You've most likely heard of 'shrooms' or magic mushrooms, but what are magic truffles?
Truffles are also part of the fungi family, except they grow underground. There are hundreds of species of truffles, just like there are mushrooms, which grow in various locations worldwide. And just like how there are psilocybin-containing mushrooms, there are also truffles that contain the magic compound as well.
The photo shown is where our psilocybin truffles are grown. They farm at special temperatures in these special bags that contain rice soil. The most commonly known magic truffle strain in The Netherlands is Psilocybe Mexicana.
Dosage
Another major difference between mushrooms and truffles is the concentration of psilocybin. In mushrooms, there's a high concentration, which means you only need a little bit, around 1 gram is enough for a lift-off dose (hallucinations). The concentration in truffles is much lower, meaning you need at least 10 grams for a lift-off dose. This is really important to know if you experience both so you don't get the dosages wrong.
Consumption
The most well-known way of consuming both mushrooms and truffles is by eating them. However, the taste is quite funky and not very enjoyable. When you eat the mushroom or truffle, it goes into your stomach and then turns into psilocin.
The most common challenges with eating truffles are the bad taste, upset stomach, and even nausea. That's why we're (obviously) big fans of consuming truffles via tea. When you drink the psilocybin instead, you are only taking the extraction which avoids a lot of these upsetting challenges. It enters your bloodstream instead which makes it easier on the stomach.
Why take truffles?
In some cultures, psilocybin has a long history of being used for ceremonial, spiritual, and healing purposes. In many places today, the ritualistic consumption of psilocybin mushrooms or truffles is still being practised.
The abuse of using psilocybin as a fun party drug back in the '60s, unfortunately, made it become classified among Schedule I Controlled Substances, defined by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”
But that's finally changing! Following a few decades of legal restrictions, psilocybin is now experiencing a comeback. In 2019, Denver, Colorado became the first American city to decriminalise psilocybin. More states and some countries have since followed suit. In 2021, Oregon legalised access to psilocybin-assisted therapy.
Amid the modern-day psychedelic renaissance, research on psilocybin is still underway, and misinformation and stigma surrounding all psychedelics are fading. It's true, the drug can make you hallucinate and have very trippy experiences. But when done with a trained guide, or when taken in small doses that do not cause hallucinations, psilocybin is overwhelmingly safe.
Is it addictive?
Psilocybin is rated one of the least addictive drugs, significantly lower than alcohol. Some might say that escaping consciousness is an addictive experience, but the drug itself doesn't have any addictive properties. It's more common that the intense experiences you have while taking large doses of psilocybin, which can be physically and mentally challenging, may actually cause people to limit their frequency of use.
How does it work?
Whether you are consuming it for altered states of consciousness (large doses) or for small boosts of happiness (microdoses), the active compound binds to serotonin receptors in your brain. This can have a range of effects depending on the set and setting you are using it in. Consuming psilocybin is a tool to open your mind to new thoughts and ideas while increasing neuroplasticity (rejuvenation of the pathways in your brain). So when combining the drug with intentions or activities like meditation, journaling, or even exercising, you can achieve more results. The experience is different for everyone.
Legalisation in NL
Although magic mushrooms are illegal in The Netherlands, magic truffles are legal and sold at smart shops across the country. Mushroom grow kits are also legal, so growing your own is possible.
Learn more
If this interests you and you'd like to learn more, we recommend watching Fantastic Fungi on Netflix, or the episode on psilocybin in How to Change Your Mind (also on Netflix).
Psilocybin is looking positive to be an effective alternative to anti-depressants. More info here.
And here is what psilocybin does to the brain.
If there are any specific questions you have about psilocybin or magic truffles, feel free to contact us.