Chaga has bountiful health benefits and was used in traditional Russian folk medicine to address a myriad of health issues. When inspected closely, you will find that these trees do not have Chaga. Some of the trees are infected all over with these growths and as limbs succumb, they fall off to the ground. While native Alaskans and Siberians have cultivated and used chaga for generations, the explosion of chaga into worldwide consciousness is relatively recent, and there is much that is still not known about the mushroom. I never … Without the leaves blocking us, we can easily spot the dark chaga on the white birch tree. Chaga mushrooms take five to seven years to reach maturity and be harvested. Chaga often grows on older trees or trees with an exterior trauma. Use an ax or strong knife to cut it into 1″ – 2″ pieces to allow for faster drying. Chaga is a parasitic fungus that grows almost exclusively on standing, living birch (Betula) trees. It grows on several different kinds of trees, but birch trees are the only ones he harvests from because it has the most purported health benefits. Great Flavors To Mix With Chaga Mushroom Tea, Chaga Mushroom Benefits Your Immune System With Antioxidants. What Does Chaga Look Like And Where Does It Come From? Chaga thrives best in colder environments, and does not grow with any normal abundance in places without a cold climate. Chaga grows mainly on birch trees, so if you live in an area with birches, you will likely have Chaga nearby too. Foresters have yet to do a thorough study of how widespread Chaga infection is in temperate forests. Antioxidants and betulinic acid are two of the properties found in birch that give Chaga its potent benefits. Corky bark disease: Corky bark disease is especially common on aspen trees, and results in a burnt charcoal-like “cork” growth to appear on the bark of the tree. A Burl is a growth on tree bark that is part of the tree itself. While I had read that chaga occasionally grows on alder, elm, hornbeam, and beech, this was the first specimen I had ever seen not growing on a birch tree. Chaga (scientifically known as Inonotus obliquus) is a big fungus that typically grows on yellow and white birch trees; it has a black charcoal outside and a golden colour on the inside. This slow-growing fungus usually appears as a hard growth on the outside of yellow and white birch trees, and can grow to about 15 to 20 inches in size. In particular, it is most commonly found on paper (Betula papyrifera) and yellow (Betula alleghaniensis) birch trees. Chaga starts growing on the inside of the tree, and probably bursts through the side of the tree after a few years, though it's hard to tell how long it takes since no one knows when a tree is first infected. Look for paper birch, yellow birch, cherry birch, or heart-leaved birch when you look for chaga. It’s best to just knock off the exterior portion of the growth with a hatchet or hammer, and not dig into the tree. If you’ve seen a few birch trees, you’ve probably seen chaga, but might not have noticed it. I went chaga hunting in the summer once and it was a disaster. It is parasitic on birch and other trees. Chaga (Inonotus Obliquus) grows in colder climates in northern Europe, Canada, the northern parts of the United States, and Asia. Hunting for chaga in the wild can be extremely difficult—not only does it only grow in remote regions, but it often grows high up on trees. Chaga is unique and rare. I’d be happy to provide video or photographs of what I’m seeing if you like. Wild chaga growing on what I think is an alder tree ? You can enjoy the benefits of Chaga without having to be an expert. Chaga is a tree-growing fungus and is typically found on the sides of birch trees, though it can occasionally be found growing on other types of trees. “Trees can be harmed or killed when harvesting chaga if the harvester digs too deep and damages the internal tissues of the tree … Chaga mushrooms take several years to grow and do not grow on every tree, so they must be harvested in moderation and with caution,” writes Mallory Vanier, Ontario Nature’s boreal program intern in Thunder Bay. Garrett explains to me that chaga is a parasite fungus. Some people consider chaga to be medicinal. Most scientists view chaga as an infection that invades the tree through wounds, such as where a branch has broken off. The four types of birch trees Chaga grows upon are yellow birch, white birch, heart-leaved paper birch and cherry birch trees. It grows on many species of trees, but the desirable chaga grows on ... Chaga takes a very, VERY long time to grow. Several external pieces of chaga can often be found on just one birch tree. susana says: March 26, 2015 at 6:11 pm. Where does Chaga grow? By entering under a tree’s bark, the spores germinate and form a plurality of branched fungal filaments or hyphae. For many centuries, Russian and Polish folk medicine viewed chaga as a powerful remedy for a variety of diseases. Chaga Natural offers a variety useful products that have been harvested in the wild from birch trees. Chaga mushroom appears as black substance growing out of a tree and people often describe it as looking like burnt charcoal. Most scientists view chaga as an infection that invades the tree through wounds, such as where a branch has broken off. Chaga, like all fungi, reproduce by spores. Harvest Chaga responsibly – only chunks bigger than an apple. Chaga is a slow-growing fungus and must at least be 3 to 5 years old before it can be used for its benefits. As it matures, it protrudes