If you’re paying attention on social media, you will have seen a rapid increase in the chatter and advertising around psilocybin chocolate products. These shroom chocolates seem to be popping up everywhere I look online, especially the larger psilocybin shroom-related subreddits.I could have written something about how awesome shroom chocolates are, make a bunch of unfounded claims about Aztec and Mayan cultures, and gloss over the reality of shroom chocolate products. But, in the interests of doing something that might be informative for an actual human, rather than just writing to appease Google’s algorithm, I didn’t. If we’re going to talk about shroom chocolate, I think there’s a more important story to tell.
Shroom chocolates, also known as psilocybin chocolate, are the most visible category of magic mushroom edible products right now. But far from being a modern invention, this pairing of ingredients has a long history. It’s speculated that ancient Aztecs consumed cacao with their Psilocybe mexicana or P. aztecorum magic mushrooms to boost their psychoactive effects. When we see today's most popular psilocybin chocolate products, this tradition is still very much alive, albeit in way that is isolated and alienated from most other Aztec religious beliefs.
There is speculation that cacao and psilocybin have a synergistic effect and can increase the psychedelic potency of the experience. This is possible, as cacao can act as a weak monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), which would lengthen and deepen the psychedelic effects. But if this action is possible at all, it would likely require large quantities of pure cacao or very dark chocolate. It's probably not a factor when eating a few squares of psilocybin infused chocolate.
Real chocolate shrooms are any chocolate food item infused with psilocybin. This is often done by mixing powdered dried shrooms or full-spectrum mushroom extracts into a pre-made chocolate mixture. Ideally, this is done in a precise manner, so that consumers can easily know how much psilocybin each serving of mushroom infused chocolate contains, and choose their dose accordingly. Most products claim to be titrated so a single square is a microdose or low dose, and a full bar is enough to produce a solid trip.
Virtually all shroom chocolates that mention specific species are sold as containing Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms. Some will mention specific strains such as Golden teacher or Penis Envy, but many do not. There doesn't seem to be shroom chocolate promoted as containing wood loving species such as Psilocybe subaeruginosa or Psilocybe cyanescens. (Given their enhanced potency and potential for wood lovers' paralysis, this might be for the best. For more on wood lovers paralysis, see this great video from Entheogensis Australis.)
Are they really Shoom Chocolates?
In psilocybin mushroom and psychedelic communities, there is a persistent rumor that some products sold as psilocybin chocolate or shroom chocolates are in fact nothing of the sort. The most common alternative theory is that at least some (or even most) shroom chocolates contain no psilocybin. Instead, they may contain the research chemical, 4-Acetoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (also known as 4-AcO-DMT, 4-Acetoxy-DMT, O-Acetylpsilocin, psilacetin, or "synthetic mushrooms.") 4-AcO-DMT seems to have very similar effects to psilocybin as both are broken down by the body into the active substance, psilocin. 4-AcO-DMT is not thought to be dangerous in the short term, but there is no research on its long-term effects, and there is no historical use as there is for Psilocybe mushrooms.
I’m not aware of any consumer-available test that can differentiate between psilocybin and 4-AcO-DMT. It’s possible that drug-checking services that utilize techniques such as infrared spectroscopy could tell the difference, though the chocolate might be an issue. Nor does there seem to be a clinical test to tell if someone has taken psilocybin or 4-AcO-DMT. This is likely because the metabolites are similar, neither substance causes many people to be hospitalized, and in the very rare event that they do, the treatment options would be the same.
None of this is to say I’m irrationally against 4-AcO-DMT or trying to foment some sort of moral panic. If it turns out to be similarly low-risk as other psychedelics, then it’s availability would not be a bad thing. But we don’t know that yet. That, and if people are paying upwards of $50 for a 300gram bar of chocolate, it might be nice if they got they paid for. If you want mushroom infused chocolate, that’s what you should get, even if there’s a research chemical with similar effects.
There are also occasional reports of people feeling as if their shroom chocolate contains THC or similar substances, which would be disconcerting if you weren’t expecting it, though it’s unlikely to do any lasting harm. I’ve even read one report where the consumer claimed that what was sold to them as shroom & weed infused chocolate tested positive for fentanyl! I have no idea if this really happened, but this is something I’ll be watching very carefully, as fentanyl and related compounds have been found in recreational drugs such as pressed MDMA pills, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and powder sold as ketamine or cocaine. Before anyone asks, I have no idea how to test shroom chocolates using fentanyl test strips.
