So you want to buy mushroom gummies but don’t know where to start? You’re in luck! We wrote this to help guide you from the mystical to the practical, offering insight for the most informed choice — plus, we include a recipe to boot.
What Are Mushroom Gummies?
Mushroom gummies are the chewy magic mushroom-infused candies inducing psychedelic, euphoric, and sedative states. With a long history of humans consuming mushrooms — according to archeological findings, psychedelic mushrooms are thought to have been consumed since the prehistoric era –– munching on mushrooms for their medicinal and spiritual effects is nothing new. Their earliest written records point to the Florentine Codex, an encyclopedia written by colonizer-settler friar Bernardino de Sahagún to record Aztec life with the help of the Indigenous Nahua people in modern-day Mexico. The friar described them as “little black mushrooms” called nanacatl that made one “drunk.” Mushrooms have been revered for their spiritual properties by many Indigenous cultures throughout history and have become increasingly popular in recent years. The latest innovation of fungi consumption? Psychedelic or psychoactive mushroom-infused gummies.
Popular for their colors, shapes, flavors, and textures, gummies first originated from Turkish delights and Japanese rice candies and are said to be relatives of jellies and jams, as per Beth Kimmerle in a 2014 history of gummy bears in Bon Appétit. However, gummy bears, as we know them today, came about in the early 1920s from German candy-maker Hans Riegel Sr. from Haribo. The bear shape, which grew to be a huge hit with the youth, was inspired by dancing bears, or Tanzbären, from European festivals.
In the early 1990s, companies started testing different ways to produce vitamins, exploring deviations from syrups and tablets. It wasn’t until 1997 that Hero Nationals introduced Yummi Bears, “(the) nutrient-rich, all-natural gummy bear for children.”
READ: Ayahuasca Gummies Are Now a Thing
As the allure of gummy bear vitamins grew and companies began to formulate them for adults, “taking up ever more space on drugstore shelves,” as the Wall Street Journal reported in 2022, they’ve expanded from just vitamins. Today, “functional” gummies are also a popular vehicle for omegas, prebiotics, probiotics, collagen, electrolytes, sea moss, medicinal mushrooms, and more.
It’s no surprise gummies have been embraced by manufacturers of medicinal and intoxicating substances like CBD, THC, and psychedelic mushrooms. Gummies take the shape of squares, small pucks, drops, and half domes, in flavors that range from watermelon, strawberry, and peach. To infuse the fruit-flavored chews, mushrooms are dried and pulverized into a fine powder, and then transformed into liquid extracts by steeping in hot water or alcohol and straining. These extracts are then gently combined with a gelatinous or pectin-based, fruit-flavored mixture over a low simmer before being poured into molds and left to set until cool.
How Do Mushroom Gummies Work?
Magic mushroom gummies kick in through the psychedelic or psychoactive properties of the mushroom extracts infused into the candies. Most will use either Amanita muscaria or psilocybin mushrooms, both of which can deliver distinct euphoric, relaxing, and even hallucinogenic states.
Your dose will determine how strong of an effect you experience. An eighth, or an eighth of an ounce, about 3.5 grams, is a common measurement when purchasing psilocybin mushrooms and is considered a standard but large dose of mushrooms. Meanwhile, a microdose, typically used to treat PTSD, is in the range of 100mg to 250mg (or anywhere between 0.1 to 0.3 grams of dried mushrooms). For something light and social, 0.1 to 0.3 grams of dried material is a good range to start. Anything higher than 2.5 and 3 grams are lift-off points into “trip” territory. The fabled life-changing “heroic dose,” for context, is 5 grams and up. The stronger the dose, the longer and more intense of an experience you will have.
Amanita muscaria vs Psilocybin Mushrooms
Muscimol and ibotenic acid are compounds commonly found in Amanita mushroom gummies. Derived from the iconic red and white spotted fungi, the Amanita muscaria (fly agaric) mushroom is named after its ability to “kill the domestic fly,” according to ScienceDirect, and labeled as psychoactive.
