Chaga Mushroom: The Harvest, Benefits, Processing, and Brew

Lets look at the superfood called chaga! Its amazing and offers so much value to an outdoorsman

[@20A_M_A8]

My mom just got cancer and just really wanna help her out. I'm only 14 though but i'm doing my best. Thanks for the vid bro.

[@lonewoodsman]

I was surprised to hear how many people thought that we don't have chaga here in Pa. I just harvested some a couple weeks ago. I love chaga tea, I also use it for fire after I make the tea with it. Just let it dry back out that way you can use it more than once, but I know you already knew that, lol. Thanks for sharing Dan keep 'em coming man, take care.

[@davidgodley521]

I started using chaga tincher a couple of years ago for stomach problems. When I retired from trucking this past April of 2020 I started making my own chaga tincher. It also controls my hypertension. By making my own it saves me many hundreds of dollars!

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

I am of mixed opinion on harvesting chaga. I do love the taste and health benefits of chaga but am concerned about the sustainability of over harvesting it. Of near equal value is the birch polypore that grows on dead birch. It does not taste as good (add honey) but they grow fresh every year. Thanks for sharing Dan

[@Hartwig870]

That might be a concern for dumbass, over-populated americans.

[@DriftWander770]

What do you do with birch polypore?

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

@@DriftWander770 I have a full video (2 videos actually) but pretty much the same as with chaga

[@backwoods_barbarian4134]

Quite the find! Thanks for sharing, this is one of the better videos I’ve seen on Chaga. Good stuff and thanks for sharing.

[@nikokorhonen1339]

Oh yeah the chaga is really good. We have it a lot in here Finland (we call it pakuri didnt even know the english name before this video) I have to try that mint and mapple syrap as I have them both right now in my kitchen. And some of that "pakuri" too offcourse ;) Thanks for the video and all the others. Love your channel. Very good information for managing in wilderness.

[@gabhandebrun1871]

Liked the video 👍 I love chaga it’s very hard to get over here in Ireland as there’s only two birch forests with silver an Downey birch but I did get s decent find of a 3lbs last year But none since I love it on its own with drop of maple syrup an I brew it for at least 2/3 hours I now you were out in the bush an it’s not doable but it’s a lovely Drink that’s great for many things.. happy hunting 👍

[@williamrobinson4265]

just watched the reishi video and now back to this - all your mushroom videos are great! I can feel your genuine enthusiasm

[@outdoordauber]

Great stuff!! Found two large chagas in eastern Centre County 2 years ago while logging. Like basketball sized large! Harvested both leaving a good bit behind to regrow.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Very cool find! Enjoyed the video!

[@evanescence2]

That's awesome thank you so much for making this video! I use Chaga and a bunch of other mushrooms daily and it's been amazing so far. I'll definitely try this it in the spring! 👍

[@natureisallpowerful]

I found my first chaga today in England where its quite rare, I'm having it with Turkey tail tea

[@micheloff-grid4248]

Dan very niçe that you find some so far south .i got a lots here north Bc ...yes it is better to harvest in the cold day of winter about February. It hurt me to see you cutting in the middle of it your last ax touch that the way to do it you did very good no arm to the tree and the chaga I just it it very gently FEWs time on the line that you find by accident and twist my ax and it come of ... Now dried it very good .....I cut very tin slice whit my knife and put it in hot water by the stove ..I also concentrate it and add it to warm water on the trail .. For the new at bush life lessons at Dan and others that are act safely..and you be enjoying it for a life time ...

[@phillipbruce6280]

Chaga can be found easily here in North Georgia. Recently found a basketball size one encircling a dead birch at knee level. Outer bark was deteriorating and peeled off fairly easily but inner conk still in great shape.

[@robnance1683]

Good information on where and how to harvesting chaga for many uses and health benefits!

[@johnnyrebel5458]

Sweet vid, your stuff is great from 1 bush crafter/survivalist to another always good stuff!!

[@teresagyetvai439]

Yes its in pa. My son gets me it all the time ❤

[@elliottdmann]

Love your intro, your logo, and the vid quality is great. Good work!

[@colincoker204]

I'd love to try this stuff I think I have found some growing on a birch tree on the edge of a forestry plantation frowning on the bush edge here in New Zealand. I will be taking a closer look at it in the every near future.

