PSILOCYBE AZURESCENS

Most people are likely to be more familiar with Psilocybe cubensis, the incredibly cosmopolitan species grown in cupboards and under beds all over the planet. In contrast to Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe azurescens are strong! Hold onto your hats, because they can be intense, highly visual, potentially hyperdimensional, and leave you wondering, “whoah…. What happened!”

One dried gram, or as little as a few dried shrooms, could be a potent dose, so psychonauts (or psilonauts) should be cautious with these powerful fungi. Their potent strength has also made them a popular choice for microdosing, since very little is needed to produce the intended effects.

P. cubensis contain psilocybin and psilocin at 0.14–0.42 percent and 0.37–1.30 percent, respectively—whereas, P. azurescens contain approximately 1.78 percent psilocybin, 0.38 percent psilocin, and 0.35 percent baeocystin, according to Stamets and Gartz’ account. Azurescens contain significantly more psilocybin than psilocin (psilocybin being more stable, deteriorating more slowly than psilocin) so that after a few months of storage in a cool dark environment, the mushrooms tend to retain most of their original potency.