit we see emerging from the tree) is what is most noticeable, it is somewhat gnarly in appearance and has a very tough texture. The interior colour is amber or a rusty yellow-brown. The whole conk is between 10–25 centimetres wide,
Life cycle:
Chaga spores enter the tree through wounds, the spores establish in the heartwood and cause white rot decay. While the tree is alive, only sterile mycelial masses are produced (the Sclerotium). The sexual stage begins after the tree, or at least part of the tree, is killed by the infection. The fungus will then begin to produce fertile fruiting bodies underneath the bark. These bodies begin as a whitish mass that turn to brown with time. Since the sexual stage occurs almost entirely under the bark, the fruiting body is rarely seen. These fruiting bodies produce spores which will spread the infection to other vulnerable trees, thus completing their lifecycle.
Smell:
No distinctive smell when raw. Earthy when heated..
Uses
In food
It is traditionally grated or ground into a fine powder and used to brew a coffee like beverage. I love it mixed with Cocoa, to make the ultimate wild mocha!
It can also be used as a cocoa powder alternative when baking to add an interesting earthy taste.
Here’s a great recipe for Chaga and Roseflower macaroons.
Medicinal Uses of Chaga
Acclaimed as ‘’The Gift of The Gods’’ by Siberian Natives, people in Northern Europe and Russia have used chaga mushrooms for hundreds of years, consuming them in herbal teas to boost their immunity. They have had a huge resurgence in the last few years and many people buy supplements containing Chaga and there is huge amount of on going research exploring their medicinal properties.
Some early animal and lab studies on chaga have shown promising results for strengthening the immune system and fighting cancer,, but more studies and clinical trials are needed to confirm whether these potential benefits hold true for people.
To read more about the medicinal benefits of Chaga click here.
Harvesting
NEVER remove all the chaga or the tree will be harmed. Harvest only very large conks and leave at least 25% of it on the tree!
Known hazards
Chaga mushrooms are also high in oxalates, which can increase the risk of kidney stones. Those who have kidney disease, a prior history of kidney stones, or who are at risk of kidney stones should not take chaga.
Chaga may interact poorly with blood-thinning medications and diabetes medications.
Chaga Potential lookalikes
They are quite distinctive, the most likely thing to confuse them with would be a burl, these are rounded swollen lumps, found near the base and trunk believed to form when a tree’s growth hormones are disrupted due to stress, causing abnormal cell development.
Burls often have branches growing from them and Chaga comes away from the host tree quite easily whereas you’d need an axe or chainsaw to remove a burl.
Possible some forms of artists conk mushroom
Extra Notes
They are pretty rare in England and are easiest found over the winter months when the tree is without leaves and often they are completely out of reach.
They can also be used for fire lighting, without the need for any processing. You just remove the outer black layer and dry it out a little. But this does seem a bit of a waste in my opinion.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inonotus_obliquus
https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-chaga-mushrooms