This shroom can be found throughout Europe, North America, and parts of Africa. This mushroom contains psilocybin and psilocin — but there are no official studies offering insight into its potency. There are also a lot of potentially lethal members of this group which can make it dangerous to attempt to wildcraft the psilocybin-containing members. For example, several species of Inocybe mushrooms contain muscarine — a toxic substance responsible for many fungi-related deaths around the world.
- Psilocybe semilanceata, also known as Liberty Caps, are considered the most widespread naturally growing psilocybin mushroom in the world, according to Psilopedia.
- John Allen collected this strain on his trip to Southeast Asia, and it’s been slowly circulating in spore trading communities ever since.
- It was developed by a group of cultivators in Holland and has won several awards for it’s high potency among independent growers.
- Classic strain with one key difference — instead of producing the normal dark purple or black spores, this strain produces a light brown or red spore.
- For most people, the best strain is simply the one that sounds the most interesting to you.
- Mycologists are the most interested in the sclerotia or truffles it produces.
Some have large dark caps; others tan-colored caps with white edges. The Great White Monster strain is famous for its striking white color and propensity for creating behemouth mushrooms seemingly out of nowhere. This strain is very well-balanced — the mushrooms are medium-sized, the flushes are dense, and it’s reasonably resistant to contamination. This strain is noted for its large mushrooms, but not much else is known about this strain. It’s hard to find spores for this strain from the major suppliers. Its characteristics are thin, tall mushrooms with rapid colonization times.
There are currently 13 known species of Panaeolus that contain psilocybin and psilocin — most are considered weakly active, but a small handful is considered highly active. This species is very easy to cultivate at home but requires some tweaks compared to conventional magic mushroom cultivation to maximize sclerotia or truffle formation. The common name for this species is “liberty caps” because of the distinct bell-shaped caps. The psilocybin content isn’t well known, but the concentration of active ingredients is much higher in fresh samples than dried samples. They’re considered moderately potent when fresh and weakly active when dried. Expert mycologists believe the poisoning wasn’t the result of the Psilocybe mushrooms but rather a common look-alike such as a species of Galerina or Amanita.
Sometimes the strains I think are going to be the best yield very poorly, and the ones I’ve tried on a random whim ended up being the best producers. There’s a lot of debate surrounding whether psilocybin strains mean much of anything beyond the physical appearance of the mushroom. Any psychoactive mushroom species is suitable for use in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Claviceps is a genus of ergot fungi that infect grains like wheat, barley, and rye. There are a handful of other fungi that are considered psychoactive or psychedelic that don’t rely on psilocybin or psilocin as the active ingredients. These mushrooms are rarely eaten for their psychotropic effects because of how difficult they are to identify.
People may experience visual alterations, intensified colors and sounds, a sense of lightness or joyfulness, and intense emotions. Taking psilocybin mushrooms may also evoke feelings of joy, a feeling of connection to something greater, and increased awareness. There are some things to look out for when foraging for mushrooms—or buying them on the black market. Firstly, because there are dozens of different kinds of shrooms with varying potencies, you always want to make sure to clarify what kind of shrooms you’re buying.
Unlocking the Mysteries of Magic Mushrooms: A Comprehensive Guide to Different Types and Origins
Compared to mushrooms, ayahuasca was seen to focus more on self-healing and leave a more enduring positive effect on quality of life. DMT was found to be more likely to elicit adderall a mystical experience, bringing about an encounter with some otherworldly entity. Psilocybin is recognized as a classic psychedelic along with DMT, mescaline, and LSD.
A sample of the Orissa India strain once held the record for the largest cultivated cubensis ever — but that title has since been beaten by a grower using South American cubensis. Either way, this is an excellent strain for beginners interested in growing a (nearly) albino strain. Either way, expect very similar growth patterns and potency from this mushroom as you would with Penis Envy. Some growers even claim this strain carries all the benefits of PE but offers even faster colonization. This strain was collected from the mountainous region of Mazatapec, Mexico.
Shrooms: Risks of Foraging For Different Types of Magic Mushrooms
The name is apparently a tribute to the farm owner on which the original sample was collected. The Quezon (Philippines) strain was collected from a garden in Quezon City, Philippines, over a decade ago. The legend is that when this strain was collected somewhere on the island of Koh Samui from the manure of a literal pink buffalo.
This strain comes from the high mountains of Nepal in the Chitwan region. John Allen collected this strain on his trip to Southeast Asia, and it’s been slowly circulating in spore trading communities ever since. The original ethanol definition formula uses and facts stock for this mushroom strain is reported to come from Australia, and the appearance of these mushrooms is very similar to the Australian strain. This strain is also known for producing particularly large mushrooms.
If you can crack the code for getting the Z-strain right, it’s hands down one of the best options for commercial grows or those looking to maximize yields. They colonize very quickly and produce dense clusters of shrooms almost immediately when placed in the fruiting chamber. Some people list this strain as the most potent Psilocybe cubensis strain — rivaling other prominent options, including Penis Envy and Orissa India. The White Rabbit strain is an excellent set of genetics to work with.
Spores 101 (🇺🇸/🇨🇦)
The potency of this strain is also slightly above average and it’s affinity for producing dense clusters of shrooms mean its yields are pretty impressive too. A unique characteristic of this strain is a white trim color along with the mushroom cap. This strain has a high chance of producing fatass mushrooms — they’re very short and thick-stemmed. However, you can also get some more conventional mushrooms from this strain as well.
Psilocybe tampanensis (Philosopher’s Stones)
Under the cap of these mushrooms, you will find narrow gills that quickly turn blue when the shroom stem or cap is damaged or removed. Psilocybe natalensis is a unique species of magic mushroom that grows in the Natal region of South Africa. Also known as “Natal Super Strength,” these mushrooms contain high amounts of the psychoactive compounds psilocybin, psilocin, and baeocystin. While we include ecstasy detox symptoms timeline medications and treatment dosage guidelines for Psilocybe cubensis, there isn’t enough dedicated research on other strains to include that data for all of them. In our guide, we’ll explore the most popular psilocybin mushroom types, including Penis Envy, Liberty Caps, Golden Teachers, and more. Each psilocybin mushroom species varies in the amount of psilocybin and psilocin it contains–and the experience it provides.
The original sample was collected by Mushroom John Allen on a tour through Southeast Asia in the 90s as he collected new strains of Psilocybe cubensis. This is a classic strain invented by the legendary Mr. G, who claims it’s a hybrid between Psilocybe cubensis and Psilocybe azurescens (hotly debated). It’s unlikely these two species are able to produce viable offspring, but there are some features that appear to resemble aspects of both species — so it’s entirely possible. Aztec God shrooms are medium-sized with a light brown or chestnut-colored cap. This is where I first bumped into it, and have yet to see this strain available outside the country.
You’re Not Tripping—These Mushrooms Really Glow in the Dark
It’s well worth it if you’re looking for something a little different. This strain, like many on this list, was originally collected by Mushroom John Allen on his infamous trip to Southeast Asia. The origin of this strain is unknown, but it’s thought to have been a genetic off-shoot from the Z-strain. P.E.S. stands for Plantasia Exotica Speciosa — a spore vendor based out of Honolulu.
