Whether paired with cacao or functional mushrooms, these fusion snacks are a tasty delight and potential health booster. While lion’s mane has been linked to cognitive enhancement, mushrooms like reishi and chaga are immune-supporting. URL

But the trend toward hallucinogenic mushrooms mixed with chocolate is not without its risks. These unregulated drugs can cause a wide variety of side effects, and can be dangerous for those with compromised immune systems. In addition, they can also be addictive, which is why it’s important to educate the public about their dangers before they are consumed.

In December, a lab study of 24 magic mushroom chocolate bars purchased in the Bay Area found that eight of them contained lab-made synthetic drug 4-AcO-DMT instead of the natural psilocin that consumers thought they were getting. It’s a common practice to extract psilocybin from mushrooms before infusing them with chocolate, but these test results suggest that some producers are skipping this step.

The Perfect Blend: How Mushroom Chocolate Bars Combine Taste and Therapy

The good news is that it’s easy to make your own mushroom chocolate at home. To start, select a quality chocolate and make sure the dried mushrooms are completely dry before mixing with the chocolate. Next, fill a small pot with a couple of inches of water and bring to a simmer. Place a heat-safe bowl on top of the pot to create a double boiler and then add your chocolate pieces into the bowl. Stir frequently, until the chocolate is smooth and the mushrooms have melted.