Types of Psychedelic Mushroom Strains: Your Guide

The world of magic mushrooms offers a kaleidoscope of experiences, each unique to the strain of psilocybin mushrooms consumed. Psilocybin, the primary psychoactive component, acts as a key to realms of consciousness that remain unexplored by the uninitiated. 

The diversity in magic mushroom strains hints at their varied visual and cultivation characteristics and the distinct effects they can induce, from profound introspection to euphoric heights.

Understanding Magic Mushroom Strains

A strain refers to the genetic variant of the mushroom. Each strain possesses a unique profile that influences its growth, appearance, and the psychological experiences it can provoke. 

The importance of selecting the right strain cannot be overstated; it’s about matching the mushroom’s effects with the seeker’s intentions, whether for spiritual exploration, personal insight, or therapeutic purposes.

What are the best shrooms for beginners?

When it comes to magic mushrooms for beginners, the Golden Teacher strain is highly recommended due to its moderate potency and the insightful, enlightening experiences it provides. Its effects include gentle visual enhancements and profound revelations, offering a perfect introduction to the world of psychedelics. 

Golden Teachers grow relatively easily and have a wide range of effects that can help new users acclimate to the psychedelic experience without overwhelming intensity.

Which magic mushrooms are best for visuals?

For those seeking the best mushroom strain for visuals, Psilocybe cubensis strains like the Blue Meanie are renowned for their strong visual effects. Blue Meanie is known for its higher-than-average potency, often resulting in vivid, colourful visual distortions and enhanced sensory perception. 

This strain provides an intense visual journey, making it a favourite among users looking to explore the more transformative aspects of psychedelic visuals.

What’s the strongest magic mushroom strain?

The Penis Envy strain of Psilocybe cubensis is widely regarded as one of the strongest shroom strains. Its high psilocybin content results in a powerful and intensely psychoactive experience. 

Penis Envy mushrooms are characterized by their significant potency, which can produce profound alterations in perception, deep introspective insights, and intense visual hallucinations, making them suitable for experienced users seeking a deep, meaningful psychedelic journey.

Choosing the Right Strain for You

Selecting a magic mushroom strain is a personal journey, influenced by one’s sensitivity to psilocybin, the desired intensity of the experience, and the setting in which the mushrooms will be consumed. 

First-timers and even seasoned users must approach new strains cautiously, starting with lower doses to gauge their reaction. We only carry dried magic mushrooms since they are better preserved, will last much longer and won’t go mouldy on you.

Most Popular Magic Mushroom Strains

We are going to focus on Psilocybe Cubensis, which is the quintessential choice when it comes to psilocybin mushrooms. 

Widely regarded as the most accessible and cultivable strain, Psilocybe cubensis is the gateway to understanding the broader world of psilocybin mushrooms. Here are the most prevalent strains available today.

Golden Teacher

Characteristics: Golden Teacher mushrooms are easily recognizable by their golden caps with specks of yellow. Due to their reliable growth and moderate potency, they are one of the most popular strains among novice and experienced psychonauts.

Effects: This strain is famed for its ability to offer enlightening insights and spiritual experiences, hence the name “Teacher.” The trips are known for their profound introspective depth, making them an excellent choice for those seeking personal growth and self-discovery.

B+

Characteristics: The B+ strain is renowned for its versatility and adaptability. It thrives in various environmental conditions and produces large, beautiful mushrooms that are a favourite among cultivators due to their size and resilience.

Effects: B+ offers a warm, positive psychedelic experience with visual enhancements and a sense of euphoria. It’s well-suited for beginners due to its gentle nature but still appreciated by experienced users for its consistently enjoyable trips. We recommend these for festival magic mushrooms as they are so mellow.

Penis Envy

Characteristics: Penis Envy is one of the most potent Psilocybe cubensis strains, with a distinctive thick, bulbous, and wrinkly stipe and a somewhat underdeveloped cap. It’s more challenging to cultivate, making it a prized variety among enthusiasts, and more expensive when looking at how much shrooms go for.

Effects: Known for its intense visual and auditory hallucinations, profound philosophical revelations, and powerful emotional experiences, Penis Envy is recommended for experienced users. Its potency can lead to very profound and transformational journeys.

Albino A+

Characteristics: A leucistic strain (lacking pigment but not a true albino), Albino A+ mushrooms have a distinctive ghostly white appearance with slightly bluish tones. They’re known for their aesthetic appeal and moderate to high potency.

Effects: Users can expect a mix of intense visual hallucinations and deep, introspective journeys. Albino A+ is celebrated for its ability to produce a profound, mystical experience, blending visual stimulation with philosophical introspection.

