Every time Chaga gives birth, it begins with a dramatic murder-suicide that attracts a swarming orgy of insects and moths who engage in a competitive symbiotic ritual and become the agents of Chaga's future infiltration, deeper into the forest...

Mushrooms and fungi have more broad health applications than immune support alone. There are a wide variety of mushrooms that are perfectly suited for applications in women’s health, like mishima, shiitake and more. In this blog, we’ll focus on five mushrooms that can support women’s health at any stage of life.

While there is vast information available on the internet covering chaga’s health benefits, the same cannot be said about information on chaga’s ecology and life cycle. That is the gap that I aim to bridge in this blog, as these topics are more intertwined than you may realize.

Have you ever seen those fascinating drawings carved into the bottom of a mushroom? Chances are, what you were looking at is the mushroom known as the Artist’s Conk. Not only is this fascinating mushroom a natural canvas for artists, but it also...

Every now and then we get a customer who asks, “Why is there alcohol in your tinctures?” That is a great question! In this blog we’ll discuss every frequently asked question about the alcohol in our tinctures, including; what a tincture is, why tinctures use alcohol, what dual-extract...

It’s clear that ChagaNOW is a great way to get your Chaga fix - FAST! But did you know that you can use this instant chaga tea for so much more than just a tea? In this blog we’ll discuss 8 additional ways that you can use our Instant Chaga Extract Powder, ChagaNOW.

You’ve got reishi questions, I’ve got reishi answers! In this blog we’ll discuss the best time to pick reishi is in the Northeastern US, how to sustainably pick it and I’ll share many of my field observations about Reishi. These observations have developed my knowledge about the ecology of wild Reishi over...

All aboard the lion’s mane train! Birch Boys Lion’s Mane Tincture is a great way to naturally support your focus, memory, cognition and overall wellbeing. This blog will cover everything you’ll want to know about Lion’s Mane Tincture; features and benefits, customer reviews, frequently asked questions and more!

Not sure how to go about brewing chaga chunks? Never fear! There are a few ways you can brew chaga chunks tea, which I’ll detail in this blog. We'll cover the stovetop method, crock pot method and tips and tricks for maximum success with both methods.

Birch Boys is moving up in the world (Literally.) We’ve outgrown the basement. Again! As of June, we have fully vacated the production & warehouse facility we’d been operating at in the basement of 83 Park Street (below the Adirondack Store & Gallery) since 2018...

The fixation on 100% mushroom fruiting bodies vs products with mycelium additives is intriguing to me as a wildcrafter. Particularly because mycelium is not something that is harvestable in nature. I picture myself at the base of a fallen hemlock teeming...

Lion’s Mane Mushroom is taking the internet by storm. It’s a common occurrence during phone calls and at events that people will remark on how often they hear of Lion’s Mane in their day-to-day life. In this blog we will explore Lion’s Mane and the many reasons it is going viral!

Products consisting of ‘mushroom extract powder’ compose a majority of the mainstream healing mushroom market here in the United States. These products are marketed as instant coffees, elixirs, coffee substitutes, capsules, smoothie additives, and more. The common theme of these products is that they...

As Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) becomes more mainstream, we are left with an obvious question: Is Chaga harvesting sustainable? This is an understandable concern, especially given that Chaga is not a mushroom. Mushrooms are the reproductive (spore-bearing) fruits of fungi. Mushroom harvesting is synonymous...

This question is highly contentious within the Chaga world & deserves its own discussion. Since we’ve already covered Chaga’s ecological outlook & what sustainable Chaga harvesting looks like, this blog is solely dedicated to myth-busting the notion that Chaga should only be harvested in winter...

In this blog we will identify the known (potentially negative) side effects of overusing Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) and the compounds responsible: Oxalates. We will also describe ways one could mitigate these potential issues as well as offering our best attempt to quantify & define what overuse of Chaga...

Throughout this blog, we will compare the water-soluble components of Chaga (aka - Chaga tea) with the ethanol-soluble components (aka - Chaga tincture) in order to characterize the benefits of each and help you make more informed...

Cartier's crew was cured from scurvy by ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) obtained as a decoction from the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). It was prepared by boiling winter leaves and bark from an evergreen tree. The tree, identified as "Annedda", became known as the "tree of life."

If you've ever harvested Chaga, somewhere along your journey you may have wondered about the tough, dark, seemingly charred surface. Some have even made the mistake of scraping it away... Until they are told the truth. The black is the best part...

The fixation on 100% mushroom fruiting bodies vs products with mycelium additives is intriguing to me as a wildcrafter. Particularly because mycelium is not something that is harvestable in nature. I picture myself at the base of a fallen hemlock teeming...

Turkey Tail is a polypore mushroom that grows on a variety of decaying logs worldwide. This mushroom is perhaps the most convoluted when it comes to specific historic use, but we do know that indigenous peoples of Asia have been using Turkey...

Birch Boys Chaga Tincture is a great choice for people looking to support their immune system, energy and wellbeing. In this blog we’ll talk all about our Chaga Tincture; features and benefits, customer reviews, how to use it and frequently asked questions. We’re so proud of our Chaga Tincture, so let’s get to it...

Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa), commonly referred to as the “hen of the woods”, has a fascinating origin story, starting in Japan, where maitake has been enjoyed as a super food for thousands of years. Maitake means “dancing mushroom” in Japanese, and while there are many reasons this...

