What exactly is the difference between magic mushrooms and magic truffles? We get asked this question all the time here at Dutch Smart, and admittedly, if you don’t know the answer, it can be a bit hard to wrap your head around. Some people refer to truffles as “mushrooms light,” while others claim they’re a completely different product. But what’s the real story? In this article, we’ll explain it all in detail!
Psilocybin and psilocin
To get right to the point: both magic mushrooms and magic truffles contain the active and psychedelic compound psilocybin. This is a naturally occurring compound found in over 200 types of mushrooms, but also in “truffles.” In the body, psilocybin is converted into psilocin. This is the compound that ultimately produces the psychedelic effects in the body. In some respects, these effects are comparable to those of LSA, mescaline, and DMT, but generally, the effects are described as visual and mental hallucinations, changes in perception, a distorted sense of time, and a euphoric feeling.
In short: both magic mushrooms and truffles contain the psychedelic compound psilocybin, which has a hallucinogenic effect. They have a strong impact on your senses and mental state, and many people who have tried them describe it as an extraordinary experience. And we haven’t even touched on the potential therapeutic applications of this remarkable substance. For example, we recently wrote about how microdosing this substance can boost your creativity, as well as why these compounds might hold the key to combating depression.
The differences between magic mushrooms and truffles
As you can read above, the similarities between magic mushrooms and truffles are significant. But what exactly is the difference? A major difference between truffles and magic mushrooms is the way they grow. Truffles grow underground, while mushrooms grow above ground. It’s also good to know that truffles aren’t actually “truffles” in the strict sense, but rather “sclerotia”—a collective term for certain fungi that are similar to mushrooms but aren’t true mushrooms.
Another major difference—one that is certainly important in the Netherlands—is the legality of the products. While the sale of magic mushrooms has been banned in the Netherlands since 2008, magic truffles are still permitted to be sold. The main reasons given for this are that the government either simply forgot to ban truffles, or that they took into account the intensity of a magic mushroom and truffle trip.
Although scientific studies mainly find many similarities between the two, users of magic mushrooms and truffles sometimes describe different experiences. For example, some users describe magic mushrooms as more intense and visual than truffles. It must be said, however, that there is no chemical basis for this, as the two are virtually identical. The same dose of psilocybin in magic mushrooms could therefore produce the same trip as the same dose of psilocybin in truffles.
Are magic mushrooms stronger than truffles?
It’s more of a myth that magic truffles are weaker than magic mushrooms. This isn’t necessarily true. The difference between magic truffles and magic mushrooms has nothing to do with potency, but with the amount of psilocybin present. A magic mushroom grows through different stages, with the final stage being the most potent, though not equally potent across every species. Truffles of the same species all have roughly the same potency, which in turn makes truffles generally easier to dose.
Our advice: try both and experience the effects for yourself! And no, of course we don’t recommend buying magic mushrooms illegally. But there is a way to consume magic mushrooms in the Netherlands: by growing them yourself. Here at Dutch Smart, we sell a wide variety of magic mushroom grow kits that allow you to grow your own psychedelic mushrooms.
