⚖️ UK Legal Notice: This guide is for learning and research only. Psilocybe cubensis spores do not have psilocybin or psilocin in them, so they are legal to buy in the UK for research under a microscope. Growing spores into full mushrooms is against the law under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Always follow UK law. See our 2026 UK Legal Guide for more.
⚡ Quick Answer
PES Amazonian is a well-known variant of Psilocybe cubensis. Despite the rainforest name, it wasn't collected in the Amazon — "PES" stands for Pacific Exotica Spora, a spore vendor that first isolated and sold this line in the early 2000s. Its spores are dark purple-brown, smooth, and slightly egg-shaped, generally falling in a similar size range to Golden Teacher, though exact measurements vary a little between sources. It's rated as an easy, beginner-friendly strain to study under a microscope. This guide covers where the name really comes from, what its spores look like, how it compares to other strains, and how to store your syringe correctly.Pacific Exotica SporaWhere the "PES" name actually comes from
Early 2000sFirst commercialised as a named line
~11–17 × 7–11µmTypical spore size range
BeginnerResearch difficulty level
Jump to a section
1. Where PES Amazonian Really Came From
2. What the Spores Look Like
3. Why This Strain Is Popular
4. Comparing It to Other Strains
5. Where to Find It in the UK
6. How to Prepare a Slide
7. How to Store It
FAQ1. Where Did PES Amazonian Really Come From?
PES Amazonian is a cultivar — a specific named variety — of Psilocybe cubensis, the same species as Golden Teacher, B+, and every other named cubensis strain. The name suggests a wild Amazon rainforest collection, but the clearest evidence points somewhere else entirely: "PES" stands for Pacific Exotica Spora, a spore vendor that operated in the early 2000s and was the first to isolate, name, and sell this particular line.Some older, less reliable sources repeat a romantic backstory involving explorers collecting it deep in the Amazon. There's no solid documentation to back that up. The most honest way to describe it is that PES Amazonian is classic Pacific Exotica Spora stock — a commercially popularised line whose true wild origin, if there ever was one, isn't clearly recorded.
ℹ️ Key Science Fact — PES Amazonian, Golden Teacher, B+, and every other named cubensis strain are all the exact same species: Psilocybe cubensis. A catchy or exotic-sounding name doesn't mean it's a different species — it just means someone gave this particular line a memorable label when they first sold it.
2. What PES Amazonian Spores Look Like Under the Microscope
PES Amazonian spores show the standard cubensis features, with a size and shape that's consistently reported as good for beginners to work with.Size
~11–17 × 7–11µm
Sources vary slightly on the exact figures — treat this as a typical range rather than a fixed number. Large enough to see clearly at 400x.
Shape
Smooth, Subellipsoid
A slightly rounder, more consistently symmetrical oval than some other strains, produced on standard 4-spored basidia.
Colour
Dark Purple-Brown
Standard cubensis pigmentation, giving good contrast under normal microscope lighting.
Spore Print
Deep Purple-Brown to Black
Known for producing heavy, dense spore deposits — this strain sporulates prolifically.
Spore Wall
Moderately Thick, Smooth
The germ pore is clearly visible and sits slightly off-centre — a useful feature to spot at 1000x.
Difficulty
Beginner-Friendly
Comparable to Golden Teacher and B+ — easier to work with than strains like Penis Envy or Tidal Wave.
✅ What to Look for First — At 1000x with oil, look for the off-centre germ pore and the smooth, moderately thick spore wall. Because this strain produces such dense spore deposits, it's a good one for practising spore counting.
3. Why Is PES Amazonian So Popular?
Easy to Study
Its size and shape are consistently reported as beginner-friendly, similar to Golden Teacher — a good choice if you're new to spore microscopy.Dense, Reliable Spore Deposits
Known for prolific sporulation, giving heavy print deposits that are useful for practising spore counts and slide technique.A Genuinely Interesting Name Story
The mismatch between its exotic name and its documented commercial origin makes it a good example of why it pays to check where a strain name actually comes from.One of the Longest-Running Named Lines
Having been sold commercially since the early 2000s, it's one of the more established and widely available named cubensis lines.4. How PES Amazonian Compares to Other UK Strains
| Strain | Spore Size (µm) | Shape | Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PES Amazonian | ~11–17 × 7–11 | Smooth, subellipsoid | Beginner | Practising spore counts on dense deposits |
| Golden Teacher | 11–17 × 7–12 | Oval, very consistent | Beginner | Your first ever slide |
| Penis Envy | 11–17 × 7–12 | Oval, thicker walls | Advanced | Studying the gene mutation |
PES Amazonian vs Golden Teacher — Two Easy Reference Strains
Both strains sit at a similar, beginner-friendly difficulty level, with broadly overlapping spore sizes. PES Amazonian's reputation for unusually dense, heavy spore deposits makes it a slightly better pick specifically for practising spore counting technique.PES Amazonian vs Penis Envy — Easy vs Advanced
Penis Envy has thicker spore walls and a much lower sporulation rate, making it noticeably harder to work with. PES Amazonian's prolific, reliable deposits make it a far more forgiving strain for anyone still building their microscopy skills.5. Where to Find It in the UK
As one of the more established, long-running named strains, PES Amazonian is widely available — but the quality and density of the spore suspension itself can vary a lot between UK sellers.
