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"If it's bitter it's a spitter" myth

The myth regarding the lack of taste of “acid” is very common among those interested in the substance. It is said that if the taste of a substance presumed to be LSD is very bitter, it should be spit out because this supposedly indicates the presence of an undesirable phenethylamine, especially an NBOMe. How much truth is in this?

From the start we must point out that the only effective method of checking the composition of a substance is chemical analysis, such as using colorimetric reagent tests. Continue reading to learn why.
 

Taste, smell or appearance are not reliable means of analysis. The basic logical problem of suggesting sensory experiences stems from their subjectivity. While this does not preclude effective interpretation of the results, relying solely on the senses is fraught with a high risk of error.

The risks are serious given that, unlike LSD, substances such as 25I-NBOMe and DOC can be fatally overdosed.

Possible errors of the organoleptic method are:
  • False positives
  • False negatives
 
“If it’s bitter it’s a spitter” myth

 

LSD taste

It is commonly believed that LSD has no taste. However, what constitutes the taste of LSD? Can it be distinguished from the taste of an LSD carrier, such as a paper (blotter), gel or liquid? Is it easy to distinguish between the mild taste of the carrier and the strong taste of NBOMe? What is the difference between taste and aftertaste? We will discuss these questions one by one below.
 
The first information about the taste of LSD was recorded by its inventor, chemist Albert Hofmann, in the context of his first intentional use of the substance (from the book LSD: My problem child):
 

4/19/1943 16:20
0.5 cc of 1/2 promil aqueous solution of diethylamide tartrate orally = 0.25 mg tartrate. Taken diluted with about 10 cc water. Tasteless.

 
So we know that the solution taken by Albert Hofmann had no noticeable taste. However, for practical reasons (ease of distribution, stability, resistance to microorganisms), “acid” is mainly distributed in the form of paper tabs (blotters), gels, alcohol or, for example, sugar cubes. It is not obvious that such diverse media cannot have a bitter taste on their own. In some cases (especially colored blotters) the bitter taste is almost always present due to the presence of ink, for example. Thus, it cannot be stated unequivocally that a bitter taste excludes presence of LSD.
 
 

Aftertaste of LSD

What is the difference between taste and aftertaste? Is it easy to distinguish between the two? As the name suggests, an aftertaste is a type of flavor that remains in the mouth after eating. Therefore, not every taste is an aftertaste, but every aftertaste is a taste. Confusing, isn’t it? Especially if you are under the influence of a psychedelic substance!
 
Imagine the following scenario: a person takes a paper tab with a substance they expect to be LSD. They feel a bitter taste of ink and/or paper. They begin to wonder: is this taste mildly or very bitter? If they find that the taste only mildly bitter, they may assume that it is rather LSD on the piece of paper. However, after 30 minutes they start to feel a metallic taste in their mouth. In such a situation, the user may become overwhelmed with horror that they have nevertheless taken an undesirable substance! This could easily lead to a panic attack and traumatic experience. Yet the metallic aftertaste is typical of LSD, as Albert Hofmann wrote:
 
0.150 mg LSD on 15 April 1961, 9:15 hours
Beginning of the effect already after about 30 minutes with strong inner agitation, trembling hands, skin chills, taste of metal on the palate.
One may question whether a metallic aftertaste should be considered bitter. Certainly this is not a question anyone would want to settle knowing that the entire dose of the psychedelic taken has already been absorbed.
 
 

Taste of NBOMe and DOx

The taste of phenethylamines such as substances of the NBOMe and DOx families is perceived as very bitter, which is largely due to the 5-10 times larger amount of the substance compared to LSD. However, this is not the case in every instance. Some distributors even add mint or fruit flavors to hide the taste. As we read in user reports (trip reports) on Erowid.org, experiences are varied and very subjective.
 
One user talks about the awful, chemical and strongly bitter taste of 3.8 mg of DOC dissolved in a bottle of water (source): 
 
I took out the water bottle I put my dosage in and just drank it. The taste was awful, distilled gin and the extreme bitterness of a powerful research chemical. I coughed, but I was satisfied.

However, another user took 4 mg of DOC powder orally and described only a mild taste (source):

Ingest circa. 4 mg of powder (orally). Held powder in mouth. Odd taste. Not unpleasant compared to some other phenethylamines (MDxx for example). Similar in taste to perhaps 2C-I or 2C-P.

Another user took 2.8 mg of DOC dissolved in about 100 ml of water and noticed no taste at all (źródło):

DOC was placed in 4 oz of distilled water and consumed. There was no distinctive taste noticed.

Similar accounts can be found on other substances in the phenethylamine group, including NBOMe. Thus, impressions are very individual, especially if a person does not have much experience to compare with.

 

Oral activity

According to available knowledge, substances in the NBOMe family, such as 25I-NBOMe, are poorly absorbed  when swallowed, so users generally keep them in the mouth for a long time or take them intranasally. This might suggest that it is enough to simply swallow a suspicious substance to avoid undesired effects. However, more research is needed, as indicated by EMCDDA there is no shortage of reports on the oral activity of 25I-NBOMe.
 
Manufacturers sometimes also apply a procedure to “complex” the NBOMes with “HPBCD” (a ring-shaped cyclodextrin sugar molecule), which facilitates absorption through the body’s membranes. Many people notice that NBOMe compounds with HPBCD are much stronger than normal.
 
Substances of the DOx family, namely DOC, DOI, DOM, are well absorbed orally. Consequently, swallowing a substance cannot be assumed to guarantee no effects should it turn out to be something other than LSD. Moreover, a false sense of safety can compound risks.
 
 

Summary

There is a grain of truth in the statement that LSD is not bitter. Yet in practice, as this article explains, LSD-containing substances can also be bitter tasting or perceived that way, and non-LSD substances can be tasteless. The only recommended method for identifying LSD is through the use of colorimetric reagent tests (or laboratory analysis, if available).

Recommended LSD testing method in principle has two parts. First, it is required to confirm (or rule out) the presence of LSD. To do that we recommend to use two reagents: Ehrlich and Hofmann. Using more than one type of test is always recommended to increase analysis precision and avoid false positives. In this case, Ehrlich, is the main test for confirming presence of indoles, such as LSD, DMT, but also nonpsychoactive 5-HTP, tryptophan, tryptamine and other). The second test, Hofmann, turns blue almost exclusively with LSD.

According to research (and as suggested by profit driven logic of black market sales) if a sample is confirmed to contain LSD, it is extremely unlikely to contain any adulterant. Sellers are not willing to spend more money if they already have a product there is demand for. However if LSD has been ruled out we recommend reagents Marquis and Mecke (or Liebermann and Froehde). If these tests instantly react with a vivid color change, that might suggest presence of an NBOMe or DOx. Pay attention to not mistake slowly charcoaling paper with a positive result.

LSD test instructions

Recommended LSD testing chart

Source: own

LSD Test Kit

The best LSD test kit is the LSD Test Kit which includes reagents Ehrlich, Hofmann, Marquis, and Mecke. It can reliably confirm the presence of LSD-25 and rule out the possibility of any active adulterants. The same test kit can be used for testing DMT and many other chemical compounds, check the product’s respective page for more information.

Test kits for LSD and LSD derivatives:

No test kit results can guarantee if a substance is safe. No substance is 100% safe.

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