Origins and Backstory: This was gifted to me by an anonymous friend and grower. This variety was grown from a single seed in a 7000' canyon during the 2016 season. . Outdoor cannabis is always difficult to directly compare to indoor, but I always love a good outdoor sample. The flavor and even cannabinoid profile seems more "complete," for lack of a better description. While indoor cannabis can smell heavenly and be incredibly potent, it almost seems like something is missing after smoking some quality outdoor. The cross is supposedly an original Haze plant and a Mexican landrace. I suspect there is a bit more indica in here than the breeders let on, but who really knows.
Appearance: Typical of outdoor cannabis (in my experience, but I understand there are exceptions), this flower is not nearly as pretty as most indoor. However, the buds are fully developed and highly resinous. The elongated flowers are an olive green or army green color, and tend to be finger-like as opposed to pinecone or grenade-like. Some of the calyxes have a slight purple tinge to them--I suspect this is not due to the genetics, but is due to the cool fall temperatures at formidable altitude. Even knowing this is outdoor, the resin content is so high that the quality can be assumed.
Aroma: I have never smelled cannabis with such a pronounced cantaloupe bouquet. The flower truly smells of moss, compost, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and summer prairie. The uniquely cantaloupe smell compels one to break open buds, and sniff the innards repeatedly. The fruit notes are candied and sweet, very similar to those fake citrus fruit slice gummie candies (I have no idea what they're actually called). If I were to sum up the bouquet in a brief phrase, it would be "cantaloupe gummy creamsicle." Yes, it's enticing as it sounds.
Flavor: While not as sweet and cantaloupe-like as the aroma, the flavor is still a highlight for this variety. Floral notes are well-pronounced, reminding me specifically of lilacs. The flavor is sweet, but not as sweet as the aroma would let on. There are citrus fruit tones and the honeydew melon comes through well, but is more velveteen in the flavor than in the aroma. Cantaloupe is present, but the citrus and velvet melon are more remarkable. The flavor is just as complex as the aroma and the effects. The grower did an excellent job in his beyond-organic outdoor garden to be able to manifest such subtleties in the smoke.
Effects: "Wholesome" is the first word that comes to mind describing the effects of this flower. The feeling after smoking this outdoor Cannalope Haze is euphoric and happy like many sativas, but there are unique elements of satisfaction and contentedness that really set this sample apart. A complete feeling of overall well-being is prevailing, making this some seriously medicinal cannabis. The feeling is potent and strong while managing to maintain worldly functionality and is even calming, as opposed to so many other euphoric sativas. In the Pines from Aficionado Seeds is one of the only cultivars that might be comparable to this Cannalope Haze in terms of effects. The prevailing theory of why many users find outdoor-grown cannabis superior to indoor-grown is that the sun, compared to indoor lamps, delivers a much wider spectrum of light which in turn facilitates the production of a wider array of cannabinoids and terpenes in the plant. After sampling this flower, I am a subscriber of this theory. The comedown is mellow and relaxed without being debilitating in the slightest or requiring any nap, and manages to maintain the overall sense of satisfaction and well-being. What an incredibly-desirable set of traits!
Overall Experience: While not-so-pretty for those of us accustomed to indoor-grown museum quality flowers, this Cannalope Haze is the best cannabis I've seen from a Colorado grower in at least a couple years. The terpene profile is diverse and intriguing; cantaloupe and melon aromas are rarely present in cannabis. Even when they are present, they are often muted or background notes. This sample really exhibits excellent candied cantaloupe aromas that smell like a tropical vacation! The effects are so heart-warming, satisfying, and complete that I find myself wishing I had endless amounts of this stuff--paradoxically, you need very little of this cannabis to get the desired effect. I find myself smoking much less when I use this Cannalope Haze, due to it being so effective, efficient, and inducing contentedness. Kudos all around to DNA Genetics for breeding this lovely varietal, and to the responsible, mindful grower for doing such an exceptional job in the high altitude Colorado desert.