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You can make a magic mushroom tincture right at home with just a few simple supplies and a little patience.
A magic mushroom tincture is a concentrated liquid extract that captures the beneficial compounds from psilocybin mushrooms in a shelf-stable form.
This method of making a magic mushroom tincture is popular because it’s easy to dose, has a long shelf life, and is much gentler on your stomach than eating dried mushrooms.
In this post, we’ll walk through exactly how to make a magic mushroom tincture, including the ingredients you need, the step-by-step process, and tips for getting the most potent extract possible.
By the end, you’ll know how to make a magic mushroom tincture that’s ready when you are.
Let’s get started.
How To Make A Magic Mushroom Tincture: The Basics
When you make a magic mushroom tincture, you’re essentially pulling the active compounds out of the mushroom material and into a liquid carrier.
The most common carrier is high-proof alcohol, though some folks prefer a dual-extraction method that adds water to capture both water-soluble and alcohol-soluble compounds.
The whole idea behind making a magic mushroom tincture is that you end up with a potent, concentrated drop that delivers the effects without having to chew or swallow dried fungus.
Here’s what you need to know before you start making your magic mushroom tincture at home.
1. Choose Your Mushrooms Wisely
To make a quality magic mushroom tincture, start with properly dried psilocybin mushrooms.
Fresh mushrooms are mostly water, and that extra moisture can cause mold or bacterial growth during the extraction process.
Dried mushrooms are more potent by weight, and they’ll extract better into alcohol.
Make sure your mushrooms are cracker-dry, meaning they snap easily rather than bending.
If they’re not quite dry, you can leave them on a dehydrator or in a dark, dry place for a few more days before starting your magic mushroom tincture.
2. Pick the Right Alcohol
The alcohol you choose will make or break your magic mushroom tincture.
You want the highest proof you can find, ideally 151-proof or higher, like Everclear.
The higher the alcohol content, the better it pulls out the psilocybin and psilocin from the mushroom cells.
Lower-proof spirits like vodka or rum at 80-proof will work, but they’re less efficient and you’ll likely need a longer soak or a weaker final magic mushroom tincture.
Stick with a neutral grain alcohol for the cleanest taste and the strongest extraction possible.
3. Grind Your Mushrooms into a Fine Powder
Before you combine your mushrooms with alcohol, grind them into a powder.
You can use a coffee grinder, a blender, or even a mortar and pestle.
A fine powder increases the surface area, which lets the alcohol penetrate the cells more easily and pull out more of the active compounds.
The finer the powder, the more efficient your magic mushroom tincture will be.
This step is simple but essential for a potent final product.
Step-by-Step Process For Making A Magic Mushroom Tincture
Now that you have your supplies ready, it’s time to actually make a magic mushroom tincture.
This process takes a few weeks, but most of that time is just waiting while the alcohol does the work.
Here’s exactly how to make a magic mushroom tincture from start to finish.
1. Combine Powder and Alcohol
Place your powdered mushrooms into a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Pour your high-proof alcohol over the powder until it’s completely submerged.
Use a ratio of about 1:5 by weight, so for every 1 gram of mushrooms, you’d add 5 milliliters of alcohol.
Stir the mixture well with a non-metal spoon or a chopstick to make sure there are no dry clumps.
Seal the jar tightly and give it a good shake for about a minute.
This initial shake helps start the extraction process right away.
2. Store the Jar in a Dark, Cool Place
Once your mixture is sealed, store the jar in a cool, dark place.
A pantry or a dark cabinet works perfectly.
Avoid direct sunlight, since light can break down the active compounds and reduce the potency of your magic mushroom tincture.
Now comes the waiting game: let the mixture steep for at least 4 to 6 weeks.
Some people wait up to 3 months for a deeper extraction, but a month is a great starting point.
Shake the jar gently every couple of days to keep the alcohol interacting with all the mushroom powder.
3. Strain the Liquid
After the steep time is up, it’s time to strain your magic mushroom tincture.
Line a fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth or use a coffee filter.
Pour the mixture through the strainer into a clean bowl or measuring cup.
Squeeze the cheesecloth to get out every last drop of liquid.
You’ll be left with a dark, amber-colored liquid, which is your magic mushroom tincture.
Discard the spent mushroom material, as most of the actives have already been pulled out.
4. Optional Dual Extraction for a Stronger Tincture
If you want to make a magic mushroom tincture that captures both water-soluble and alcohol-soluble compounds, you can do a dual extraction.
After straining the alcohol, take the leftover mushroom material and simmer it in water for 20 minutes.
Then, combine this water extract with the alcohol tincture.
This can make your magic mushroom tincture more comprehensive, though it may dilute the alcohol content slightly.
Only do this if you’re comfortable with the extra step and plan to store your tincture in the fridge.
5. Bottle and Store Your Tincture
Transfer your finished magic mushroom tincture into amber glass dropper bottles.
The dark glass protects the tincture from light degradation, and the dropper makes dosing easy.
Store the bottles in a cool, dark place, and your magic mushroom tincture should stay potent for up to a year or more.
Label each bottle with the date and the estimated potency so you know what you’re working with.
Tips For Dosing Your Magic Mushroom Tincture
Once you’ve made your magic mushroom tincture, you’ll want to know how to use it properly.
The beauty of a tincture is that you can easily control your dose with a dropper.
A typical dropper holds about 1 milliliter of liquid, but the potency depends on your starting material.
Start with a low dose, like half a dropper, to gauge how strong your magic mushroom tincture is.
You can always take more later, but you can’t take less once it’s in your system.
Most people place the drops under their tongue and hold them there for a minute before swallowing.
This sublingual absorption kicks in faster than swallowing, typically within 15 to 30 minutes.
If you mix your magic mushroom tincture into tea or juice, absorption may be a bit slower, but that’s fine too.
So, How Do You Make A Magic Mushroom Tincture?
You make a magic mushroom tincture by steeping powdered dried mushrooms in high-proof alcohol for several weeks and then straining the liquid.
The result is a potent, easy-to-dose extract that stores well and avoids the harsh taste of raw mushrooms.
We’ve covered the key steps for making a magic mushroom tincture, from choosing the right alcohol to proper straining and storage.
Always respect the potency of your magic mushroom tincture and start with a small dose to understand how it affects you.
With this guide, you’re fully equipped to make a magic mushroom tincture that’s reliable, strong, and ready whenever you need it.