Albino A+ Strain: Not A True Albino
We don’t usually recommend new growers start with albino strains because they’re often a bit fussier than other strains. Albino A+ strain is the exception to this rule.
Known for its prolific fruiting and speedy high, the Albino A+ strain is a good option for first-time growers who like the albino aesthetic.
This strain has a unique creamy white appearance with subtle hints of blue tint throughout (an indication of psilocybin and psilocin contained inside).
Despite their name, Albino A+ shrooms are not true albinos – they have at least some pigmentation when they sporulate. This makes the spores easier to work with than true albinos because you can see the spores as you work with them. They also tend to be faster colonizers than other albino strains.
The high from this mushroom is notoriously quick, with most users reporting it takes just 30 minutes before they start to kick in. This is about 20 or 30 minutes faster than the average time it takes magic mushroom takes to kick in.
The main aspect that casual users will notice is the distinctive taste of this strain. Often described as “strong” and a bit too “mushroomy,” this might be one of those strains you need to hold your nose to swallow.
Related: View all Magic Mushroom Strains.
Albino A+ Specs
| Potency | Average 🍄 |
| Cultivation | Easy |
| Species | Psilocybe cubensis |
| Substrate Recommendation | Vermiculite & Coco-Coir |
| Sold By | Spores MD (🇺🇸), Sporeslab (🇨🇦), Spores 101 (🇺🇸/🇨🇦), High Desert Spores (🇺🇸), Mushroom Prints (🇨🇦), The Magic Mushrooms Shop (🇪🇺) |
History of Albino A+
While shrooms breeding is an incredibly intricate, scientific affair, it’s also quite easy for individuals to contribute their strains to the marketplace.
Unfortunately, this has the disadvantage that the precise origins of a particular strain can be somewhat confused.
Some excentric fans of this strain have come up with little other information than the possibility that Albino A+ came from space. While the history of the Albino A strain is still unclear, most experts claim it is merely a leucistic mutation of the A+ strain, making it more like a cousin of the A+ strain than something especially unique. We’re inclined to agree with this hypothesis.
Albino A+ Potency & Psilocybin Content
The Albino A+ mushroom strain has about average potency — but some samples have tested well above average when grown under ideal conditions (and with a fair amount of luck).
Past submissions to the Psilocybin Cup (a competition where growers can submit samples of magic mushrooms to be tested and ranked for potency) suggest an average tryptamine concentration (combination of psilocybin, psilocin, and related compounds) to be around 0.83%. The strongest sample tested contained 1.41% total tryptamines (double the average of 0.60%–0.85%).
Albino A+ Variations & Genetic Relatives
The Albino A+ strain was derived from the original A+ strain — which was first developed by an infamous Shroomery user by the name of Mr. G.
The original stock used for the A+ lineage remains unknown — but based on climate preferences and growth habit it’s likely derived from one of the South American strains or from somewhere in Southeast Asia.
Where to Buy Albino A+ Spores
Most vendors that carry spores for magic mushrooms will stock Albino A+.
- If you live in the United States — Spores MD, Spores 101, Miracle Farms, or High Desert Spores
- If you live in Canada — Sporeslab, Spores 101, and Mushroom Prints
- If you live in Europe — The Magic Mushroom Shop
You might also be able to find this strain on online spore trading platforms like /r/sporetraders/
How to Grow Albino A+
Growing your very own magic mushrooms at home is not only a lot cheaper than getting them online, but it can also be a lot of fun as well.
Albino A+ is commonly considered an easy-growing mushroom and requires little preparation and care. It grows well in most substrates, though a combination of vermiculite, coir, and rye grain are common choices.
The key thing you need to be constantly aware of is contamination — different strains all have their own propensity towards contamination, and luckily Albino A+ is pretty average in this regard, but you will still need to be careful.
To prepare your substrate, you first need to ensure that it is completely sterilized — this involves either boiling or pressure cooking whatever type of substrate material you are planning on using.
