Mudita is both a Buddhist practice and a Sanskrit word meaning to find pleasure in well-being
others, to derive happiness from their joy.

For Muskoka Mudita, a local high-end chaga company, it’s an apt title for their selfless ethos.

Muskoka Mudita was founded in 2020 by Chelsea Bernas and Dan Porter and focuses on artisanal chaga products including ready-to-drink teas, functional skincare, and sugar-free tinctures.

Chaga is a fungus that grows primarily on birch trees in cold climates and has a flavor reminiscent of maple and vanilla. It is known for its nutritional properties and has been a key player in the world of natural health remedies for centuries.

Bernas says she was first introduced to chaga by her mother, who drank it to help relieve her chronic pain from endometriosis.

“It took a bit of convincing, but I ended up trying it,” she says, “and drinking it really seemed to work for me, it really helped me control my pain. [from endometriosis]. Then we introduced it to Dan and he absolutely loved it and appreciated the benefits. We decided that we also wanted to share it with everyone.

Porter quickly became fascinated with chaga and dove into a world of research into the rich history and diverse uses of this curious mushroom.

“I realized that chaga had a history that goes back thousands of years, and I was blown away by it,” Porter says. “Chaga itself is a Russian word meaning mushroom, but it was used primarily by Ukrainians, Ainu in northern Japan, and even many native tribes in Canada.”

Bernas and Porter began connecting with a number of Native healers who shared their stories of the profound health benefits they and others had received from chaga.

The duo soon realized that chaga was a potential business avenue worth exploring.

“I was like ‘well, there’s something here,'” Porter says. “I knew that if we were going to put this into action, we had to make sure it would benefit people, but on top of that we have to take a sustainability angle. »

To understand the value and rarity of this exquisite mushroom, one must understand the foraging process and how it is done in the most sustainable way possible.

The chaga feeds on white birches, which give the fungus most of its nutrients, and only in winter or early spring to avoid the presence of sap. Muskoka Mudita has a network of foragers in the Muskoka and Almaguin areas who tag and geolocate trees that have chaga available. Only about 30% of the fungus is taken from a tree at a time, and the tree is then marked again to prevent overfeeding. Porter expresses the importance of this because even though chaga is technically a renewable resource, it grows at such a slow rate that a fist-sized piece can take three to five years to regrow.

“We try to space things out and be really mindful of how we do it, because we want to make sure we have that for future generations,” he says. “We want to look at this generationally, not transactionally.”

For every item sold, Muskoka Mudita plants a seed that will produce milkweed or wildflowers and for every hundredth item sold, they will plant a birch or maple tree.

Chaga is extremely high in melanin and is one of the most antioxidant-rich foods on the planet. Although more research is needed to confirm its health benefits, studies have explored chaga’s ability to support the immune system, inhibit tumor growth, and aid in cell protection, as well as its superior anti-inflammatory properties. . It’s also rich in B vitamins, which provide energy without caffeine, making it a great alternative to coffee.

These health benefits and the overall improvement in the quality of life of those who have tried it are at the forefront of Bernas and Porter’s mission for their growing business.

“I’ve seen it help those I love, so it’s just more motivation to try and get more people to know about it,” Porter says. “A rising tide lifts all ships, so I think the more knowledge we can spread about it, the better – that’s our mentality. We all rise together.

Muskoka Mudita products are available at The Great Vine, Muskoka Gift Box, Muskoka North Good Food Co-op and Deerhurst Resort. They will also be available at the Rosseau Farmers’ Market and other events across Muskoka this summer.

For more information, visit muskokamuditachagatea.com.

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