The fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) and King Bolete aka porcini (Boletus edulis) are often found growing near each other in the same habitat and season. The fly agaric is mildly toxic, but can be boiled in water several times to remove the toxins. King boletes are delicious sweet nutty meaty mushrooms, one of my favorites.
.
Amanita muscaria is a common mycorrhizal mushroom that grows worldwide (thanks to the timber industry). It is toxic, trippy, and edible depending on how it is processed. Unlike deadly Amanitas (Death Cap/Destroying Angel), muscaria does not contain amatoxins. Instead, it contains ibotenic acid which is a potent neurotoxin and muscimol which can exert entheogenic (mind altering) effects. Ibotenic acid can be chemically converted (decarboxylated) into muscimol using heat and low pH (no need to drink pee). Dried muscaria can be brewed into a tea to access the entheogenic properties of muscimol.
.
Sami shamans did use Amanita muscaria for rituals, but that’s where any actual evidence for this mushroom being associated with Christmas ends. Theresa red and white motifs of Santa Claus came about from Coca-Kola ads in the 30s. Given that muscaria can act as a dissociative sedative, I think it’s highly unlikely that Vikings ate this mushroom before battle, more likely that consumed henbane.
.
#mushrooms #mycology #mushroomasmr #amanitamuscaria #boletusedulis #porcini

свернуть