themess1 Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Going on a quick chaga hunt this morning in a new plot of standing, dead birch that I found over the winter. I'll report back with my findings this afternoon, when and if I have findings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themess1 Posted March 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 No chaga today, unfortunately. Just a few nice horse hoof fungus specimens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dualsetters Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Someone else can probably fill you in on this better and I may be wrong, but I believe chaga needs to be found on a live birch to be good. Once the tree dies after so long it begins to lose its potentcy . I have found many good pieces on silver birch, I think lol. It makes a good tea, reminds me of birch beer . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 It is reported that the best quality chaga is found on living birch. Here in PA I find it exclusively on yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis). In some areas, mainly north of here, chaga is found on paper birch (Betula papyrifera). Exploring a new area in NE PA yesterday, I collected about 8 pounds from two different trees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themess1 Posted March 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 You lucky dog, Dave. Not much yellow birch near me here in SE Michigan. Tons of paper birch though. I thought I found the mother load yesterday but after a 15-20 foot climb, it was just an old, gnarly branch break. It was a smaller birch grove that I recently discovered so I'm not discouraged. It's out there, just have to look harder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themess1 Posted March 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 And yes, I'd prefer to harvest from living trees but, I just happened to find this older grove close by my house. Less than a 15 minute walk from my doorstep so i figured it was worth a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troutddicted Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 On paper birch chaga tends to leave a bit of a stain on the bark below the growth. Great way to prevent mis-ID's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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