Ingredients in Focus is Food Dive’s bite-size column highlighting interesting developments in the ingredients sector.
Chaga mushrooms, a fungi high in antioxidants and plant compounds, are expected to experience significant growth in the next decade.
Historically used in Siberia and other parts of Asia for their immune-boosting and health-improving properties, chaga mushrooms are also known for their potential in treating diabetes and high cholesterol.
Various companies have started incorporating chaga mushrooms into their products, leveraging the better-for-you marketing approach to showcase its benefits. Brands like Herbal Lodge, Sullivan Street Tea & Spice Company, and Birch Boys offer tea products featuring chaga mushrooms on platforms like Amazon.
Rich in bioactive substances, chaga mushrooms are currently under clinical trials to determine their effectiveness, indicating further growth potential for this medicinal mushroom ingredient in the future.
The North America and East Asia regions contribute significantly to global chaga mushroom sales, with powdered forms being the most preferred and organic variants in high demand.
The sports nutrition sector is expected to be a key driver of chaga mushroom sales, with an increasing number of companies incorporating it into tea products as well.
While the high cost of chaga mushrooms poses a challenge for growth, concerns over side effects from excessive consumption, such as allergic reactions, and advice for insulin-dependent consumers to avoid it also need to be addressed.
Despite these challenges, the growing consumer focus on healthier lifestyles is expected to fuel the growth of chaga mushrooms in the coming years, particularly in the functional foods and personal care sectors.
Leading players in the chaga mushroom industry are working towards ensuring product quality and relying on clinical trials to communicate the health benefits to consumers. Companies like Restorative Botanicals and Hangzhou Muhua Bio-Tech are at the forefront of this movement.