Rosemary's Chaga Chai Latte
- Aunt Plantsy
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
Oh boy! This is a tasty one! I followed Rosemary Gladstar’s recipe for Chaga Chai Latte with just one addition – vanilla. This recipe was included in my herbalism course and, since I had all the ingredients, I just had to try it.
Before I get into the recipe, here are a few words of caution if you are thinking of purchasing Chaga for yourself. This caution is written and copyrighted by The Science & Art of Herbalism: “Chaga is in high demand and is being over harvested. Buy only from ethical wildcrafters and reliable resources where you know concern for our wildlife and good stewardship is of prime concern. How does one harvest Chaga ‘ethically’? Is it even possible? Ethical wildcrafters harvest Chaga from trees that have fallen from natural causes. They also harvest from forests scheduled to be logged. Some wildcrafters harvest only small pieces from large growths of Chaga, leaving most of the Chaga behind to continue its life cycle. Chaga can live for many years and grows very slowly, so always be respectful of this elder when purchasing it or harvesting it yourself.”
If you are interested in the medicinal benefits of Chaga, please read this shortened version written by Medicine Hunter Chris Kilham called: “Chaga: A potent immune enhancing fungus." This was published May 29, 2013, on https://www.foxnews.com/health/chaga-a-potent-immune-enhancing-fungus:
“Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)… Relatively unused in the west, Chaga is a potent immune enhancing agent that is highly popular in Russia and parts of Europe, and it enjoys a major body of science for its health benefits. Unlike most fungus, Chaga is hard and woody, bearing no resemblance to mushrooms. Instead, it looks more like a cracked piece of burned charcoal. Chaga’s black color is due to a concentration of melanin, the same pigment that colors human skin. Because Chaga can be used to start fires, it is also known as the ‘tinder fungus.’"
“Chaga is rich in natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phenols, containing the compounds betulin and betulinic acid – which derive directly from host birch trees. Both betulin and betulinic acid demonstrate anti-tumor effects, which explain why Chaga is known as an anticancer agent. Additionally, some science shows that betulin can play a beneficial role in controlling metabolic disorders, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome. A group of compounds in Chaga called lanostanoids also appear to play significant anticancer roles."
“One of the most surprising benefits of Chaga is in regard to psoriasis. In one Russian study, psoriasis patients who took Chaga recovered from their condition. Given that psoriasis is notoriously difficult to treat and responds to very little therapies, this effect alone could be of enormous benefit to many."
“Traditionally, Chaga has been used for a variety of purposes. Scientific investigation Chaga’s use as an anti-allergy agent shows that in animals, the fungus has the ability to prevent anaphylactic shock – a serious and potentially fatal consequence of a severe allergy. In another study, administration of an extract of Chaga reduced infection due to the Herpes simplex virus."
“In a cell study, Chaga showed potent activity against the hepatitis C virus. Whether this same activity will prove true in living humans remains to be seen, but if it does, then Chaga will benefit thousands of people who often suffer for many years with this crippling disease."
“Considering that spring is here and Chaga demonstrates value against allergies, this may be an excellent time to try Chaga, whose nickname “Mushroom of Immortality” appears to be far more than just a clever slogan.”
"Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter who researches natural remedies all over the world, from the Amazon to Siberia. He teaches ethnobotany at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is Explorer In Residence. Chris advises herbal, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies and is a regular guest on radio and TV programs worldwide. His field research is largely sponsored by Naturex of Avignon, France. Read more at MedicineHunter.com."
Now that you are impressed with what Chaga has reportedly been able to help with, here is a wonderful recipe for a Chaga chai latte created by Rosemary Gladstar.
Ingredients needed: - 1/4 cup ground Chaga - 1/2 Tbsp. cut and sifted Ginger - 1 Tbsp. cut and sifted Cinnamon - 1/2 tsp. ground Clove - 1/2 tsp. ground Black Pepper - 1/2 tsp. ground Cardamon - 1 tsp. Vanilla extract (optional) - Honey to taste - 1/4 cup milk, half and half, or milk alternative - 1-1/2 cups water
Note: I used 1 heaping tablespoon of honey as my sweetener. You can use maple syrup, honey, or a sweetener of your choice. I used almond milk as my milk alternative.
Instructions: 1. Adjust the spices to your liking and then mix them all together and store in an airtight glass container. This mixture is good for 4 cups of tea or latte, so you can use it all at once or just make 1-1/2 cups at a time.
2. For each 1-1/2 cups of water, add 1 teaspoon. of Chaga chai mixture. If you like a strong brew, use 1 cup of water to 1 teaspoon of mixture. Or, add 4 cups of water and use all the Chaga chai mixture.
3. Bring water to a boil, add your mixture, and then simmer on low with a tight lid for 20 to 30 minutes. If you are using ALL of the mixture, then simmer for 40-45 minutes. Strain out the mixture and set aside the Chaga chai tea.
4. Add a sweetener of your choice if you want.
5. At this point you can add the 1/4 cup of milk per 1-1/2 cups of Chaga chai – or you can steam, froth, or whip the milk prior to adding to the tea. I chose to use my mini froth tool and froth the milk prior to adding to the tea.
Note: The almond milk didn’t stay frothy and one of the comments Rosemary made is that is common, and low-fat milk is something that does froth nicely.
6. Sprinkle the top of your drink with a little cinnamon or nutmeg powder if you’d like and you are all set!
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