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In this blog, you'll learn:
- Buying magic mushrooms: Which ones should you choose?
- How do you grow magic mushrooms?
- After harvesting: Drying and storing magic mushrooms
- Using magic mushrooms
Buying magic mushrooms: Which ones should you choose?
Buying magic mushrooms online for the first time can be tricky if you're not sure what to look for. Which mushrooms grow quickly? Which grow kit is easiest to use? And which magic mushrooms are the strongest? It all depends on the species, the strain and the concentration of active compounds such as psilocybin.
Psilocybin
When we talk about magic mushrooms, we mean mushrooms that contain psilocybin. Amanita muscaria, the red fly agaric with white spots, is another mushroom with psychoactive effects. However, fly agarics do not contain psilocybin and can be highly toxic if prepared incorrectly. At Dutch-Headshop, you'll only find psilocybin-containing magic mushrooms with related active compounds such as psilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, aeruginascin and norpsilocin.
Species
There are hundreds of species of magic mushrooms around the world. Most mushrooms capable of producing hallucinations or a trip belong to the Psilocybe genus. There are a few exceptions, such as Panaeolus cyanescens, which you can also buy from Dutch-Headshop. Most magic mushrooms are varieties of Psilocybe cubensis. This species thrives in a warm climate and is easy to grow with a magic mushroom grow kit.
Strain
A strain is essentially a variety or cultivar. We stock a wide range of Psilocybe cubensis strains.
Here's a handy overview to help you choose:
- Species: Cubensis | B+
- Potency: ⭐⭐
- Ease of growing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Growing time: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Yield: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Species: Cubensis | Mexican
- Potency: ⭐⭐
- Ease of growing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Growing time: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Yield: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Species: Cubensis | Thai
- Potency: ⭐⭐
- Ease of growing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Growing time: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Yield: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Species: Cubensis | Cambodian
- Potency: ⭐⭐
- Ease of growing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Growing time: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Yield: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Species: Cubensis | Colombian
- Potency: ⭐⭐
- Ease of growing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Growing time: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Yield: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Species: Cubensis | Ecuadorian
- Potency: ⭐⭐
- Ease of growing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Growing time: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Yield: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Species: Cubensis | Mazatapec
- Potency: ⭐⭐⭐
- Ease of growing: ⭐⭐⭐
- Growing time: ⭐⭐⭐
- Yield: ⭐⭐⭐
- Species: Cubensis | Golden Teacher
- Potency: ⭐⭐⭐
- Ease of growing: ⭐⭐⭐
- Growing time: ⭐⭐⭐
- Yield: ⭐⭐⭐
- Species: Cubensis | McKennaii
- Potency: ⭐⭐⭐
- Ease of growing: ⭐⭐⭐
- Growing time: ⭐⭐⭐
- Yield: ⭐⭐⭐
- Species: Cubensis | Marshmallow
- Potency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ease of growing: ⭐⭐⭐
- Growing time: ⭐⭐⭐
- Yield: ⭐⭐
- Species: Panaeolus | Hawaiian
- Potency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ease of growing: ⭐
- Growing time: ⭐⭐
- Yield: ⭐⭐
- Species: Azurescens | Astoria
- Potency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ease of growing: ⭐
- Growing time: ⭐
- Yield: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Buy a magic mushroom grow kit
Since 2008, selling ready-to-use magic mushrooms has been prohibited in the Netherlands. That's why we only sell magic mushroom grow kits, spores, spawn and cultures wherever it's legal to do so. What's the difference?
- Magic Mushroom Grow Kit - A grow kit contains everything you need to grow your own magic mushrooms.
- Mushroom Spawn - An established mushroom culture in a fresh growing medium, ready to multiply.
- Liquid Mushroom Culture - Use a syringe or bottle of liquid culture to inoculate your own growing medium.
- Mushroom Spore Print - Start from scratch: germinate the spores and create your own mushroom culture.
How do you grow magic mushrooms?
Every species and strain has its own ideal growing method and climate. Each product description contains detailed information on how to grow that particular variety. For all cubensis strains, we recommend following the guide available under Documents on the product page. Every guide starts with the same advice: make sure your workspace and your hands are as clean as possible before opening the grow kit.
By far the most important rule when growing magic mushrooms: keep everything clean!
Grow your own magic mushrooms in 10 steps
Follow these simple instructions to get started.
