As part of a growing wellness trend, mushroom tea is touted as a safe way to experience psychedelic effects. But before making your decision to consume it, it’s crucial that you know all its risks.

Mushroom tea is prepared by steeping magic mushrooms (often known as psilocybin-containing mushrooms) in hot water in order to extract their psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin, and then drinking the tea to induce altered states of consciousness and pleasurable experiences, such as relaxation or euphoria.

Effects from tea typically take 20-40 minutes to become noticeable, and can last 4-6 hours, with intensity depending on dose, preparation and individual sensitivity. Individuals suffering from mental health or substance use disorders may find psychedelic experiences disconcerting or distressing if taken without supervision or emotional support.

One of the greatest risks of mushroom tea is misidentification, as wild mushrooms often resemble domesticated varieties and could accidentally be consumed, potentially leading to organ damage and hallucinations. Furthermore, mixing psychoactives with other substances could cause adverse side-effects that are unpredictable and dangerous.