These sorts of issues arise because of the illegality of psilocybin in most countries, combined with the fact that anyone can order mushroom chocolate packaging.
3 Examples of Shroom Chocolate Packaging
In an ideal world, here is where I’d list 3-5 of the best shroom chocolate products that I purchased from a reputable online store or my local psychedelic dispensary. But I won’t, for two reasons. One is that in Australia I could get into legal difficulty if I recommend anything that’s illegal here. The other is that because both magic mushrooms and shroom chocolate packaging are unregulated, I can’t recommend any particular brand, because you could go out and buy something in the same wrapper, but that is a totally different (and possibly much less safe) product.
So, instead, I’m going to illustrate the point by showing three examples of mushroom chocolate packaging that took me approximately 30 seconds to find using Google (most of them on a site also selling unregulated puff bars, glo cart vapes, and Rick and Morty bongs.) Note: in some countries, such as Australia, even possessing this packaging is likely to be illegal, or will certainly give the authorities reason to think you intend to break the law. Can you imagine the conversation? “Actually officer, I only have this crate of magic mushroom chocolate bar packaging for research purposes.” So please, don’t go and buy these.
PolkaDot Magic Mushroom Belgian Chocolate
This PolkaDot chocolate box comes with chocolate molds that will fit the packaging and a display box. Convenient!Unfortunately this means that PolkaDot mushroom belgian milk chocolate, or something that looks just like it, can be made by anyone.
One Up Psychedelic Mushroom Chocolate Bar
Look familiar, don’t they. Note the display boxes and QR codes. Just because you see these set up in a shop or on a stall at a festival, doesn’t mean they’re the genuine article. Do One Up psychedelic mushroom chocolate bars consistently contain any magic mushrooms? Difficult to say. The chocolate might be real though.
Multiverse Milk Chocolate/Cookies & Cream
Is this as common as the other two? No. Did I include it purely because it’s Rick and Morty? Probably.Does Multiverse mushroom chocolate contain any mushrooms? Possibly not.
The economics of 4-AcO-DMT chocolate
Now, you might be saying: “But maybe that packaging is being used to wrap real shroom chocolate.” I agree that sometimes, it might be. But a lot of the time I suspect it isn't, and here’s why: Buying 4-AcO-DMT as a research chemical is likely much cheaper than acquiring or growing real Psilocybe mushrooms. I’ve seen a wide range of price estimates, mainly from highly dubious research chemical websites. But even the highest of these are generally less than $100 USD per gram.
If most “shroom chocolate” bars are expected to produce a strong psychedelic experience, they’d need between 25-45 milligrams of 4-AcO-DMT per bar. If we split the difference, one gram of 4-AcO would make a little under 30 bars. This would require up to 9kg of chocolate, which shouldn’t cost more than a couple of hundred dollars. The cost of packaging, as we’ve seen, is negligible. Having a production cost of $10 USD per bar wouldn’t be impossible. This is less than half of what most people in the US pay for an eighth of dried shrooms. If the chocolate and research chemicals are cheaper, then the bars will cost even less to produce.
For the record, I know that true believers in the safety and healing power of magic mushrooms and psilocybin are not the people who would make & sell chocolates in such a way. I am, however, willing to bet that these are not the people buying up huge cartons of PolkaDot mushroom packaging from China.
Let me be very clear: If you are buying bars packaged as PolkaDot mushroom chocolates, you have no idea what you are actually getting. So when people ask: “are polka dot mushroom bars real?” the most charitable answer is “maybe,” but I think it’s less likely. Same goes for the Rick and Morty branded Multiverse chocolate,
In a market where consumers have no protection under the law, that unscrupulous individuals will find the cheapest way to make psychoactive products is inevitable. This will, in my opinion, not change until psychedelics are available within some sort of legal/safe supply framework.
6 Tips and Reminders for Psilocybin Chocolate
Consider real magic mushrooms instead
Legally, I can’t recommend you do anything that’s illegal. But if you are determined to experience psilocybin, shroom chocolates may not be the lowest-risk choice if you are in a country or state where they are illegal. Maybe just use mushrooms that you can visually tell are actually shrooms. Despite the flashy packaging, you’re possibly eating something that won’t have passed any food-safety regulations or external quality controls. If you don’t know the person who made the shroom chocolate, you can’t know for sure what’s in it. Consider unprocessed magic mushrooms instead. Of course, if you are acquiring magic mushrooms from someone who has grown or picked them, you need to be sure they’re giving you the right thing.If you are not experienced in foraging for magic mushrooms and correctly identifying them, do not go picking/eating every little brown mushroom you see! There are some look-alikes for some species that can be harmful or even deadly.
