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Psilocybe cubensis is the archetypal “magic mushroom,” but most Cubensis strains are only moderate potency. Penis Envy (PE) stands out as an exception – it’s famous among psychonauts for its exceptional strength and unusual look. Penis Envy fruits as squat, thick-stemmed mushrooms with small bulbous caps, resembling its namesake. It was originally propagated by Terence McKenna’s circle in the 1970s, and it became known for packing a wallop: lab reviews and community lore alike emphasize PE’s high psilocybin content compared to “standard” Cubensis. In short, a little PE goes a long way. Over the decades, breeders and collectors have spun off dozens of Penis Envy “families” – each with its own quirks, colors and (often) phallic proportions. Let’s explore some of the most talked-about PE variants, and why they exist.
One of the earliest PE isolates is Melmac, also called Homestead Penis Envy. According to cultivation lore, this strain was originally preserved as an early “pure” PE specimen. Melmac mushrooms keep the signature thick stems of classic PE, but often grow even more grotesquely – cultivators describe wavy, contorted caps and chunky, alien-like bodies (so much so that the name “Melmac” alludes to the cartoon planet in ALF). Despite the oddball look, Melmac is said to match standard PE in potency: experienced users report very strong visuals and introspection, comparable to “vanilla” PE. In short, Melmac is basically PE’s creepy cousin – same high psilocybin punch, just weirder form.
Penis Envy #6 (PE6) is a deliberate hybrid. Breeders crossed classic PE with a more typical Texas Cubensis strain (often called Texas Yellow) to fix PE’s low sporulation while keeping the high potency. (Classic PE mushrooms make almost no spores, which makes selling prints frustrating. By mixing in fertile genetics, PE6 yields abundant spores.) The result is a mushroom that looks somewhat like PE – stout and thick – but produces normal spore prints. In practice, PE6 still tests out very strong. Growers today often use DNA sequencing and systematic breeding to “dial in” potency and traits. Modern mycologists routinely hybridize cultivars from distant lineages to hunt for improvements – and PE6 is exactly that kind of experiment. Early reports suggest PE6’s psilocybin levels remain on par with its PE parent, but with better yield for cultivators. (For context, related research lists Texas Yellow and other popular Cubensis like “Thai” or “Blue Meanie” as among the strongest known strains, so the Texas mix definitely helps.)
Beyond Melmac and PE6, many breeders have chased novel PE variants. For example, an “Uncut” Penis Envy (sometimes just called PE Uncut) yields a white spore print instead of PE’s normal dark purple – presumably from a cross with a pale strain – and Albino Penis Envy (APE) sports completely whitish caps and stems (due to leucism). Then there are whimsically named types like “Trans Envy” (translucent caps), “Long Penis Envy,” and Penis Envy 7 (which appears in some breeding records as a stabilized variant). What ties them together is that they all retain the trademark cubensis “big phallus” body shape. Many of these offshoots are said anecdotally to hit as hard as or even harder than classic PE (veteran users often rate Albino PE as equally potent). In practice, each breeder will emphasize something different – unique coloring, slightly different “feel,” or just bragging rights for novelty. In short, the PE line is like a creative playground for mycologists: if it grows a penis-shaped mushroom and isn’t quite Golden Teacher, someone will probably breed it and give it a silly name.
Why all this tinkering? Primarily function and novelty. Classic Penis Envy has two big drawbacks: it produces very few spores, and it’s notoriously slow to grow. By crossing in other Cubensis, breeders can restore sporulation and yield. For example, PE6 was designed explicitly to make normal spores. Likewise, an albino or “White PE” cross might simply have happened because a grower noticed a rare pale mutation on a PE culture and stabilized it (making a showpiece strain). Secondary motivations are aesthetic and experiential. Some cultivators breed or “isolate” variants to create interesting appearances (who doesn’t want a ghost-white or extra-fat mushroom?), or to explore subtle shifts in effects (e.g. “this cross gave it more visuals vs. introspection”). There’s also a sense of one-upmanship in the community – the mushroom scene today is fueling a culture where people always want a stronger, more distinctive strain. In short, growers mix and match PE genes to make mushrooms that fruit more reliably, look more exotic, or (hopefully) deliver slightly tweaked trips.
