For a first time, the gentle tier is the place to start. Avalon describes Mexicana A as "ideal for people experimenting with psychedelics for the first time", and puts Pajaritos and Tampanensis just above it. Atlantis is the shop's other first-time suggestion, with a smaller amount: "Start with 5 to 8 grams to see how you respond."
Someone who has had truffles before usually moves up one tier, and starts that tier low as well. The rest of this page explains why, using the shop's own advice for each variety.
Why a first time starts low
The strength of a truffle session depends mostly on how much psilocybin you take in, and that is not printed on any pack. In a controlled study with measured doses of pure psilocybin, both the intensity and the length of the effects rose with the dose; at 15, 25 and 30 mg the effects lasted on average 5.6, 5.5 and 6.4 hours (Holze et al. 2023). Truffles add a second unknown, because their content differs between batches (Pellegrini et al. 2013).
Time is the third reason. DRUGSinfo, the information service of the Dutch Trimbos Institute, says the effects begin 20 to 60 minutes after eating (DRUGSinfo). Count from the moment you finish, and make no decision about "more" before the first hour has passed. What you have eaten cannot be taken back, while a second, smaller session later in the stay is always possible.
A first time: what the shop suggests
| Truffle | Tier | What Avalon says for a first time |
|---|---|---|
| Mexicana A | Gentle | "ideal for people experimenting with psychedelics for the first time" |
| Pajaritos | Gentle | "an accessible choice for people with some experience or adventurous beginners" |
| Tampanensis | Gentle | "For a mild trip use 5-9 grams" |
| Atlantis | Moderate | "Start with 5 to 8 grams to see how you respond" |
Weighing is easier than guessing by eye. Truffles are small, uneven lumps, and a kitchen scale that reads to 0.1 g takes the guesswork out of "half a pack".
A pack does not have to be finished in one go. On its Atlantis page Avalon answers the question directly: you can take half a pack and "store the unused portion in the fridge, well sealed, and consume it within a few days". For a visitor that means a second session later in the same stay, or the bin before you leave; the going home page explains why there is no third option.
Moderate
Atlantis, 15 g
€14.95Avalon Magic Plants
View at Avalon, Atlantis Magic Truffles - 15 grams
Been here before: one tier up
A good first session on Mexicana A or a few grams of Atlantis is a reason to try a full moderate session next time. Jumping from there to the strongest truffle in the shop skips two steps. Avalon's advice for the strong tier assumes the same steps. For Hollandia and Dragon it gives "7.5 grams for beginners, 15 grams for experienced users", in other words half a pack for anyone new to that truffle.
The same applies when switching between truffles of one tier. The shop's Valhalla page puts it plainly: start lower if you are trying it for the first time, "even if you know other truffles. Every variety is different."
Strong
Dragon, 15 g
€16.50Avalon Magic Plants
View at Avalon, Psilocybe Dragon Magic Truffles (15 grams)The strongest tier is a separate decision
Valhalla, High Hawaiians and Double Vision sit above the strong tier in Avalon's ranking, and the shop is clear about who they are for. For High Hawaiians its advice is to "start with a maximum of 8 grams if you have prior experience with milder truffles", and for someone who has never had truffles at all: "Begin with a lighter variety like Mexicana or Atlantis first." Double Vision, a 25 g mix of Hollandia and Utopia, comes with the advice to keep the next day free.
On a short trip abroad there is a practical argument as well. The strongest truffles last longest, and a long, intense day leaves less room for the rest of a visit and for the travel day that follows.
Who should skip truffles altogether
Avalon's own product pages list who should not use them: anyone under 18, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and people with a history of psychosis or schizophrenia. The shop also says not to combine truffles with alcohol, medication or other substances. Two combinations stand out in research: lithium, where 47% of 62 online reports of lithium with a psychedelic described a seizure (Nayak et al. 2021), and SSRIs or SNRIs, which were linked to weaker than expected effects (Gukasyan et al. 2023). If you take prescribed medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist before your trip. The safety page has the rest.
A short decision list
- Never had truffles: Gentle, or Atlantis at the shop's 5 to 8 g.
- One or two mild sessions behind you: Moderate, a full Atlantis session in the shop's moderate band.
- Comfortable with a full Atlantis pack: Strong, starting at half a pack.
- Strongest tier: only with plenty of experience, a sober companion and a free day after.