[@davidmiller4734]

Went on my first chaga hunt this mornin and with luck found a smaller piece

[@Bazza5000]

Good job, Dave. Would love to learn from outdoorsy people about finding chaga, turkey tail, and magic mushrooms. I have a lot of respect for nature and medicinal mushrooms.

[@dreamcreationsadventures]

I love chaga tea, I really would love to find and harvest my own. I really enjoyed this video

[@pinayinsklee]

Love it with coffee . Good presentation.

[@matthewhaley-xy1ui]

Love your channel. Chaga Cured my diverticulitis .when antibiotics would not. Magical fungi.

[@Flashahol]

I've seen plenty of it while camping back when I had no idea what it was. Could have taken a grocery bag of the stuff and left a lot more in some places. Now that I am looking for it, they are so much harder to find, contrarily to Unicorns and Fairies. Chaga must therefore be the favorite food of invisible creatures so they hide it from humans, mostly those that are looking for it! Seriously, I just need to go back camping to those places where I saw plenty.

[@Needagoodnamebutcantthinkofone]

Well my soon-to-be fiance laughed at me because I thought I bought a small bottle of maple syrup whiskey a bit calico well I will use that to make me some chaga and pine needle tea let's see how this goes, I would love to come down there but I can't ever afford it at least not for a long time and by then I'm an old man.,...... But thank you for your videos I only watched the ones from the people I trust and well you welcome you made the cut!!! Thank you again for everything

[@SuperBlackheart99]

That's so cool. I really want to try this. My senses have "dulled" in recent years due to certain medications I'm on. I would do ANYTHING to be quick witted again. I have just come across a channel you might be interested in. Another Pennsylvanian...Learn Your Land....a VERY intelligent teacher of mushroom & plant hunting, identification, & uses. I just bought my first pocket guide on wild mushrooms as well. It's something I've wanted to learn more about for a long time.

[@bushcraftnorthof6012]

rude dogg Outdoors just check with your doctor first to make sure Chaga is compatible with your medication!

[@timothylongmore7325]

Adam Harritan is great. Look up lionsmane and reishi. And like the other guy said , ask your doctor. Avoid chaga if your on diabetic medicine.

[@EdgewoodOutdoors]

Great video man, I am going to be looking for some chaga this weekend.

[@grimreaper6557]

awesome video great find thank you so very much for this lesson i have add it to my medicinal log book

[@thepatrioticwoodsman]

Another good one Dan!! Keep them coming, I’m going out this weekend and I’m going to be on the look out for this!

[@Needagoodnamebutcantthinkofone]

Your damn right is here in Pennsylvania, I might have had to go to extreme lengths to get some but I did and it was right here in NE PA..... AND WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID It was really good when I made tea from it, I'm pretty sure I came from a yellow birch I was calling it a silver birch but now that I think back it was probably a birch

[@ebony5766]

I really want to try this!

[@davidgodley521]

It also decalsifies the pineal gland.

[@surjracer56]

At home I will grind it up with a nutmeg grinder and add it into my coffee grinds when making my morning brew. Been collecting Chaga in Pa. since I was a scout.

[@kz900dohc]

Great video like always Dan! You the Man!

[@larryeddings3185]

Interesting and informative video.

[@pnyarrow]

No stay in the woods guys - terrible LoL. Thanks for another great presentation! ATB

[@aaronaaron4155]

Ok this is going to sound funny but, I know a guy who knows a guy lol Anyway, my friend's friend was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago. It was bad enough that the Dr's told him to just go home and enjoy the time he had left. So the guy starts drinking chaga tea every day and after a few months he goes back to the Dr and his cancer is gone! I realize it could be a fluke but having cancer myself recently I'm definitely going to try this!!

[@2338]

Chaga is a useful thing. Thank you for the video

[@kinghenry056]

Dont have chaga in Kauai. So I went on Amazon and ordered me some. I usually mix it with green tea, peppermint tea and honey. I love the taste and I've been drinking it every day for a month now.

[@timothylongmore7325]

Way cheaper on ebay. That's where i sell. Please avoid some sellers that push overpriced processed chaga. Usually ground. They are sometimes the guys that are abusing the resource. I just shipped to Hawaii , aloha

[@sb2261]

Great video, very informative

[@nrsrchd]

I take mine once steeped, put in a mason jar and seal and put in the fridge and let set 24 hours. Next day it will taste good enough to substitute for my taste as black tea with sugar, even though I added no sugar.

