Siberian vs. Alaskan Chaga
In the past few years, chaga has taken the world by storm. Previously unknown to all but those who dwell in the coldest regions of the world, chaga has become popular the world over due to its medicinal qualities. Chaga has been shown to combat cancer, ward off disease, fight aging through the elimination of free radicals, aid digestion, and many more benefits. However, where is the best chaga in the world found?
Virtually all chaga is harvested from one of two places: Siberia and Alaska. Many chaga suppliers will tout one or the other as having superior chaga. Is there a difference between Siberian and Alaskan chaga? Based on our experiences, we believe that Alaskan chaga is far superior to Siberian chaga for a number of reasons. Read on to find out what separates the two.
Where to Find Chaga
The reason why Siberia and Alaska are the main places where chaga is harvested is due to the unique way chaga obtains its nutritional content. Chaga natively grows on birch trees and can thus be found anywhere where birch trees grow, which includes much of North America, Europe, and Asia. It is possible to find chaga as far south as Turkey.
However, chaga only reaches its full potential when it grows in a place that is extremely cold. Warmer climates spoil the nutritional value of chaga that grows there. Because of this, only chaga harvested from extremely cold, northerly locales such as Siberia and Alaska is of any nutritional value, and this is also why these regions are the only ones that have a traditional of using chaga as a folk remedy.
Siberian vs. Alaskan Chaga
Siberia and Alaska are widely recognized as the coldest places in their respective countries, Russia and the U.S. Both locations are physically remote, difficult to reach, have small populations, and experience long winters and short summers. They are known for extremely long days during the summer and short days during the winter, and in some places, the sun either never rises or sets at all for entire days. Both regions are also known for unpredictable and treacherous weather at all times of the year.
While Alaska and Siberia are similar in many ways, there are a number of key differences that separate the two and make Alaskan chaga superior to Siberian chaga. The first is pollution. Siberia is more heavily populated than Alaska, meaning that there is a greater amount of pollution being spewed into the air as a result of human activity. Air pollution ruins chaga by introducing potentially harmful substances into it, which is why reputable chaga supplies only harvest chaga from rural, remote regions where few humans tread. Because Alaska has fewer people living in it, it has less pollution and thus purer chaga.
Related to this is the fact that air pollution control has historically been worse in Russia than in the U.S. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union built factories and cities without any regard as to the environmental damage that both caused. One of the worst environmental disasters in the world, the draining of the Aral Sea, occurred in the Soviet Union. While Russia has improved its pollution laws since the end of the Cold War, the legacy of Soviet industrialization remains, tainting the chaga found in Siberia. In contrast, America’s stricter pollution laws have helped preserve the quality of Alaskan chaga.
Related to this is the fact that chaga harvested in the U.S. undergoes stricter quality control than that of Russia. Due to corruption and lax government oversight, it is far easier for chaga vendors who operate in Siberia to sell substandard product. This includes chaga that is polluted, mixed with dirt, or is otherwise unsuitable for consumption. In contrast, Alaskan chaga undergoes a rigorous quality assurance process before it is brought to market.
Conclusion
The most important thing to keep in mind when you purchase chaga is where you are getting it from. Are you cutting corners and using a fly-by-night operator that sells faulty product, or are you getting it from a reputable source. Poor-quality chaga is not only lacking in the nutritional content that makes it worth consuming, it can actually harm your health by introducing toxins and impurities into your body. Don’t risk it: only buy chaga from a trustworthy seller.
While some may disagree, we believe Alaskan chaga is the purest, cleanest, most nutritious chaga on the market today. Alaskan chaga possesses several advantages over Siberian chaga, including less pollutants and stricter quality control. As such, we recommend that you purchase Alaskan chaga over Siberian chaga if you have the choice. When it comes to chaga, you deserve the best product you can buy, and it is our firm belief that Alaskan chaga will satisfy everyone who comes to try it.