Chaga

noun

Cha·​ga ˈchä-gə 

variants or Chaga mushroom or less commonly chaga or chaga mushroom

plural Chaga or Chagas or Chaga mushrooms

: the dark brown to black, irregularly shaped, sterile, mycelial mass of a fungus (Inonotus obliquus of the family Hymenochaetaceae) that grows parasitically chiefly on hardwood trees and especially birch in temperate climates of the northern hemisphere

Note: The Chaga has a hard, deeply cracked surface said to resemble charred wood and a yellow- to orange-brown, somewhat fleshy interior. It has a bitter taste and is used mainly in folk medicine and as an herbal supplement.

It takes years for Chaga to show itself after growing inside the tree, a phenomenon which is rare in mushrooms.

—Ella Wilson

Because chaga in its raw form is not the most digestible of Mother Nature's bounty, it's usually ground up and brewed as tea.

—EmmaJean Holley

Examples of Chaga in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That blend includes Amanita, Cordyceps, Chaga, Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Maitake, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, and King Trumpet, mushrooms that boast benefits from enhanced immune function to lower levels of inflammation. —Lydia Kariuki, The Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2024

Additionally, the company said in a blog post that its products contain a blend of Lion’s mane, Reishi, and Chaga mushrooms, but these are all non-hallucinogenic mushrooms used in herbal and traditional medicines and supplements. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 20 June 2024

Buddha Teas Herbal Tea Buddha Teas Herbal Tea Chaga stands as a truly exceptional offering in the realm of mushrooms and herbal teas. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 6 July 2023

Then add the small pieces of kindling followed by larger pieces of firewood. 2) How to Start a Fire Without a Lighter, Using a Knife, Quartz, and Chaga Fungus Chaga is a fungus that grows on birch and other trees. —Jim Baird, Field & Stream, 28 June 2023

This unique blend of mushrooms, including Reishi, Chaga, and Cordyceps, is rich in antioxidants and has been shown to support immune function,reduce stress, improve brain function, and even reduce inflammation. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 4 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Russian čága, borrowed from Komi (Finno-Ugric language of northeast European Russia) čaga, čaka "fungus growing on a tree (as a pore fungus), tinder"

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above