Psilocybe cubensis

PSILOCYBE CUBENSIS (GOLDEN CAP SHROOMS)

Gold Cap Shrooms, also known as Psilocybe cubensis, are among the most popular magic mushrooms.

History of the Cubensis Mushroom

The first scientific record of golden cap shrooms—also known as gold cap shrooms, golden tops, cubes, cubies, boomers, or gold caps—was in 1906 by Franklin Sumner Earle in Cuba. (Cubensis actually means “coming from Cuba” in Latin.) At the time, the mycologist from Chicago called it Stropharia cubensis. A year later, it was identified by French pharmacist and mycologist Narcisse Théophile Patouillard in northern Vietnam.

Psychoactive Compounds in Gold Cap Shrooms

Psilocybe cubensis doesn’t just contain psilocybin, although that is the main psychedelic compound in the fungus. Indeed, these mushrooms contain a host of other psychoactive molecules, including psilocin, baeocystin, and norbaeocystin. The symbiotic interplay of these compounds, and others contained within the mushroom, contribute to its psychotropic effects. For this reason, similar to the “entourage effect” well known in the cannabis world, the experience of taking a whole mushroom, as opposed to synthetic psilocybin isolate (such as what’s used in clinical trials) can be significant. 

How Many Gold Caps Should I Eat? 

Well, that really depends on your level of experience tripping and how deep you’re trying to go. About one to three grams of dried golden cap mushrooms is considered a moderate dose and four to seven grams is considered a heftier or “heroic” dose. That said, every trip is different and every person is different. It’s best, if you don’t have a lot of experience, to begin with a smaller dose, and wait a couple of hours, before taking more. It’s also highly recommended that you have a trip sitter (i.e. someone, ideally with psychedelic experience, who can hold space for you and support you). The best way to determine how much you’re consuming is to weigh your dried mushrooms with a little scale. Especially if you’re tripping in hopes of seeking healing, you might consider going to a vetted, legal retreat center. The whole experience should last around six to eight hours. 

How Are Cubensis Mushroom Consumed? 

Most often, psychedelic mushrooms are eaten whole (or added to something like peanut butter and jelly), or steeped in tea—in which case, the consumer would simply drink the tea and discard the wet mushroom material. In other cases, one may grind the mushrooms into a powder and put them into capsules. In recent days, mushroom chocolates have also become popular, as well as cooking with psilocybin.