The term “psychoactive” differs from psychedelic. Psychoactive properties “don’t act on the same receptors as psilocybin or psilocin. Instead, they act primarily on receptors that can cause an ethereal, dreamlike and sedative state,” writes the ACS Laboratory. Milder drugs are considered psychoactive, such as caffeine or nicotine. Amanita muscaria compounds, such as muscimol or ibotenic acid, are also considered psychoactive. Symptoms of physical relaxation and euphoria, with the potential for blurred vision and loss of motor skills, can be felt 30 to 90 minutes after consumption, according to ACS Lab.
Amanita muscaria mushrooms have been linked to the origins of Christmas. Due to their hallucinogenic properties, shamans in ancestral communities of the Arctic would ritualistically forage Amanitas during the winter solstice for ceremonies. The Fungi Foundation writes, “Shamans’ psychotropic journeys are believed to be related to the idea that Santa Claus travels with his sleigh and reindeer through the skies to deliver gifts.” With regard to its legal status, amanita muscaria is not explicitly illegal in 49 states, except for Louisiana, and thus exists in a gray area throughout most of the US.
READ: You Can Buy “Legal Shrooms” On the Venice Beach Boardwalk
Psilocybin mushrooms are psychedelic and vary in size and shades of brown and tan. According to ACS, psychedelics, like psilocybin mushrooms, activate the serotonin 2A receptors (known as “5-HT2A receptors”) in the brain. This results in what the ACS Lab writes as “perceptual changes, emotional shifts, and even spiritual awakenings. In the process, they [can] forge new neural connections in a phenomenon called neuroplasticity. Rewiring the brain allows users to reframe their lives and make lasting changes.” They have been historically used in spiritual contexts, and CNN writes, “(They show) promise in combating cluster headaches, anxiety, anorexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and various forms of substance abuse.”
Regarding legality, unlike amanita, psilocybin is explicitly illegal because it is listed as a controlled substance in the Controlled Substances Act, which is the vanguard of the war on drugs and dictates federal law. Two states — Colorado and Oregon — have passed limited, state-wide laws that legalize the use of psilocybin, but only within the context of psychedelic therapy. That means only a certified therapist can administer the medicine to a patient in a state-licensed clinical setting. It is not legal for residents to grow, possess, sell, or consume mushrooms outside the aforementioned context. Colorado has reduced criminal penalties for growing, consuming, and possessing psilocybin mushrooms, but selling is still illegal. Some states, like California, have tried to push proposals through the legislature but failed. Psychedelic political activists in the Golden State are attempting to get another proposed bill together. Some states are studying psilocybin for medical use, while others have failed to pass or have inactive legislation. The landscape varies widely, reflecting a mix of progress, stalled efforts, and ongoing studies. Want to know where your state stands? Check out this interactive map.
Being able to differentiate between psilocybin and Amanita products is imperative. “Psilocybin mushrooms offer psychedelic experiences, while Amanita muscaria contains hallucinogenic properties, as well as toxins that can induce adverse effects like nausea and hallucinations,” writes Exhale.
But what is even more imperative to understand is that many widely available products — sold in gas stations, bodegas, smoke shops, and some unregulated dispensaries — allude to containing Amanita compounds or psilocybin mushrooms, but actually contain a different psychedelic drug altogether. DoubleBlind tested some products around town in 2024 and found most did not contain psilocybin mushrooms or Amanitas. We also went to a store that sold many of these “mushroom” products. None of the products from that store contained psilocybin mushrooms. Few contained Amanita compounds.
Gummies versus Capsules versus Tea?
From sourcing the magic mushroom to calculating your dose, making tea using dried mushrooms, will give you the most control over your experience. You can make it light or strong, grind the mushrooms into a powder for a stronger effect and leave in the cup, or steep and strain, and take it sip by sip. As a welcomed added benefit, DoubleBlind Editor-in-Chief Shelby Hartman will tell you that making it into a tea can curb the nausea that comes with consuming mushrooms just before they start to hit.
