Yes, we too have noticed that there are a number of fly agaric dealers on the market, both significantly more expensive and cheaper. We stand 100% behind our product and its fair price. Today we're going to tell you what we look out for in order to make sure that you only buy top quality Amanita Muscaria caps. And, of course, why they are worth the money!
1. The be-all and end-all: the choice of location
One of the most important factors for a very good end result is the place where Amanita Muscaria is collected. Mushrooms that grow by the road or along popular dog walking routes are taboo for us. Our precious "magic Amanitas" are collected exclusively deep in the forest, preferably by ourselves in Thuringia, but also by our fly agaric friends in the Czech Republic. Only there, far away from big cities and heavy industry, can we harvest organic-quality toadstools for you.
Of course, it is ideal if you can collect your toadstools yourself in a clean place. If you don't have this option, you should always look for a trustworthy supplier with good ratings in order to get really good quality.Â
2. Toadstools in their prime
Fly agarics can also be found at different ages. No wonder, as this powerful healer can live for several years. Very young mushrooms, which have a spherical or hemispherical shape and very dense white spots, are left standing for a good 90% of the time. The care of the mycelium and time make them large and strong for later harvests. After all, it would take several mini mushrooms to outweigh the weight of a full-grown mushroom, which would not be very sustainable. Also very old mushrooms, which can be recognized by their almost flat disc shape, don't end up in our basket. They are allowed to enjoy their well-earned retirement in the forest and look after the flock of children.
3. Thinking about the future
As it has not yet been possible to grow the fly agaric artificially, it is extremely important to always leave a few mushrooms at each site. This gives them the opportunity to release the spores from the lamellar ring on the stem and produce offspring. Anything else would be irresponsible and incompatible with our overall understanding of this unique natural medicine and its special effect on us humans. Before picking, we therefore also give the ripe mushrooms a pat on the head so that they release a lot of spores before we take them home.Â
4. Freshly dressed up
As soon as a round of harvesting is complete, it's off home in no time at all. The immediate processing of Amanita Muscaria guarantees quality that meets even the highest demands. We carefully clean every single mushroom to get rid of soil, sand and pine needles. We then meticulously check whether any insects or worms have nibbled on it. Once this has been ruled out, the stalk - if it was harvested at all - is separated from the hat. And then it's on to the next step.
5. The clock is ticking
To prevent discoloration or even mold and rot, it is essential to dry the fly agaric caps very quickly. The clean caps go directly into the decarboxylator, where the moisture is gently removed at 40-45 degrees. Incidentally, the conversion of ibotenic acid to muscimol takes place during this most important of all processing steps. It is only through this process that the fly agaric can later be used as a natural medicine without causing side effects or even poisoning effects! *Â
6. Strength lies in rest
Theoretically, Amanita muscaria would be ready to eat after decarboxylation. However, according to numerous user reports, it has proven to be very beneficial to leave the dry mushroom caps to 'mature' for a while in the dark in the absence of air. After the extra 60 days, the last remnants of ibotenic acid have been converted into the healing muscimol. The effects of freshly dehydrated mushrooms can vary considerably due to the natural composition of the chemicals they contain. These strong fluctuations are also significantly minimized by the additional maturation, which in turn enables a reasonably stable intake experience.
Of course, we could sell faster at the beginning of each season and therefore probably sell more mushrooms! But, as already mentioned, we are concerned with the unity of man and nature, with the connection and respect for the wisdom of the toadstool. Of course, we must and want to profit financially from our time-consuming work - but not at any price. And finally, there is our top priority and the demand we place on ourselves to guarantee that you only buy top quality Amanita Muscaria caps!
7. Air and moisture must be kept out
Before our well protected mushroom caps are dispatched, they are carefully weighed and vacuum-packed. Because only by excluding air and moisture our fine Amanita Muscaria keep fresh for at least a year. Whether you prefer to nibble them like potato chips, make tea from them or chop them up is entirely up to you. The fly agaric caps we send to you can be used and processed according to around a dozen different recipes for a number of purposes, both for internal and external use. **Â
Please make sure that the dry mushroom caps are always stored in a dark place, e.g. in the kitchen cupboard, in the absence of air. They should also not be stored in a metal container, as this could affect the chemical composition of the mushrooms. The same goes for Amanita mucaria powder too of course!
Finally, we have a particularly valuable tip for you:Â After opening the vacuum packaging, always add a small cotton or organza bag filled with uncooked rice grains to the mushroom caps. If a little moisture does creep into the container, it will be absorbed by the rice before it can soften the toadstools and make them susceptible to mold.Â
& * Detailed information on the decarboxylation process and a large selection of selected fly agaric recipes can be found in our book "Unlocking the power of Amanita Muscaria: A Masterclass".
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