How much is a microdose? Truffle portions explained

How much is a microdose? A microdose is an amount meant to stay below the threshold of noticeable effects: no visual changes, no "trip", nothing that stops you from having an ordinary day. There is no universal figure in grams, because the answer depends on the product, its form and its content. At BIEN, one pre-dosed portion is 1 g of fresh Psilocybe mexicana truffle, and for your very first time we advise half a portion: 0.5 g. The same weight does not necessarily mean the same content, which is why starting low matters. This article explains what those figures mean, and what they do not.

How much is a microdose? The short answer

• A microdose is defined by its effect, or rather the lack of it. It is meant to be sub-perceptual. If you clearly feel that something is happening, the amount is too high for a microdose.
• A BIEN portion is 1 g of fresh truffle. Each truffle is weighed and portioned at 1 g, so there is nothing to weigh at home.
• The first time: half a portion (0.5 g), on a calm day, in the morning.
• Never more than one portion on a dose day. Feeling nothing is common and is not a reason to take more.
• Figures do not transfer between products. A gram of fresh truffle cannot be compared with a gram of another product.

Is 1 gram of mushrooms considered a microdose?

This is one of the questions people search for most, and the honest answer is that "1 gram" means very little on its own. A gram of what? Fresh or dried? Which species, which batch? Mushrooms and truffles differ in form and water content, and the psilocybin content of both varies naturally. The same number of grams can describe very different amounts of active compound.

That is why we do not give figures for mushrooms, which have also been prohibited in the Netherlands since 2008. Our article on the difference between magic truffles and mushrooms explains why they cannot be compared gram for gram. The only figures we give concern our own product: 1 g of fresh truffle per portion, and 0.5 g the first time. If you read a gram figure elsewhere, check which product it refers to before drawing any conclusion, and never apply it to something else.

What "1 g" means for a BIEN truffle

BIEN truffles are sclerotia of Psilocybe mexicana, grown in Alphen aan den Rijn, in the Netherlands. After harvest, each truffle is weighed and portioned at 1 g of fresh truffle, and a box of PEACE in the Chaos contains six of these portions.

Same weight, not necessarily the same content

Pre-dosed means the same weight every time. It does not mean an identical amount of psilocybin in every portion. Truffles are living products, and their content varies from one truffle to another, from one batch to another, and with freshness and storage. Our article on Psilocybe mexicana truffles explains this natural variation in more detail.

In practice, that has two consequences:

• start with half a portion, to see how you respond before taking a full one;
• never add a second portion on the same day, even if you feel nothing.

Why fresh weight matters

BIEN truffles are sold fresh, and fresh truffles contain a lot of water. Their weight is therefore a fresh weight. It is one more reason why a figure expressed in grams of a dried product, whatever it is, says nothing useful about a fresh truffle.

Your first microdose: half a portion

Sensitivity varies a great deal between people, and it cannot be predicted in advance. That is why BIEN advises half a portion, 0.5 g, the very first time.

1. Choose a calm day, with no important obligations, no driving and no alcohol.
2. Cut the 1 g truffle in two with a clean knife. The halves will not be perfectly identical, and that is fine.
3. Take one half in the morning, as is and chewed well, or with a little water or tea.
4. Put the other half back in its original packaging, in the fridge.
5. Observe and write down what you notice, including nothing at all.

Our guide on how to take a magic truffle covers chewing, tea and food in more detail.

What happens next

Situation	Amount at BIEN	What to do
Very first time	Half a portion (0.5 g)	Calm day, in the morning, no obligations
The first half portion went smoothly	One portion (1 g) on the next dose day	Same time of day, same method
You noticed perceptual changes or felt uncomfortable	Do not increase	Stay at half a portion next time, or stop
You felt nothing	No change on that day	Do not take a second portion; note it and continue

If you felt clearly unwell, or the discomfort lasted, stop and talk to a doctor.

Why more is not better

A microdose is not a smaller version of a "real" dose that you should work your way up from. The whole point is to stay below the threshold of noticeable effects.

• A larger amount is a different experience, not a stronger microdose. Above that threshold, perception, thinking and emotions can change for several hours, with real risks. Our article on full dose vs microdose explains the difference; BIEN only offers microdoses.
• Tolerance builds quickly. Taken on consecutive days, the same amount tends to have less and less effect. That is a reason for rest days, never a reason to take more. See can you microdose every day? for more on tolerance.
• Rhythm matters as much as amount. The BIEN 2-6-2 protocol means two microdoses a week, for example on Monday and Thursday, for six weeks, followed by two weeks off. One box holds six portions, enough for three weeks. The full programme is described on how it works.

What can change how a portion feels

The same portion does not feel the same for everyone, or even for the same person from one day to the next. Several factors can play a part:

• Individual sensitivity. This is the biggest variable, and the reason for starting with half a portion.
• Food. Some people take their truffle on an empty stomach, others with a light breakfast. Food may change how quickly anything is noticed. Whatever you choose, keep it the same on each dose day.
• Tiredness, stress and surroundings. Context colours the experience, even at a low dose.
• Natural variation between truffles. Same weight, not necessarily the same content.

Body weight is sometimes mentioned, but it is not a reliable rule for calculating an amount. At BIEN the answer stays the same: half a portion the first time, then one portion, never more on the same day.

What to expect, and precautions

Many people notice nothing at all on a dose day, and that is normal for a sub-perceptual amount. Others describe a subtle, subjective sense of presence or attention; none of this can be promised. Research suggests that expectations play a large part in what people report: in a self-blinding study by Szigeti and colleagues (2021), participants taking placebos reported changes comparable to those taking microdoses. The published literature can be searched on PubMed, and independent information on psilocybin is available from the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and Drugsinfo.nl by the Trimbos Institute.

Unwanted effects are also reported, even at low doses: restlessness, headaches, nausea or disturbed sleep, for example. Our article on microdosing side effects covers them in detail.

Psilocybin truffles are not for everyone:

• they are for adults only (18+);
• they are not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, if you or a close family member have a history of psychosis or bipolar disorder, if you have a heart condition, or if you take medication, especially antidepressants or lithium;
• do not drive after taking them, and do not combine them with alcohol;
• talk to a doctor first if you have any question about your health.

Psilocybin truffles are sold legally in the Netherlands, where BIEN is based. Their status varies from country to country: check the law in your own country.

FAQ

Is 1 gram of mushrooms considered a microdose?

A gram figure means little without knowing the product: fresh or dried, which species, which batch. Mushrooms are prohibited in the Netherlands and we give no figures for them. At BIEN, a portion is 1 g of fresh truffle, which is a different product.

What amount is considered a microdose?

An amount meant to stay below the threshold of noticeable effects. There is no universal number of grams. For BIEN truffles, a portion is 1 g of fresh truffle, and the first time half a portion (0.5 g).

How much truffle should I take the first time?

BIEN advises half a portion, 0.5 g, on a calm day, in the morning. If that goes smoothly, you can take a full 1 g portion on your next dose day.

Can I take more if I feel nothing?

No. Feeling nothing is common and expected with a microdose. Do not take a second portion on the same day; note it and continue with your usual rhythm.

Does 1 g of truffle always contain the same amount of psilocybin?

No. Pre-dosed portions have the same weight, but the psilocybin content of truffles varies naturally from one truffle and one batch to another. That is one reason to start with half a portion.