What's the difference between magic truffles and magic mushrooms?

Max Sargent

Cannabis Journalist & Psychedelics Expert

Max Sargent

Last updated: 14 April 2025

Magic mushrooms and magic truffles are both well-known for their psychedelic effects, but they are not exactly the same. While both contain psilocybin and psilocin—the key compounds responsible for their mind-altering properties—there are significant differences between them in terms of potency, appearance, consumption, and even legality.

In this article, we will break down the key distinctions between magic mushrooms and magic truffles, helping you understand which might be best suited for your needs.

What are magic truffles and magic mushrooms?

Magic mushrooms and magic truffles both belong to the genus Psilocybe, but they make up different parts of the fungal organisms from which they arise.

Magic mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of the fungus. These mushrooms grow above ground and contain high concentrations of psilocybin. In most cases, those who consume psilocybin-containing magic mushrooms will use a strain of Psilocybe cubensis. During what could be thought of as mushroom breeding season, mushrooms emerge from the subterranean mycelium and release their spores above ground. These spores then drift on the breeze and, hopefully (if you’re a mushroom), start a new colony somewhere. Once they’ve released their spores, they die off. However, though the mushrooms may be gone, the organism is still alive and well below ground.

Magic truffles (also known as sclerotia), on the other hand, are the underground storage structures of other species of psilocybin-containing fungi. They form when the fungus creates a hardened mass of mycelium that allows it to survive in adverse conditions. Psilocybin-containing sclerotia belong to different species of fungus than those that produce magic mushrooms, but they are closely related cousins. Truffles, unlike mushrooms, exist year-round and do not release spores.

While both magic mushrooms and truffles contain psilocybin, their growth patterns, appearance, and potency differ.

Fresh Mushrooms Grow Kit 'Golden Teacher'

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Fresh Mushrooms Grow Kit 'Golden Teacher'

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Magic truffles vs magic mushrooms: Which is more potent?

For a mycologist, there is a never-ending amount of differences between sclerotia and shrooms. For those growing or consuming them, the key differences are explored below.

Generally, magic mushrooms are more potent than magic truffles. The concentration of psilocybin is higher in mushrooms because they are the reproductive structures of the fungus, whereas truffles serve as nutrient storage.

However, this does not mean that truffles are ineffective. Many users still experience strong psychedelic effects, but higher doses are usually required to match the potency of magic mushrooms.

For those looking to consume psilocybin, the difference in terms of psilocybin content (i.e. potency) is the most important distinction between these two sections of fungal anatomy.

Valhalla Magic Truffles

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Valhalla Magic Truffles

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Do magic truffles have different effects than mushrooms?

While both substances produce similar psychedelic effects, including visual hallucinations, enhanced emotions, and altered perception, there are subtle differences:

• Magic mushrooms tend to provide a more intense and immersive psychedelic experience. Their effects are stronger and can lead to deep introspection and ego dissolution at higher doses.
• Magic truffles generally produce a milder and more controllable high, making them a preferred option for beginners or those seeking a more social, lighthearted experience.

How are magic truffles & magic mushrooms consumed?

Both magic mushrooms and truffles can be consumed in various ways, though some methods may be more effective than others. What’s more, due to differences in flavour and their likelihood of producing an upset stomach, you may want to consume each differently!

Both shrooms and truffles can be consumed in the following ways:

• Eating raw (dried or fresh): The most straightforward way, though some find the taste unpleasant.
• Brewing into tea: This helps reduce nausea and makes the onset smoother.
• Capsules: Pre-measured doses are available for convenience.
• Lemon tek: Soaking the mushrooms or truffles in lemon juice before consumption is believed to quicken the onset—and potentially the intensity—of the effects.

While you can consume magic mushrooms and magic truffles in the same ways, you might not want to. Neither have a particularly pleasant taste, but truffles are known for their strong, earthy flavour that many find off-putting.

What’s more, due to their weaker potency, you generally need to consume more of them than you would shrooms, which can then upset your stomach. This applies to both parts of the fungus, but especially to truffles—consider making tea or an extract to improve taste and digestion.

