We don’t think there’s a wrong way to consume mushrooms. We also don’t think there’s a wrong way to consume chocolate. Mushroom chocolate, then, sounds like a match made in heaven. Right? Based on the budding interest in combining magic mushrooms with culinary delights, plenty of people seem to agree. Mushroom chocolate bars are one of our most popular mushroom products. However, you might be wondering how ingesting chocolate affects your experience with magic mushrooms. We’ll dive into that and show you how you can make the most of your trip down below!
What’s the Deal With Mushroom Chocolate?
Magic mushrooms, also called psychedelic mushrooms, are fungi that cause perceptual alterations, euphoria, sensory hallucinations, and other sensations. The experiences these mushrooms cause are commonly known as trips.
The main psychoactive compound in many psychedelic mushrooms is called psilocybin. Once ingested, this chemical gets converted to psilocin, which can bind to serotonin receptors. Muscimol and ibotenic acid are two other psychoactive compounds commonly found in trippy shrooms, particularly Amanita muscaria.
So, mushroom chocolates are simply chocolate products that are cleverly infused with trippy or magic mushrooms. The primary motivation for putting psychedelics in chocolates is to add something sweet to the consumption experience.
Besides the pleasant taste, however, there’s evidence to suggest that cacao is associated with a better mood and a healthier brain. What’s not to love?
Shroom Tripping 101: How it Works
Before we can break down how chocolate affects your trip, let’s take a step back. What is a shroom trip in general, and what does it feel like?
These might feel like intimidating questions if you haven’t had much experience with psychedelics. You might have warped perceptions of what shrooms can do based on depictions on television or film. Unreliable narrators in real life may have also falsely communicated the nuances of tripping on shrooms.
In short, a shroom trip is the experience of sensory and perceptual changes that result from a magic mushroom’s psychoactive compounds. Effects commonly associated with shroom trips include:
- Altered thought processes
- Euphoria and relaxed mood
- Visual or auditory hallucinations (this can include “hearing” colors and “seeing” sounds)
- Distorted perceptions of your scenery
- Other unconventional cognitive processes
Many people also experience some mild nausea, sweating, flushing, and increased heartbeat. These symptoms are rarely more than unpleasant, though. In extremely rare cases (we’re talking way less likely than a shark attack or lightning strike), magic mushroom consumption can cause seizures or coma. In many of those cases, users unknowingly ingested other substances along with shrooms.
What happens when you ingest shrooms?
After a psychoactive compound like psilocybin or muscimol enters your body, it must be converted into useful substances. We know that psilocybin, for instance, converts into a compound that binds to certain serotonin receptors. Muscimol works similarly, but it binds to GABA receptors instead, leading to sedating effects.
Think of these receptors as middlemen between outside substances and the inner workings of the brain. When interacted with, they tell the mind and its neurotransmitters – our body’s chemical messengers – what to do. That gives trippy shrooms direct influence over how our brains and bodies function.
One serotonin receptor of interest is the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5HT2a) receptor. Once activated, the 5HT2a receptor increases levels of serotonin and oxytocin, two feel-good chemicals. Magic mushrooms affect many different areas of the brain to produce unique effects and sensations.
The vast majority of shroom trips last four to six hours. You might feel a profound openness to the people and world around you. It’s possible you might have a negative experience (bad trip) while on shrooms. Bad trips are certainly unpleasant, but they are not dangerous or life-threatening.
What are the different kinds of legal trippy mushrooms?
Mushrooms and derivative substances containing psilocybin are not legalized for supervised recreational use anywhere in the U.S. except for Colorado and Oregon. Just over a dozen municipalities across six other states (and the District of Columbia) have decriminalized the possession and use of magic mushrooms.
Despite psilocybin’s status across much of the U.S., some trippy mushrooms, like Amanita muscaria and Amanita pantherina, are not federally illegal.
How long do shrooms stay in your system?
Beyond the acute effects of shrooms, psilocybin does not stay in your body for very long. In most cases, it won’t show up on a drug test three days or longer after consumption. You may have detectable amounts in your body for up to a week, but that is not typical.
How Chocolate Affects Shroom Trips
As we’ve already discussed, the main reason for cooking up mushroom-infused chocolate is the desire to chow down on something tasty as you embark on your trip. Some magic mushrooms (and even functional mushrooms) aren’t known for being delicious, so the strong taste of chocolate can help mask the bitterness of shrooms. The competing textures (rich, smooth silkiness of chocolate and chewiness of mushrooms) can come together in a delightful culinary symphony.
The question remains, then: do chocolate and shrooms combine for a synergistic effect that can take your psychedelic trips to the next level? Unfortunately, no firm evidence supports this notion. A whole lot more research is needed, though, for us to fully understand the mechanism of psychedelics and their interactions with physical and physiological states.
Something else to think about is the potential for nausea, vomiting, and general stomach discomfort. Those symptoms are somewhat common among people on shroom trips.
Nausea is more likely to happen when food is fresh in your system, so you might want to make sure your stomach is settled before you take any psychedelics. As long as you’re feeling well, though, it probably won’t be an issue for you to munch on some chocolate and shrooms at the same time.
How long does mushroom chocolate last?
As long as your mushroom chocolate product isn’t made with fresh mushrooms, it can last up to a year or longer if you store it safely and properly. Dark chocolate can last up to twice as long as milk and white chocolate. Extending the shelf life of mushroom chocolate involves storing it in a dry, cool, and dark place where it’s not exposed to the elements.
The good news is that trippy and magic mushrooms in chocolate do not start to lose potency until about 18 months after production. Some signs that chocolate has gone bad include discoloration, a pungent smell or taste, and visible cracks.
Eating expired chocolate usually doesn’t result in anything more than an upset stomach and some diarrhea. So, the biggest risk you likely face if you push your product past its shelf life is that the mushrooms inside may simply lose their potency – although it’s always best practice, of course, not to eat something you believe is expired!
Mushroom Chocolate Product Spotlight: TRĒ House
Some people like to handmix their own mushroom chocolates, but you can skip the hassle of becoming a chocolatier and still enjoy your favorite fungi. We’re a big fan of TRĒ House’s mushroom collection, which is one of the most popular on the market – and for good reason!
TRĒ House Magic Mushroom Chocolate Bar
If you’re interested in trying some chocolate mushroom products, check out this chocolate bar from TRĒ House. It doesn’t contain psilocybin, but it’s full of nootropic goodness. You can microdose (one square at a time) for some rest and relaxation or eat several squares to put you in a pleasantly psychedelic state.
Choose from one of five delicious flavors to take your trip to the next level:
- Cookies & Cream
- Chocolate Milk
- Fruity Cereal
- Peanut Butter
Where to Buy Mushroom Chocolate: Gold Dragon Kratom
No matter why you want to explore the world of mushroom chocolates, we’ve got the right products for you. You’ll feel like Charlie Buckets after he discovered the last Golden Ticket, except you won’t have to share with lazy Grandpa Joe. Visit our website to shop all mushroom chocolates.
If you’re new to all this, don’t sweat it—we’d love to answer all your questions. Drop us a line today to get in touch with our team!