- Wash your hands and clean the outside of the grow kit.
- Remove the lid. Use a sterilised fork to make small holes in the top layer of the grow kit.
- Fill the kit to the brim with lukewarm water and put the lid back on. Leave it to soak for 8 to 12 hours.
- Pour away any excess water and let the kit drain for 10 seconds.
- Add lukewarm water to the grow bag: 250 ml for a 250 cc kit or 500 ml for a 1,200 cc kit. Place the kit inside the bag, making sure the water doesn't enter the kit itself.
- Close the bag by folding over the top twice and securing it with the paper clips provided.
- Keep the grow kit out of direct sunlight and away from lamps and radiators. The ideal temperature is 20 to 25°C. There should always be condensation on the inside of the bag while the mushrooms are growing. If there isn't, lightly mist the inside of the bag using a spray bottle on its fine-mist setting. Don't spray the kit directly.
- After around two weeks, the first magic mushrooms should appear. Some varieties may take a little longer than others. Be patient and move on to the next step once you see small pins forming.
- Can you see tiny mushrooms? Open the bag every day to let in fresh air, and mist the inside whenever there's no condensation. Always work hygienically to prevent contamination. Watch for the veil underneath each mushroom cap starting to separate.
- Harvest the mushrooms when the veil under the cap is about to break. Gently twist each mushroom from side to side to remove it as completely as possible.
Harvest all the mushrooms from the grow kit when the veils under most of the caps begin to separate.
When the caps open, they release spores. These may leave black, dark brown or dark purple marks on mushrooms growing underneath them. This isn't a problem, but it's best to harvest before it happens.
After harvesting: Drying and storing magic mushrooms
A grow kit can be stored in the fridge for around 3 to 6 months. Its shelf life is limited when kept unrefrigerated.
You can eat magic mushrooms fresh, but that's quite a lot of mushroom to get through. Drying them reduces their size considerably and also makes it easier to store your harvest.
Drying magic mushrooms
Start drying your mushrooms straight after harvesting. Try to keep them whole and intact. Take a large, clean plate, oven dish or baking tray and line it with kitchen paper. Spread the mushrooms out so they don't touch one another. Drape a tea towel over them like a tent, perhaps using a glass in the centre to hold it up. If you have children or pets, the simplest and safest place is on top of a tall cupboard. Change the kitchen paper every day.
It's normal for magic mushrooms to turn blue-green after harvesting. Discolouration is part of the process.
Storing magic mushrooms
Once the mushrooms are dry, it's time to store them. For larger amounts and future trips, it's best to keep them whole in a sealed zip-lock bag. Adding a sachet of silica gel and an oxygen absorber is a good idea, too, as it helps keep moisture and oxygen away. Put the bag inside a sealed jar and store it somewhere cool and, above all, dark, out of reach of children and pets. Stored this way, the mushrooms can last for months or even years.
Are your stored magic mushrooms still good? Check their appearance, smell and taste.
- As long as there's no grey-green, fluffy mould, they should look normal.
- As long as they smell a little like rye bread or ordinary mushrooms, their smell is typical.
- As long as they taste slightly bitter and have a cardboard-like texture, their taste is typical.
Using magic mushrooms
Where should you (and shouldn't you) take magic mushrooms?
This may be the most important question of all. Your surroundings, or setting, have a huge influence on how a magic mushroom trip feels. That's why we recommend taking magic mushrooms only in a familiar, safe environment, with a sober trip sitter present. The more comfortable you feel in your surroundings, the more comfortable the experience is likely to be. Never let friends pressure you into taking them. Only do it if you genuinely want to and feel that today is the right day.
Good places to take magic mushrooms
- In your own home
- At a close friend's home
- In a rented holiday cottage surrounded by nature
- Out in nature (woodland, dunes or a beach)
Places to avoid when taking magic mushrooms
Loud, busy places full of people you don't know are a definite no-go when taking magic mushrooms:
- Festivals, parties and concerts - You may no longer be able to filter out sensory input, making the experience overwhelming.
- On the street, in a city, near roads and cycle paths - Your reaction time is reduced and you may no longer recognise danger.
- Around people you don't completely trust - If you start having a difficult time, would you trust them with your life?
