The main active ingredient in magic mushrooms, their “fuel” if you will, is a naturally occurring compound known as psilocybin, which produces hallucinogenic effects when ingested. They belong to a group of drugs known as psychedelics, because of the changes experienced to perception, mood and thought. When psilocybin is taken, it is broken down in the body into psilocin, a psychoactive chemical.

What do they look like?

Magic mushrooms in most cases look no different than regular wild mushrooms you’d see growing amongst vegetation. The most common ones in Australia are called golden tops, blue meanies and liberty caps. Magic mushrooms look similar to poisonous mushrooms, and hence it is imperative that no one try to find their own magic mushrooms while out in the wilderness. These mushrooms can be dried and made into powder form. Synthetic psilocybin appears as a white crystalline powder that can be processed into tablets or capsules, or dissolved in water.

How are they used?

Magic mushrooms can be consumed in a variety of ways, including eating it fresh, cooking into edibles, or brewing into tea. The dried, powdered version of magic mushrooms can also be smoked on top of cannabis or tobacco.

Other names

Shrooms, mushies, blue meanies, golden tops, liberty caps.