Chaga mushroom
Chaga is Inonotus obliquus, a fungus that forms black, cracked sterile growths (sclerotia) on living birch trees in Russia, Finland, the Baltics, Canada and the northern US. Almost all supply is wild-harvested, broken into chunks, dried and milled. Brands buy chunks and powder for tea, hot-water or dual extracts specified by beta-glucans or polysaccharides, and mycelium grown on grain, which is a different material.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Dried, broken sclerotium for brewing; graded by size and the share of black outer crust versus orange interior.
Dried, milled sclerotium; not extracted.
Water extract dried to powder, sold on beta-glucans or polysaccharides.
Water and ethanol extracts combined, sometimes also specified by betulinic acid.
Cultured mycelium grown on grain and dried with the substrate; starch-rich and not the same as wild sclerotium.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Keep chunks, powder and extract sealed, cool and dry. Extracts are hygroscopic and cake after opening, so reseal promptly. Shelf life or retest date comes from the supplier.
Wild harvest region, host tree and how much birch wood is included change each lot. Record harvest region, part (sclerotium or mycelium), extraction type and supplier lot.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's natural health product monograph for mushrooms lists Inonotus obliquus (chaga) cultured mycelium, fruiting body and mycelium as dried source material.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food status Catalogue (entry POL-NF-00430) lists the fruiting body of Inonotus obliquus, and water and ethanol extracts of it, as not novel in food supplements.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Manufacturer · San Jose, CA
Draco Natural Products is a San Jose, California, maker of powdered botanical and mushroom extracts, including certified organic and traditional Chinese herb extracts, with an office in Shanghai.
Distributor · Eugene, OR
Mountain Rose Herbs is an Oregon seller of organic and wild-harvested bulk herbs, spices, mushrooms and seaweeds, with a wholesale program for businesses alongside its retail shop.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include chunks and tea cut, sclerotium powder, hot-water extract, dual extract and mycelium on grain. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect beta-glucans (enzymatic), identity, heavy metals, microbiology, oxalate content and moisture and foreign matter, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Keep chunks, powder and extract sealed, cool and dry. Extracts are hygroscopic and cake after opening, so reseal promptly. Shelf life or retest date comes from the supplier.
Health Canada's natural health product monograph for mushrooms lists Inonotus obliquus (chaga) cultured mycelium, fruiting body and mycelium as dried source material. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue (entry POL-NF-00430) lists the fruiting body of Inonotus obliquus, and water and ethanol extracts of it, as not novel in food supplements.
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