Mushroom tea exists because a lot of people cannot stand eating dried mushrooms. The taste is earthy and bitter, the texture is like chewing cardboard, and for many people the stomach complains before anything else happens. Steeping them in hot water fixes most of that.
Here is how to make it properly, what changes compared with eating them, and the mistakes that waste a good batch.
What you need
- Dried mushrooms, weighed
- A kitchen scale that reads to 0.1 g
- A grinder, or a knife and a cutting board
- A kettle
- A mug and a fine strainer, a tea infuser or a paper coffee filter
- Optional: a tea bag, fresh ginger, honey or lemon for flavour
How to make it
- Weigh your dose. Do this first, on a scale, not by eye. Dried mushrooms vary a lot in size, so two that look the same can weigh very different amounts. If you are not sure what amount suits you, our dosage terminology guide explains what micro, average and hero mean in grams.
- Break them up small. Grind them to a coarse powder or chop them finely. More surface area means more of what you want ends up in the water.
- Boil the kettle, then let it sit for a minute. You want it very hot, just off the boil. Most guides land somewhere around 80 to 90°C. Do not keep it boiling on the stove.
- Pour about one cup of water over the mushrooms in the mug or a teapot.
- Steep for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Cover the mug to keep the heat in.
- Strain it through the strainer, infuser or filter. Press the grounds with a spoon to get the last of the liquid out.
- Flavour it if you like. Steep a regular tea bag in it for the last couple of minutes, or add ginger, honey or lemon. Ginger also helps with nausea.
- Drink it while it is warm, over a few minutes rather than all at once.
Some people eat the strained grounds as well, in case any of the dose stayed behind. That is up to you. If you do, you lose some of the benefit of making tea.
Tea vs eating them vs lemon tek
| Eating them dried | Tea | Lemon tek | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prep | None | 15 to 20 minutes | About 20 minutes |
| Taste | Worst | Mild, easy to flavour | Sour |
| Stomach | Most likely to cause nausea | Gentler | Gentler |
| Commonly reported onset | 30 to 60 minutes | 20 to 40 minutes | Often the fastest |
| Commonly reported length | Normal | About the same | Often shorter and more intense |
These are what people commonly report, not results from controlled studies. There is very little research on mushroom tea specifically. What is well established is that psilocybin is turned into psilocin in your body, and psilocin is what you feel. Tea does not change that. It mostly changes how easy the dose is to get down.
Our guide to how long shrooms last breaks down the timeline in more detail.
Mistakes that waste a batch
Guessing the dose. A scale is the single most important tool here. Weigh it every time.
Boiling them on the stove. You are making tea, not soup. Pour hot water over them and let them steep.
Not breaking them up. Whole caps in hot water give up far less than ground mushroom does.
Taking more because nothing has happened yet. Tea can come on faster, but not always. Wait at least two hours before even thinking about a second cup. Stacking doses is how a good night turns into a long one.
Drinking on a full stomach. A big meal slows everything down and makes nausea more likely. A light meal a few hours before is better.
Before you drink it
- Lithium. Do not combine psychedelics with lithium. A 2021 Johns Hopkins analysis of user reports found seizures in almost half of the reports where the two were combined.
- Antidepressants can change how mushrooms affect you. Our post on antidepressants and psychedelics covers what is known.
- Some people should not take them at all, including anyone with a personal or family history of psychosis. See reasons not to take magic mushrooms.
- Set and setting. A safe place, a clear afternoon and someone sober nearby if you are new. More in what set and setting means.
- Do not drive until it has fully worn off.
Psilocybin is a Schedule III controlled substance in Canada. Legal access is limited to clinical trials, Health Canada exemptions and the Special Access Program.
Which mushrooms to use
Any dried strain works for tea. These are on our shelf now, all 28 g:
| Strain | 28 g |
|---|---|
| Texas Penis Envy | $55 |
| Ecuadorian | $58 |
| Mazatapec | $59 |
| African Transki | $69 |
| Golden Teacher | $75 |
| John Allen | $75 |
| Galactic | $75 |
| Ghost | $79 |
| Code Blue | $85 |
If you only want a little, the assorted 14 g is $49. Mixing strains gets you a discount: 25% off at four, going up to 55% at sixty-four. See every strain on our mushrooms page. Not sure which one to start with? Read Golden Teacher vs Penis Envy.
Orders ship Canada-wide in plain packaging and leave within 1 to 2 business days. You can pay by credit card, e-Transfer or Bitcoin. 19+ only.
Quick answers
How long should I steep mushroom tea?
10 to 15 minutes, stirring now and then, in water just off the boil.
Does boiling water ruin shrooms?
There is little hard data either way. Most people let the kettle settle for a minute and steep rather than boil, which costs you nothing.
Does tea hit faster?
Many people say it comes on sooner and is easier on the stomach. That is common experience, not a proven rule.
Can I make it ahead of time?
Make it fresh and drink it the same day. Measure the dose before you make it, not after.
Can I use fresh mushrooms?
Yes, but fresh mushrooms are mostly water, so the same weight is much weaker than dried. Weigh with that in mind.
For adults 19 and over. Nothing on this page is medical advice. Effects vary from person to person; start low. Prices current October 2026.
