Are Mushrooms the New Coffee? Using Chaga for Energy

Have you ever wished there was a better way to get your energy in the morning? That first cup of coffee can be a nice way to greet the day, but it comes with a lot of side effects. You might notice a rapid jolt of energy, followed by a jittery or anxious feeling and then a crash later on in the day.

You also have issues when it comes to caffeine dependence, which can last for days after you stop drinking coffee. The side effects of drinking too many energy drinks can be even worse!

So there must be an alternative. A way to get that same morning ritual, without all the extra baggage. Enjoy a nice warm cup that gives you energy, but in a more gradual, sustainable way.

Enter chaga mushroom, the Siberian superfood that has been making the rounds in everything from Mushroom coffee to hot chocolate. There is good reason for the popularity of chaga, as it can give you a great energy boost, and it actually has a flavor that can mimic that of fresh black coffee.

What is Chaga?

Chaga is a type of mushroom that grows on birch trees in colder climates like Siberia and North America. It creates a type of woody growth that almost resembles a lump of coal, but with a copper colored interior.

This mushroom has been used in medicine for centuries by people in Russia and Northern Europe to cure ailments and increase vitality. It is still used today and passed on through generations as an herbal remedy.

Because the texture of chaga mushroom is so tough and woody, it is indigestible. The best way to consume it and take advantage of its health properties is by boiling it in water and extracting the water soluble components from it.

The Supposed Origins of Chaga Coffee

Where the story of Chaga gets really interesting is during the 1940s in Finland. Today, Finland leads the world in per capita coffee consumption, giving you an idea of just how important the drink is in Northern Europe.

During World War II, the economy of Finland was hit hard and people began to ration their coffee. One creative solution was to blend it with ground up chaga mushroom. People found that they could grind up the chaga, infuse it in water overnight and then press it out in the morning.

The result is a dark black drink that tastes similar to coffee and can even give you a nice morning energy boost! Just because nowadays everyone can afford to drink coffee, doesn’t mean we can’t still take this wisdom and enjoy chaga coffee in our daily life. There are many benefits to it!

Benefits of Chaga

There is a laundry list of benefits that chaga has to offer, and if you want to learn all about them, you can read one of our latest blog articles which covers the 5 Health Benefits of Reishi and Chaga.

Just to cover a few of the highlights, the early studies on chaga mushrooms have shown some promising results. Because chaga is rich in antioxidants, it is thought to be able to help the body fight against cancer.

Chaga is also believed to have strong immunomodulatory effects. This means that it can both strengthen the immune system to prevent infection and also temper the body's response and reduce inflammation.

There are also promising studies that show chaga’s potential to reduce “bad” cholesterol, increase “good” cholesterol and lower blood sugar.

Chaga vs Coffee

The cherry on top is the fact that chaga seems to give you a natural energy boost without the caffeine. This means you can start the day off right, without having to worry about the negative side effects that can come from coffee or energy drinks.

A lot of people that drink coffee are actively looking for a substitute, and there’s no downside to trying chaga. In the next section, we’ll show you how to get the best out of this magical mushroom and create an extract that gives you a similar strength to a cup of black coffee. The drink even looks like coffee!

How to Make Chaga Coffee

You may know this by now, but to extract the most health benefits out of mushrooms, you will want to apply a high heat to them. This means that a mushroom tea or mushroom coffee can be the perfect way to take advantage of the plethora of health benefits chaga has to offer.

If you want to make your own mushroom coffee at home, follow these steps:

Step 1: Take 1 teaspoon of Course Chaga Powder and put it into a tea strainer or into a teapot

Step 2: Pour in 8 ounces of boiling water

Step 3: Allow the chaga to soak in the boiling water for at least 8 minutes. You should notice the color to change from a light brown to a dark black.

Step 4: Once you are done brewing, you can drain out the chaga and enjoy your chaga coffee! You should have a bold, earthy flavor similar to black coffee or a raw puerh tea.

You can experiment with the brewing time and the amount of chaga you use to control the strength of the brew. You may find that you like the drink to be a bit stronger so it is like black coffee, or you may prefer a more subtle extraction reminiscent of a nice herbal tea.

Where to get Chaga

So now that you know how to make a delicious cup of chaga coffee, the only thing left is to figure out where to get some great chaga.

Our chaga blend is crafted with love and care by a family of herbalists and it is wild-foraged on the banks of one of the world’s cleanest lakes. If you don’t want to miss out on all the benefits of chaga coffee, we recommend you pick some up today and start brewing!