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Every Avalon magic truffle compared, from Mexicana A to High Hawaiians

The Avalon magic truffles in one order of strength, in the shop's own words: what each variety is, its pack sizes and the gram advice on its product page.

Updated

Avalon Magic Plants sells twelve fresh magic truffle varieties and one mixed pack. Ordered by the strength the shop gives each one, they run from Mexicana A, which Avalon calls "mild to medium", to High Hawaiians, which it calls "the most potent magic truffles on the market". This page sets them out in that order, with what the shop says about each, the pack sizes and the amounts it suggests. Ten varieties and the mixed pack are covered below; Pink Paradise and SugaShrooms are on the shop's own site.

Everything here is for a stay in the Netherlands. None of these products can be taken back to the UK (the reasons).

Where the strength ratings come from

Every truffle on this page contains the same active compound, psilocybin, which the body converts into psilocin. The varieties differ in how much of it they contain, and the shop places them against each other: Atlantis has "a moderate psilocybin concentration, lower than High Hawaiians or Hollandia but higher than Mexicana", and Hollandia is said to contain "an estimated twice as many active substances as the well-known Atlantis truffle".

These are the shop's descriptions, and Avalon does not publish a laboratory figure per batch. The one peer-reviewed analysis of fresh truffles, by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in Rome, measured 0.59 to 1.68 mg of psilocybin per gram (Pellegrini et al. 2013). That spread is why the shop's gram advice is given as ranges, and why a first pack of any new variety starts low.

Gentle: Mexicana A, Pajaritos and Tampanensis

Mexicana A is the mildest truffle in Avalon's ranking. Avalon describes it as "a mild to medium-strength truffle, making this variety ideal for people experimenting with psychedelics for the first time". The shop says effects usually begin 30 to 60 minutes after eating and last about 4 to 6 hours, and that visual effects "are more subtle than with stronger truffles, but certainly present". Pack: 15 g.

Pajaritos ("little bird" in Spanish) "sits between Mexicana and Tampanensis" according to the shop, which calls it "a social truffle" and "an accessible choice for people with some experience or adventurous beginners". Pack: 15 g.

Tampanensis is the classic Philosopher's Stone. The shop gives its origin as a single wild find near Tampa, Florida, in 1977, and calls the effect "a medium-strength trip that is both visual and introspective". Its product page is one of the few in this tier with gram advice: "For a mild trip use 5-9 grams, for a strong trip 10-15 grams." Pack: 15 g.

Moderate: Atlantis

Atlantis is the shop's middle point. "Atlantis sits in the mid-range in terms of strength. Mexicana and Tampanensis are milder. High Hawaiians and Valhalla are considerably stronger." Avalon compares it with the next tier as well: "Compared to Hollandia, Atlantis is less overwhelming and easier to steer."

It is also the variety the shop recommends most often for a first experience, with a lower amount: "Start with 5 to 8 grams to see how you respond." For a full session the product page splits the pack into three bands: light 5 to 7 g, moderate 8 to 10 g, strong 11 to 15 g.

Atlantis comes in the most sizes: 15 g, a 30 g two-pack and a 60 g vacuum pack that Avalon calls the Truffle Whopper. For a short visit the 15 g pack is usually the one that fits; ordering goes through the sizes.

Strong: Hollandia, Dragon, Utopia and Space Invaders

Hollandia is the reference point of the strong tier. Besides the "twice as many active substances" comparison with Atlantis, the shop notes a nutty taste "comparable to walnuts" and gives two amounts: "7.5 grams for beginners, 15 grams for experienced users". It should be kept at 2 to 4 °C. Packs: 15 g and a 30 g duo.

Dragon is described as a variant of Psilocybe atlantis that is given a longer growing time, named after its sometimes dragon-like shape. On the Valhalla page Avalon groups it with Hollandia: "Hollandia and Dragon are strong." Its advice matches Hollandia's: half a pack of 7.5 g for people new to truffles, 15 g for experienced users. Packs: 15 g and a 30 g duo.

Utopia, in Avalon's words, "belongs to the strongest magic truffles you can get", and "is not a product for beginners". Pack: 15 g.

Space Invaders are "among the stronger varieties" and "less suitable for beginners". The shop's table gives a light trip at 5 to 7 g, medium at 7 to 10 g and strong at 10 to 15 g. Pack: 15 g.

Strongest: Valhalla, High Hawaiians and Double Vision

Valhalla is placed above the strong tier by the shop itself: "Mexicana A is mild, Atlantis sits in the middle range, Hollandia and Dragon are strong. Valhalla is a step above those." Its advice for someone new to Valhalla, even with experience of other truffles, is 5 to 7 g, because "every variety is different". Valhalla comes vacuum sealed; the shop says unopened packs keep up to three months in the fridge, and three weeks once opened. Pack: 15 g.

High Hawaiians (sold as Psilocybe Tampelandia) are, according to Avalon, "the most potent magic truffles on the market" and "exclusively suitable for experienced psychonauts". The pack is larger at 25 g, which the shop says is "meant for very experienced users or to split across multiple sessions". For someone who has never had truffles its answer is direct: "Begin with a lighter variety like Mexicana or Atlantis first." Packs: 25 g and a 50 g duo.

Double Vision is a 25 g mix of Hollandia and Utopia that Avalon calls "our most powerful truffle mix". The shop gives a longer duration, 6 to 8 hours, and advises having the next day off. Pack: 25 g.

Things the order does not show

The same pack does not land the same way for everyone. Avalon's Atlantis page names body weight, stomach contents and personal sensitivity, and most product pages advise an empty stomach. Freshness counts too: every variety on this page is sold fresh, belongs in the fridge and is meant to be used within weeks.

A tier is also a description of strength. It tells you nothing about whether a truffle day fits your stay, which is a question of timing, company and place; the safety page covers those.

Next steps

First timeYour first magic truffle, or your next one: choosing by experience OrderingOrdering Avalon truffles to a Dutch address during your stay SafetyCalm, practical safety for a truffle day in the Netherlands

The plans

GentleMexicana A, 15 g ModerateAtlantis, 15 g StrongHollandia, 15 g Compare all