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Welcome to Tricycle Day. We’re the psychedelics newsletter that thought Albino Riptide was a limited-edition flavor of Mountain Dew. 🤦

Remember when we just called them “magic mushrooms”? Ahhh, simpler times.

These days, you can nerd out to no end on cultivars of Psilocybe cubensis, from Jedi Mind F*ck to Penis Envy and every raunchy name in between. But with dozens (conservatively!) of strains available, choosing can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the game.

So for today’s newsletter, we asked our network of practitioners: What are the best strains of psilocybin mushrooms to microdose?

They share their tips and frameworks after the jump.

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A strain for every intention

Many practitioners say strain selection should align with your microdosing goals. Mary Decker breaks it down by outcome: "Golden Teacher is ideal for gentle yet deep introspective processing. Hillbilly (Albino A+) offers grounding, calming effects that can ease body pain. B+ is uplifting and mood-enhancing, supporting positivity and emotional balance."

Summer MacCool takes a similar approach: "If you seek emotional clarity or healing, gentle strains like Golden Teachers may support deeper insight. For creativity and focus, B+ or Penis Envy (in very low doses) can offer uplifting effects." Ultimately, she recommends you “choose what resonates with the kind of transformation or support you're seeking."

Apart from desired effects, Falcon Stephan encourages newbies to factor in their experience level: "Strains like Golden Teacher and B+ are great for beginners (gentle, uplifting, and easy to work with) while others like Albino A+ or Amazonian bring more energy or focus."

Easy does it

Speaking of beginners, most practitioners recommend starting with milder, well-established strains for their initial foray into microdosing. Jo Ross says, "Golden Teacher is a great place to start.” In terms of potency, she rates it “pretty medium,” which makes it a “reliable and effective” choice.

Kari Roe-LaFramboise agrees: "If you are inexperienced with mushrooms, it can be a good idea to start with strains that are considered to be on the mild side, so you stay within what is considered a microdose."

Other guides, like Wallace Murray, downplay the importance of strains altogether: "Don't overfocus on strain names; that's a consumer myth that can distract from the real work.” What’s more important, he says, is to choose "something moderate” and stick with "a single source from the same batch” to ensure dosing consistency.

Experiment with guidance

Generally, our practitioners agree that finding your ideal strain takes thoughtful experimentation. Kari puts it simply: "There is no one best strain of mushrooms to choose to microdose with. Each person is unique and individual, and what works best for one person may not be the best for another. There is no way around trial and error."

For those who’ve developed some comfort and self-awareness around microdosing, Sara Call offers a more flexible approach: "I like to work with a mix of strains when microdosing; a low (B+), a medium (Golden Teacher), and a high (Steel Magnolias) potency variety. This gives me a broader range of effects to work with over time."

And if this all still feels overwhelming, Cheri Coley highlights the value of professional guidance. Her belief is that the "thoughtful matching of strain and dose is the key to finding your microdosing 'sweet spot.' That's why it's wise to work with a microdosing specialist who can provide a thorough intake and personalized guidance."

Our take

Perhaps an unpopular opinion, but we’re with Wallace on this one. At true microdosing levels, the differences between strains are going to be pretty subtle.

Yes, there are real genetic variations between strains that affect their alkaloid profiles. But when you're taking “subperceptual” or even threshold doses, those molecular differences become less impactful.

Besides, strain names aren't perfect predictors of effects. The same Golden Teacher could vary dramatically in potency and composition from batch to batch, or even mushroom to mushroom within the same harvest. Growing conditions, harvest timing, and storage all play major roles in what you end up ingesting.

Knowing that, we’d rather focus on what we can control. Like how we show up to our creative projects, how we work with strong emotions, or how we practice building new neural pathways. That’s where the real magic happens.

Thanks to Melanie H. from Greenville, SC for submitting this week’s question. 🫠

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UNTIL NEXT TIME

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DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. The use, possession, and distribution of psychedelic drugs are illegal in most countries and may result in criminal prosecution.