Golden Teacher vs. Penis Envy Mushrooms

It’s often said in the psychonaut communities, ‘a cube is a cube.’ referring to the well-known Psilocybe cubensis shroom species. But looking at Golden Teacher vs. Penis Envy mushroom, we’re bound to disagree.

When it comes to magic mushrooms, every strain is unique and worth your attention, even if they resemble each other at first glance. Which should you explore first? What makes them different?

Read on for a comparison of GT and PE. We’ll delve into their origins, physical characteristics, and chemical compositions, exploring whether these strains align with common mycological perceptions.

Please note that the information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to promote or encourage the cultivation, consumption, or illegal use of psilocybin mushrooms. The cultivation and consumption of psilocybin mushrooms are federally illegal in the United States. This article is intended to share knowledge about different strains of psilocybin mushrooms from a scientific and taxonomic perspective only. All products mentioned are for microscopy and research purposes and should not be used for any other purposes.

Shroom Basics

Let’s introduce these fungi to set the stage for our Golden Teacher mushroom vs. Penis Envy comparison.

Both mushrooms are from the Psilocybe cubensis species. This category has over 200 known strains with psilocybin and psilocin as its primary chemicals. Both are pan-tropical and arrived in the US in the last century.

Golden Teacher is a moderately potent specimen. Users call it Gold Cap and Golden Halo for its color. This magic mushroom is more resistant to contamination than Penis Envy, making its spores ideal for novice taxonomists.

Penis Envy is among the most potent shrooms in the Americas. Its name refers to its unique and evocative shape. Its spores are widespread in amateur microscopy but necessitate some experience, making them suitable for intermediate researchers.

These basic descriptions already point to several Penis Envy vs. Golden Teacher discrepancies. They differ in appearance, potency, and use for taxonomists. Let’s explore in more depth.

History

When considered from a historical standpoint, there’s little to say about Golden Teacher vs. Penis Envy. All shrooms we know today were featured in rituals worldwide for thousands of years.

Historically, some cultures used psilocybin mushrooms in spiritual practices, aiming for altered states of consciousness that were interpreted as spiritual awakenings. These practices span all four corners of the globe, but strain classification wasn’t prominent among mystics. It’s unclear which specific strains were used historically, including whether GT or PE were among them.

What about the more recent history of these two strains? Magic mushrooms are illegal in America, so detailed historical records of their origins are limited. Here’s what we know about their arrival.

American mycologist Franklin Sumner Earle first described the Golden Teacher in Cuba in 1906. They got classified as Psilocybe cubensis in 1949, and a report in 1957 described their effects. In 1980, Floridians found them growing in a forest.

Ethnobotanist Terrence McKenna discovered Penis Envy in the Colombian Amazon in 1970. He took its spores to the States; mycologist Richard Gee isolated and perfected them. They became renowned for their name and potency.

In a nutshell, GTs traveled from Southern America to Florida through natural processes and grew in the wilderness. PE arrived with a researcher and got developed in a lab. This difference shows in the appearance of these two magic mushrooms.

Appearance

The easiest way to compare Penis Envy vs. Golden Teacher is through the appearance of their fruiting bodies.

Golden Teachers have an ashy red cap with a yellow-golden center. The top is slightly curved, usually around two inches in diameter. The stripe is hollow and thick towards the base, while the gills range from off-white to purple-brown.

Like all magic mushrooms, GTs get a blue tinge when bruised. Their flushes are prolific and thrive even in suboptimal conditions.

Penis Envy looks like you’d expect from its name. Its phallic shape features a thick and wrinkly stem. The cap is round and bulbous, remaining relatively close to the base and rarely opening up. The gills are only visible by removing the top.

These shrooms are light tan or brown, becoming blue when bruised. They’re harder to cultivate due to their low spore content and flourish usually only in controlled conditions, courtesy of their lab-based background.

It’s easy to tell these two strains apart when looking at their fruit. How do they compare in the chemistry department?

Chemical Composition: Penis Envy vs. Golden Teacher

The final contrast of Penis Envy vs. Golden Teacher stems from their chemical composition, particularly their psilocybin content.

Recent scientific advancements have shed more light on the psilocybin levels in various strains of magic mushrooms. A notable example is the Psilocybin Cup organized by a team of scientists in Oakland in 2021. This event aimed to quantify the psilocybin content in over 60 mushroom varieties. While the samples were locally grown and the study’s conclusions should be considered with some caution, the findings are still valuable for scientific and mycological communities.

According to this study, the psilocybin concentration in dried magic mushroom samples varied significantly across different strains. The Penis Envy variety was found to contain psilocybin levels exceeding 1%, categorizing it as a potent strain. In contrast, Golden Teacher mushrooms demonstrated a more moderate psilocybin concentration, around 0.75%.

This variance in psilocybin content contributes to our understanding of the differing characteristics of these mushroom strains. Golden Teachers are named for their distinctive speckled caps and have garnered interest due to their specific psilocybin concentration. On the other hand, Penis Envy mushrooms are noted for their unique morphology and comparatively higher psilocybin levels.

These findings underscore the diversity within the Psilocybe cubensis species and highlight the importance of continued research into the chemical properties of different mushroom strains.

Is a Cube a Cube?

After comparing Penis Envy mushrooms vs. Golden Teacher, we see “a cube is a cube, unless it’s a Penis”.

There’s much to fungi outside these effects, as evident in taxonomy and microscopy. One look under the lens is enough to display numerous distinctions between these strains. When you get passionate about shrooms, each cube becomes a world of its own.

 Interested in exploring the intricacies of these two strains for educational or research purposes? Visit our shop to buy lab-grade spore syringes and launch your investigation. Stay tuned to our blog for more fascinating overviews.

All of the content and images on our site are for informational reference only. The cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms is federally illegal in the United States. We do not promote the cultivation of psilocybin “magic” mushrooms under any circumstances. Do not contact us asking for advice related to this subject. Any products found on this site are for microscopy and taxonomy purposes only. None of the psilocybin mushroom spores we offer are for consumption or cultivation. We do not sell any products containing psilocybin.