[@petersymons7817]

Thank you

[@tomsommer54]

We have Chaga here in North West Arkansas Ozarks. I just started on it. There's a good chance I have Prostate Cancer, so I am hoping it will help.

[@brianferris1233]

🌲🦅🌲 thank you for sharing your videos today 🌲🦌

[@jeremyhicks6367]

Thanks for sharing!

[@curleex3838]

Add a spoon of Manuka honey to that tea but not when its boiling, allow to cool a little before adding honey, adding honey to boiling water changes its chemistry so always wait till its cooler but its a delicious tea

[@iconofsin1043]

Great info, I just found a huge chunk of chaga! It's twice the size of my head!!

[@kijkedwin]

It's a great source of melanin

[@natureswildplayground]

Makes a good tincture as well takes some time to do but well worth it

[@jessicaneidlinger6353]

Great info!

[@Fistmybeer]

Epic!!! 🍄 :DD

[@Needagoodnamebutcantthinkofone]

This is one of the few videos I trust, I trust you basically but also because I trust you I trust this video I'm about to go on my own hunt hopefully tomorrow but I need to make sure I know what and where to look and on top of that it's not so much what it's just the best conditions to find this gold....

[@louisdoucet1498]

My mother who lives up north in Quebec was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer at 79 years of age. I made it a point to go to the forest with my daughter and respectfully remove some, not all Chaga from a white birch tree and for a week every night we all drank some brewed Chaga, The doctor cleared her of all cancers at age 83 I'm not saying that cured her because she did go through cancer treatment however the elusive beauty of Chaga will always remain a curious mystery.

[@sb2261]

Chaga is a fungus and kills the trees, but hacking into the tree kills it faster. I was always told, just pry at it and take what the tree gives you. And also to boil in chunks rather than grinding it like a lot of people do, because you can dry it out and use it again.

[@Hartwig870]

Nah grind it up. You're hardly extracting anything from the core of those chunks. You can reuse the ground up chaga as well.

[@jbbolts]

@@Hartwig870 I just harvested my first this week... I'm trying to figure out which parts are good for tea. Is it the whole including the black part? thnx

[@timothylongmore7325]

That's exactly what I do. Many confuse tea and Hot water extraction. The chunks work better for both , IMO . When you grind you have press the grounds to get most of the liquid out. For tea I steep in a mason jar. Alittle longer for each batch and when spent I re-dry and soak i vodka or everclear for alcohol extraction. For HWE I use fresh chunks in the crock pot.

[@linklesstennessee2078]

Good stuff there Dan I have to order mine from Chaga mountain all we have here is yellow birch (river birch ) I have never seen any on river birch here

[@waveman0]

I live in Australia and never get chaga naturally in the wild so would never waste it in tea, I have to import it if I want it, but Board Force has taken exception to importing it recently apparently it is 'suspect' so I can't import it. Thankfully I did get some in before they lost their minds. I only use it sparingly. It is magnificent for fire lighting.

[@shanemccauley8354]

Another awesome one I have used Chaga for fire many way but was reluctant to make a tea and no one has a good video about chaga tea so thanks for this one. Also I would love too know where you got the pot I have to have one. Yanks again

[@phil1fox]

This is what we have in North Carolina around Charlotte

[@bushcraftnorthof6012]

No maple syrup to be had naturally up here, but add in some birch sap, and oh man! Awesome. Take care.

[@lail118]

We have this here in N.C.

[@markatkinson9963]

Thanks for this!

[@vihorvetrov]

Good video.

[@TheFlatlander440]

Thanks for your insight Dan. I had a friend drop off a chunk of Chaga he harvested last Fall and I was wondering how long it will last? I haven't tried to make tea with it yet but your vid has inspired me to make some. I have a lot of Birch trees on my property here in northeastern Vermont but have yet to find any Chaga, and trust me I've been looking. Thanks again. Cheers!

[@coalcracker]

I have change from 5 years ago it’s still fine

[@tamiaswildcraftingoutdoora3495]

You just want to be sure that you keep it dry and out of sun

[@TheFlatlander440]

I made some Chaga tea quite a few times since I posted last month. I brew it then steep with some mint leaves and a pinch of nutmeg. Tasty. Yep, I store it in a paper bag in my pantry so it stays dry.

