Psilocybin Tea: A Guide to Its Benefits, Preparation, and Effects

Last Updated on April 8, 2025 by Marie Kathleen

Psilocybin tea is becoming increasingly popular among those looking to experience the effects of psilocybin mushrooms in a more convenient and palatable way. If you’re considering trying psilocybin tea, it’s important to understand how it works, its benefits, how to make it, and its legal status, especially in Canada. This guide will cover everything you need to know about Psilocybin tea, including its preparation, effects, and how it compares to other methods of consuming psilocybin.

What Is Psilocybin Tea?

Psilocybin tea is a beverage made by steeping dried psilocybin mushrooms in hot water. During this process, the active ingredient, psilocybin, dissolves into the water, making it easier to consume and enjoy. The result is a smoother, more enjoyable experience than eating the mushrooms raw.

For many, drinking psilocybin tea offers a more accessible and less intense way to experience the effects of psilocybin. Unlike raw mushrooms, which can have a strong, earthy taste and cause stomach discomfort for some users, the tea provides a gentler alternative. Not only is the onset of effects quicker, but it’s also kinder to the stomach, especially for people who experience nausea when consuming the mushrooms directly.

Psilocybin tea also has a reputation for being more potent because it’s easier to absorb the active compound, psilocybin, through the digestive system. For those looking for a more controlled experience with a shorter wait time before the effects set in, psilocybin tea can be an excellent option.

Benefits of Psilocybin Tea

Psilocybin tea has many benefits over other methods of consuming psilocybin mushrooms, including better digestibility, faster onset of effects, and a more customizable experience. Here’s a deeper look at these advantages:

Easier to Digest

• Gentler on the Stomach: Psilocybin mushrooms, when eaten raw or dried, can sometimes cause stomach discomfort, nausea, or a heavy feeling. For many people, water-based tea helps mitigate these issues, offering a smoother overall experience.

• Fewer Digestive Issues: Since the tea is absorbed more easily by the digestive system, you’re less likely to experience the bloating or digestive distress that can occur with solid mushrooms.

• Ideal for Sensitive Users: If you have a sensitive stomach or digestive system, psilocybin tea offers a gentler alternative, making it easier for you to enjoy the benefits of psilocybin without discomfort.

Faster Onset of Effects

• Quicker Absorption: The active compound, psilocybin, dissolves into the water, making it easier for your body to absorb quickly. This means the onset of effects is often faster than when you eat whole mushrooms.

• Immediate Sensory Experience: You may feel the effects of the tea within 20-30 minutes, compared to the longer wait times when consuming raw mushrooms (which can sometimes take 45 minutes to an hour or more to fully kick in).

• More Predictable: Since the psilocybin in tea is dissolved into the liquid, you may also have a more predictable experience regarding when the effects begin and their intensity.

Milder Taste

• Mask the Earthy Flavor: Psilocybin mushrooms are known for their strong, earthy taste, which many people find unpleasant. Psilocybin tea allows you to mask the mushroom flavour by adding other ingredients like ginger, honey, or lemon.

• More Palatable Experience: Adjusting the flavour of your tea can make the experience more enjoyable, which can be particularly important if you’re new to psilocybin or are sensitive to the taste of mushrooms.

• Enhanced Aromatics: Brewing the tea can also release aromatic compounds, making the drink not only effective but also enjoyable to sip.

Customizable Experience

• Tailor to Your Preferences: One of the best things about psilocybin tea is how easy it is to customize. You can experiment with different flavours and ingredients to find what best suits your taste.

  • Ginger – Helps with nausea and adds a warm, spicy kick to your tea.

  • Lemon – Provides a refreshing citrusy flavour and may enhance the digestive experience.

  • Honey – Adds a touch of sweetness that balances out any bitterness from the mushrooms.

• Adjust Dosage Easily: You can control the strength of your tea by adjusting the amount of mushrooms you use. This allows you to fine-tune your dosage for a mild experience or a more intense trip, depending on your preferences.

• Improve the Experience: Ingredients like peppermint or chamomile can soothe the stomach and even help reduce any unwanted side effects, like mild nausea. Whether you want to enhance the taste or improve the overall effects, psilocybin tea offers many opportunities to personalize your experience.

Psilocybin tea provides a more controlled, accessible, and enjoyable way to experience the benefits of psilocybin mushrooms. Its gentler nature, faster onset of effects, and customizable flavour profile make it a popular choice for beginners and seasoned users. Whether you’re looking for a smoother experience, a faster onset, or a more pleasant taste, psilocybin tea offers an alternative that can be tailored to fit your personal preferences and needs.

How to Make Psilocybin Tea

Making psilocybin tea is straightforward, but it’s important to follow each step carefully to ensure you get the most out of the tea. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, taking the time to prepare the tea properly can enhance your experience. Below are the key ingredients and a simple step-by-step guide to making psilocybin tea.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• Dried psilocybin mushrooms: 1–3 grams per person, depending on the desired potency of your tea.

