Fresh vs dried Magic mushrooms: Which one is better?

Fresh or dried shrooms—what’s the difference? While the distinctions may seem subtle, they can significantly impact storage, flavour, texture, and dosage. That said, both forms can still deliver a similar psychedelic experience.

In this guide, we’ll break down these key differences and explore when one form might be more suitable than the other.

The Basics: Fresh vs dried magic mushrooms

At first glance, fresh and dried magic mushrooms may seem interchangeable, but their differences go beyond appearance. Factors like storage, consumption methods, and effects can vary significantly—so let’s dig a little deeper.

Fresh magic mushrooms

Fresh magic mushrooms remain viable for a short time once removed from their substrate. In this state, they are juicy, firm, and taste a bit like soil—delicious! Here are some specific characteristics of fresh magic mushrooms to be aware of:

• They are highly perishable and will begin to decompose within hours if not refrigerated. Even once refrigerated, they only last a few days before they begin to rot! Fresh shrooms do not have a good shelf life.
• They mostly contain psilocin, not psilocybin. Psilocin can be absorbed directly into your blood without being metabolised first, and thus has a faster onset and stronger effects compared to psilocybin.
• They weigh 10x more than the equivalent amount of dried mushrooms due to their water content. As such, you must adjust the dose accordingly.
• This is subjective, but fresh mushrooms are, for most people, easier to consume raw compared to dried mushrooms.

Dried magic mushrooms

Unlike fresh ones, dried magic mushrooms are perfect for long-term storage and have the potential to last months or, in some cases, years without going off or losing potency. Here are some of their key attributes:

• Thanks to a lack of water, dried shrooms last indefinitely as long as they are stored in a dry, airtight container.
• When it dries, the psilocin in fresh mushrooms converts back to psilocybin, which must be metabolised in order to affect humans. As such, the effects of dried mushrooms are perceived by some to be gradual and less intense.
• They are very light, weighing only one-tenth of the weight of fresh shrooms. As magic mushrooms comprise 90% water, they lose most of their weight when dried. Most dosing guides provide suggestions based on dried shroom doses, so be aware of this. The Zamnesia dosage calculator, however, works for both fresh and dried shrooms.
• For most people, dried mushrooms are quite unpleasant to eat, so it can be more appetising to brew them into a tea or use the lemon tek method.

What are the effects of fresh vs dried magic mushrooms?

Although similar in many ways, fresh and dried magic mushrooms have distinct potency and effects. The most important difference comes down to weight, which consequently affects dosing, in turn greatly impacting the experience you have. For example, if you accidentally took 10 grams of dried mushrooms, you’d be in for a wild ride, whereas 10 grams of fresh mushrooms is considered a low dose.

Fresh magic mushrooms

As mentioned, fresh shrooms contain mostly psilocin, which is a faster acting, more potent compound compared to psilocybin. For this reason, the come-up tends to be faster and more intense, though it is sometimes subjectively described as “smoother” than the one from dried shrooms. Some users also find that the effects of fresh mushrooms are trippier and more sensory compared to dried shrooms, but this is not based in fact.

Because of the water content, the recommended magic mushroom dosage (in terms of weight) for fresh mushrooms is generally around 10 times that of dried mushrooms. However, this is not a hard-and-fast rule, so you should be aware that dosing fresh mushrooms is always an approximation.

Dried magic mushrooms

Though dried mushrooms are more potent than fresh ones by weight, in terms of psilocybin/psilocin content, they are actually slightly less potent. Also, thanks to the absence of water, the weight of dried shrooms is more uniform, so dosing is easier and potentially more accurate.

With dried mushrooms, the effects tend to come on more gradually and the onset period can be a little uncomfortable compared to fresh shrooms. That said, the experience should “level out” after around half an hour. Some say the effects of dried shrooms can be more mental and less sensory, although the specific variety also plays an important role here.

How do you store fresh and dried magic mushrooms?

The main reason you would dry mushrooms is to store them long term. Herein lies the key difference between fresh vs dried shrooms—shelf life.

Fresh magic mushrooms

Fresh shrooms go off fast, even when refrigerated. Out of the fridge, they have a day or two in them. In the fridge, they can last up to around a week before they begin to degrade and turn to mush.

For a little extra life, you can store them in paper bags or some other breathable material as this prevents moisture buildup. You shouldn’t freeze fresh shrooms, as it can destroy the psychoactive compounds and render them useless.

