Written by Joseph Santiago
Where did Magic Truffles originate from?
In 1977, Steve H. Pollock made an unusual discovery after collecting mushroom samples for his mobile laboratory study. He had cultivated the mushrooms for weeks before observing small lumps formation on the mycelium. Usually, the mycelium is similar to whisper-thin cobwebs spread in the soil, but the lumps were grain-like. After a while, they grew larger, and this ignited his curiosity.
Steve dissected and sampled these lumps to prepare them for bioassay, and his results were promising.
Whenever we hear psilocybin, the first thing that comes to mind is magic mushrooms. However, these are not the only psychoactive parts of psilocybin-containing fungi. Mycelium also contains psychoactive compounds. Steve also discovered that the sclerotia of Psilocybe tampanensis were rich in psilocybin.
The Origins of Magic Truffles
As promising as it is, Psilocybe tampanensis has a rather tragic story. Steve spent many years researching to understand how to cultivate different Psilocybe species fully. He later made a compilation of his finding into a book “Magic Mushroom Cultivation.” This book, together with “Psilocybin Mushroom Growers Guide,” changed the dynamics of Psilocybe cultivation.
In 1977, Steve attended the Second International Mycological Congress. He brought his mobile mycology lab and a different collection of his cultivation guide. At the end of the congress, he invited Lincoff (a fellow mycologist) on a mushroom hunt. This was when he came across an unusual mushroom he didn’t know. He cloned this mushroom and made a pure culture of it.
Since he found it in Tampa, Steve called the unusual specimen Psilocybe tampanensis. That same year, he discovered other Psilocybe species – Psilocybe shultesii, Psilocybe wassoniorum, and Psilocybe armandii.
Despite the promising discoveries Pollock made, his work came to an end in 1981. He lost his life in a robbery, which came as a shock to everyone.
Where Tampanensis Psilocybe Grows
There are two separate climatic regions in the eastern part of the United States. They have distinct smaller climatic zones with humid subtropical and humid continental. Psilocybe tampanensis grows well in the humid subtropical region, from Florida to Mexico and Texas.
The species are scarce, with only a few records in MushroomObserver or iNaturalist. It features a solitary growth pattern in meadows and sandy soils. Describing its habitat preferences is difficult because of its scarcity. However, mushrooms are generally saprotrophic and prefer to grow on decomposing plants.
There’s also not enough information about the outdoor cultivation of mushrooms. The first collection was in Brandon, Florida, over two decades ago. The mushrooms were seen again in 1996, and the location was similar. This location also features a sandy soil meadow.
The Appearance of Philosopher’s Stone Mushrooms
The appearance of Psilocybe tampanensis may underwhelm you because it’s like regular brown mushrooms. It features a brown cap, which is around 2.4 cm in diameter. The cap has a convex to conic shape with a minor umbo. If you’re wondering what this is, it is a nipple-like part of Psilocybe spp.
They also feature hygrophanous caps that become yellowish-grey as it dries out. These caps flatten and develop a slight depression around the mid-section as they grow older.
Psilocybe tampanensis also have an adnate attachment on its gills because the gills are on the stem. It’s characterized by a brown to dark purple-brown discoloration, and the edges are mostly lighter. The plant’s stem is 2mm thick and 6cm long, with whitish to yellowish flesh.
What are Magic Truffles?
They are not truffles but are only called that because of their similarities to Tuber fungal genus. Magic truffles don’t have a heady aroma, and their flavors are like that of Perigord truffles. The fungi mainly produce sclerotia as a protective feature against natural disasters and fire. In case of such disasters, it helps to keep the mycelium safe.
Different Psilocybe species also produce these sclerotia. They are P. semilanceata, P. caerulescens, and P. mexicana. A general thing to note is that the potency of these species depends on growing conditions and other factors.
Cultivation of Psilocybe tampanensis
Many people usually ask whether it’s possible to grow mushrooms. Growing Psilocybe tampanensis is possible and a great way to reap a lot. However, you’ll notice that people mainly grow it for use as magic truffles.
As mentioned earlier, the sclerotium forms a protective feature, although it takes time to develop. It can take up to 12 weeks to grow them. However, the growing techniques for magic truffles are like other fungi.
They are started from tissue culture or spore to grains before being transferred to a bulk substrate. The mycelium is left to grow in rye grains mixed with manure or straw. It is then left so that the sclerotium can form and develop.
Before cultivating Psilocybe tampanensis, always ensure it’s not considered illegal in your jurisdiction.
The Legality of Magic Truffles
Both psilocin and psilocybin are scheduled drugs in most countries. In the US, the are Schedule 1 drugs, Schedule 9 in Australia, and Class A in the UK. With this, the cultivation of psilocybin-containing mushrooms can be considered illegal.
However, research results have caused many things to change over the past few years. Today, some cities have passed decriminalization, even in the US, while other states are considering it. In some countries, the spores are not the only part they control. They also control other parts, like mycelium.
This is not the case in the Netherlands, as laws currently cover mushrooms. Technically, sclerotium is not a mushroom, which brings a loophole in the law, and makes magic truffles completely legal.
Another thing to note is that in Europe, mushrooms were not always illegal. However, psilocybin is illegal in different European countries, including the UK.
On the other hand, the Netherlands has always been tolerant regarding using and possessing psilocybin-containing mushrooms. It was that way until late 2008, when laws were passed to make them illegal, even in the Netherlands.
Before late 2008, it was legal to possess psilocybin-containing mushrooms. This was primarily because the opium law did not cover them. You could find different Psilocybe mushrooms in many smart shops during those times.
However, new laws changed its availability, but this was temporary. It didn’t take long for vendors to find a legal loophole. This made it possible for vendors, including smart shops, to sell psilocybin-containing sclerotium.
A few decades ago, the main attractions in Amsterdam were over-the-counter mushroom shops and cannabis cafes. However, that has changed, and magic sclerotia are not becoming increasingly popular. In September 2019, psychedelic sclerotia became legalized, taxed, and available in many smart shops.
Conclusion
Whether you call them Cosmic Camote, Philosophers Stones, or Magic Truffles, they all mean the same thing.
As mentioned earlier, there are different types of magic truffles. The common types of magic truffles you’ll find today are Psilocybe Tampanensis, Psilocybe Mexicana, and Psilocybe Galindoi, and they are all available for you on the Microdose Bros store.
Buy Magic Truffles discreetly at Microdose Bros. These Magic Truffles contain premium quantities of psilocybin.
For more information, visit our blog to learn more about the Microdosing guide.