Alacabenzi

Characteristics: Alacabenzi is known for blending the spiritual and introspective qualities of Mexican mushrooms with the visual and cerebral clarity of Alabama strains. It produces large, robust mushrooms with a consistent growth pattern, making it a favourite among cultivators for its yield and reliability.

Effects: This strain offers a balanced experience, grounding users in a contemplative state while providing enough visual stimulation for a profound psychedelic journey. It is ideal for those seeking a blend of introspection and sensory enhancement without overwhelming intensity.

Jedi Mind Trick

Characteristics: As its name suggests, the Jedi Mind Trick strain is revered for its powerful cognitive effects. It tends to produce medium to large fruiting bodies with a rapid growth rate. This strain is a choice for cultivators looking for a resilient and potent variety.

Effects: Users report an intense cerebral high that encourages deep thought, creativity, and a heightened sense of connection to the universe. It’s suited for experienced users looking for a potent and enlightening experience that can play tricks on the mind.

Albino Penis Envy

Characteristics: A variant of the infamous Penis Envy strain, Albino Penis Envy is distinguished by its white, almost translucent appearance due to a lack of pigmentation. It’s known for its slow growth but compensates with substantial potency and large, dense fruiting bodies.

Effects: This strain is among the most potent Psilocybe cubensis varieties, offering powerful visual and auditory hallucinations combined with deep introspection. Its effects can be overwhelmingly intense for newcomers, making it more appropriate for experienced psychonauts.

YETI Cubensis

Characteristics: YETI Cubensis is a relatively new strain quickly gaining popularity for its unique qualities. It’s characterized by its large, fluffy white mushrooms, reminiscent of the mythical Yeti. This strain is noted for its vigorous growth and impressive yields.

Effects: Users often describe the YETI Cubensis experience as enlightening, providing a balanced mix of visual stimulation and philosophical introspection. Its effects are profound yet manageable, making it suitable for both novice and seasoned users seeking a mystical journey.

Nutcracker

Characteristics: The Nutcracker strain stands out for its rapid colonization and fruiting times, producing dense clusters of mushrooms. It has a distinctive appearance, with darker caps and a sturdy stem, and is known for its robustness against contaminants.

Effects: This strain is celebrated for its potent effects, which include intense euphoria, vivid visual enhancements, and a deep sense of wonder and connectivity. It’s recommended for those looking for a powerful and transformative psychedelic experience, with a name that hints at its ability to “crack open” new realms of perception.

Amazonian

Characteristics: The Amazonian strain, as the name suggests, originates from the Amazon rainforest. It’s known for producing large, dense, and meaty mushrooms, which are highly potent. This strain prefers a humid environment, mimicking its natural rainforest habitat.

Effects: Users report powerful, visually stimulating experiences with a sense of connectivity with nature. The Amazonian is celebrated for its classic, strong psychedelic effects, making it suitable for those seeking intense journeys.

Treasure Coast

Characteristics: Discovered in the Treasure Coast area of Florida, this strain is known for its ability to produce a large number of albino mushrooms. It’s a prolific fruiter, often yielding several flushes of mushrooms that grow quickly and are relatively easy to cultivate.

Effects: The Treasure Coast mushroom is appreciated for its cerebral high, offering experiences filled with creativity and introspection. Its effects can vary widely, with some users reporting intense visual hallucinations and a deep sense of euphoria.

Blue Meanie

Characteristics: Not to be confused with Panaeolus cyanescens, which shares the same common name, the Blue Meanie strain of Psilocybe cubensis is noted for its higher-than-average potency and a tendency to bruise a distinct blue colour when handled. It grows vigorously and yields sizable mushrooms.

Effects: Known for its strong and quick onset, Blue Meanie delivers an intense euphoric experience packed with visual and auditory hallucinations. It’s recommended for experienced users due to its potent effects.

Cambodian

Characteristics: Originating from the Cambodian region near Angkor Wat, this strain is favoured for its fast colonization and fruiting times. Cambodian mushrooms are medium in size with dark caps and are known for their robust growth.

Effects: The Cambodian strain is known for its energetic and uplifting effects, making it an excellent choice for social gatherings or creative endeavours. Users appreciate its ability to enhance mood without overwhelming the senses.

Mazatapec

Characteristics: This strain holds historical significance as it was among the first strains introduced to the Western world for study. Mazatapec mushrooms originate from Mexico and are characterized by their unique growth pattern and spiritual significance.

Effects: Mazatapec offers a deeply spiritual and reflective experience, often accompanied by profound philosophical insights and minimal visual distortion. It’s suited for those seeking a more traditional, introspective journey.

Golden Mammoth

Characteristics: Engineered for perfection by Canadian mycologist SporePod, the Golden Mammoth stands out for its remarkable genetic consistency, large size, and beautiful golden-coloured caps. It’s known for its purity and vigorous growth.

