Buying Spore Swabs: What You Should Know
Swabs are cotton buds (like Q-tips) that are covered in mushroom spores. We offer magic mushroom spores from a variety of species and strains, such as Psilocybe cubensis, but swabs can be prepared from the vast majority of mushroom species that release spores.
Swabs have a few uses, depending on the focus of the mycologist. They’re used to preserve mushroom genetics for long-term storage, start new mushroom flushes (provided the spores are from a non-psilocybin-containing mushroom species), or for mycological research. Due to legal restrictions, purchasing psilocybin spore swabs should be exclusively for microscopy. You are not legally allowed to grow them.
Proudly Helping Mycologists Source Magic Mushroom Spores
With so many companies using poor spore harvesting and packaging practices, ordering spores online used to be unreliable. Not anymore. Since 2008, Eden Shrooms has been making buying mushroom spores with zero contaminants easy. All of our spore products are prepared and packaged in a sterile ISO 7 Clean Room, guaranteeing your sample is 100% clean. To ensure you can start your next research project as fast as possible, we offer same-day shipping for all orders before 2 PM EST Monday through Friday and next-business-day shipping for all orders after. Plus, if you ever have questions, you can contact us for help.
Purchase psilocybin spore swabs, syringes, and prints today from Eden Shrooms!
FAQs
How are swabs different from syringes or prints?
While spore syringes make it easy to add spores to glass plates for microscopy and spore prints produce a small piece of art with high spore counts, swabs are perfect for harvesting spores from mushrooms with odd morphology. For example, scientists may use swabs to collect spores from hard-to-reach wild mushrooms or mushrooms whose caps don't fully open. Swabs are also a popular method for long-term spore storage that doesn’t harm their viability.
Can you grow magic mushrooms with spore swabs?
Hypothetically speaking, the spores on a swab are viable and could be propagated in substrate to grow a flush of mushrooms. This is often done for medicinal mushroom species like Reishi and Lion’s Mane by swiping the swab onto the surface of a nutrient agar plate, or simply by sticking the swab tip into the agar. However, due to the potent psilocybin content in the mature mushrooms, doing so is federally illegal when using any Psilocybe genera spores, and we strongly advise against it.
Are swabs frequently used in mycology?
Even though swabs are a proven method that has been used for decades in labs, they've only recently started becoming more popular with hobbyists. As mentioned earlier, they’re the best tool for gathering spores from difficult-to-harvest mushrooms and are the best medium for long-term storage. We encourage you to try using swabs for your next mycological research project.
What do mushroom spore swabs look like?
Swabs that contain magic mushroom spores look like a cotton swab with a black dusting on the tip. Please be aware that this dark coloring is actually just highly concentrated spores. It is not mold, bacteria, or any other kind of contamination.
What magic mushroom strains can be carried with a swab?
Swabs can be used with any mushroom, but that doesn't mean that you'll find them all available. As of now, our team has proudly developed swabs for 10+ strains of Psilocybe cubensis. You can purchase psilocybin spores from strains that include Albino Penis Envy, Yeti, Melmac OG, and more. We’re always adding strains to our collection, so check back often to see what’s new!
What are the most popular spore swabs?
Our most popular swab this past year has been the Nutcracker strain. Globally, swabs with spores from strains like Penis Envy and Tidal Wave are the most popular swabs for sale.
Do all swabs have the same amount of spores?
Not all swabs are created equal. Some strains produce more spores than others, resulting in swabs with equally high spore counts. Others produce less, which means we can’t gather as many spores with swabs. However, every single swab contains enough viable genetic material to conduct successful research.
Are there differently sized swabs or are they all the same?
Across the industry, you can purchase psilocybin spore swabs with various lengths. However, the differences in spore count and quality between swab sizes are negligible. We focus on preparing swabs that can hold a high volume of high-quality spores rather than the shape and size of the swab itself.
How are Eden Shrooms' swabs produced sustainably?
Compared to traditional agriculture that requires deforestation, a complex supply chain, and toxic pesticides that leach into the surrounding ecosystem, our spore collection has a minimal impact on the environment. All of our spores are harvested in a single lab on a small plot of land that did not undergo deforestation. We don't use any lead or arsenic in our substrates, and we compost and reuse much of our waste.
Where are Eden's Swabs produced?
Though we are an American-owned business, our spore swabs are developed by our international team of skilled mycologists in the beautiful country of Jamaica. They are shipped to our headquarters in Michigan where we prepare and package them for shipping to your front door.
Are mushroom swabs legal?
Swabs with spores from culinary and medicinal species of mushrooms are legal in all 50 states without restrictions. However, purchasing psilocybin spores is a little more complicated. Federally, magic mushroom spores are fully legal. However, there are currently three states that restrict purchasing spores: California, Idaho, and Georgia. This can change, so always check your local regulations before purchasing psilocybin spore swabs.
