Mushroom chocolate bars are a tasty new twist on psychedelic edibles. These deluxe morsels feature psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound in mushrooms, combined with chocolate that is a good source of caffeine and magnesium.
Hot chocolate and mushroom-infused bars are making a big comeback in the shroom craze, which is fueled by both legal and illegal activity. Co-founder of STEM Chocolate says the combination of psilocybin and cacao is “a match made in heaven,” with the fat particles in chocolate aiding a more even absorption of the psychedelic agent and the psilocin promoting a smoother, more consistent high.
Despite the growing popularity of psychedelic-infused chocolate bars, shrooms themselves are still a dangerous substance. The psychedelic component in mushrooms is psilocybin, which can cause nausea, vomiting, and hallucinations when taken by itself or in combination with other drugs.
The psilocybin in mushrooms is modified to psilocin after it enters the bloodstream, producing an altered sense of perception and other side effects. It binds to serotonin receptors, stimulating a process of neurogenesis in the brain that restores connections that have been lost or disrupted by mental illness.
Some mushroom-infused chocolate bars combine adaptogenic or functional mushrooms such as lion’s mane and cordyceps, which are believed to have immune and brain health benefits. Buoyant Chocolates, for example, creates milk and dark chocolate bars infused with powdered lion’s mane and cordyceps.
These chocolates are designed to enhance focus, concentration, memory, and physical stamina while promoting immune function. The Woodland Mushroom Hot Chocolate Super Adaptogenic Blend, for example, is formulated with reishi and lion’s mane to promote immunity and reduce inflammation.
In the US, psychedelic-infused chocolate is still illegal, but some chocolatiers are finding a way to make it more accessible. The New York Post visited several stores in the East Village and Chinatown hawking chocolate bars that contain the psychedelic component in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, for anywhere from $50 to $90 each.