The magic mushroom trip
Now for the trip itself. Despite what you may have heard, 'hallucinations' don't necessarily mean seeing little gnomes running around the room. Instead, mandala-like patterns, eyes and shapes may appear on the walls, ceiling and floor, while everything seems to 'breathe'. A magic mushroom trip generally unfolds like this:
- Onset: When the trip begins - Effects often begin between 20 minutes and an hour after taking mushrooms. The higher the dose, the sooner you may notice them. Never take more mushrooms simply because you can't feel anything after an hour. Save the rest for another time and only consider increasing the dose then. Early effects often include yawning, weak legs, tingling sensations, smiling and dilated pupils.
- Peak: When the effects are strongest - The peak usually arrives around 2 to 4 hours after taking mushrooms. Emotions, hallucinations and philosophical thoughts may be at their most intense. The experience often comes in waves.
- Comedown: The effects gradually fade - After the peak, the effects begin to subside in waves. It can feel like a lingering afterglow. You'll probably feel tired and may have vivid dreams when you sleep. Give yourself time to rest and process the experience. Sometimes it can feel as though you've been travelling for a week and have only just returned home.
- Total duration - approximately 5 to 8 hours.
- After-effects - It's called a 'trip' because it can feel like an adventure inside your own mind. Give yourself time to process what happened. Many psychonauts, as people who explore psychedelic experiences are sometimes called, say it doesn't feel like a hangover, but they may need anything from a day to several weeks to make sense of it all.
It feels like I've been away travelling for a week.
Trip levels: The different stages and effects of magic mushrooms
Each higher level also includes the effects of the levels below it.
- Level 1: Light Dose - An Introduction to Change | You feel mildly euphoric, almost as if you're slightly stoned. Colours look brighter, sounds seem richer and music feels more beautiful. You remain grounded in reality and in control. Suitable for beginners.
- Level 2: Mild Dose - The World Breathes | Colours shift, surfaces seem to move, and mild visual distortions and patterns appear when you close your eyes. Creativity and fits of laughter become more common. Your grasp on reality remains largely intact.
- Level 3: Normal Dose - The Classic Trip | Clear patterns and visual distortions appear with both open and closed eyes. Synesthesia (blending of the senses) and changes in your perception of time are possible. The experience becomes deeper and more imaginative. Only take mushrooms in a safe, familiar setting.
- Level 4: High Dose - Letting Go of the Ego | Strong hallucinations, perceived entities, talking objects and a sense of connection with everything around you. Your sense of self may partially or completely dissolve. Time and reality become blurred. Intense emotions and spiritual insights are possible. Only with experienced supervision.
- Level 5: 'Heroic' Dose - Losing the Self | Your connection to physical reality may fade completely. The boundaries between your body, space and time disappear. Your senses no longer function as usual. Emotions can become extremely intense and overwhelming. You may feel at one with the universe or become completely disoriented. Only for highly experienced users following extensive preparation.
- Level 6: Beyond Any Useful Purpose | The risk of a bad trip increases with every level. Communicating with someone who has taken a heroic dose is already extremely difficult, let alone someone who has taken more. Blackouts or temporarily paralysed arms and legs are very common. Extremely challenging. Best avoided.
How do you eat magic mushrooms?
The simplest way to take magic mushrooms is to eat them as they are. They taste like fairly bitter mushrooms.
Pro tip: Don't eat or drink anything other than water for three hours before taking them. According to our advice, this produces the strongest effects and the least nausea.
Not everyone enjoys the taste of magic mushrooms. That's why we've put together a few alternative ways to consume them:
- Make magic mushroom tea - Use hot water at around 70-75°C to preserve the active compounds. Leave finely chopped mushrooms to steep for 20 minutes. You can keep the water warm using a tealight. Ginger or liquorice add a lovely flavour, while blue lotus turns your tea as blue as a magic potion!
- Pasta ai funghi - Pasta, but not with ordinary mushrooms. Add the magic mushrooms only after you've finished cooking, so they aren't heated and their active compounds are preserved. And skip the cheese. According to our recommendation, that combination may cause nausea and could be dangerous.
- The magic mushroom burger - Our customers say this is a popular option. Make yourself a tasty burger, then add the unheated magic mushrooms just before serving. Again, don't add a slice of cheese!
- Get it over with - Don't like the taste but still want to avoid eating anything else with your mushrooms? Give them a quick chew and swallow. Drink a glass of water straight away, rinse your mouth and swallow the water. Then brush your teeth.
