Canadian Chaga Mushroom
Annanda Chaga mushrooms are wild harvested from the forests of Northern Canada.
We practice sustainable harvesting by only taking larger mushrooms and ensuring the host tree is not damaged in any way.
Annanda Canadian chaga is 3rd party lab tested safe from pesticides and heavy metals.
We offer premium quality chaga chunks, tea and health Canada approved chaga extract.
Canadian Family Company Since 2012
A Family owned and operated Canadian company, Heather & Blair are dedicated to organic and fair trade real mushroom products.
We are a proud member of Ontario Made and Foodland Ontario Organics in partnership with the Canadian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
True Beginnings
The Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus Obliquus) has been growing steadily in popularity and awareness in the past several years, but in recent months has begun to soar in popularity. 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 there is ‘mushroom gold’ in the hills and the mad mushroom rush has begun.
As a mushroom lover and nature enthusiast, it was my own severe illness which led me into the forest as a means to cure myself of a host of conditions, including a desperate need for detoxification. Having been exposed to heavy metals at my place of work for almost seven years and taking conflicting prescription medications, which was making matters worse, both were taking a serious toll on my health. The benefits of Chaga Mushroom, being one of the most powerful antioxidants found in nature, in my opinion, saved my life.
After taking the mushroom for about six months I began regaining my health and eventually no longer had the need for any prescription medications and I was no longer toxic. During these transformative months I learnt as much as I could about this miraculous mushroom and how it works with the human body. Awe struck by the powerful healing the mushroom gifted me, I became almost obsessed about sharing its healing powers with others. So moved in fact that I decided to start the company Annanda Chaga in 2012 to help bring a pure form of the mushroom to market and help others heal themselves too.
What is Chaga?
The medicinal mushroom Inonotus obliquus is an ancient folk remedy that has been valued for its beneficial effects for centuries.
Top 10 Health Benefits
Chaga mushroom Inonotus Obliquus can be found on trees in cold climates throughout the Northern Hemisphere.
The clinker polypore looks like burnt charcoal or an encrusted black formation that grows on Birch Trees.
Used for centuries for their health benefits including antiviral and anti cancer properties and to regulate the production of cytokines.
It is a natural remedy that can help reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, reduce ldl cholesterol, fighting cancer and many types of disease including colon cancer. It is also high in antioxidants chaga mushroom may help prevent heart disease and blood clotting and help with rheumatoid arthritis. The mushroom is considered generally safe.
Studies shows that chaga has the highest O.R.A.C. levels found on Earth. The benefits of the mushroom include helping to remove free radicals, reduce oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, kill cancer cells, stabilize blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
What Does Chaga Taste Like?
Chaga mushrooms contain vanillin which occurs naturally in the vanilla bean and is used to make synthetic vanilla extract. Giving it a mild earthy taste, sometimes slightly bitter with a hint of vanilla.
The taste is pleasing on its own or you can combine it with other herbs and spices, bone broth or smoothies. You can mix it with other ingredients which will not interfere with the efficacy of the mushroom. Popular ingredients are Chai spice, cinnamon, turmeric or honey which compliment mushroom tea very well.
Choose Your Chaga Grind
Once harvested chaga mushrooms are air dried and broken into chunks or ground into a tea, or powder for future use.
The cellular structure of the mushroom is protected by chitin making extraction necessary before our body can utilize its benefits.
Traditional means of extraction are hot water steeping to make Mushroom Tea or using alcohol to make a potent Chaga Extract.
Heat is needed to dissolve chitin making Chaga tea the most popular choice.
Chaga Mushroom Powder can be consumed directly as food. Added to soups, stews, smoothies etc. for a nutritional boost to everyday meals.
Learn about the different grinds available and the many ways you can use this incredible mushroom!
How to Brew
Making mushroom tea can be fun and enjoyable for the whole family.
The health benefits are well worth the time and effort. Consuming Chaga tea daily for the maintenance of good health and a strong immune system.
Discover complete Brewing Directions and how to make mushroom tea in a variety of ways with our complete brewing guide.
Tincture or Tea?
Learn the truth about mushroom extracts and tinctures and how they differ from mushroom teas.
Learn more about ratios and extraction methods and what they mean.
Mushroom Dosage Guide
Enjoying Mushrooms every day can help maintain balance within the body and promote long term health.
