Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a type of mushroom that grows mainly on the bark of Birch Trees in Northern climates such as Northern Europe, Siberia, Russia, Korea, Northern Canada and Alaska. It’s been used in China since ancient times, some literature dates it’s use to over 3000 years ago. Chaga was traditionally taken as a tea but over time research has shown its efficacy is best in extract form.*

Chaga has been given folk names like “The Gift from the Gods” and “King of Herbs” and while these names might not be accurate in a literal sense, it does show the respect Chaga was given in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Chaga is also known by other names, such as black mass, clinker polypore, birch canker polypore, cinder conk and the sterile conk trunk rot (of birch).