This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Chaga matcha is a matcha drink with chaga mushroom powder stirred in. To make it, whisk 1 teaspoon of matcha with warm water, stir in chaga powder, add a splash of oat milk, and sweeten with honey. It takes about 5 minutes. Below you will find four chaga matcha recipes: matcha, latte, chocolate latte, and chai. I made and tasted every one.
Quick Facts
- What it is: Matcha with chaga mushroom powder stirred in
- Time: 5 to 10 minutes per drink
- Recipes: Matcha, latte, chocolate latte, chai
- Caffeine: From matcha, black tea, and a little from cocoa. Chaga has none
- Best served: Hot (my favorite). Iced works too
- Safety: Check with a doctor first if you take blood thinners or diabetes medicine, or have kidney problems
You may also see chaga latte or chaga in coffee. A chaga latte is chaga powder whisked into hot milk, and chaga in coffee is the same powder stirred into your cup. All of them use the same idea: a hot drink with a spoonful of chaga.
I tested four drinks for this guide. I used 1 teaspoon of Arctic Chaga powder in each and kept every drink simple, with 8 ounces of liquid and 1 teaspoon of honey. I also tried each one hot and iced. My favorite was the hot version. The warm drinks had a smoother, more comforting flavor, and the earthy chaga taste blended in nicely.
Chaga Forms and Which to Use
|
Form
|
Best for
|
Good to know
|
|---|---|---|
|
Powder
|
Matcha, lattes, coffee, chai
|
Stirs straight into a warm drink. Easy for beginners
|
|
Extract powder
|
Cold or hot drinks
|
Usually mixes more smoothly. Check the label
|
|
Tincture or drops
|
A quick add-in to any drink
|
Liquid form. Use the amount on the label
|
Always follow the serving size on your product label. More is not better with chaga, and the safety section below explains why. I used Arctic Chaga powder for all the recipes in this guide. If you want to brew chaga as a plain tea instead, see our guide to making chaga tea.
Chaga Matcha Recipe
This is the base recipe. It is also a simple chaga matcha latte if you add more oat milk. Use warm water, not boiling, so the matcha does not turn bitter.
Chaga Matcha
Makes 1 drink · About 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon matcha powder
- 1 teaspoon chaga powder (or the serving size on your label)
- About 8 oz warm water
- A small splash of oat milk
- 1 teaspoon honey
Steps
- Add the matcha to a cup with a little of the warm water. Whisk into a smooth paste.
- Stir in the chaga powder until it blends in.
- Pour in the rest of the warm water and the oat milk.
- Stir in the honey and taste.
How it tasted: Smooth, earthy, and slightly bitter. The honey and oat milk made it much more enjoyable, and the chaga added a nice earthy depth to the matcha.
Chaga Latte (and Chocolate Chaga Latte)
A chaga latte is the easiest way to start. It has a creamy, mild taste, and it works as a coffee swap in the morning.
Chaga Matcha
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon chaga powder
- 8 oz warm milk
- 1 teaspoon honey
- A small pinch of cinnamon
Steps
- Warm the milk in a small pot or the microwave.
- Add the chaga powder and cinnamon. Whisk or froth for a minute.
- Stir in the honey.
How it tasted: Creamy, smooth, and pleasantly earthy. The honey and cinnamon balanced the earthy chaga flavor nicely.
Chocolate Chaga Latte
Cocoa covers the earthy taste well, so this is a good pick if you are not sure about chaga yet.
Chocolate Chaga Latte
Makes 1 drink · About 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon chaga powder
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 8 oz warm milk
- 1 teaspoon honey
Steps
- Warm the milk.
- Whisk in the chaga and cocoa until smooth.
- Stir in the honey.
How it tasted: Rich, creamy, and chocolatey with a mild chaga flavor. The cocoa and honey balanced the earthy taste really well.
Chaga Chai
Chaga chai (also searched as chaga chai tea) mixes black tea, warm spices, and chaga. It is the most comforting of the four, and the spices hide the earthy taste well.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon chaga powder
- 1 black tea bag (or 1 teaspoon loose black tea)
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 to 3 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- A small piece of fresh ginger, sliced
- 1 teaspoon honey
- About 8 oz water, or half water and half milk
Chaga Chai
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon chaga powder
- 1 black tea bag (or 1 teaspoon loose black tea)
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 to 3 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- A small piece of fresh ginger, sliced
- 1 teaspoon honey
- About 8 oz water, or half water and half milk
Steps
- Simmer the water with the ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the tea bag and steep for 3 minutes.
- Strain into a cup.