• Water: 1–2 cups of water (depending on how strong you want your tea).

• Optional ingredients for flavour: To improve the taste and make the experience more enjoyable, you can add ingredients such as:

  • Ginger – Helps with nausea and adds a warm, spicy flavour.

  • Lemon – Adds a refreshing citrusy touch and can aid digestion.

  • Honey – A natural sweetener to balance the bitterness of the mushrooms.

  • Mint or other herbs – This can enhance the flavour and provide a refreshing taste.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Brewing Psilocybin Tea

1. Prepare the Mushrooms

• Start by chopping or grinding your dried psilocybin mushrooms into small pieces. The smaller the pieces, the more effectively the active compound psilocybin will dissolve into the water.

• Tip: Grinding the mushrooms into a powder can help extract the psilocybin more efficiently, leading to a more potent tea.

2. Boil the Water

• Bring 1–2 cups of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. This is a crucial step, as boiling water can degrade the psilocybin, so you want to keep it at a low simmer to preserve the compound’s potency.

3. Steep the Mushrooms

• Add the chopped or ground mushrooms to the simmering water. Allow them to steep for about 15-20 minutes. During this time, stir occasionally to help the psilocybin dissolve into the water.

• Pro Tip: Keep the pot covered while the mushrooms steep. This helps prevent the psilocybin from evaporating and ensures you retain the full potency of your tea.

4. Strain the Tea

• Once the mushrooms have steeped for 15-20 minutes, remove the tea from the heat. Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to strain the mushrooms from the liquid. This will leave you with a clear, potent tea.

• Note: The leftover mushrooms can be discarded, as the psilocybin has already been extracted into the tea.

5. Enhance the Flavour

• Now that your tea is prepared, you can add your choice of optional flavouring ingredients, such as ginger, lemon, or honey. These not only improve the taste but can also help with digestion and reduce nausea.

  • Ginger: Great for calming your stomach and adding a spicy warmth.

  • Honey: Balances the bitterness of the mushrooms for a smoother taste.

  • Lemon or mint: Provides a refreshing twist and boosts the tea’s aromatic profile.

6. Enjoy Your Psilocybin Tea

• Let your psilocybin tea cool to a comfortable drinking temperature. Once it’s ready, you can enjoy your cup of tea.

• Tip: Drink it slowly and mindfully. The effects of psilocybin tea can kick in faster than eating mushrooms, so it’s best to give it time to take effect.

How Does Psilocybin Tea Affect the Body?

When you drink psilocybin tea, you’ll experience effects similar to consuming psilocybin mushrooms directly, but the onset is often quicker and gentler. Here’s what you can expect:

Altered Perception

• One of the first things you’ll notice is changes in visual perception, sound, and time. Colours may appear more vibrant, and you might see patterns or distortions in your environment.

• Expect a shift in your experience of time—minutes can feel like hours, and moments of deep reflection can seem like whole journeys.

Euphoria & Insight

• Many users report experiencing a profound sense of euphoria or happiness, often accompanied by increased introspection.

• Heightened emotional clarity can lead to valuable insights about yourself, your life, and your personal relationships.

  • Euphoric feelings might be accompanied by a sense of oneness with your surroundings, making the experience feel both uplifting and transformative.

  • Insightful experiences may help users gain a deeper understanding of their emotions, past experiences, or even spiritual matters.

Therapeutic Potential

• Psilocybin has shown promise in therapeutic settings for individuals struggling with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

  • Research continues to explore how psilocybin might be used to treat these conditions, and while not yet widely available for medical use, many individuals in Canada are exploring psilocybin for its potential mental health benefits.

  • Many users in Canada have turned to psilocybin tea as a way to manage their mental well-being, reporting improved moods, greater emotional stability, and a reduced sense of stress.

Psilocybin tea offers a mild and controlled experience, allowing individuals to explore its potential therapeutic effects while enjoying a smoother, quicker onset than traditional mushroom consumption. Always ensure to consume psilocybin tea responsibly, especially if you’re new to the experience.

Legal Considerations in Canada: Understanding Psilocybin Tea Laws

Regarding psilocybin tea and its legality in Canada, there are important considerations to remember. Although psilocybin remains illegal for recreational use in most regions, there are some legal exceptions for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. Here’s what you need to know about the legal landscape regarding psilocybin tea and its use in Canada.

Psilocybin and the Law in Canada

Psilocybin, the active compound found in certain mushrooms, is classified as a controlled substance under Canadian law. This means that in general:

• Possession: It is illegal to possess psilocybin mushrooms unless you are using them for an authorized medical purpose.

• Distribution: The sale, distribution, and sharing of psilocybin mushrooms (including psilocybin tea) are also prohibited under current laws.

