There has long been the belief amongst psychedelics-users that the cap of a magic mushroom is more potent than the stem. Although this may seem unimportant at first, if true it could end up affecting your trip overall. Do you have a handful of mainly caps and a few stems? Mainly stems and a few caps? 50/50? If one is more potent than the other, the ratio of caps to stems suddenly becomes actually rather important when determining your desired dosage.

Caps vs. Stems: What’s The Science?

In 2003, a Japanese study found that the Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms caps were around 30% more potent than the stems. However, this still meant that the stems were around 70% as strong as the caps, which if we’re talking about a potent mushroom is definitely not a percentage to be sniffed at. 

via Unsplash

However, this is the one of the only studies that bears out this shroom-rumour. Other studies, as well as vocal contributors on message boards, insist there is actually no significant difference. Some believe that this theory may have been transferred from the similar belief that the Amanita muscaria caps are more potent than the stems, with users simply assuming that as both Psilocybe and Amanita mushrooms are psychedelic, they share the same properties. 

In fact, it is pretty hard to generalise when it comes to potency and different parts of psilocybin mushrooms. The levels of psilocybin and psilocin in even the same batch of mushrooms can vary from shroom to shroom. At the end of the day, the difference in potency between caps and stems is negligible, and should not be a concern when either harvesting, dosing, or buying magic mushrooms. 

If the stems do not have any psychedelic effect, they were probably not good shrooms in the first place. 

The Potency & Effects of Caps vs. Stems

Although one study did find that the caps of the P.cubensis contain more psilocybin and psilocin than stems, most other studies, and experienced users agree that any difference in potency is negligible, and should not be a worry when taking magic mushrooms. 

It is a mistake to prioritize caps over stems when taking magic mushrooms. This can lead to wastage of perfectly good psychedelic stems. More important is the overall potency and quality of the mushrooms themselves. 

Could Set & Setting Have an Effect?

While the difference in potency between caps and stems is inconclusive, there could be other elements that factor into the overall vibe, experience, and even perceived strength, of a trip. You can take the same amount of magic mushrooms on two separate trips and notice a significant difference in result. This is often down to set and setting. Set and setting are two of the key tenets of psychedelic exploration. The ‘set’ being your mindset, and ‘setting’ being your immediate environment. Most people agree that far more than the literal amount of caps and stems in your dose, the way in which you enter your trip both mentally and physically will have a much greater effect.  

All About Looks?

Some people suggest that one of the reasons for a preference for caps over stems is purely aesthetic. It is true — the cap of a shroom is the iconic part, rather than the slender stem. However, we know based on the psychedelic prowess of magic truffles that this kind of thing is deceiving. Magic truffles are the rather knobbly underground portion of the mushroom known as sclerotia. Despite their humble looks they are often just as potent as the portion of magic mushroom above ground. If truffles should not be underestimated, then stems surely shouldn’t be either!

A magic truffle via Wholecelium

Additionally, as we mainly eat the caps of culinary mushrooms, it could also come down to habit and learned behavior. However, this shouldn’t blind you when measuring out a dose of shrooms. Stems have psychedelic powers that would be a great shame to waste. 

When dried, the stems can be slightly more chewy than the caps, however there is really not so much difference. When ground into a powder, there is no difference. 

In the end, while this debate often raises its head in the shroom-world, it is clear that the difference of strength between caps and stems is negligible. More pertinent to predicting how your trip will go is the overall dosage, strain of shrooms and your set and setting. It is essential to approach a magic mushroom trip with a positive mind and not waste any part of the shroom. 

via Creative Commons

Caps vs. Stems: The Takeaway

  • It is a long-held belief that caps are more potent than stems. 
  • One study found that caps were 30% more potent than stems. 
  • However, most shroom-users and other studies agree that the difference between cap and stem potency is negligible. 
  • The overall potency and quality of the mushroom should be prioritized, rather than the ratio of cap to stem. 
  • Set and setting, dosage, and mushroom strain have far more bearing on a shroom trip than the amount of caps vs. stems.