If you want to add an exciting twist to your mushroom experience, try drinking them as tea. This technique provides a more controlled, consistent and regular method of consumption than smoking which may harm lung tissue.

Mushroom tea is a beverage prepared by steeping dried mushrooms in hot water to extract their psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin, which produce altered states of consciousness as well as pleasurable feelings. Effects typically begin within 20-40 minutes and last up to 6 hours; for maximum effectiveness it should be drunk regularly over an extended period.

Mushroom tea comes in many forms and varieties; blends can vary widely according to personal taste and preferences. Reishi and Cordyceps mushrooms have both stimulating and relaxing properties while Chaga has been linked with longevity and immune health benefits.

To prepare mushrooms, finely grind them in order to increase their surface area and allow for an even infusion. Boil a pot of water, add your mushrooms, let them steep for several minutes, and then customize your tea according to your tastes by adding ingredients such as ginger, tulsi leaves, cardamom pods, star anise pods or cinnamon; some people choose honey or stevia sweetener as an optional extra touch.

Mushroom tea can be enjoyed either alone, or mixed with milk and/or other liquid. Doing this may reduce its bitter taste; especially useful if one wants to avoid an overwhelming or harsh sensation in their mouth.

Consuming mushrooms by inhalation is considered safer than smoking them, due to high temperatures that result from smoking any organic material, degrading psilocybin (the main psychoactive compound found in mushrooms) into ineffective forms and irritating lung tissues through burning shrooms. This method also has less of an impact on experience or effectiveness – unlike smoking which releases heat which damages its constituent parts more rapidly and increases exposure levels over time.

If you are curious about psychedelics and their benefits for use, there are numerous resources available. Organizations like MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) and online forums such as Reddit’s r/Psychonaut and Bluelight provide high-quality information gathered from many users’ experiences. Therapists and counselors who specialize in addiction and mental health may provide additional assistance and guidance; additionally therapists or counselors specializing in addiction can offer guidance or support as needed. Lastly, safety should always come first when starting with mind-altering substances; doing so will avoid an overwhelming or unmanageable journey or reaction that might arise later on.