Effects: Users report a balanced experience with the Golden Mammoth, featuring profound spiritual insights and vibrant visual hallucinations. Its effects are intense yet manageable, making it suitable for many users.

The Psilocybe Mushroom Genus

The fascinating world of magic mushrooms encompasses various species outside of Cubensis, each with unique properties and effects. Among these, Psilocybe semilanceata, Psilocybe azurescens, Psilocybe cyanescens, and Psilocybe mexicana stand out not only for their characteristics but also for their influence on the cultivation and development of popular Psilocybe cubensis strains. 

Understanding how these species have been cross-bred or influenced the breeding of Psilocybe cubensis strains can help enthusiasts appreciate the diversity and richness of the experiences offered by these fungi. It’s also important to know how to identify magic mushrooms properly.

Psilocybe Semilanceata (Liberty Cap)

Known for its distinctive pointed cap and natural abundance in certain regions, Psilocybe semilanceata is celebrated for its potent psilocybin content. Unlike the more commonly cultivated Psilocybe cubensis, Liberty Caps are frequently found in the wild, thriving in damp, grassy fields, making them great shrooms foraging. Their profoundly introspective and visual effects offer a different experience from the generally more balanced and controllable highs associated with Psilocybe cubensis strains.

The cultivation challenges and distinct potency of Psilocybe semilanceata have inspired mycologists and cultivators to explore genetic crossings, aiming to imbue Psilocybe cubensis strains with the Liberty Cap’s potent characteristics while maintaining the cubensis species’ more manageable cultivation requirements.

Psilocybe Azurescens

Psilocybe azurescens, often touted as one of the most potent magic mushrooms, presents significant cultivation challenges, mainly due to its preference for decaying wood substrates and cooler climates. The intense experience it offers, characterized by profound visual and spiritual dimensions, has intrigued cultivators interested in hybridizing strains to capture their remarkable potency in more cultivable varieties.

While direct hybridization between Psilocybe azurescens and Psilocybe cubensis is complex due to their differing growth requirements, the pursuit of such crossings has encouraged experimentation with cultivation techniques and genetic selection to enhance the potency of Psilocybe cubensis strains.

Psilocybe Cyanescens (Wavy Caps)

The wavy cap appearance and strong potency of Psilocybe cyanescens set it apart as a sought-after species for experienced psychonauts. Like Psilocybe azurescens, it prefers wood chips and cooler temperatures, making it less accessible for traditional cultivation methods used for Psilocybe cubensis.

The interest in Psilocybe cyanescens has led to efforts to incorporate its strong psilocybin content and distinctive visual characteristics into Psilocybe cubensis strains, albeit indirectly through selective breeding and adaptation of cultivation techniques to mimic natural conditions.

Psilocybe Mexicana

Psilocybe mexicana holds a special place in the history of psychedelic culture, famous for its use in native rituals and its milder, more manageable effects. Its significance extends to being the species from which Albert Hofmann first isolated psilocybin. This species’ milder effects and ease of cultivation have directly influenced the development of Psilocybe cubensis strains aimed at beginners or those seeking less intense experiences.

The cultivation of Psilocybe mexicana alongside Psilocybe cubensis has provided valuable insights into substrate preferences, growth cycles, and environmental conditions that optimize psilocybin production. These insights inform the breeding and cultivation of cubensis strains that cater to a wider range of experiences.

Why is the Psilocybe Species Important?

The diversity within the Psilocybe genus offers a rich tapestry of experiences influenced by the unique characteristics of each species. While direct hybridization between Psilocybe cubensis and other potent species like Psilocybe semilanceata, Psilocybe azurescens, and Psilocybe cyanescens presents challenges, the pursuit of such endeavours has significantly contributed to the development of cubensis strains. 

These efforts combine the best of both worlds: the manageable cultivation and diverse experiences of Psilocybe cubensis with its psychedelic brethren’s potent effects and unique properties. Through careful breeding and experimentation, mycologists and cultivators continue to expand the horizons of psychedelic exploration, offering enthusiasts new pathways to understanding and experiencing the profound depths of the mind.

What Magic Mushroom Strain Will You Choose?

The Psilocybe cubensis species represent just a fraction of magic mushrooms’ vast and intricate world. Each strain invites users on a unique voyage of consciousness exploration. As the community’s understanding of these strains deepens, so does our appreciation for the intricate dance between nature, chemistry, and human consciousness.

Our online shroom dispensary has all of these psychedelic mushroom strains, and more are available in Canada.

Whether searching for healing, enlightenment, or a new perspective, a Psilocybe cubensis strain can guide you. Remember, the journey into the world of psychedelics should be approached with respect, caution, and an open heart, allowing the mysteries of the mind to unfold naturally.