International demand for chaga mushroom is growing due to the reported health-boosting properties.
Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is primarily consumed in tea or tincture form and is also available in extract capsules. Chaga is also available in bulk powder form.
Chaga mushroom powder is decocted and steeped to extract the mushroom’s beneficial phytonutrients, of which over 240 have been identified.
Chaga is a slow-growing, parasitic fungus found on trees, particularly birch trees. It is indigenous to cool climates and has been used in folk medicine traditions throughout Asia for centuries, particularly in Siberia.
It is used traditionally to treat a variety of ailments – from gastritis to cancer – and to promote good health. While not proven, Siberian chaga is widely thought to be the finest in the world because it possesses high concentrations of beneficial nutrients.
The mushroom must be cut from living and not dry or fallen trees. If the tree is dead (either fallen or dry standing) the nutritional and health benefits of the mushroom dramatically decrease. [2] The mushroom extract can then be made into a liquid tincture or be brewed into a tea.
As demand for chaga increases worldwide, so too does the risk of purchasing imitation or low concentration products.



- Supports the immune system
- Anti-inflammatory with highest ORAC score
- Natural source of superoxide dismutases (SOD)
Chaga Mushroom Powder
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The chaga mushroom is purported to stimulate the immune system, be useful in the treatment of some cancers, and reduce inflammation and protect the liver.
It is also thought to have strong adaptogenic properties. Adaptogens are chemicals that help people better cope with stress, allowing them to perform more effectively at work and achieve a better quality of life.
Although chaga has great pharmaceutical importance in parts of Asia, its function remains largely unknown in Western medicine and research is currently underway to examine these claims and understand the mechanisms behind the mushroom’s purported uses.
Components of the chaga mushroom have illustrated some ability to aid in cancer treatment [5] and to stimulate the immune system, [4] but that no evidence exists to support the suggestion that chaga powder can reduce inflammation or protect the liver. [3] Clinical trials are still needed to verify these results in a human population.
Studies have indicated that chaga mushrooms may help ward off oxidation caused by free radical damage [1] and studies have shown that components of the chaga mushrrom exhibit antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and antipyretic properties. [3]
Although it is not commonly associated with any significant side effects, there is insufficient clinical data to verify any purported therapeutic effects. Research is ongoing to determine the therapeutic capacities of this mushroom extract.
Buying Chaga Mushroom Powder
There are several key factors to look for when purchasing chaga extract powder. In general, these are the same factors you would look for when making any purchase, especially if purchasing online.
There are brick-and-mortar establishments that sell this mushroom, but the majority of sales occur online. This means it can be difficult to distinguish between vendors.
Health Food Stores
If you’re shopping at a health food store and can see the chaga before you buy it, there are some characteristic features that can help ensure you are getting what you pay for.
Chaga mushrooms have a hard, woody outer layer. This outer layer is very dark in color because it is loaded with melanin, a brown-to-black pigmenting substance.
Besides providing skin tone, melanin protects skin cells from external and internal damages. More bioavailable melanin encourages prolonged skin elasticity and reduces the signs of aging.
On the inside of the chaga, the softer “meat” is a burnt orange/dark yellow color. Fresh chaga is a chore to cut up and grind, and it gets tougher as it ages. If you are buying raw mushroom chunks to grind yourself, you may want to consider a commercial coffee grinder to produce the powder yourself.
A lower-grade coffee grinder can be used, but it won’t take the repetitive abuse of chaga grinding very well. If you’re interested in long-term chaga supplementation, a quality grinder is a helpful tool.
Online Suppliers
The convenience of online shopping, and the fact that most suppliers are not based in Canada or the United States, makes chaga supplements particular vulnerable to fraud and misrepresentation.
There are various high-quality chaga mushroom suppliers online, but it’s important to protect yourself from making poor purchases by taking a few precautionary measures.
- Check out the supplier’s website. Look for professionalism.
- Look for clearly presented contact information, and then take a minute to make contact. Send an email. Make a quick phone call. Does the email receive a prompt response? Is the phone call received professionally?
- Be mindful of any official affiliations and recommendations the supplier may have. Are their chaga products wild harvested? Are they organic?
- Read what previous customers have to say about the chaga mushroom powder supplier you are considering doing business with. Do a quick online search.
By performing due diligence while shopping for chaga powders, you may save yourself from a negative experience. The majority of suppliers are legitimate, but there may be important differences in the quality of chaga mushroom powder sold by different vendors.
- Najafzadeh, M., Reynolds, P.D., et al. Chaga mushroom extract inhibits oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Biofactors. 2007;31(3-4):191-200.
- Shikov, A.N., et al. 2014 Medicinal Plants of the Russian Pharmacopoeia: their history and applications. J Ethnopharmacol. Jul 3;154(3):481-536.
- Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 2011. Integrative Medicine: Chaga Mushroom. July 11.
- Wasser, S.P., Weis, A.L. Therapeutic effects of substances occurring in higher Basidiomycetes mushrooms: a modern perspective. Crit Rev Immunol. 19(1):65-96.
- Youn, M, Kim, J., et al. 2009. Potential anticancer properties of the water extract of Inontus obliquus by induction of apoptosis in melanoma B16-F10 cells. J Ethnopharmacol. Jan 21;121(2):221-8.
Article last updated on: May 10th, 2018 by Nootriment
4 Comments
Looking for Raw Chaga Powder 5:1 Organic for Customer to make supplements. 25-50 Kilo’s.
Hello Sir/Ma,
My name is Phillip Smith from unique store Plc I am American citizen residing in Roatan island,Honduras and will like to place order on some products, but i would like to know if you ship to Roatan island,Honduras and also do you accept Visa or Master card as method of payment? Kindly get back to me so that we can proceed. Please do not forget to include your web page in your replying back to my mail. I will await your prompt response as soon as you receive this mail.
Thank you…
Hi Phillip,
Thanks for your question – we don’t sell any products ourselves and only link to different partners like Amazon to buy from. I’m sorry I can’t answer your question!
I read back from you asap.