Making chaga tea: how to use chaga powder in hot water

Short answer: We make chaga tea using chaga powder: stir 1 to 3 scoops (approximately 1 to 3 g) into a cup of hot water or another hot drink and drink the powder along with it. We don’t recommend loose chaga pieces as tea: in the EU, chaga is permitted in food supplements, but as a conventional food it is considered novel food. Because of the oxalate, stick to the daily dosage on the packaging.

Last updated: October 30, 2026 · Written by Florian Fermin

You may know chaga as a tea. In Northern Europe and Russia, chaga has traditionally been drunk as a tea or coffee substitute. Still, we don’t make classic chaga tea from pieces here, and that has to do with the regulations.

What you can do: stir our chaga powder into hot water. Below, you can read why, how to prepare it, and how much to take.

Chaga (also known as chaga mushroom in English, and berkenweerschijnzwam in Dutch, Inonotus obliquus) is a fungus that grows as a hard, black lump on birch trees in cold regions.

Can you drink chaga tea in the EU?

In the EU, chaga may be used in food supplements. As a conventional food, for example loose chaga pieces used as tea, chaga is considered novel food and requires EU authorization first. That’s why we make chaga tea only from our supplement: chaga powder in hot water, within the daily dosage.

This follows from a consultation with the Finnish Food Authority, which the European Commission published in November 2024. The conclusion: "Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is novel food." The use of chaga in food supplements had already been confirmed and was outside the scope of that question (European Commission, 2024).

That’s clear to us. We sell chaga as a supplement, with a daily dosage on the packaging. Loose tea made from pieces falls outside that category, so we don’t recommend it either.

How do you make chaga tea from chaga powder?

Chaga tea made from powder takes three steps: weigh out 1 to 3 g of chaga powder, stir it into a cup of warm water or another warm drink, and let it sit for a little while. There’s no need for a long steep or a strainer, because you drink the powder too. This way, you know exactly how much chaga you’re consuming.

1. Weigh your dose: 1 to 3 scoops, about 1 to 3 g. That’s your total for the whole day.
2. Stir it into a cup of warm water (about 250 ml), warm oat milk, or your coffee.
3. Let it sit for a few minutes and stir again before drinking. A little sediment is normal because ground chaga doesn’t dissolve completely.

Measure in grams, not teaspoons. A teaspoon isn’t a fixed measure. For an accurate measurement, I’d use a kitchen scale that weighs in 0.1 g increments.

What does chaga tea taste like, and how can you make it tastier?

Chaga tea made from powder tastes earthy and mild, sometimes with a light vanilla note. Chaga is less bitter than reishi (lacquered bracket, Ganoderma lucidum), which is known for its bitter taste. With a splash of oat milk and some cinnamon, it tastes like a light coffee.

To mix things up, try a slice of fresh ginger, a pinch of cinnamon, or a teaspoon of honey. Read our article on functional mushrooms to learn how the different types compare.

How much chaga tea can you drink per day?

How much chaga tea you drink depends on the amount of powder, not the number of cups. Keep your total intake to 1 to 3 g per day, as stated on the package. Chaga contains oxalate.

Oxalate is a natural compound also found in spinach and rhubarb. It can become a problem with prolonged use of large amounts, so the amount of oxalate is the main thing to keep in mind with chaga. For how much to take in each form and what’s known about oxalate, read chaga dosage and chaga side effects.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist first if you:

• have ever had kidney stones
• take blood thinners or other medications
• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• are due to have surgery soon

What does research say about chaga, and what doesn’t it say?

Research on chaga has mostly been conducted in cell cultures and animals. Well-designed human studies are largely lacking, and no health claims for chaga have been approved in the EU. Chaga is a food supplement, not a medicine.

Chaga contains polysaccharides, polyphenols, and triterpenes, among other compounds, and most research on these has been conducted in cell cultures and animals (Ern et al., 2024). A high value in a test tube does not automatically mean the same effect in the body.

Which GOYU form is right for chaga tea?

For chaga tea, our organic chaga powder is the form you need: a 60 g bag of ground Inonotus obliquus. The package says: "Take 1-3 scoops (approximately 1-3 g) daily." At 1 g a day, one bag lasts 60 days; at 3 g a day, 20 days.

If you’d rather not make a warm drink, you can also take Chaga Capsules, 500 mg (1-3 a day), or Chaga Extract Capsules: a 20:1 extract with 400 mg per capsule, containing 20% beta-glucans and 30% polysaccharides. The powder and capsules contain no fillers, colorants, or preservatives. The capsule shell is made from plant-based HPMC.

The raw materials come from China, and we have a certificate of analysis (CoA) for every batch. Find out how to read one in how to read a CoA. Request the CoA for your batch via support@getgoyu.com.

The powder has 13 reviews on Judge.me, with an average rating of 5.0 (Judge.me, October 2026). Buyers mainly say it tastes good and mixes well into coffee and shakes.

Summary in 3 points

• We make chaga tea with our chaga powder: stir 1 to 3 g (1-3 scoops) a day into warm water or a warm drink, and drink the powder too.
• In the EU, chaga is permitted in food supplements, but as a regular food (such as loose chaga tea), it is considered a novel food.
• Chaga contains oxalates: stay within the daily serving stated on the package, and consult your doctor if you’ve ever had kidney stones or take medication.

Frequently asked questions

Can I also make tea from chaga pieces?

We don't recommend that. Loose chaga as a regular food is considered a novel food in the EU and has not yet been authorized. That's why we use chaga only as a supplement, with a fixed daily dose.

How much chaga powder should I put in a cup?

You can divide it up as you like, as long as you stay within a total of 1 to 3 g per day. One cup with 1 g or two cups with 1 g each are both fine.

Does chaga tea contain caffeine?

Our chaga powder contains one ingredient: chaga. Nothing has been added. We haven't independently tested its caffeine content, so we don't promise that it's "caffeine-free."

Can I also use chaga powder cold?

Yes. You can also stir it into a smoothie, yogurt, or cold oat milk. The daily dose stays the same.

Can I use chaga capsules to make tea?

You can, by opening the capsules. But powder is simply more convenient. Capsules are intended to be swallowed with water.

Sources

1. European Commission. Consultation process on novel food status: Chaga (Inonotus obliquus). Receiving Member State: Finland (Finnish Food Authority). Published November 14, 2024. https://food.ec.europa.eu/document/download/bc4d6da9-87ae-4198-8bde-78ea71d3863f_en?filename=novel-food_consult-status_chaga_fin.pdf (overview: https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/novel-food/consultation-process-novel-food-status_en)
2. Ern PTY, Quan TY, Yee FS, Yin ACY. Review article on Inonotus obliquus (chaga). Mycology. 2024;15(2):144-161. https://europepmc.org/article/MED/38813471
3. Judge.me, October 2026. Customer reviews for Organic Chaga Powder, getgoyu.com.

You can find all forms of our chaga on the buy chaga page.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Dietary supplements are not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If in doubt, pregnant, or taking medication, consult your doctor or pharmacist.