All Penis Envy types deliver very strong trips. In practical terms, “strong” for cubensis – think heavy visuals, body high and ego dissolution – rather than something like bodhi (P. azurescens) strength. Anecdotal reports consistently rank PE variants at the top end of the potency scale. User experiences often note that a much smaller dose of PE-type mushrooms can match a normal dose of other cubensis. In fact, breeding and selection have driven modern potent strains so high that today 0.7 grams of a strong variety can “give a full trip,” whereas in the past the same effect required ~3.5 grams. By this standard, both classic PE and its offshoots comfortably fall into “super-potent” territory.
Laboratory data on Psilocybe cubensis support wide variation in alkaloid content – studies have measured psilocybin levels in cubensis from barely detectable up to 1–2% of dry weight (10–20 mg/g). Almost certainly, many Penis Envy batches occupy the upper end of that range. Visually, PE variants are often reported to produce more intense colors and geometric hallucinations at a given dose, whereas standard cubensis might be more “organic” and emotional. However, results vary: one flush of Albino PE might hit even harder than a flush of normal PE, or vice versa. In any case, all these variants will deliver very deep, psychedelic experiences even at moderate doses. Due to their power, they are generally recommended only for people with some trip experience – newcomers should start low and go slow.
Penis Envy variants are major crowd-pleasers among growers. They frequently show up in cultivation logs, spore-trading forums, and even at ‘psilocybin cups’ (strain contests) as novelty demos. Cultivators enjoy the challenge of growing a temperamental PE or APE batch, and users covet the “rare penis” as a badge of psychonaut honor. Social media and forums are full of “look at my Melmac harvest!” or “PE6 was such a beast!” posts. This community excitement is fueled by that aforementioned drive for one-upmanship in potency – people always brag about the next strongest strain they’ve tried. On the flip side, there’s also genuine interest in the subtle differences: long-time users debate whether Uncut PE feels different than regular PE, or if APE’s ghost-white mushrooms give cleaner visuals. But whatever the consensus, nearly every PE variant is a collectible. Many growers will keep a few jars on reserve just to produce spores/strains for themselves and friends, treating them more like “exotic artwork” than a utilitarian drug.
Ready to explore these legendary strains? Good Moods carries several Penis Envy offerings. By far our biggest seller is the Penis Envy 7 One Pound Bag – a whole pound of dried PE mushrooms, with an attractive price for bulk buyers. This bag is sealed for freshness and is the same PE7 line discussed above, guaranteed potent. For smaller batches, we also sell 1/2 lb PE bags and oz counts, as well as packs of our own Albino Penis Envy strain. (See the Pure Fruit Oz’s & Lb’s section on our site for these.) In addition to dried mushrooms, Good Moods offers convenient microdose products featuring PE genetics. Our 0.32g capsule (60-count bottle) is filled with powdered Penis Envy mycelium for precise microdosing. We also make Good Mood Chews – Meyer lemon-kumquat gummies infused with Penis Envy psilocybin (each gummy contains 0.25 g of dried Penis Envy). These edible-dose formats let you enjoy Penis Envy’s benefits with easy dosing and a gentle onset. You can browse all our PE products on the Good Moods website, and check out our blog posts for more info: for example, see our “Penis Envy vs. Other Psilocybin Strains: A Potency Comparison” article and our microdosing guides for tips.
Disclaimer: Psilocybin mushrooms remain illegal in many jurisdictions. This information is provided for educational purposes only. Always check your local laws before purchasing or consuming magic mushrooms. If you do choose to use these substances, do so responsibly: start with a low dose, be in a safe setting with trusted company, and avoid mixing with alcohol or other drugs. Never drive or operate machinery while under the influence of psychedelics. Good Moods sells spores and products only for microscopy, cultivation, or novelty research use. By reading this article, you agree to use any information in a lawful and safe manner.
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Bend, Oregon 97702
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