Dried magic mushrooms

In contrast, dried ones last ages! But what’s the actual shelf-life of dried magic mushrooms? Ideally, you should consume them within six months as some moisture inevitably finds its way in and will degrade their potency. However, if stored perfectly, they can last indefinitely.

For long-term storage, they must be kept in fully airtight containers to prevent moisture absorption. Because they are completely dry, they reabsorb moisture easily, so a simple plastic baggy won’t be enough. Adding silica gel packs to them can help to absorb any moisture that’s also present.

Magic mushroom preparation and ease of use

Both fresh and dry magic mushrooms are easy to use and prepare, and can be consumed in much the same way. With that said, you might want to consume them differently due to differences in flavour and texture. Let’s take a look.

Fresh magic mushrooms

Fresh shrooms can be consumed in the following ways:

• Eaten raw
• Brewed into tea
• Used in cooking

Keep in mind that psilocybin and psilocin break down at temperatures above 70ºC, so cooking at high heat may reduce potency.

As previously stated, the water content of fresh shrooms is not uniform, so truly accurate dosing isn’t possible. However, a rough estimate can be made on the assumption that they weigh 10 times that of dried shrooms.

Dried magic mushrooms

Dried shrooms can be used in all the same ways as fresh ones, but they also offer additional consumption methods. As their taste can be off-putting, you may want to choose a method that bypasses experiencing the flavour.

You can use dried shrooms in the following ways:

• Grind into powder to make capsules
• Brew shroom tea
• Make edibles (such as shroom chocolate or blue honey)
• Lemon tek

How are the taste and texture of fresh and dried shrooms different?

As you’ve probably picked up by now, the taste and texture of fresh and dried shrooms are quite different, with most people finding the former more palatable.

Fresh magic mushrooms

Fresh shrooms have a mild, earthy taste. Perhaps more important than the taste is the texture; it tends to be soft and easy to chew and swallow—you don’t have to make a meal of it! Eating fresh shrooms is simply less of an ordeal than with dried ones.

Dried magic mushrooms

Dried shrooms aren’t terrible to eat, but they’re not great either. Depending on the strain, they taste very earthy, with some leaning more towards grass and others towards soil or dirt. As they are extremely dry, you need to chew on them for a little while before you can swallow them, and the effects will be faster and stronger if you chew them to a complete pulp before swallowing.

The more you eat dried shrooms, the more unpleasant they will become!

Cost and availability of fresh and dried psilocybin mushrooms

The availability of fresh and dried psilocybin-containing shrooms tend to differ too. Generally, you need to forage or grow fresh ones, whereas dried ones can typically be purchased.

Fresh magic mushrooms

Hardly anybody sells fresh shrooms, as they would need to be picked and sold within a day or two to ensure they don’t go off, whereas dried mushrooms can be stored indefinitely. Therefore, you’re unlikely to find fresh shrooms for sale. In terms of cost, there is no standard price for fresh mushrooms.

However, if you live in an area where it is viable and legal for you to do so, you can pick your own fresh shrooms. You can forage in the wild at the right time of year, or you can grow them yourself and harvest them once mature. Just always make sure you know what you’re picking!

Dried magic mushrooms

Dried mushrooms can typically be purchased by the gram or in bulk, and you’ll find them in raw, dried form as well as ground into a powder and added to capsules, chocolate, or tinctures. Most dried mushrooms that you’ll find for sale are some strain of Psilocybe cubensis.

Dried shrooms tend to be relatively cheap—roughly the same price as weed. Though it differs from region to region, you can expect to pay between 5–10 euros for a gram of dried magic mushrooms.

Fresh vs dried magic mushrooms: Which one is right for you?

Ultimately, whether fresh or dried is "better" depends on your needs, experience level, and consumption preferences. If you're new to magic mushrooms, dried may be the more suitable choice given that most dosing guidelines cater to this form. However, seasoned users may appreciate the subtle differences in effects offered by fresh mushrooms.

Most importantly, unless you intend to eat them very soon, you’ll need to dry your shrooms! You’d be surprised how quickly they turn from fresh to foul. For the most part, the two are similar, but consuming fresh shrooms can be fun when you’ve just harvested a batch or it’s the right season to forage in your region!

Max Sargent

Max has been writing for over a decade, and has come into cannabis and psychedelic journalism in the last few years. Writing for companies such as Zamnesia, Royal Queen Seeds, Cannaconnection, Gorilla Seeds, MushMagic and more, he has experience in a broad spectrum of the industry.

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