from the tree. The Chaga Mushroom grows almost exclusively on birch trees. The first thing you notice is a tall shelf stacked with what looks like big, hard knots of charcoal with a softish, bright orange underside. Its definitely chaga and it is definitely not a birch tree. Chaga grows in the birch forests of Russia, Korea, and Eastern and Northern Europe, as well as the northernmost areas of USA and Canada. Chaga is one stage in the life cycle of Inonotus obliquus, a polypore mushroom that usually parasitizes birch and beech trees but may also be found on alder, chestnut, and hornbeam trees.The crusty blackened mass commonly called the Chaga "mushroom" is actually a sterile fungal body that precedes the actual spore-forming reproductive cycle of the Inonotus obliquus organism. Most often, chaga can be found on the trunks of old birch trees, and it more rarely affects other trees, such as alder, rowan, beech, elm, and maple. Dozens of hours lost looking at trees for nothing. It typically grows between 2 and 10 feet from the ground. If you decide to pick your own chaga, make sure always to take it from a living tree. Alexandra Wilson says: March 26, 2015 at 8:15 am. 3 Find large knobby growths on the trunk that resemble black charcoal. Chaga are hard, dark black, burnt-looking conks, and can grow as big as your head. Chaga is most often found on birch trees, to the point where it can easily be described as almost–but not totally–exclusive to birch tree species. The sterile conk is irregularly formed and has the appearance of burnt charcoal. Chaga is well known for its richness in Beta-Glucans, which contains cancer fighting properties, and a woody and loam notes taste. and Canada.It is sometimes called the clinker polypore, cinder conk, black mass and birch canker polypore. Chaga is a mushroom fungus which has been playing a popular role in alternative medicine and folk remedies for centuries, although it is only in the last few decades that the craze for chaga has reached international levels due to the increased easiness of selling chaga to countries where it is not normally found. Identify birch trees by their curly, paper-like bark. Chaga is parasitic on birch and eventually kills the host tree. This is how I will be preparing my chaga from now on. What we know as ‘Chaga’ is actually the dense black mass of mycelia (roughly 10″ to 15″ in size) that appears on the outside of birch trees infected with the non-toxic parasitic fungus Inonotus Obliquus. Chaga’s benefits are directly linked to how Chaga grows and what trees have Chaga. Peace to you as well! Studies have not been done to investigate the contents of Chaga from these trees. It varies in size and often seems quite unappealing. A burl will be closer to the original color of the bark, perhaps a bit darker. Τhey are found as parasites on the bark of deciduous trees like birch, beech, oak, and less commonly on poplar trees. We have ordered Chaga dowels from one of the top mycelia laboratories in Europe. Some people think it is medicinal. The spores, carried by the wind then enter the tree and start to develop. Chaga is not exclusive to birch trees, even though it is normally only found on birch trees. When the host trees die, so do the chaga mushrooms – becoming toxic with other molds, fungi, and mycotoxins. Only birch chaga has a curative effect". It appears as a large, rocky mass jutting out from the side of a tree trunk; this mass is known as the sclerotium. 3. Growths on other trees are often mistaken for Chaga. Chaga grows almost exclusively on birch trees. Its definitely chaga and it is definitely not a birch tree. Where does Chaga Mushroom Grow? Chaga’s relationship with the birch tree is symbiotic. What is a Chaga Mushroom? I have filmed the leaves of the tree, Maybe someone can identify it from the leaves. The four types of birch trees Chaga grows upon are yellow birch, white birch, heart-leaved paper birch and cherry birch trees. Note the black, cracked outer appearance and the orange interior (visible at its point of attachment to the tree). Why You Can’t Grow Chaga. Its outer material is usually black, brittle, and cracked, while its interior is golden-orange and cork-like. Because of the way grow Chaga mushrooms, its development on birch is significant to the health benefits associated with this fungus. If a birch is damaged and splintered at the top, chaga will fill in and eventually heal the damaged bark. It is less commonly found on alder, witchen, and bird cherry. When looking to identify Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus), you always want to look for the gold. It is said to provide a boost of energy. Chaga is a parasite that grows on the birch tree, so if the tree dies, the mushroom will too. Got hooked on chaga tea but ran out. Because of the way grow Chaga mushrooms, its development on birch is significant to the health benefits associated with this fungus. Leave some Chaga to grow for the future. Mistaken identity situations occur because there are various formations and other fungi which closely resemble chaga that can grow on trees; because chaga is best known for its very distinct appearance, which resembles that of a large piece of burnt black charcoal, people often assume that anything which captures a similar appearance is chaga. Chaga grows predominantly on birch trees, but may also be found on ash, elm, beech, alder, and perhaps some other species. The birch trees are contaminated by the spores of the chaga when it has an open wound. There are some other tree species