Capsules are often found on the market as ways to microdose and are commonly mixed with a blend of functional mushrooms and herbs, such as lion’s mane and ashwagandha. The capsules are filled with finely grown mushrooms, often listing which type of mushroom was used. Consuming mushrooms like this is also a way to incrementally consume mushrooms and work up to your desired dose or state. It’s also the best way to consume for medicinal benefits.
READ: “A Wild West”: How Amanita muscaria Gummies Mislead Buyers
Gummies are arguably the most convenient and fun way to consume mushrooms in measured doses. With a variety of flavors and a range of brands to explore, gummies offer a novel, discreet, and portable option with a sweet taste — a pleasant contrast to the earthy flavor of dried mushrooms.
Regardless of how you decide to consume, keep in mind it’s important to know your source, do your research, stay hydrated, and wait about an hour after your initial dose before going in for seconds.
What Are Legal Functional Gummies?
Legal functional gummies are gummies infused with functional mushrooms. These are non-psychedelic and non-psychoactive mushrooms with functional and medicinal benefits, such as reishi, turkey tail, chaga, lion’s mane, cordyceps, and maitake. Traditional Chinese Medicine has been using mushrooms for centuries and considers them to be “the elixir of life.”
Some of their properties: Lion’s mane, with its shaggy tendrils, is known for its brain-protecting benefits and supports improved memory and cognitive ability. Cordyceps, the orange-tinted mushrooms made famous in “The Last of Us”, improves “cardiorespiratory fitness” and benefits sexual function as well. Chaga, the coal-looking mushroom with a golden interior, is heralded for its ability to lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, slow cancer development, and support healthy immune function.
Functional mushrooms are often infused as part of fungi blends or featured as a primary fruiting body extract in gummies. They are typically complemented by other herbs to enhance their effectiveness.
How Are Mushroom Gummies Made?
Mushroom gummies are made by adding fine dried powder or liquid extract into a gelatin or pectin-based fruit-flavored sugar mixture. Gelatin is an animal derivative found in bones, cartilage, and skin, meanwhile, pectin is a gelling agent derived from fruits. For this recipe provided by DoubleBlind contributor, Michelle Loohq, you’ll need gummy molds, a good blender, a fine mesh strainer, a measuring cup, and a pot for boiling. You’ll also need a microwave –– however, if that’s not available, cook the ingredients together in a small saucepan on medium heat until it fluffs up, and stir consistently. For an extra pizazz or twist to the recipe, try adding a fine zest of citrus peel, or an extract like lavender, vanilla, or rose. Powdered baking spices like ginger, nutmeg, or cinnamon would work great here as well. Lastly, allow them to rest, set, and fully cool before enjoying.
VEGAN SHROOM GUMMY RECIPE
(Makes 14 gummies at 250 mg/gummy)
Ingredients:
An eighth of mushrooms
1.85 grams of pectin
19 grams of sugar
10 grams of water
0.1 grams of flavor
1.5 grams of citric acid
26 grams of tapioca or corn syrup
Pan spray (canola oil or any non-stick agent)
What You’ll Need:
A blender
A sieve or bib for straining
A pot for boiling
A 2 ml gummy mold
Measuring cup
Directions:
Step 1: Measure out an eighth of mushrooms and pulverize it with a blender or magic bullet. Make sure to grind it up as fine as possible for precise dosing. You don’t want a mushroom cap hiding inside the mix that would accidentally make a gummy more potent!
Step 2: Figure out your dosing. This is where some math comes in. We like to dose our gummies at 250 mg/gummy, a moderate microdose. An eighth of shrooms equals 3500 mg, so dividing that by 250 mg gets you 14 gummies total. (Alternatively, if you want to dose at 100 mg, 3500 mg divided by 100 mg gets you 35 gummies. Get it?)
Step 3: Weigh out all your ingredients (pectin, sugar, water, flavor, citric acid, tapioca or corn syrup)—but do not combine them yet!
Step 4: Put the tapioca or corn syrup into a pot
Step 5: Weigh out the sugar and remove 27% from the total (5.13 grams) to set aside. Put the rest into the pot.
