The most common question from beginners is not whether they want to try truffles, but how much. And rightly so: the dose determines almost everything about the experience. The trouble is that the answer is usually given in grams, while hardly anyone has a scale at home that is accurate enough. "About a third of the tub" is how many first experiences turn out heavier than intended.
In this article we explain an approach where you don't have to weigh anything at all: building up with portions of exactly 1 gram. You count instead of guess, and over a few weeks you learn step by step how your body and mind respond to truffles, before you set out on a full experience.
Why the dose matters so precisely
The difference between 5 and 10 grams of fresh truffles is not "a bit stronger". It can be the difference between a slight shift in your perception and a full psychedelic experience. On top of that, sensitivity varies considerably from person to person: body weight plays a role, but so does your metabolism and how sensitive you naturally are. Two people who take exactly the same amount can have very different experiences.
The variety matters too: a gram of a mild variety like the Mexicana is not comparable to a gram of the strongest varieties in the range. That is why the following holds for everything in this article: stay within one variety while you are building up, and choose a mild one for it. The steps below assume a mild to average variety, so always check the instructions on the packaging of your specific product.
Counting instead of weighing
A microdose is around 0.5 to 1 gram of fresh truffles. Because such a small amount is hard to weigh accurately, pre-packed portions of 1 gram are a practical and reliable unit to work with. Microdosing strips contain six individually sealed portions of exactly 1 gram, but they are also the perfect building blocks for beginners who want to build up calmly: every portion is exactly equal, stays vacuum-fresh until you open it, and setting your dose becomes as simple as counting. Two portions is 2 grams. Four portions is 4 grams. No scale, no guessing, no surprises.
One important note up front, because we want to be honest: microdosing itself is not training for a full experience. A microdose is so low that you consciously notice next to nothing, so it does not teach you to handle a trip. What the 1-gram portions do give you is precision: the ability to move up in small, exact steps and to discover along the way where your sensitivity lies.
The build-up path: four steps over six to eight weeks
The idea is simple: you start low, evaluate after each step, and only move up a step once the previous one felt good. Between steps you leave at least one to two weeks. That is not only to evaluate calmly: your body temporarily builds up tolerance after each use, which means that a next step taken too soon does less than you expect and makes your build-up schedule unreliable.
- Step 1, 1 to 2 grams: the sensitivity test. Most people feel little to nothing here, and that is exactly the point. You test how your body responds (think of your stomach; taking truffles on an empty stomach is most comfortable) and whether you feel at ease. Feeling nothing is not a sign that the product doesn't work; it is useful information.
- Step 2, 3 to 4 grams: the first signals. This is where many people first notice something: colors that seem a touch more vivid, a slight shift in mood or thoughts. Still mild, but you get a first impression of the character of the experience.
- Step 3, 6 to 8 grams: the light experience. For many beginners this is the first real acquaintance: clearly noticeable, but manageable. Plan this step deliberately: a free day, a familiar environment, and preferably someone sober nearby.
- Step 4, a full portion: only if you feel ready. Only once the previous steps felt good can you consider taking a full portion of a mild variety. Many people, by the way, deliberately stay at step 3. More is not better, it is simply more.
With a best-before date of several months on vacuum-packed portions, this entire path fits comfortably within the shelf life of a single purchase. Keep everything in the fridge and follow the date on the packaging.
What you can't steer, and what you can
A psychedelic experience is not something you can steer like a thermostat, and those who try tend to make things harder on themselves. What you do have in hand are the conditions: your dose (that is what this whole article is for), your mindset and your environment. We wrote a separate guide about the latter two earlier: set and setting: why your environment determines everything. Read it before step 3, not after.
Who truffles are not suitable for
Honest information also means saying when it is better not to do it. Do not use truffles if psychosis, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder run in your family, or if you have dealt with them yourself. Do not combine them with alcohol or other substances, and be extra cautious if you take medication: certain antidepressants and lithium in particular combine poorly with psilocybin; in that case, consult your doctor first. Do not use during pregnancy, and of course 18+ only. Unsure about something? Feel free to email us, better ten questions beforehand than one unpleasant experience afterward.
Taking it slow is the fastest route
It sounds paradoxical, but those who take the time to build up ultimately get more out of their experiences: you know what a dose does to you, you have built up confidence in small steps, and your first full experience does not come out of nowhere. Start with a strip of a mild variety, count your portions, and allow yourself the weeks that belong in between.
Questions about which variety or which starting step suits you? We help you personally by email, no chatbot, just an honest answer.