However, recent developments have opened the door to certain legal exceptions, particularly in the context of medical and therapeutic use. These developments allow patients suffering from specific mental health conditions to potentially access psilocybin under the guidance of a healthcare provider.

Psilocybin for Medical Use

In Canada, psilocybin use is limited to medical purposes under strict regulations. Medical access to psilocybin is currently available through special exemptions granted by Health Canada. These exemptions are usually given to patients with specific conditions, such as:

• End-of-life anxiety

• Depression

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Other mental health issues

Obtaining medical access to psilocybin is not simple. Patients must go through an application process, and approval is granted on a case-by-case basis. Despite this, there is a growing acknowledgment of psilocybin’s potential therapeutic benefits in Canada.

Psilocybin Tea: Legal Status in Canada

Since psilocybin mushrooms are classified as controlled substances, psilocybin tea, which is made by brewing dried psilocybin mushrooms, is also illegal for recreational use in most of Canada. Although consuming psilocybin tea in the privacy of your home is a topic of ongoing discussion, the risks associated with possessing and distributing psilocybin tea should be considered carefully.

Buying Psilocybin Tea Online

It’s important to note that while psilocybin mushrooms and psilocybin tea remain illegal for recreational use in Canada, there are legal alternatives available:

• Cannabis Products: Cannabis is legal for recreational use across Canada for adults 19 years and older (18 in some provinces). You can legally buy various cannabis products, including dried cannabis flowers, oils, edibles, and more, through licensed retailers.

• Buying Cannabis Online: If you’re interested in exploring cannabis products, you can purchase them through a variety of online platforms. Whether you’re looking for dried cannabis flowers or cannabis oils, these products are available legally through approved online retailers in Canada.

Though psilocybin tea itself cannot be legally purchased or consumed for recreational purposes, there are safe, legal options for purchasing cannabis in Canada, with many retailers offering the convenience of online shopping.

Interprovincial Differences in Psilocybin Laws

Although psilocybin remains illegal for recreational use across Canada, the application of laws surrounding its medical use can vary between provinces. Some regions have made strides in allowing for medical psilocybin use under specific conditions, while others are still in the early stages of considering such policies.

• Medicinal Use: Provinces like Ontario and British Columbia may have more advanced programs or support systems for patients who qualify for medical psilocybin use.

• Local Regulations: Since psilocybin regulations are still evolving, it’s essential to stay updated on the specific laws in your province. Consulting with a healthcare provider or legal expert can help clarify what is allowed in your area.

Psilocybin Tea vs. Other Methods of Consumption

While psilocybin tea is one popular method for consuming psilocybin, there are other options available, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let’s look at how psilocybin tea compares to other consumption methods.

1. Eating Dried Mushrooms

Pros:

• Simple to prepare: No extra tools or equipment; chew and swallow the mushrooms.

• Highly potent: Dried mushrooms can be very powerful, offering intense experiences when consumed correctly.

Cons:

• Unpleasant taste: Many people find the taste of dried mushrooms to be earthy and unappealing.

• Potential for nausea: Eating mushrooms raw or in large quantities can sometimes lead to nausea or an upset stomach.

2. Psilocybin Tea

Pros:

• Easier on the stomach: Psilocybin tea is often gentler on the stomach compared to eating dried mushrooms, which can be harsh.

• Faster onset of effects: The active compounds in psilocybin tea are absorbed more quickly through the stomach, leading to a faster onset than eating dried mushrooms.

• Customizable flavour: You can improve the flavour and make the experience more enjoyable by adding ingredients like lemon, honey, or ginger.

Cons:

• Preparation required: Making psilocybin tea takes more time and effort than eating dried mushrooms.

• Less potent: Depending on the amount used, the potency of the tea can be less concentrated than that of whole mushrooms.

3. Psilocybin Capsules or Extracts

Pros:

• Precise dosage: Capsules and extracts provide more consistent and accurate dosages than other methods.

• No taste: Psilocybin capsules and extracts are tasteless, which can be an appealing option for those who dislike the taste of mushrooms.

Cons:

• Higher cost: Psilocybin capsules and extracts can be more expensive than dried mushrooms or tea.

• Slower onset: Capsules and extracts may have a slower onset of effects than psilocybin tea, as they must first be broken down in the digestive system.

Final Thoughts on Psilocybin Tea

Psilocybin tea offers a unique and potentially more enjoyable way to experience the effects of psilocybin mushrooms. It’s a great option for those who are sensitive to the taste of mushrooms or who want a smoother onset of effects. However, as with any substance, it’s important to be mindful of the dosage and the environment in which you consume it.

In Canada, while psilocybin remains illegal for recreational use, there is growing interest in its therapeutic potential. As always, make sure to stay informed about the legal landscape and consult with professionals if you’re considering its use for medical or therapeutic purposes.