How does dosing vary between magic truffles and mushrooms?

Given their general difference is potency, a lower dose of mushrooms is typically needed to achieve the same effects as truffles. Consider the following as a rough comparison:

• Mild trip: ~1–2g dried magic mushrooms or ~5–7g fresh magic truffles
• Strong trip: ~3–5g dried mushrooms or ~10–15g fresh truffles

The numbers given here are estimates, and the actual ideal dose will depend on the specific psilocybin content of your shrooms or truffles of choice, among numerous other factors.

To gain a better idea of the right dose for you, consult our handy magic mushroom and truffle dosage calculator for tailored results.

Appearance and cultivation differences

There are significant differences in the appearance of shrooms and truffles—in fact, they look totally different! Additionally, there are some notable differences in cultivation requirements to consider.

Magic mushrooms

Though there exist far too many magic mushroom species to cover in one article, we can make some generalisations regarding the most common species. Psilocybe cubensis, which is the species you’re most likely to come across, tends to be gold-brown in colour with bulbous caps and off-white stems that can range in thickness.

These varieties grow above ground in damp environments, often in forests or grasslands in close proximity to herbivore dung. Cubensis varieties are most common in tropical climates with mild winters.

Indoors, they can grow on a range of substrates but require warmth and humidity—mimicking their natural habitats. Other species are much more difficult to cultivate indoors, and can look very, very different from one another.

Magic truffles

Truffles, on the other hand, look like small, wrinkled nuggets or clumps of hardened mycelium—or like desiccated brains. They form underground as a survival mechanism for the fungus and do not have caps or stems. They really are just lumps.

Much like mushrooms, truffles can be cultivated in controlled environments without the need for complex conditions. However, they are not as popular to grow at home compared to Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms.

Fresh Mushrooms Grow Kit 'McKennaii'

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Fresh Mushrooms Grow Kit 'McKennaii'

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Legality: Where are magic truffles and magic mushrooms allowed?

Magic mushrooms and truffles are subject to vastly different legal restrictions worldwide, and penalties for possession can vary from nonexistent to serious prison sentences in places like Thailand (FDA Warns, 2024).

Due to their psilocybin content, these substances are generally classified as illegal in many countries. However, some states—and even individual cities—in the US have decriminalised their use, including Oregon, Washington D.C. and Colorado.

In other places, magic mushrooms are deemed illegal while truffles exist in a legal grey area. For example, in the Netherlands, truffles can be legally purchased from smartshops and other vendors, while magic mushrooms are banned.

In this case, the legal differences come down to the particular wording of the relevant laws, which state that “psilocybin-containing mushrooms” are illegal. As truffles grow below ground, they are not technically mushrooms and thus evade the law.

Other countries state that anything that contains psilocybin is illegal, which would include truffles by default.

Which is better for beginners: Magic truffles or magic mushrooms?

If you are new to psychedelics, magic truffles are generally advisable. Here’s why:

• Their lower potency can make for a milder trip better suited to novices.
• Legal availability in some regions means sourcing high-quality truffles can be easier than doing so with mushrooms.

That said, if you are looking for a deeper psychedelic journey, magic mushrooms might be the more desirable option. What’s more, a low dose of magic mushrooms isn’t going to blow your mind, so we wouldn’t advise beginners not to take shrooms in fear of excessive potency.

Moreover, truffles really are tough on the stomach and are more likely to induce nausea compared to shrooms, which can be off-putting. Perhaps the main draw of truffles is that they are easier to get hold of in certain areas.

Atlantis Magic Truffles

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Atlantis Magic Truffles

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Discover the world of psilocybin

As they both contain psilocin and psilocybin, magic truffles and mushrooms are fundamentally similar. With that said, the experiences of consuming and growing them can differ significantly, and there are even meaningful differences regarding their potency. Not only that, but their legality varies greatly depending on the region.

So if staying within the bounds of the law is important to you, do your due diligence to ensure truffles and/or mushrooms are legal or decriminalised in your jurisdiction. And to source high-quality magic truffles, magic mushroom grow kits, and other psilocybin-related products, check out Zamnesia’s store.