After presenting, Birch Boys was awarded with a Certificate of Appreciation by the Adirondack Park Agency's Economic Affairs Committee. What an incredible honor! We are sincerely proud and grateful for the opportunity to speak to the Adirondack Park Agency...

Earlier this summer we launched our four mushroom tinctures: Red Reishi, Turkey Tail, Chaga and Lion's Mane (Since then we’ve expanded the line to also include Maitake). As these have become some of our most popular mushroom products...

Wellness is not just counting calories and hitting your target heart rate twice weekly. Wellness is individualized and highly differentiated based on age, physical ability and lifestyle variables. Each day is an opportunity to explore your own wellness path to include a combination of physical, mental and spiritual...

Humans are naturally drawn to mystery. We love to watch mystery TV shows, be a part of them, and share folklore and stories involving mysterious tales of age old Much of the knowledge about the history of Chaga remains a mystery. There are many facts you may come across on the internet about medicinal...

Fungi have a wide variety of benefits for the body, mind and spirit. Did you know that functional fungi can be a valuable part of your weight loss regimen? Keep reading to discover how Chaga and Maitake can help you lose (and keep off) those pounds in addition to following a doctor-approved fitness plan....

No matter how hard you try to ignore it, your morning just seems lonely without coffee! There's a myriad of reasons why one might have to stop drinking coffee. Whether it's a medical issue, trying to create healthier habits or discovering a caffeine sensitivity, no one really wants to give up their favorite morning pick-me-up...

In this blog we’ll explore the compounds that are responsible for the skin supporting effects of fungi, how to use mushrooms for skincare, and take an in depth look into our Chaga Skin Cream ingredients. Mushrooms and fungi are becoming a big player in the skincare industry due to their powerful compounds...

At Birch Boys, we pride ourselves on a few key characteristics about our Chaga. Sustainable, Adirondack, and Wild Harvested- Chaga has a lot going for it! Let's examine why these aspects of our practice are so important! Chaga is abundant in birch forests with harsh, rapidly changing climates...

Do you want full access to Chaga's health benefits? Keep reading for more information! A hot water extraction of Chaga (Chaga tea) gives your body access to the water soluble components including antioxidants and polysaccharides. The components the tea...

It’s no secret that ChagaNOW (Birch Boys’ Instant Chaga Extract Powder) and tinctures are great for your health. The benefit is even greater when added to nutritious recipes like a smoothie! This recipe yields 1-3 servings.

In this video, Garrett shares his favorite antioxidant-rich Chaga chai recipe. Our Chaga Chai recipe is a fun way to prepare a truly delicious concoction of Inonotus obliquus, AKA Chaga, in order to stimulate your immune system (and your taste buds)!

This summer, refresh yourself with an ice cold glass of "the mushroom of immortality" just like the Chinese nobility have been doing for 2,000 years. A few months ago my partner created a killer recipe for iced Reishi tea...

I wanted to create something with the texture of hot chocolate, but with the flavor of Chaga and Maple, a truly Adirondack beverage. I’m not going to lie, This recipe is sinfully delicious! If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you must give this recipe a try! The flavors of Chaga and Maple are great together! I remember once when I was...

This homemade chaga spiced cider is to die for! The chaga imbues the cider with a sweet and earthy flavor. It’s incredibly easy to make, plus it makes your kitchen smell like an autumnal wonderland! With superfood ingredients like chaga, cloves, ginger and star anise, this recipe is a surefire way...

This DELICIOUS Reishi Mushroom Bone Broth can be used in soups, smoothies, gravies, or just as something rich to sip on during the day! You can also add sliced reishi to other soup recipes using this guide. Boost your soups and wellbeing with Reishi. Enjoy warm or chilled...

This Reishi Peppermint Mocha (or hot chocolate) will bring some chillax to your holiday! I made this a mocha, as I love the combination of coffee and mint, but feel free to simply exclude the coffee in this recipe for an equally amazing Reishi Peppermint Hot Chocolate that serves as a perfect before-bed drink...

This super easy Chaga Simple Syrup is a great wat to add some health to your coffee, smoothies, tea, mixed drinks and more! Making a simple syrup is an incredibly easy recipe, anyone can do it! What are you waiting for? Learn how to make this easy recipe today...

Roasted veggies are such a delicious staple in my household. A favorite of mine anytime, but especially so during the holidays, are these roasted sweet potatoes with a Chaga Maple glaze. This recipe is fairly easy and the kiddos are sure to love the candy-like result! Plus, the Chaga Maple glaze is very versatile...

If you’ve never made homemade eggnog, you’ve gotta try this recipe! Homemade eggnog carries more love and flavor than store-bought, with none of the additives and thickening agents that you’ll find in eggnog from the grocery store. The addition of Chaga brings a touch of health to this decadent recipe...

This recipe is so delicious and fun to make! I feel like every fall I am overwhelmed with squash and pumpkins to use up. Sometimes I have a hard time deviating from the deliciousness of roasted squash, so this recipe is a great way to try something new and use up a larger squash that would...

ChagaNOW is such a diverse ingredient! I wanted to see how it does when added to sweets. This recipe is focused on the frosting, because that is what the ChagaNOW is in, but I’ll give the recipe for the cookies as well! The resulting frosting is like a hybrid between vanilla bean and chaga...

Whether you’ve had Thai Iced Tea before or not, this recipe is one you HAVE TO TRY! Thai iced tea is a dessert-type beverage (but I’ll drink it any time!) that pairs very well with spicy food. It’s creamy, sweet and everything you need to soothe the palate or just to have a restorative treat!