Whatever you call them — shrooms, magic mushrooms, caps, buttons, mushies, etc. — psychedelic mushrooms come in all shapes and sizes. But did you know that each type also has a different strength?
It's said that the more potent the mushroom, the more intense the trip. While there are loads of species and strains available, only seven have made it onto our strongest list.
In the following sections, we cover the active psychedelic-effect-inducing compound before exploring the world's seven strongest psilocybin mushrooms.
What Makes Mushrooms Psychedelic?
Before we jump into the strongest species of magic mushrooms, it's worth understanding what makes them so potent.
The key ingredient here is psilocybin. When ingested, the body turns it into psilocin, the chemical compound that delivers psychedelic effects.
Essentially, the more psilocybin the mushroom has, the more "magic" it becomes.
The 7 Strongest Types of Magic Mushrooms
With so many shrooms out there, it's only natural to want to understand the most potent on the market. So, that's exactly what we're going to discover below!
According to many sources, it's clear that more research is needed to properly understand the benefits and health claims provided by these psychedelic mushrooms. Thus, our list is anecdotal but promises that each mentioned shroom contains an incredible amount of psilocybin.
Here are the seven strongest shrooms in no particular order:
#1 Blue Meanies (Panaeolus cyanescens)
Even though they don't come from the Psilocybe species, they're one of the highest psilocybin-containing mushrooms on the planet. Purportedly, they boast two to three times the potency of the most popular magic shroom — Psilocybe cubensis.
According to reports, they contain a combined psilocybin and psilocin content between 0.5% and 2.95%.
As both their colloquial and Latin name suggests, these mushrooms turn blue when bruised and grow tall and skinny with small caps. They're found across tropical and subtropical regions, particularly favoring Hawaii and specific areas in Asia.
#2 Flying Saucers (Psilocybe azurescens)
These shrooms are supposedly named after Azureus, the son of the famous mycologist, Paul Stamets. But their colloquial name, Flying Saucers, comes from the sizeable caramel-colored cap.
They're closely related to Psilocybe subaeruginosa, which was found to contain up to 0.38% psilocin and a maximum of 1.78% psilocybin by Stamets and Gartz in 1995.
Azzies, as they're often affectionately known, are found growing in the Pacific Northwest regions, creeping into British Columbia. And like many magic mushrooms, they turn intensely blue when bruised or old.
#3 Liberty Caps (Psilocybe semilanceata)
The species grabbed its common name from the "liberty cap" or "Phrygian cap" worn by enslaved people in the Roman world who were freed to mark their status. Due to their slender, small-growing build and tiny, pointed caps, they're said to resemble such hats.
Some shroom aficionados consider them to be the classic magic mushroom, apparently containing 0.98% psilocybin, 0.39% baeocystin, and 0.02% psilocin.
As for growing conditions, they thrive in grassy, wet environments often found in the British Isles and the Pacific Northwest. A few sources suggest Liberty Caps were one of the first psychedelic mushrooms identified in Europe.
#4 Penis Envy (Psilocybe cubensis)
Penis Envy, instantly recognizable from its phallic shape, is the most popular kind of Psilocybe cubensis and is said to be stronger than standard cubes.
According to a 2021 report, this strain holds a whopping 1.65% of psilocybin and 1.26% of psilocin! There's no wonder it's one of the favorites among shroom lovers worldwide.
Due to its increasing popularity, there are plenty of PE crosses. The most notable two are dubbed Albino Penis Envy or APE and Tidal Wave 2, otherwise known as Enigma.
#5 Philosophers Stones (Psilocybe tampanensis)
Sometimes called magic truffles, it is said that they contain 0.32% psilocin and 0.68% psilocybin. However, Gartz noted that the dried version could hold a maximum of 1% of each compound.
Psilocybe tampanensis isn't a shroom known by many due to its rarity. However, it was first found in Tampa, Florida, by Steven H. Pollock, a mycologist and researcher, in 1977. But, as history suggests, it wouldn't be seen in the area again for another 44 years.
Today, it can be found growing in humid, subtropical zones around Mexico, Florida, and Texas.
#6 Wavy Caps (Psilocybe cyanescens)
This shroom type is close cousins with Flying Saucers. Reports suggest that it contains 0.36% psilocin and 0.85% psilocybin.
These strong mushrooms can be found in many parts of Europe, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom. They're widespread due to the wood mulch many gardeners use to suppress weeds.
As urban legend suggests, there was once a patch containing 100,000 Wavy Caps found in the UK!
#7 Bottle Caps (Psilocybe baeocystis)
Sometimes known as Knobby Tops, Olive Caps, or Blue Bells, sources suggest Bottle Caps contain 0.85% psilocybin, 0.10% baeocystin, and 0.59% psilocin.
Their color ranges from buff brown to dark olive and can even be steel blue. Although it turns copper-colored at the center as it dries.
They're common throughout the Pacific Northwest, growing alone or in small groups. They prefer peat moss, wood chips, ground bark, and conifer mulch but have been seen on pastures and lawns.
Interested? Here's How to Buy Magic Mushrooms!
Now, we don't offer any of these mushrooms, but we do offer Amanita based products, which are known to be one of the original magic mushrooms!
Amanita Muscaria is legal in most major states, and when processed correctly , the risk of toxicity is minimal and effects are reminiscent of these heavy hitters!
If this sounds interesting to you, you can purchase shrooms that produce effects in many forms straight from our store, including gummies, snack packs, powder for microdosing, tinctures, and even cookies!
References
https://www.leafly.com/news/lifestyle/strongest-types-psychedelic-mushrooms
https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/psilocybin/