Louise & Chubbe… The Chaga Hunters in the Arctic Woods
My name is Louise, and I live my life deep in the magnificent Arctic forests, right at the edge of the mountains in northern Lapland, Sweden. This is a place where summer gifts us with the magical midnight sun – a golden light that never sets, bathing the world in its glow all day and night. In winter, the polar nights take over, and we are treated to the mesmerizing dance of the northern lights – a constant reminder of nature’s beauty and power.
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Here, in this unique environment, something truly special grows: the world’s finest wild chaga, or as we call it in Swedish, sprängticka. But it’s not just a mushroom – it’s a treasure chest packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, celebrated worldwide for its incredible health benefits.
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Together with my loyal companion, Cubbe – a hybrid between a wolf and a dog – I spend the bright summer nights trekking far beyond civilization. We map places where chaga thrives under the midnight sun’s 24-hour light. There’s something magical about wandering through the forest so far from everything, where the only sounds are nature’s whispers and Cubbe’s paws softly padding against the ground.
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In winter, when temperatures can drop to -35 degrees Celsius, we strap on our skis and venture out into the stillness of the polar night. Under the shimmering northern lights, we harvest chaga, which absorbs the power of this celestial phenomenon. The Sami people, the Indigenous community of northern Scandinavia, have a legend that the northern lights possess healing powers – especially when they shine in shades of violet, symbolizing restorative energy.
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And this is where Mimi from Moon Medicine comes into the picture. With ancient wisdom and a touch of mysticism, she brews her tinctures during special rituals. She believes it’s the healing power of the northern lights that makes her creations so unique. In her cozy little kitchen, she transforms our carefully harvested chaga into drinks and elixirs infused with the magic of nature, moon power and the glow of the aurora. Mimi is convinced that the dancing northern lights – especially when they shine brightly in violet – impart extra energy and healing properties to her tinctures. And you know what? The taste is just as magical as the stories behind them.
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Chaga has a long history here in the North and was used as far back as Viking times. According to old stories, the Vikings believed that chaga harvested under the northern lights could enhance fertility. Maybe chaga was their secret weapon for creating the next generation of strong Nordic warriors?
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This is how we live, Cubbe and I, in the heart of the Arctic wilderness, surrounded by myths, history, and a landscape that never ceases to amaze. We are truly proud to be a little part of the magic of Mimi’s moon Medicine.
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To be continued, for the journey of the chaga hunters has only just begun…
