Emma Wilson
Fly agaric mushrooms, or Amanita muscaria, are known for their bright red caps, white spots, and hallucinogenic properties. While they are considered toxic and hallucinogenic if consumed raw, they can be made safe to eat through meticulous preparation methods such as parboiling or drying and curing. It's important to note that the effects of these mushrooms vary greatly between individuals, and there is a risk of experiencing intense nausea and stomach cramps. Due to their potential toxicity and legal status, it is essential to be cautious and informed before considering the consumption of fly agaric mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Fly agaric mushrooms, Amanita muscaria, panther mushroom, berserker mushrooms |
| Preparation | Boiling, drying, curing, parboiling |
| Taste | Delicious, nice, tasty |
| Effects | Hallucinogenic, dream-like state, out-of-body experiences, enhanced clarity of mind, change in body perception, clumsiness, dizziness, nausea, stupification, sedation, delirium, feelings of exaggerated movement, inebriation, vomiting |
| Toxicity | Not toxic to humans, toxic to dogs |
| Legality | Illegal to sell for human consumption, legal to possess |
| Dosage | Strength varies depending on where and when it is picked |
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What You'll Learn
Sourcing fly agaric mushrooms
Fly agaric mushrooms, or Amanita muscaria, are widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere's temperate and boreal forests. They are now also naturalized in the Southern Hemisphere, where they have formed symbiotic relationships with various trees. They are one of the most recognizable mushrooms, with their large, bright red caps, white spots, and distinctive white warts.
Amanita muscaria is a basidiomycete fungus of the genus Amanita. It is also known as fly amanita and is commonly referred to as fly agaric. It is a psychoactive mushroom, exhibiting complex genetic diversity, which suggests it is a species complex rather than a single species.
If you are interested in purchasing fly agaric mushrooms, there are online retailers that sell them, such as Wild Forest Herbs, which offers premium dried Amanita muscaria products. MN Nice Ethnobotanicals also offers Amanita muscaria for sale, along with a range of other ethnobotanicals. However, it is important to note that while it is legal to possess these mushrooms, it is illegal to sell them for human consumption in many places. As such, some suppliers will label them as "not for human consumption" and sell them for botanical research purposes.
Historically, fly agaric mushrooms have been used by various cultures for medicinal, recreational, and spiritual purposes. For example, they were consumed by sorcerers in Inari, and there are reports of their religious use among Subarctic Native American tribes. They have also been associated with the Vedic sacrament, Soma, and were reportedly used by Siberian shamans.
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Preparing the mushrooms for cooking
Preparing fly agaric mushrooms for cooking requires careful detoxification to remove the toxins ibotenic acid and muscarine, which are toxic to humans. The mushrooms must be cleaned thoroughly, ensuring they are firm with no mouldy or squishy bits. The bulb can be removed or shaved.
The next step is to boil the mushrooms. There are varying opinions on how long to boil them for. Some sources recommend boiling them for up to 10 minutes, while others suggest a longer boiling time of up to 3 hours. It is important to use a large volume of water and ensure a high water-to-mushroom ratio. The water can be seasoned with salt, and some recipes recommend lowering the pH to 2.5-3 using citric acid or lemon juice.
After boiling, the water must be discarded, and the mushrooms can be rinsed. At this stage, the mushrooms can be fried, pickled, or preserved in oil. They can be sliced and sautéed in butter with salt to taste, cooked on medium heat for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
It is important to note that consuming fly agaric mushrooms carries risks, and they should only be consumed after proper preparation to avoid unpleasant side effects and potential toxicity.
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Cooking methods
Fly agaric mushrooms, also known as Amanita muscaria, are toxic and hallucinogenic if consumed raw. However, when properly prepared, they are considered edible and even tasty by some. It is important to note that incorrect preparation and consumption of these mushrooms can be dangerous. Here are some cooking methods to prepare fly agaric mushrooms:
Boiling
One common method of preparing fly agaric mushrooms is by boiling them. It is recommended to use a large volume of water and boil the mushrooms for a significant amount of time. The water will help in detoxifying the mushrooms by removing toxins such as muscarine, ibotenic acid, and muscimol. After boiling, the water should be discarded, and the mushrooms can be prepared further. Some people suggest boiling the mushrooms multiple times to ensure safety, but this may impact the flavour.