Step 6: Throw ground-up mushrooms into the pot
Step 7: Simmer on low heat until the syrup dissolves completely and the mixture becomes thinner
Step 8: Combine the pectin, remaining sugar, and water in a separate microwave-safe container and microwave on high for 30 seconds to a minute. The ingredients will bond together and fluff up a bit.
Step 9: Add this microwaved mixture into the pot and stir for 2-3 minutes. Make sure to stir constantly so that it heats up uniformly.
Step 10: Add your preferred flavor. You can add up to 1 gram of flavor to taste.
Step 11: Simmer and stir the mix for another 60-90 seconds.
Step 12: Add citric acid, and mix for another minute.
Step 13: Use a strainer or bib to pour the blend through so that you sieve out any giant particles of pectin or mushrooms that haven’t dissolved completely.
Step 14: Spray down the mold with non-stick pan spray, then pour the mixture into the mold.
Step 15: Let it rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes. Throw it into the fridge for 20-30 minutes.
Step 16: Enjoy!
List of Mushroom Gummies
TRE House Watermelon Wonder Mushroom Gummies
15 lab-tested watermelon-flavored Amanita-powered chews per pack, $34.99
Exhale Amanita Mushroom Gummies 25G
Five lab-tested plant-based gummies with 5mg of muscimol and 500mg of amanita muscaria fruiting bodies per gummy, $34.95
Hometown Hero Magic Amanita Muscaria Gummies
Four lab-tested gummies per box, each infused with 500mg Amanita Muscaria, 100mg Lion’s Mane, 100mg Holy Basil, and 25mg CBD, $25
Koi MusciMind Gummies
Ten gummies per bag, infused with 2mg muscimol and a 30mg proprietary nootropic blend each, $31.24
SuperMush Daily Energy gummies
SuperMush delivers third-party lab-tested functional mushroom blends to support the body. These in particular, include lion’s mane and cordyceps, with Panax ginseng and Rhodiola for a boost in sustained energy, $32.40
Troop Reishi Gummies for Destress/Sleep
These Troop functional mushroom gummies use reishi to “lower your body’s cortisol levels” and settle into a relaxed state, $36
Risks and Drawbacks of Mushroom Gummies
As we stated earlier, not all mushroom products are as they seem. Since there are THC and questionable mushroom blends sold all over (except grocery stores), it’s important to read the ingredients of every mushroom product you buy and ask your seller questions about the goods. If opening a dialogue about the product’s ingredients frustrates them, that’s a red flag. Anyone doing honest work should want to connect with their customers and patients.
NPR reported in August 2024 that over 140 people fell ill with seizures, convulsions, nausea, and other symptoms, from consuming mushroom edibles. The culprit in these cases seemed to be a brand called Diamond Shruumz. They’ve since sent a recall notice, citing “toxic levels of muscimol.” ScienceDirect warns of the possible side effects of Amanita muscaria and muscimol, saying that consumption can be potentially lethal. Diamond Shruumz addresses the recall notice on their homepage and is working with the FDA to further investigate “the cause of serious adverse effects.”
READ: Psilocybin Found in “Legal” Amanita Muscaria Gummies at Florida Shroom Dispensary
NPR states that the concern is the lack of consistency from brands and synthetic ingredients that are ” essentially spin-offs of popular hallucinogens.” Amanita muscaria, in its purest form, is not likely lethal; however, few studies have been done on mushroom compounds to know their effects in large doses.
A smart practice is to thoroughly research brands, check for third-party lab testing, read labels carefully, and stay informed about the ingredient list. Many packages include a QR code that can be scanned for more detailed information, helping you make an informed decision.
This aside, drawbacks to gummies include their highly processed nature, where ingredients like high fructose corn syrup are used, as well as artificial colors and preservatives, writes SuperMush. Storage might also be a concern when traveling with the gummies, they note since excessive heat could cause them to melt and change their texture. To avoid this, keep them stored in a dry and cool place.
