Albino A+[i], or AA+, as it is sometimes called, is a cultivated strain of the well-known psychoactive mushroom species, Psilocybe cubensis. It’s typically cream-colored to white, sometimes with a bluish tint—when damaged, it bruises blue very obviously. The spores are purple-black, and once they mature, they will cover the stem-ring and make it appear black. Because these mushrooms have reduced pigmentation, not none at all, they are technically “leucistic,”  not albinos. That’s good news for growers, since real albino mushrooms have colorless spores that are almost invisible and thus very hard to work with.

The important thing to remember is that albino A+ is very popular, thanks to its high potency and large flushes.

Effects

In general, eating Psilocybe cubensis results in changes in mood and thought-pattern and, at higher doses, hallucination. Nausea is also common, unfortunately. Dangerous side-effects are rare but possible, and children are especially likely to have bad reactions. The high usually begins about half an hour after ingestion and lasts six to eight hours, though longer trips are possible.

Curiously, albino A+ is also known for having a particularly strong flavor that some users don’t like.

Potency

Potency does vary between strains. Albino A+ is one of the more potent Psilocybe cubensis strains.

Growing Albino A+

Albino A+ can be grown by any method generally used for Psilocybe cubensis. It’s not a picky strain, and is considered easy to grow. Many growers report that it is a slow strain, though, with a very long colonization time and very slow fruiting—and some growers report that the strain is about typical in its timing.[ii] What is not typical is the reliability of the strain’s growth, the generosity of its flushes, and the plentiful production of spores by its mature specimens; impressive production makes albino A+ a favorite among magic mushroom growers despite its sometimes slow progress.

Dosage

The effects of psilocybin, the chemical responsible for most of Psilocybe cubensis’ psychoactivity, generally depend on the dose—a very small dose will be mood-altering and mildly mind-altering, but it will not be hallucinogenic. A very large dose will cause temporary disintegration of the self, an experience some people seek and others find terrifying. Dangerous side effects are also more likely at higher doses. Users often speak of three to five dosage levels—for example: microdose (non-hallucinogenic); beginner; experienced; and heroic. It’s possible to estimate how much mushroom will get a person to each level, provided one knows whether the mushroom is fresh or dried, what strain it is, and other factors. But even within a strain, potency can vary, plus human sensitivity to psilocybin varies from person to person..