Origins and Backstory: Bred by Bodhi Seeds and released as testers, I was eager to grow these out. Pirate Sweat is in turn a cross of an Afghan and 88G13HP, making these seeds a technical backcross, but to the 88g13hp male. I was eager to run them, but only found one female in the pack. Bodhi is the people’s champ breeder and I have been somewhat overdue to grow and review some of his gear! I have grown some of the other 88g13hp crosses, which generally impress with structure, yield, resin content, and potency.
Appearance: Notably dense and chunky green grenades stack on the stout and vigorous frames of these plants. The flowers themselves are classically-indica, very dense and highly resinous. Unfortunately I did not get pictures of the growing plant, which had a very satisfying structure to it. It was the typical golf ball-stacking kush phenotype, but with higher yields and a very sturdy constitution. All green, this plant did not exhibit any interesting coloration, even after being exposed to low temperatures. These are vigorous and have a highly favorable structure.
Aroma: Musty, acrid, spicy, and funky (in that order), the bouquet betrays the indica (or BLD) heritage of this cultivar. Up front and most prevalent are aromas of an herbal apothecary, wet dog, human body odor, dill pickles, and jerky. Garlic and other allium aromas are immediately prevailing once the buds are broken up, and the body odor as well as wet dog aromas greatly intensify. The broken flower is a lot funkier than the dried flower, but retains the must and almost extreme acridity.
Flavor: As is the case with many spicier, woodier, and “kushier” type broad leaf indica varieties, the flavor is distinctly different from the aroma, but equally if not more enjoyable. It is much sweeter than the aroma would imply, and tastes of varying herbs, apothecary, and fresh forest air (not pine, but more of a sweet-wood-compost thing). There is some kind of chemical flavor in here too, one that reminds me of car washes or new-car smell. It tastes like the “imitation new car smell” aroma—it isn’t quite the real deal brand new leather luxury vehicle, but tastes the way that the cheap imitation spray smells. There is something not far off from incense and some of the sweeter, more aromatic hardwoods coming through too. All in all, the flavor is vastly different from the aroma and is deeply complex. I don’t anticipate extracts will blow minds the same way citrus strains will, but the flavor of the smoked flower has depth, subtle complexities, and diversity to satisfy the most discerning kush and broad leaf lovers.
Effects: This is immediate and potent weed! A few seconds after exhaling, my eyes seem to tire and close a few degrees to their own accord, while my face seems to warm and flush some. I am immediately struck that this is potent and strong, but it is also relaxing and mellowing. This is pretty classically indica, making me mellow, a bit extra smiley, and allows me to slow down and let go of other anxieties. This is pretty eye-reddening stuff, and just a few hits has me looking like a stoner from a comic book. I am red eyed, shoulders relaxed, and probably look like I am gazing into some endless inner abyss. A little bit of this stuff goes a long way, and is pretty ideal for video games/movies/passive entertainment as well as the enhancement of physical pleasures like massage and sex. This is really a great example of a classic indica, as it does not make me overwhelmingly tired, lazy, or couch-locked, but I would say it is certainly conducive to less-than-active endeavors. Long-lasting and dreamy, this flower is a nice Sunday smoke, or to be savored in the evening alone or with loved ones.
Overall: Pirate Sweat x 88G13HP from Bodhi Seeds is a winner in every category. The structure and vigor of growing plants is almost perfect for indoor gardening, leading to good yields of chunky, resinous bud on stout frames (with little trimming to boot!). The aroma and flavor are probably my favorite aspects of this weed. It smells funky and a little bit gnarly without being completely offensive and foul. The wet dog smell is not common in cannabis, but it is surprisingly appealing when coupled with garlic, body odor, dill, and herbal aromas. This is super funky smelling bud that almost everyone I show is interested in after sniffing. Many pure broad-leaf drug varietals have a flavor that is almost totally outside the aroma, with the raw terpenes seemingly transforming through the smoke. I have seen this occur in Hindu Kush, Master Kush, Iraqi x 88G13HP x OGOGJaroF2, and other plants with prevailing genetics from the middle-east. Pirate Sweat x 88G13HP is in this category, and the smoke is wonderfully sweet and incense-like, coating the mouth in a flavor that I might describe as, “how the inside of an old Arabian treasure chest would smell.” I have never smelled an old Arabian treasure chest, but this weed tastes the way I imagine such a chest might smell. The effect is very strong, and I’d actually like to be able to smoke more (for flavor and fun) without getting so completely stoned. Fortunately, the effects are never overwhelming and make for a pleasant experience under most circumstances. I have full confidence that lovers of middle-eastern cultivars will be head over heels for these plants.