[@tamiaswildcraftingoutdoora3495]

William Logan that's great! While I'm thinking about chaga, I'll add that as a forager it's one of the best smelling things in nature. I only harvest the larger conks that fall off without a tool, and in winter when I can dry them by the wood stove. And when the first splits develop in it from drying if you smell it you'll understand. Can't even describe it to you!

[@TheFlatlander440]

I have silver, yellow and white birches on my property here in northeastern Vermont and I'm keeping a lookout for more Chaga. Thanks for your insight. Cheers!

[@edfaringer8671]

Thanks for sharing sir…Ed

[@7ali7]

I also think unless I'm mistaken, that Logan Ninefingers was partial to a Chaga pipe

[@Bushmanschool]

Great information that you bro

[@djbradles]

Love Chaga. One thing I notice many people say is don’t keep the bark on there. I have to disagree with this as birch bark has also numerous benefits. No problems at all with leaving a bit on there.

[@couz10]

Try a cinnamon stick in your steep. Can’t go wrong with honey or maple sirup (the real stuff !!). I like to steep mine about 45 mins on very low heat. Just a preference thing. I use it mostly for fire, nothing beats it imo. Thanks!

[@northmountainoutdoors1523]

where you at? Im in Pa too.

[@zulu5oscar765]

Good video

[@rgr798]

Did not know chaga grew in the south, good for yinz all

[@benterwellen]

Im in Mi, we have a lot of birch so we have chaga , there is also some resourceful guy that harvests it and sells it, on my property i have plenty for personal use.......

[@electrominded8372]

Pro tip: the less golden and more "dark chocolatey" the interior is, the more potent the chaga.

[@Silvertip1958]

I found some in Western Kentucky. Maybe those highlanders don’t want people to look for it elsewhere?

[@SuperJhon360]

What's that rare bubble like mushroom that they say only grows in hundred year old birch forests it emerges like a pimple on the tree and it has amazing properties as well.

[@adhikariindia]

It seems chaga has immense benefit since he is going to forest and cooking .

[@evelynbecker4916]

I've heard so many wonderful things about magic mushrooms but I can't easily get some, Is there any realiable source I can purchase from??

[@geraldmiller5343]

I'm so interested in the experience but am terrified of having a bad trip

[@annamason3087]

I did two grams last time, it was a thrilling experience and I enjoyed it

[@lauramaria2212]

Mushrooms aren't like acid. You don't hallucinate, you just see some colors, and things move. I've never heard of anyone having a bad trip on shrooms.

[@Dwayne638]

(doctor_mckenzie) Sells psychedelics

[@geraldmiller5343]

This whole thing is pretty new to me, can I try 3grams?

[@stevekulbacki5238]

I found it to be almost bitter. It is a one of a kind flavor.

[@reneguenther2832]

Actually, bark wouldn't hurt you, in fact indigenous people have used birch bark tea for a very long time. I would suggest using the back of your axe to pulverize it so it would steep more effectively

[@tommyeaves9686]

I've found it on red oak trees

[@billybibbit9146]

NA here. Been looking for this for a while now. Still no luck...

[@Needagoodnamebutcantthinkofone]

I have a question, what about mixing it with pine nut tea and then throwing in some mint or whatever you want to flavor it with?

[@bohdaj]

very good, I like that you recommend not to take all of it, and leave some behind ...

[@heidimariebee]

Which area of PA?

[@armandoisaurralde3377]

Chaga😎😍😍😍🙏💪👍

[@joayers4246]

We don't have much to any birch in our woods around here, does Chaga grow on any other species?

[@dannyshamounmusic]

I just recently put Chaga Extract in alcohol to make a tincture is that bad for Chaga Extract as apposed to Raw Chaga ? Im new to this any advise would be great

[@joshuaj.aguero2225]

Nah man leave it in the alcohol and then once its extracted strain it out and then steep it in a little hot, not boiling, water for a good while. Then add the water to the alchol. Thats the double extract process and is supposed to be more thorough than just an alcohol or water extract alone.

[@timothylongmore7325]

What Joshua said. this unlocks the cancer fighting properties. Don't boil at any point of the process.

[@eddiezero1403]

I found two chunks of what I believe is Chaga. One on the tree the other was water logged on the ground. The one from the tree looks great, just like your video, the one from the ground, is drying and looking very mahogany colored. Do you think the ground one is no good and I should just stick with the one off the tree itself? Can chaga fall off a tree naturally?