- Stir in the chaga powder and honey.
How it tasted: Warm, spicy, earthy, and comforting. The chaga blended nicely with the black tea and spices, and the honey balanced the earthy flavor.
Tip: If you want a ready-made option, the Arctic Chaga shop sells chaga tea bags too. Browse the shop here.
Hot or Iced?
I tried every recipe both ways and liked the hot version best. It tasted smoother and more comforting, and the chaga blended in better. To make an iced version, let the drink cool for a few minutes, then pour it over ice.
Add-Ins and Swaps
- Lion’s mane: I mixed chaga with lion’s mane and liked it, especially in a warm drink. Follow the label of each product.
- Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger: these spices cover the earthy flavor.
- Cocoa: turns any warm chaga drink into a chocolate drink.
- Moringa: I have not tried it, and I did not find reliable information on mixing it with chaga. If you take medicine, ask a pharmacist first.
- Honey: do not give honey to babies under one year old. I only tested honey. Maple syrup or another sweetener may work, but I have not tried them.
Caffeine, Buzz, and Sleep
Chaga itself has no caffeine and does not give you a buzz. If a drink wakes you up, the caffeine comes from the other ingredients.
|
Drink
|
Caffeine?
|
Where it comes from
|
|---|---|---|
|
Chaga matcha
|
Yes
|
Matcha (amount depends on the brand)
|
|
Chaga chai
|
Yes
|
Black tea
|
|
Chocolate chaga latte
|
A little
|
Cocoa
|
|
Chaga latte
|
No
|
Chaga and milk have none
|
Does chaga make you sleepy? Chaga is not known as a sedative. If a drink makes you drowsy, the warm milk or your bedtime routine is more likely the cause. What time of day? Have matcha and chai in the morning or early afternoon, and pick the plain latte or chocolate latte in the evening.
What Chaga Does to Your Body
The honest answer is that we do not know much yet. Chaga contains antioxidants, and lab and animal studies look interesting. But Memorial Sloan Kettering says its safety and effects in people have not been tested in clinical studies. So I do not claim that chaga treats any condition, and you should not use it that way. For more background, read our chaga mushroom benefits guide.
Is chaga a psychedelic?
No. Chaga is not a magic mushroom and has no psilocybin. It is a woody fungus from birch trees. Chaga is not a controlled substance, and routine drug tests do not screen for it. If you have a specific test, ask the testing provider.
A Quick Safety Note
Chaga drinks are easy to enjoy, and most healthy adults handle a cup or two without trouble. As with any new supplement, start with one cup and see how you feel. A few things are worth knowing:
- Blood thinners: chaga may add to their effect, so check with your doctor first.
- Diabetes medicine: chaga may lower blood sugar a little more, so a quick check with your doctor is worth it.
- Kidney issues or kidney stones: chaga can be high in oxalates, so talk to your doctor before making it a habit.
- Pregnant or nursing: ask your provider first.
Stick to the serving size on your label. Serious problems are rare and have mostly been reported with large amounts over a long time. If you are unsure, a quick chat with your doctor or pharmacist is all you need. You can read more from Memorial Sloan Kettering and Acibadem Healthcare Group.
Chaga Drinks vs. Mushroom Coffee
If you want chaga in your morning coffee instead, mushroom coffee is the easy path. It blends coffee with mushroom powder, so you skip the measuring. You can try Arctic Chaga mushroom coffee, read our Chagaccino guide, or see our RYZE mushroom coffee review. Mushroom coffee has caffeine from the coffee, so it is a different choice from the plain chaga latte.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is a chaga matcha?
Q2: What is chaga in coffee?
Q3: Does chaga give you a buzz?
Q4: Does chaga chai contain caffeine?
Q5: What not to mix with chaga?
Q6: Who should avoid chaga?
Q7: Is it safe to drink chaga every day?
Q8: Is chaga hard on the liver?
Q9:Will chaga show up on a drug test?
Q10:What is the best way to consume chaga?
Key Takeaways
- Chaga matcha takes about 5 minutes and uses 1 teaspoon of ground chaga
- Four recipes: matcha, latte, chocolate latte, chai
- Chaga has no caffeine. Matcha and black tea do
- Hot tasted best in my tests
- Start with one cup, and check with your doctor first if you take blood thinners or diabetes medicine, or have kidney issues
Want more? Read our complete guide to growing mushrooms or browse all our mushroom guides.
Sources
- Chaga Mushroom — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, About Herbs
- Chaga Mushroom: An Evidence-Based Guide for Patients — Acibadem Healthcare Group