Frying
After boiling, the mushrooms can be fried like regular mushrooms. Slice the mushrooms into pieces and sauté them in butter, adding salt to taste. Cook them on medium heat for about 10-15 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
Pickling
Pickling is another popular method of preparing fly agaric mushrooms. After boiling and discarding the water, the mushrooms can be pickled, preserved in oil, or fried, depending on regional preferences.
Tea
Preparing fly agaric tea is another traditional and spiritual way of consuming these mushrooms. Break the mushrooms into small pieces and simmer them in a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and water for 20 minutes. Once cooled, strain the liquid to remove solids and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week, or enjoy immediately.
Volumetric Dosing
For precise consumption, volumetric dosing can be used. For example, using 20 grams of mushrooms to make a batch of tea, which is then poured into an ice cube tray to make 20 ice cubes, with each cube containing about 1 gram of the mushroom.
Capsules
Capsules are a straightforward and consistent way to consume fly agaric powder. They are often used for raw, non-decarboxylated mushroom powder, retaining the ibotenic acid and its effects. Empty, vegetable-based capsules can be filled with the powder, and capsule-filling machines can be used for convenience and consistency.
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Safe consumption
If you choose to consume fly agaric mushrooms, it is important to prepare them properly to reduce the risk of negative side effects. The mushrooms contain ibotenic acid and muscimol, which are responsible for the hallucinations, nausea, and stupification that can occur after ingestion. Boiling the mushrooms in water can help to remove these compounds, as ibotenic acid is water-soluble. However, boiling the mushrooms for too long or too many times may reduce their potency and make them flavourless. Some sources recommend boiling the mushrooms in salted water for about 15 minutes, while others suggest boiling for a shorter time or boiling them multiple times.
After boiling, the mushrooms can be used in various dishes, such as salads, sautéed in olive oil, or added to gravy. They can also be dried and cured to make an herbal tea or flour for baking. It is important to start with a small dose, as larger doses of the mushrooms can have more potent psychedelic effects.
While fly agaric mushrooms are not illegal to possess, it is illegal to sell them for human consumption. This is because they can be dangerous, especially when consumed in large quantities or without proper preparation. Reports of people throwing up from consuming these mushrooms usually involve cases where the mushrooms were eaten raw or cooked but in too large amounts. Therefore, it is essential to exercise caution and moderation if choosing to consume these mushrooms.
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Effects of fly agaric mushrooms
Fly agaric mushrooms (Amanita muscaria) are poisonous and hallucinogenic. Ingesting these mushrooms can cause poisoning, and in some cases, even death. The effects of these mushrooms vary widely between individuals, and the strength of the mushroom depends on where and when it is picked. As such, determining the correct dosage is challenging.
The mushrooms induce a dream-like state, similar to lucid dreaming, which can involve out-of-body experiences and enhanced clarity of the mind. They can also cause perceptual phenomena such as synesthesia, macropsia, and micropsia. They can also cause distortions in the size of perceived objects, auditory and visual distortions, and changes in mood, including euphoria and relaxation.
However, the mushrooms can also have negative effects, including mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive salivation, perspiration, watering of the eyes, slowed and difficult breathing, dilated pupils, confusion, excitability, and loss of equilibrium. In cases of serious poisoning, delirium, hallucinations, and irritability may occur, followed by periods of central nervous system depression. Seizures and comas may also occur in cases of severe poisoning.
Historically, fly agaric mushrooms have been used in rituals and ceremonies by shamans in northern Europe and Asia, particularly during the winter solstice. They have also been consumed at wedding feasts in Lithuania, where they were mixed with vodka.
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Frequently asked questions
Fly agaric mushrooms, or Amanita muscaria, are generally prepared by drying them out. They can also be parboiled or boiled in salted water for 10-15 minutes. It is important to note that these mushrooms are illegal to sell for human consumption and can be lethal if not prepared correctly.
The effects of consuming fly agaric mushrooms vary between individuals and depend on where and when the mushrooms are picked. Common effects include hallucinations, a dream-like state, and enhanced clarity of the mind. The mushrooms can also cause nausea and stupification.
Fly agaric mushrooms are not toxic, but they can be lethal if consumed in large quantities without being detoxified. It is illegal to sell these mushrooms for human consumption, and they should not be consumed unless you are certain of their identification and preparation methods.