Whether you choose to steam it or throw it in your pressure cooker, make sure that whatever your choice of substrate is completely contaminate-free before using it to grow your Albino A+ spores.
If you buy your mushroom spores from a dedicated shrooms vendor, they will likely come with their own set of instructions alongside the spores. Make sure you are following these instructions very carefully, as Albino A+ shrooms need to be kept at a good consistent humidity to ensure proper fruiting.
Similar Strains: Albino A+ Strain
The Albino A+ strain is one of the easiest albino strains to cultivate. It’s less finicky than many of the other albino strains — which tend to colonize more slowly and are more sensitive to contamination.
With that said, if you like growing the albinos, you should also consider the Albino Penis Envy, Albino Goldies, Albino Treasure Coast, Mexican Albino, or the Yeti strain.
Other similar strains to consider are the original A+ strain and Oaxaca.
Here are some of our recommendations for the best alternatives to the Albino A+ strain:
Albino Goldies
Originally made by crossing the Golden Teachers strain with Albino A+, the Albino Goldies is a particularly beautiful example of the species. Much larger than Albino A+, it fruits very generously and doesn’t require much work to produce a good crop.
It also has most of the same potency of the Albino A+ strain, which, when combined with the more heady and introspective high of its Golden Teacher parent, makes for a really interesting and blended high.
A+ Cubensis
The A+ strain is most likely the predecessor of the Albino A+ strain.
An easy fruiting strain, A+ is another one of those strains that are perfect for home cultivation and microdosing. It has an easy flowing high and a relatively gentle flavor, making this strain a great everyday shroom.
Albino Penis Envy
The Albino Penis Envy mushrooms could very well be the most popular albino strain available today. It blends the interesting aesthetic of albino mushrooms with the impressive potency of the Penis Envy lineage.
Don’t expect massive yields from this strain, but the higher-than-average potency should more than make up for this.
Albino Treasure Coast
The Albino Treasure Coast strain features similar appearance and potency to the Albino A+ Strain.
Unfortunately, it is super hard to get a hold of Albino Treasure Coast mushrooms, so keep an eye out for it online or at retailers if you are looking for a slightly less potent strain.
White Rabbit
The White Rabbit strain is the progeny of Albino Penis Envy and Moby Dick. It shares the albino qualities of its parents but is reported to have a unique visual experience compared to most other magic mushroom strains. Whether this comes from its particularly high psilocybin content or something else, we can’t be sure.
Strains vs. Species: What’s The Difference?
Mushrooms are sometimes interchangeably referred to as a “strain” or a “species,” depending on who is talking. However, there is a significant difference between the two terms.
A magic mushroom strain generally refers to a specific genetic sample with noticeable, distinct traits or characteristics. For example, two strains of the same species have pretty clear differences in their phenotypical traits (growth patterns or traits). Different mushroom strains of the same species can reproduce sexually to produce offspring. Examples of magic mushroom strains include Golden Teachers, Penis Envy, and Tidal Wave (all are included in the Psilocybe cubensis species).
A magic mushroom species, however, refers to a more general group of organisms with the same genetic makeup. Different mushroom species cannot reproduce sexually. Examples of mushroom species include Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe semilanceata, and Psilocybe mexicana.
All species of different plants and fungi have innumerable strains, but there are a lot more strains when a species is used and bred by humans. For example, cannabis plants have a particularly rich array of strains. Other examples include apples (Granny Smith vs. Macintosh), tulips, roses, kava, kratom, and more.
Albino A+ is a distinct strain within the species of Psilocybe cubensis, and other strains within that same family of species can be wildly different from one another. Other samples could have a much higher psilocin or psilocybin content, whereas others grow differently or have their distinct quirks that make them unique.
Final Thoughts: Albino A+
The Albino A+ strain is not considered a true albino because the spores retain a dark color.
It’s also one of the easiest albino strains to cultivate at home for novice growers. Albinos tend to be particularly finicky for some people and are generally not recommended for new growers — Albino A+ is the exception.
