Found growing on birch trees across northern woodlands, Birch Polypore (Fomitopsis betulina) is a distinctive bracket fungus long valued in traditional herbal and foraging practice.
This collection brings together wild-foraged Birch Polypore products, prepared in small batches and worked with through decoctions, extracts and other thoughtfully prepared materials. Celebrated by foragers and naturalists alike, Birch Polypore reflects a close relationship with forest ecosystems and the slow, cyclical rhythms of seasonal growth.
Birch polypore (Piptoporus betulinus) is a bracket fungus found almost exclusively on birch trees. Historically associated with traditional woodland craft and herbal use, it has been valued for its durability, bitterness and practical applications within forest-based traditions.
From our hands…
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Quietly practical, like the fungus itself.
30ml glass dropper bottle
Birch polypore is a mushroom with a long, practical history.
Growing quietly on birch trees across northern forests, Fomitopsis betulina has been found alongside human journeys for thousands of years. It’s perhaps best known from archaeological finds — carried, dried, and valued not for ornament, but for usefulness. This is a fungus that earned its place by being reliable.
Traditionally, birch polypore was gathered and worked with for its drying, steady, and protective qualities, and was often associated with resilience and self-sufficiency. It wasn’t a flashy mushroom, but one that appeared again and again in folk practices where practicality mattered more than performance.
Our Birch Polypore Tincture is made as a slow, alcohol-free extraction using vegetable glycerin and water, a method well suited to its firm, fibrous nature. Prepared in small batches with patience, this approach allows the character of the mushroom to come through gently, without harshness.
This is a tincture for those who appreciate straightforward preparations — simple, measured, and quietly dependable.
Ingredients
Birch polypore (Fomitopsis betulina), vegetable glycerin, water
Notes
• Alcohol-free
• Made in small batches
• Traditionally inspired extraction method
• Dry, steady, and grounding in character
Learn more about birch polypore, its ecology and historical use, in our Forager’s Guide to Birch Polypore.
Made by good folk, from wild stuff, for kind souls.
Every purchase keeps our fire burning — feeding people, funding projects, and planting seeds for a kinder world. 🌱
A tough forest companion shaped by use and necessity
Birch Polypore (Fomitopsis betulina) is a firm, bracket-forming fungus found growing almost exclusively on birch trees across northern forests.
Unlike soft, food-like mushrooms, Birch Polypore is dense, bitter and purposeful in character. It has a long history of practical use across Europe, where it was valued not as a delicacy or tonic, but as a dependable forest ally — something carried, prepared and returned to when needed.
Archaeological and historical records suggest Birch Polypore was used for a wide range of everyday applications, from slow decoctions to external preparations, and even as a material for carrying embers or crafting tools. Its reputation was built on reliability rather than comfort, and on function rather than flavour.
Birch Polypore grows deliberately, forming tough, leathery brackets that reflect its role in the woodland ecosystem. Traditional preparations respected this structure, typically involving long simmering or careful slicing to allow its dense material to soften and release gradually.
Our Birch Polypore is wild foraged by hand from mature birch woodland, harvested with care and dried slowly. It is sliced or left in chunky pieces to preserve its natural form, allowing you to prepare it traditionally and intentionally, without rushing or excessive processing.
This is Birch Polypore in its simplest form — robust, unrefined, and closely tied to the practical traditions that shaped its use.
Ingredients
Wild foraged Birch Polypore (Fomitopsis betulina)
Traditional Preparation
Birch Polypore has traditionally been prepared through long, gentle simmering or slow extraction methods, reflecting its dense structure and practical nature. Preparation is typically patient and deliberate, allowing time for the material to soften and release gradually.
Notes
• Wild foraged from birch woodland
• Sliced or left in chunks for traditional preparation
• Dense, bitter and robust in character
• Historically valued for practical, everyday use
• Best approached slowly and with intention
To explore Birch Polypore in more depth - including identification, traditional use and modern research context - see our full Forager’s Guide to Birch Polypore.
Made by good folk, from wild stuff, for kind souls.
Every purchase keeps our fire burning — feeding people, funding projects, and planting seeds for a kinder world. 🌱
We’re not here to offer miracle cures - just honest, earth-grown products made to support wellbeing, flavour, and connection to the world around us. Everything is small-batch, season-led, and made with transparency, so you know exactly what’s in your jar, pouch, or bottle.
We work with foraged and natural ingredients based on their long-held traditional uses, blending old wisdom with our own hands-on experience. But nature works differently for everyone, and every body has its own story. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication, or managing a health condition, it’s always wise to check in with a healthcare professional before trying something new.
We believe in mindful, informed use of nature’s gifts, and we’re always happy to chat, guide, and share what we know.