which have been known to be host to chaga, including: elm trees, beech trees, hornbeam trees, and aspen trees. Geographically, the Chaga mushroom is largely found in colder climates of Russia, Northern Europe, Canada and Northern United States. The outer crust of the growth will be very dark and different from the color of the tree. “Trees can be harmed or killed when harvesting chaga if the harvester digs too deep and damages the internal tissues of the tree … Chaga mushrooms take several years to grow and do not grow on every tree, so they must be harvested in moderation and with caution,” writes Mallory Vanier, Ontario Nature’s boreal program intern in Thunder Bay. Chaga is found in birch populated hardwood forests throughout northern climatic zones. Chaga is a slow-growing fungus and must at least be 3 to 5 years old before it can be used for its benefits. Chaga is found on birch trees in the wild, the result of a natural interplay between the different types of life found in the world. Bits of fungal tissue from the conk are dispersed by wind and water to infect new host trees . Forge a connection with the Chaga trees When you find a wild Chaga Mushroom, the most ideal situation is to that the birch tree is vibrant and alive. The reason for chaga’s extreme abundance on birch trees is unknown, though some believe the presence of melanin in birch trees may be one of the reasons that the chaga fungus thrives on them. The first and biggest hurdle to growing chaga is the nature of how chaga grows. As Chaga grows, it concentrates the nutrients and compounds found in the tree. It takes about a decade for chaga to fully mature. Chaga mushrooms are found on the wounds of birch trees in Siberia, North America, Asia and Europe. How and Where Does Chaga Grow? Just like many other re-discovered wild foods and natural medicines that have been re-emerging from ancient memory, many have begun to realize that … A tree burl is an outward growth that is the result of environmental stress, such as pollutants, fungus, insect invasions, or physical trauma. Chaga grows predominantly on birch trees, but may also be found on ash, elm, beech, alder, and perhaps some other species. In fact, chaga has recently been reclassified as a member of the Hymenochaetaceae family, which includes a number of other dark, woody botanicals that grow on bark and decaying trees. This often leads newbies to misidentify tree burls as chaga, particularly from a distance. But after he had been working for several years after completing his master's degree, he had the chance to do more research on chaga, as a research fellow in the research group BioNatH at UiO. One of the easiest ways to ensure that you are using genuine Chaga is to purchase it. It is not believed that Chaga kills trees, but many old or damaged trees die with Chaga. Growth. However, according to Fungi Magazine, Chaga does not grow on cherry. The reason for chaga’s extreme abundance on birch trees is unknown, though some believe the presence of melanin in birch trees may be one of the reasons that the chaga fungus thrives on them. Chaga is parasitic and grows exclusively on living trees in birch forests in the northern hemisphere. However, it is assumed that because many of the beneficial compounds found in Chaga are unique to birch trees, Chaga harvested from other species will not have the same health benefits. Dozens of hours lost looking at trees for nothing. The Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a fungus that is parasitic on Birch Trees, and can be found in Russia, Korea, Eastern and Northern Europe, Northern areas of the United States (like Michigan!) This includes birch trees such as black birch trees, white birch trees, cherry birch trees, and other types of birch species. In order to establish a Chaga plantation, you should have a 0,25-2 ha forest with birch trees. Aspen or poplars are another tree that is commonly mistaken for birch. Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) grows primarily on birch, alder, and elm trees, and can be found throughout Siberia, Poland, Russia, and North America, particularly Canada. If you want some Chaga I can probably find some for you. Wounds, tumors and growths: Various bark wounds and tree diseases can result in the appearance of large wounds, tumors, and other growths that are very similar in appearance to chaga. It grows in colder climates in deciduous forests. It is often a different fungal growth or trauma. The chaga have a symbiotic relationship with the birches on which they grow, and often help to heal the trees. In 2010, a Canadian customer buying birch bark from his western Maine Spirit of the Woods business asked if Guay carried chaga, a hard, charcoal-colored fungus that grows mostly on birch trees … Chaga is most commonly found on birch trees. Here are the reasons why it is impossible to grow chaga on your own. When you find a wild Chaga Mushroom, the most ideal situation is to that the birch tree is vibrant and alive. It looks like a black mass growing on the side of a tree. Burls on hardwoods other than birch can also appear similar to Chaga, but there are a few distinct differences. They are touted with health benefits because of their high protein content and ability to provide vitamins and minerals when consumed. What we know as ‘Chaga’ is actually the dense black mass of mycelia (roughly 10″ to 15″ in size) that appears on the outside of birch trees infected with the non-toxic parasitic fungus Inonotus Obliquus. 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