Start Low, go slow
If you’re not experienced with psychedelics or psilocybin, don’t jump straight to the highest dose. Whether you’re aiming to microdose or for a more robust experience, make sure you wait at least an hour before taking any additional doses. This is probably still good advice for more experienced psychonauts if you’re trying this sort of product for the first time. Even veteran trippers can get spanked by a research chemical that catches them by surprise.
Choose the right environment & people
Psilocybin mushrooms, especially stronger doses, are best utilized in an environment where you are comfortable and safe, with people that you trust. This might be at home, with blankets, eye masks and a playlist of your favorite calm music. If outdoors, take appropriate precautions and choose your setting carefully. Having a sober companion is always a good idea, and is especially essential for mushroom newbies.
Know your mindset & set your intention
It’s a good idea to know where you are at, psychologically, when you use any form of psilocybin. If you’re in a tough place mentally and emotionally, this can change the nature of your experience. This isn’t to say challenging experiences are inherently bad. Just don’t be surprised if that happens when you’re depressed or anxious. If you have a family history of psychosis or schizophrenia, it’s best if you avoid psychedelics altogether.
It’s also helpful to be clear on what you want to get out of the experience. Are you taking shroom chocolates for fun? Or are you hoping to have a healing experience? Having a clear and honest understanding about your intentions is a great way to manage expectations and stay grounded in the experience.
Seek integration advice or therapy if you need it
Sometimes psilocybin experiences can be profound, like any psychedelic experience. Even if it’s not challenging, how you see the world or yourself can be totally flipped. Often, we can make sense of this by ourselves. But sometimes, we can’t. Luckily, it's becoming increasingly common for psychologists, psychotherapists, and other counselling professionals to offer integration services. If you’ve had a challenging or confusing journey, they can help you make sense of it and integrate the lessons and themes of that experience back into your life. Integration services can be found via Psychedelic.support or the MAPS Psychedelic integration List. Your local psychedelic society may also be able to offer helpful advice or referrals to appropriate therapists.
Legality
Remember, while shroom chocolate could be more discrete, neon packaging that screams “psychedelic” does make it a little more obvious. There are some cities, states and countries where possession of either magic mushrooms or 4-AcO-DMT are not a legal problem. This isn’t the case in most places. Always know the law where you are. And if you’re going to ask “are mushroom infused chocolates legal?” make sure you’re not just talking to the person selling them to you.
Storage
Shroom chocolate might be packaged in bright and fun wrappers, but it isn’t for kids! Whether still in it’s original packaging or not, always store it securely and out of reach of children. Cases of children mistaking it for normal chocolate are rare, but they do appear to be increasing in the US. People have been charged with child endangerment over this. More importantly, this could be both physically and psychologically dangerous for the child. Again, always make sure children don’t have access to your mushroom chocolate, and if they do manage to eat some, seek medical assistance immediately.
Life is like a box of Shroom Chocolates
Because, you never know what you're gonna get. Due to their unpredictable nature, this is always slightly possible with psychedelic experiences. With shroom chocolates, the fact that you may not know what you’re ingesting adds another layer of uncertainty. That something comes in fancy shroom chocolate bar packaging means absolutely nothing. It shouldn't be this way. But, thanks to the irrational prohibition of psychedelics, including psilocybin and 4-AcO-DMT, in most places, it is.
Only changes to drug laws will change improve this situation.
In the meantime, if you are going to buy shroom chocolates, approach them with a critical eye. Do you have good reason to believe that they are what your plug/dealer says they are? Are you getting them from a website or vendor with a good reputation in psychedelic or mushroom communities?
If you do have an experience with shroom chocolate that makes you think it isn’t what you’d been led to believe, don’t stay silent. What little we know about suspected adulterated bars comes from places like r/shrooms or The Shroomery. These reports help people stay safe, and make it harder for bad vendors to operate.So, no matter how badly you want to trip, think about what you’re doing and seek harm-minimization advice from organizations like DanceSafe in the US, DanceWize in Australia, or your nearest psychedelic society.
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