Learn more about the side effects of chaga, possible dangers and how to use Mushroom water extracts safely.
What are the effects of chaga on blood cells and should you take chaga when on blood thinning medications?
*comments not rated by the Food and Drug Administration.
History of Chaga Mushrooms
Used by many cultures all around the world for centuries for prevention and cures for many types of diseases.
The first modern use of chaga was believed to be by the Khanty people of Western Siberia around the 12th century.
Shen Nung the venerated Father of Chinese medicine dubbed it the 'King of the Herbs'.
Immortalized by Otzi the iceman, trace its usage from 3400 BC to today's commercial exploitation of mushroom supplements.
The Balance of Nature™
Almost every part of the Birch tree has healing properties. For thousands of years ancient peoples have used the Birch for medicinal use.
The conscious relationship between these two incredible natural wonders is truly magical.
"Everything on the Earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence." - Morning Dove (Christine Quintasket )
Mushrooms are a part of this natural cycle and must be respected and used with reverence.
The Birch tree has a unique symbiotic relationship with chaga and a very specific purpose. Taking from the Birch tree vital nutrients to survive and flourish and also to extend life to its injured host.
The reproductive cycle of chaga mushroom is also very unique compared to other mushrooms. The once sterile conk grows reproductive tubular pores in the same declination as the Earth's axis to the sun. It does this to better its chances of fruiting neighboring trees.
Yet fungi like chaga mushroom have received only a small fraction of the attention they deserve.
Learn to simplify your life and return to the balance of Nature.
The Ancient Wisdom of Chaga
Our awareness is increasing everyday about the natural healing miracles to be found in the forest. One such miracle is the ancient Birch tree fungus known as the cinder conk Chaga.
The Birch mushroom has been dated in fossil form back to the Cretaceous period. It grows widespread over the Northern hemisphere.
Almost every part of the Birch tree has healing properties. Ancient peoples have a long history of using Birch for its medicinal properties for thousands of years.
The mushroom mycelium grows from within the heartwood of the birch. Helping to keep it's host alive while the tree keeps the fruiting body growing by sharing all its medicinal properties.
The mushroom itself is slow growing condensing an amazing amount of medicinal properties into itself from the Birch tree. The conscious relationship between these two incredible natural wonders is truly magical.
Both the host tree and the Mushroom give of their lives selflessly so that the other can live. Understanding this unique relationship becomes especially important when harvesting.
The mushroom contains betulinic acid, which is effective against cancer, inflammation, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Intelligence is not based on how much knowledge we have. Intelligence is awareness and mindfulness of the intention we put forward in our lives which affect the lives of others.
This is the noble truth of the The Birch fungus known as Chaga.
The Truth about Chaga
Various elements contribute to the potency of the mushroom in terms of bolstering the immune system, providing antioxidant benefits, and supplying a variety of vitamins and phytonutrients.
The fungus should be at least 3 to 5 years before it is harvested. Younger specimens do not contain enough medicinal value to benefit us. The inner growth within the host tree has little or no medicinal value whatsoever.
The mushroom grows on different species of trees but only the Birch contain the plant based sterols, betulinic acid and other constituents that can help with serious disease like cancer.
When harvesting sustainably, between one and three inches of growth should remain. This allows for re-growth and the host tree to survive ensuring the symbiotic relationship remains intact. Three to five harvests are possible if one respects the natural cycles that exist.
Not long after the host tree dies the mushroom may become toxic from mold, other fungus or mycotoxins and should not harvested.
The Mushroom obtains further medicinal power due to the harshness of the environment in which it grows. For example, mushrooms found in the far Northern Boreal forests would contain more medicinal value than ones growing at lower latitudes.
Mushrooms harvested from higher up in the host tree will also have more vitamin D1 and D2 and melanin due to more exposure to direct sunlight.
Another species of polypore fungus ‘Piptoporus Betulinus ‘ also known as the ‘Birch Polypore’ are often mistaken for Chaga simple because it too happens to be found on the Birch tree and is usually present in abundance on old decaying trees.
Confusion with species identification doesn’t end with the chaga mushroom, the Birch tree can also be mistaken for other white barked species like the Aspen and Poplar which flourish in the forest.
From Forest to your family, Annanda remains your most trusted source of premium quality mushrooms harvested with integrity since 2012.