Golden Chaga Chai Latte (plus all the deets on chaga)

When you consider immune health, mushrooms may not come to mind. But they should! Medicinal mushrooms are one of my FAVORITE plants (technically fungi ;)) to add into your life for optimal health and vitality. Of these mushrooms, one called Chaga is known as the KING. Chaga is a mushroom that grows on birch trees and is abundant in cold climates such as northern MN, Canada, Scandinavian countries, and Russia. In Finland, where more coffee is drank per capita than any other country (5-6 cups per day!), Chaga was brewed as a coffee substitute during WWII when they experienced coffee shortages. Chaga has a beautiful dark color, like dried charcoal. It has a flavor very similar to coffee…dark, rich, earthy…but is completely caffeine free!

Chaga’s many benefits include:

immune system booster
antioxidant
shown to have anti-cancer effects
may help lower blood sugar
provides numerous vitamins, minerals, and amino acids
may help sharpen mental focus and clarity

Chaga’s been a really easy addition to my wellness routine this season. Because it’s such a great immune booster, I love it especially for this time of year. And normally, I’m not one to invent my own recipes because I find I’m not that creative and they never seem to turn out that great…..BUT I will say that I’ve been perfecting my golden milk and homemade chai skills! Chai has actually always been a favorite of mine but it hasn’t been until this year that I’ve started making it at home from scratch instead of buying it in tea bags or as a latte mix. And I don’t know why I didn’t start doing that years ago! It’s so simple, waaaay more cost effective, and I know I’m getting simple and organic ingredients. Plus it feels like a special little self care ritual adding all the spices from my beautiful bulk spice containers and mixing it with my vintage mini whisk. Adding chaga gives it the perfect dirty chai vibes, without the caffeine! I’m pretty sure one of my goals for 2022 will be less coffee shop coffee (always way more sugar than I expect in a coffee drink and rarely organic) and more homemade coffee and tea drinks, so expect lots more recipes like this one :)

Besides tasting amazing, I love this latte because of all the amazing nutrition benefits! Besides wonderful chaga, here’s what you’ll find in this drink:

Turmeric // a potent anti-inflammatory

Cinnamon // a warming herb, perfect for the cold weather season. Helps increase insulin sensitivity and promotes balanced blood sugars

Ghee // a healthy fat, beneficial for hormone and brain health

Ginger // a warming herb, soothing for digestion

Black pepper // increases the bioavailability of nutrients