Mexican spore print

The Mexican strain is where the modern story of Psilocybe cubensis begins. This is not a lab-created hybrid, not a regional selection bred for size or speed, and not a named variety developed by a commercial grower. It is the original wild-type cubensis from the subtropical highlands of Mexico — the very species that introduced the Western world to psilocybin mushrooms and launched an entire movement. If your collection tells a story, the Mexican strain is chapter one.

The Original — Where It All Began

Psilocybe cubensis has grown wild across the humid, cattle-grazed highlands of Oaxaca, Chiapas and Veracruz for millennia, and the indigenous peoples of these regions — most notably the Mazatec — incorporated it into sacred healing ceremonies long before Europeans arrived in the Americas. The modern Western discovery of these mushrooms dates to 1955, when ethnomycologist R. Gordon Wasson travelled to Huautla de Jiménez in Oaxaca and participated in a velada ceremony guided by the legendary curandera María Sabina. Wasson's 1957 photo essay in Life magazine, "Seeking the Magic Mushroom," brought psilocybin mushrooms to worldwide attention for the first time. The specimens were subsequently identified and classified by French mycologist Roger Heim, and the genetics that eventually became known simply as "Mexican" are the direct descendants of those earliest collections.

How Mexican Differs from Our Other Mexican-Origin Strains

Our catalogue includes several strains with roots in Mexico, but each one represents a different chapter in the cubensis story:

• Mexican (this strain): The original wild type — unselected, unmodified, and closest to the genetics that Wasson and Heim first documented. Modest in size, gentle in character, historically foundational.
• Mazatapec: A distinct collection from the Sierra Mazateca highlands, specifically linked to the Mazatec ceremonial tradition. Known for slower, more deliberate growth and partially closed caps.
• Escondido: A wild collection from the Pacific coast near Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. Faster, more prolific, with reddish-brown tones and notable morphological variation.
• Mexican Dutch King: Mexican genetics that were taken to the Netherlands and refined over years for commercial smartshop production. Larger, faster and more aggressive than the original wild type.

The Mexican strain stands apart as the purest, most historically significant baseline — the unaltered starting point from which the others diverged.

Visual Characteristics of Mexican

• Cap: Small to medium, 20–50 mm in diameter. Warm cinnamon-brown to light tan, convex when young, gradually flattening with age. A modest, unassuming appearance that reflects its wild origins.
• Stem: Slender and proportionate, white to pale tan, 60–100 mm. Bruises blue when handled. A delicate, understated build compared to larger commercial strains.
• Overall appearance: Compact, natural and unpretentious. The Mexican looks exactly like what it is — a genuine wild mushroom, untouched by decades of selective breeding for size or speed.

The Foundation of Every Collection

The Mexican strain may not be the largest, the fastest or the most visually dramatic cubensis variety, but it is the most historically important. It is the genetic baseline — the reference point against which every other cubensis strain can be understood. For collectors who care about provenance and authenticity, it offers something that no modern hybrid or selected line can replicate: a direct connection to the very beginning. Its spore deposits are dark purplish-brown, producing dense, clearly defined prints that store reliably for years.

How to Use a Spore Print

Not sure where to start once your spore print arrives? We have put together a detailed guide that walks you through the entire process, from scraping spores off the print to preparing them for microscopy or long-term storage. Read our step-by-step instructions here: How to Use a Spore Print.

Why Add Mexican to Your Collection

If you are building a diverse Psilocybe cubensis collection, the Mexican strain is the essential starting point. It is the original — the wild-type genetics that launched an entire field of study, inspired a generation of ethnobotanists, and formed the foundation for every named cubensis variety that followed. Its modest appearance and gentle character are not weaknesses; they are authenticity. Whether you want to anchor your collection in genuine history, study what an unmodified cubensis looks like, or simply own the strain that changed the world, the Mexican belongs in your library before any other.