Magic Mushrooms

Magic mushrooms — a category that includes fresh psilocybin truffles, home grow kits, and spore supplies — have been available at Azarius since 1999. Whether you want to buy your first Mexicana truffle or order a Golden Teacher grow kit to harvest at home, we carry everything shipped from Amsterdam.

Magic Mushrooms — Buying Guide

Psilocybin mushrooms (genus Psilocybe) are fungi that contain psilocybin and psilocin, compounds that interact with serotonin receptors to produce altered perception, introspective states, and — depending on dose — vivid visual effects. This guide is written for adults. Effects and dosing ranges described below apply to adult physiology; the substance is not appropriate for people under 18.

There are three ways to get into magic mushrooms at Azarius: buy fresh truffles (ready to eat, no prep needed), order a grow kit and harvest your own mushrooms at home, or pick up spore syringes and prints if you want full control over the cultivation process. Each route suits a different kind of person — here's how to think about which one's for you.

Which Format Is Right for You?

Psilocybin Truffle Potency — At a Glance

If you're buying truffles, potency is the main variable. We rate ours on a five-point scale based on psilocybin content. Choosing by potency level is simpler than trying to calculate milligrams — just match the rating to your experience.

All truffles in the Azarius range are grown at professional truffle farms in the Netherlands in the Netherlands. They're fresh, vacuum-sealed, and ship with a shelf life of several weeks refrigerated.

Magic Mushroom Grow Kits — What to Expect

A grow kit takes the hardest part of cultivation — inoculating and colonising the substrate — off your hands. You receive a fully colonised block of rye grain or brown rice flour substrate, ready to fruit. Add water, maintain humidity, and your first flush typically appears within 1–2 weeks. Most kits yield 3–5 flushes before the block is exhausted.

The most popular strains for beginners are Golden Teacher and B+ — both are forgiving, fruit reliably, and produce consistent results even if your humidity control isn't perfect. From our counter: customers who come back to order McKennaii or Penis Envy kits almost always say they wish they'd spent more time with Golden Teacher first — the technique you build on a forgiving strain pays off when you move to something more demanding. Our honest take: if your first flush fails, nine times out of ten it's a humidity problem, not the strain — get a hygrometer before you get a fancy kit.

Psilocybe Species Worth Knowing

Most grow kits and truffles you'll encounter are Psilocybe cubensis — it's the workhorse of the species, easy to cultivate, and well-documented. According to EMCDDA reporting on novel psychoactive substances and traditional plant-based preparations, Psilocybe species remain among the most studied psychedelic fungi in Europe. But there are others worth knowing about:

• Psilocybe cubensis ("Gold Caps") — The most widely cultivated species. Dozens of named strains exist, each with slightly different potency and growth characteristics. Golden Teacher, B+, and McKennaii are all cubensis varieties.
• Psilocybe semilanceata ("Liberty Cap") — A wild species common in Northern Europe, including the UK and the Netherlands. Significantly more potent per gram than cubensis. Not cultivated commercially — found in the wild in autumn.
• Psilocybe azurescens ("Flying Saucer") — Among the most potent species known. Native to the US Pacific Northwest. Rarely available as a grow kit due to its wood-chip substrate requirements and slow colonisation.
• Psilocybe cyanescens ("Wavy Cap") — Another highly potent wood-loving species, naturalised across Northern Europe. More potent than cubensis, less available commercially.
• Psilocybe tampanensis — The species behind most of the truffles (sclerotia) sold in Dutch smartshops, including several in the Azarius range. Forms underground sclerotia rather than above-ground fruiting bodies.

How to Choose Your Magic Mushrooms

If you've never tried psilocybin before, buy a Mexicana or Pajaritos truffle — not a grow kit, not a Hollandia. Fresh truffles give you precise control over your dose, require no preparation, and the lower-potency options make it easy to find your threshold without overdoing it. A standard starting dose for Mexicana is around 5–7g; for a full experience, 10–15g. Eat them on an empty stomach, have someone you trust nearby, and don't plan anything for the next 5–6 hours.

If you've had a few experiences and want to grow your own, a Golden Teacher or B+ grow kit is the sensible starting point. You'll get multiple harvests from one kit, and the process itself is genuinely satisfying. Once you've nailed the basics — humidity, harvesting at the right time, soaking for the second flush — you can move on to more demanding strains or start from spores.

Experienced cultivators who want full control from inoculation onwards should look at our spore syringe range. This is where strain selection really opens up — you can work with varieties that aren't available as ready-made kits. It takes more knowledge and equipment, but the results reflect that investment. One honest limitation worth naming: growing from spores is genuinely more difficult than most online guides suggest — contamination rates are high for beginners, and there's no shortcut around sterile technique.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between magic mushrooms and magic truffles?

Truffles (sclerotia) are underground storage organs produced by certain Psilocybe species, most commonly Psilocybe tampanensis. They contain the same active compounds — psilocybin and psilocin — as the above-ground fruiting bodies (mushrooms). The effects are comparable; potency varies by species and dose. In the Netherlands, dried mushrooms are not sold but fresh truffles are available, which is why you'll find truffles in Dutch smartshops.

How long do magic truffle effects last?

Onset typically takes 30–60 minutes on an empty stomach, sometimes longer. Peak effects last 2–3 hours; the full experience runs 4–6 hours. Don't redose before the 90-minute mark — this is the most common reason people end up with more than they bargained for.

What should a first-time buyer order?

Start with Mexicana or Pajaritos truffles from our Dutch truffle range. They're the most forgiving in terms of dose, and the effects are manageable for a first experience. Order a 10g pack — you can always eat less, and having a bit extra is better than running short mid-experience.

How many flushes does a magic mushroom grow kit produce?

Most kits produce 3–5 flushes. The first flush is usually the largest; subsequent flushes tend to be smaller but can still yield well if you soak the block between flushes. Total yield depends on the strain and how well you maintain humidity throughout.

What is the difference between Psilocybe cubensis strains like Golden Teacher and McKennaii?

All cubensis strains contain the same active compounds, but potency, growth speed, and fruiting characteristics vary. Golden Teacher is moderate in potency and very reliable — good for beginners. McKennaii is noticeably stronger and fruits more densely but is less forgiving if your conditions aren't dialled in. Start with Golden Teacher; move to McKennaii once you've got a couple of successful flushes behind you.

Can I grow magic mushrooms from spores?

Yes — spore syringes and prints are available for microscopy and cultivation. Growing from spores requires more equipment and knowledge than a ready-made grow kit: you'll need to prepare and sterilise your own substrate, inoculate under sterile conditions, and manage colonisation before fruiting. It's a bigger commitment, but it opens up strains that aren't available as kits.

Last updated: April 2026