THAI ELEPHANT DUNG STRAIN

"TED", "Thai Elephant Dung Cubensis", "Thai cubensis"

The Thai Elephant Dung strain, also known as TED, Thai cubensis, or simply the “Elephant Strain”, is an exotic Psilocybe cubensis found emerging naturally from Thailand’s elephant excrements.

Stories around the origins of Thai Elephant Dung mushroom Strain vary. On one hand it is suggested it could be Psilocybe Samuiensis, aka the Allen Strain, named in honour of the ethno-mycologist John Allen who found the specie growing in water buffalo dung on the island of Kho Samui back in 1991.

On the other hand, it could be related to a variety of dung-loving psychoactive species commonly found in Thailand such as P. antillarumPanaeolus Cyanescens aka Blue Meanies, or Pan. tropicalis. All these strains, also known as “zoo-doo”, spread through zoo compost originating from elephant and hippopotamus doo.

Even if these stories leave a veil of mystery around these elephant strains, Thai elephant mushrooms are unique because they grow on one dung and one only: the precious Thai dung. The Thai people say the Thai dung is the “perfect alchemist” that turns Thai elephant dung into Thai Elephant Dung Psilocybe Cubensis: the “mushroom of illumination”.

Moreover, if some mycologists suspect that the nature of the substrate affects the quality of the potency, this psychoactive specie’s special relationship with elephant dung surely intrigues; especially in a country where Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god of beginnings, is worshipped. This probably contributed in making Thai Elephant Dung mushrooms strains a little glorified as well.

Thailand, “the land of smiles” has a long history with magic mushroom tourism. In the late 60s it was normal to have restaurants proposing P. subcubensis omelettes or shakes.

Traditionally called by the Thai natives as “hed keequai” translating to “mushroom which appears after water buffalo defecates”, the foreign interest made it a common practice amongst the villagers and farmers to cultivate psychoactive strains. And there is no doubt that the unique exotic substrate the Elephant Dung mushrooms grow on is probably responsible for their popularity.

Today, the Thai Elephant Dung Strain has given birth to sub-strain descendants such as the powerful Koh Samui Super strain aka KSSS and the Thai Ban Huan magic mushroom.

Many of the Thai strains have a moderate to high potency which makes them good candidates for microdosing. If you are curious about the various benefits related to strains, have a look at our sections about performance and wellness.

The various Thai Elephant Dung mushroom reviews report a dynamic, euphoric experience, with a fast and powerful come up but plenty of giggles and a great after glow to make it worth the while. Moreover, the nutritive quality of the elephant dung substrates affects the psilocybin levels; with no doubt, the Thai cubensis potency is one that is highly active.

Resistant to contamination and a fast colonizer, the meaty large golden caps of the Thai Dung Elephant strain are a sought-after delight for cultivators.

Reported to have a strong “heady” psychoactivity, you must be ready to embark on a fantastic journey of self-discovery, and to simply surrender to the mystical powers of Ganesh’s dung.

 

Visual Description

Cap: 0.7-1.5 cm broad. Convex to conic-convex to bell-shaped. Apex often with a nipple-shaped umbo. Surface translucent-striate near margin, viscid when moist, with a seperable gelatinous pellicle. Color is chestnut to reddish brown to straw when young, strongly hygrophanous, will change in drying to straw or brownish. Gills: Attachement adnate. Color is clay, then purplish brown to chocolate purple. Margins remain whitish. Stem: 40-65 mm long by 1-2 mm thick. Whitish to yellowish, covered with fibrillose from veil remnant. Equal to slightly thicker at base. Bruising bluish when bruised. Spore print: purple brown. Microscopic features: 10-13 by 6.5-8µ Taste and odor: said to be bitter

THAI ELEPHANT DUNG STRAIN Potency

MODERATE 0.25% - 0.75% HIGH > 0.75% - 2% Psilocybin levels varied from 0.23% up to 0.90%.

Habitat Origin

Found in Kho Samui in Thailand and around the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Believed to be more widely distributed throughout those regions. It grows scattered to gregarious in rice paddies, fruiting season is not known but suspected to be late June to August, the latter being the month it was originally discovered. First picked in a soil containing a mixture of sand and clay in the region in Ranong province Thailand.

THAI ELEPHANT DUNG STRAIN Effects

Euphoric, energetic, visual, powerful, with an after glow that leaves one clear-minded. Said to be crucial to creative thinking, to boost mood, focus and energy. Potentially through targeting serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors and promoting cognitive flexibility, it boosts creativity and problem-solving performance. It has been associated with anti-depressive, anti-anxiety and anti-stress benefits.

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