✅ Available at TrippingStore — PES Amazonian spore syringes are available directly from TrippingStore's UK shop, prepared under sterile conditions in the UK as a double-density suspension, with fast, discreet UK-wide delivery.
6. How to Prepare a PES Amazonian Slide
Standard cubensis slide preparation applies here — and because this strain produces such dense spore deposits, a single small drop goes a long way.What You'll Need
- A microscope — 400x zoom at least, 1000x with oil is even better
- Glass slides (25×75mm)
- Coverslips (small glass squares that go on top, #1.5, 0.17mm thick)
- Type B immersion oil, for the 1000x zoom
- Alcohol wipes and lens tissue, for cleaning
- Your PES Amazonian spore syringe
- A notebook to write down what you see
1
Clean your slide — Wipe it with alcohol and lens tissue, then let it dry fully before you use it.
2
Mix the syringe well — Roll it in your hands and shake it for 10–20 seconds to spread the spores evenly.
3
Add one small drop — About 0.05ml, right in the middle of the slide. This strain's dense spore load means you don't need more than that.
4
Put the coverslip on at an angle — Tilt it to about 45 degrees and lower it slowly to avoid bubbles.
5
Start at 400x, then switch to 1000x with oil — Get a general view of shape and colour first, then move to oil immersion to check the germ pore and wall thickness closely.
⚠️ One Thing to Remember — Always put the needle cap back on right after use to help prevent contamination.
7. How to Store Your PES Amazonian Spore Syringe
Standard storage rules apply.| Factor | What to Do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | Keep it at 2–8°C (a normal fridge) | Slows down germs without harming the spores |
| Freezing | Never freeze it | Ice damages the spores for good |
| Light | Keep it in the dark | Light slowly wears the spores down over time |
| Position | Store it upright, with the needle cap on | Stops the spores from settling in the wrong place |
✅ Before Each Use — Take it out of the fridge around 24 hours before you plan to use it, so it reaches room temperature naturally.
Ready to Get Started?
Tripping Store's PES Amazonian spore syringes are made under clean, sterile conditions in the UK — one of the most established named strains, prepared as a dense double-density suspension for clear, easy microscopy.Frequently Asked Questions
QIs PES Amazonian legal to buy in the UK?
Yes. PES Amazonian spore syringes are legal to buy and own in the UK for research under a microscope, since spores don't contain psilocybin.
QDoes PES Amazonian actually come from the Amazon rainforest?
There's no solid documentation for that. "PES" stands for Pacific Exotica Spora, a spore vendor that first isolated and sold this line in the early 2000s. The Amazon-sounding name is a commercial label, not a confirmed wild collection site.
QWhat does "PES" stand for?
PES stands for Pacific Exotica Spora, the spore company that first commercialised this strain in the early 2000s.
QHow big are PES Amazonian spores?
Sources give slightly different figures, but typically around 11–17 by 7–11 micrometres — a similar range to Golden Teacher.
QIs PES Amazonian a good strain for beginners?
Yes. It's rated as easy to work with, similar to Golden Teacher and B+, and easier than strains like Penis Envy or Tidal Wave.
QWhy does PES Amazonian produce such heavy spore prints?
It's known for prolific sporulation, giving dense, heavy deposits — useful if you're practising spore counting technique.
QWhere can I buy PES Amazonian spore syringes in the UK?
PES Amazonian is available directly from TrippingStore's UK shop, prepared under sterile conditions as a double-density suspension, with fast, discreet UK-wide delivery.
QDo you ship PES Amazonian spore syringes worldwide?
Yes, we ship across the UK and internationally, with discreet, tracked packaging.