[@krissihyland2350]

Is there a reason you didn’t dehydrate it first?

[@ShughaKane]

Maybe use a small hand saw will give you more control when harvesting?

[@timothylongmore7325]

that's what I use. Not small though. I don't harvest little tiny one like in this video. Sometimes though you'll get an inny that you can't saw off. A hachet and a mallet works good on them.

[@3nertia]

Be honest, how bad does it taste? Can you describe the flavor? Anyone?

[@timothylongmore7325]

Bland , woody , slight raisin , some say vanilla. I don't don't think so tho

[@brentweigelt5365]

Great Video!!! Dan, are there any concerns with the amount/strength of Chaga Tea (If you over do the amount of Chaga in your Tea)?

[@coalcracker]

Not that I have ever read

[@timothylongmore7325]

I red a comment from a woman who claim it destroyed her kidneys. I think it was a pre-existing condition and the reaction from the chaga may have saved her by making her aware of the condition. do some research I have heard conflicting stories regarding diabetes and chaga

[@davidoftheforest]

I drink chaga tea everyday

[@mariawinzler]

Where in PA. I live in MD and I really want to go out that way to get some. Please let me know exactly where you were at.

[@timothylongmore7325]

Go anywhere in the mountains. In the mid atlantic it's mostly in higher elevation. In PA it's pretty wide spred but the mountains will be more apt to have public land. Check the laws. They're kind of vague in NY

[@cryptomg]

You can find it in Maryland

[@antchung2370]

I have a question.. is it possible after brewing on the chaga to dry them out and reuse them as fire starters??

[@MrAllan9]

The chaga does have to dry according to the big pickers, but cut them while they are soft because they get rock hard when dried, and never boil them or it damages the medacine.

[@mr.fisher3973]

When you say chaga can be found in Pennsylvania - how prevalent are you talking? Is it really easy to find or more on the difficult side? I live in Ohio about 45 miles from the Pennsylvania border and I would travel to go harvest it rather than pay for it online!!! Great video.

[@outdoordauber]

GoFeesh 85 - As a part time logger and avid hunter / outdoorsman, I spend a good bit of time in the woods. In my experience, chaga can be quite prevalent if you're in the right microcosm. In a Birch forest, it shouldn't be too hard to find. On an oak ridge, you won't see any at all. It's more of a north / south issue, so in central or northern Ohio, you should be able to find some.

[@coalcracker]

I find it very often

[@mr.fisher3973]

Outdoor Dauber thank you for the info- I’m in east central Ohio and we don’t have it around here. It’s just so expensive to buy over the Internet.

[@outdoordauber]

GoFeesh 85 - I would think there is some to be found. Maybe Dan's supply in the Coalcracker store will be within your budget.

[@timothylongmore7325]

@@mr.fisher3973 I sell dry conks on ebay for about $12 per lb for dry conks. $ 20 for ready to use chunks. That's about a gallon zip-lock bag full. Use 4-5 times , that means about $4 per lb. About as cheap as coffee. My price is the trend setter i think. Some siberian is cheaper but I wouldn't trust a russian seller personally. Most sellers are signifacantly more and amazon is rediculous.

[@deweywesley6262]

Excellent Dan. Would recycling the used chaga (brewed) when set out to dry be just as good for tinder as chaga just harvested. Love your vids.

[@timothylongmore7325]

Yes but use it up. 4-5 brewing. You can use it for tincture still too. ( alcohol extraction). It gets a little mushy after this tho.

[@themasterofnone3324]

Mine doesn't turn that dark in color could my chaga be to old possibly?

[@coalcracker]

Not sure honestly. Steep it longer.

[@themasterofnone3324]

I'm new to it so that could be it, thanks for the reply I'll definitely try that. New to the channel definitely a fan keep it up man

[@kidbach]

So, this will be in the Coalcracker store soon?

[@coalcracker]

Hell why not! I’ll put it up this week

[@YogsenForfoth]

I’ve been taking chaga supplements (combined with the other mushroom supplements and vitamins I take) for about a year now, and I can honestly say that I’ve never felt healthier in my entire life. Would highly recommend. Check out Paul Stamets company Host Defense. They make some of the most trustworthy and reputable supplements.

[@willybee3056]

I hear, if you drink alot of it, you'll grow facial hair. 🤓😲😲😲😲😲 Keep em coming, ,, tanx