Bodhi Seeds Pillow Book

Origins and Backstory:  I received these seeds as testers, before Bodhi had named them. They are a cross of the famous clone-only Master Kush (one of my personal favorite indicas of all time) and Bodhi’s Purple Unicon F3 male. Purple Unicorn is a cross of Chemdog D and Blackberry Widow. I grew out 5 different females after germinating 11 seeds indoors in organic soil rasied beds irrigated by blumats. The plants were given pure RO water throughout the entirety of their life, and were grown under 315W CMH lights until their final 4 weeks of flowering, when they were finished under a mixed spectrum 3000K/1750K Timber LED.

Appearance:  All phenotypes had varying degrees of purple or magenta hues, with some bordering on dark pink. The bag appeal of Pillow Book is extremely high; the flowers are chunky, full, almost entirely purple (some phenotypes exhibited half green half purple), and covered in resin. The pistils are are a bright and striking orange, which really contrasts with the darker anthocynanin pigments underneath. The flowers are dense without being overly-so, and just look like classic high-quality purple bud. The only difference is in the structure; Pillow Book yields significantly more than any of the classic purple clones that I know of, and her flowers form much longer clusters, as opposed to the golf ball-like structuring of Purple Urkel and similar strains. Pillow Book is a beautiful strain whether she is alive in the ground, or ready to smoke in a jar.

Aroma:  The theme among all the phenotypes is a musty-sweet-floral perfume. “Purple” isn’t an aroma unless you smoke weed—Pillow Book smells plenty “purple” for those in the know. Pillow Book is sweet, perfumey and feminine, with heavy notes of varying berries and skunk. The more subtle notes ranged from every berry on the planet, to captain crunchberry cereal (it’s uncanny how similar the aromas are), to gnarly skunk funk, hints of onion/garlic, fresh plastic, hash, grape kool-aid mix, and extremely light notes of nail polish remover. There is a lot of hunting to be done in this one. Since there’s so much variation, the grower can really take their pick. Most of the plants are pretty loud, but one was more muted. My personal favorites were the most diverse and multi-layered phenotyes that had a bit of evertyhing. These plants definitely emphasized the floral perfuminess and sweet grape notes, but had some funk to keep things interesting.

Flavor:  Pillow Book’s aroma translates pretty well to flavor—it is musty, sweet, floral, perfume-heavy, and expresses berry flavors of all kinds. The phenotype that smelled like crunchberry cereal tasted like it as well! The flavor is pretty satisfying, and I would liken it to a decent craft beer after work. It is not the $20 Belgian tripel flavor that you bring out on special occasions, but is a satisfying and classic “dank” flavor that any cannabis enthusiast can appreciate. Most of the more exciting notes like candy, kool-aid, onion, and nail polish from the aroma are unfortunately lost in flavor. The taste of Pillow Book’s smoke is more generic than most of what I smoke, but is certainly still enjoyable.

Effects:  This is classic “good-night” bud, and is my go-to when sleep is the goal. The buzz is reminiscent of Master Kush; it is a sleepy, relaxed, chill feeling that is hard to overdo. Paranoia is almost nonexistent with Pillow Book. You’ll never get the feeling that you’re an alien amongst humans (or is that just me?) you might get with OG and comparable varieties. If you oversmoke on Pillow Book, you’ll just get really sleepy and tired behind the eyes. This herb comes on quickly, but its full effects take some time to creep up. This makes it a satisfying after-work smoke when you just want something to hit, but it will also build on itself. Pillow Book is a reliable “everyday driver,” a great indica smoke to have around for casual smoking. It is great for social situations since it is so mellow, but is also ideal right before bed for a good night’s sleep.

Overall: Pillow Book is a great strain to have on the shelf for any indica enthusiast. I struggle to describe it without disparaging it—it is the most exotic generic strain that I know of. None of Pillow Book’s traits, on their own, would qualify this as exotic herb. However, the combination of some of the traits are indeed very unusual. To have such a beautiful and consistently purple strain with great yields is great, but has been done before—but to have all of the above in combination with skunky dank aromas, and a potent kush stone, indeed makes this a bit of a unicorn of purples. The aroma is completely different from the more classic purple cultivars like Urkel and GDP, but is excellent in its own rite. This is a great choice for commercial producers, or an indica home-grower who appreciates a good yield, and wants something new to play with. Pillow Book is a fun strain to grow, and a great one to have on hand.

Swami Organic Seed Northern Lights #5 x Neville's Haze F5

Origins and Backstory:  Northern Lights #5 and the Original Haze are two of the most legendary sativas in the cannabis community. They were hybridized long ago by the late and famous Neville—these seeds from 1989 were kept and passed on (I believe by Clackamas Coot?) to Swami Seed, who has bred them to the F6 generation as of this writing. I purchased the seed at F5, and that is the plant being reviewed here. Both parents have rich histories (and effects to match), and the mere idea of combining their genes is enough to elicit a buzz in a true sativa lover.

Appearance:  Obviously a hazy sativa, these flowers have small-but-totally-resin-covered calyxes and pistils protruding in all directions. It is really a striking look—however, since the pistils are so delicate, sativas like this often do not look half as good by the time they reach a consumer in a typical market. One of the myriad benefits of being a cultivator (or knowing one) is being able to get fresh and in-tact sativa buds. Flowers are a light and lime green, with calyxes stacking in small groups and then growing outward from the stem—this gives the sense that the flowers are spiky. They look almost evil or sinister in a way, almost like a cactus. Foxtails are fairly common. Some clusters are a bit airy, definitely not the densely formed indica flowers that most smokers are used to. However, with all the exposed surface area, it gives the consumer a good view into the intact resin glands (one can see they’re intact if the flowers sparkle or shimmer in light, as opposed to being merely “crystally” with a white appearance).

Aroma: The bouquet is reminiscent of many other sativas with Dutch origins. However, I will give a full description for the uninitiated—these varieties are increasingly rare, especially in north America. Overall, the aroma is sweet, spicy, and botanical. The most prominent notes are pine, eucalyptus, frankincense, black pepper, and various aromatic woods. I found it particularly intriguing that many newer American smokers are generally put off by the aroma of this flower. However, a friend from London visited me and sampled this smoke, and commented that it was “classic cannabis scent, definitely not going to be able to hide if you get pulled over with that one!” I thought his comment was intriguing, given that “classic cannabis scent” to most Americans means skunky, putrid, and/or gassy. This varietal does not exhibit any of these traits, but it goes to show the geographical differences in cannabis preferences. The pine, frankincense, and eucalyptus make for a refreshing aroma, one that certainly is not common in north American dispensaries. The aroma is intriguing and while I personally find it very pleasant, it elicits either a love or hate response from others. The smell is interesting, but not the highest point of the flower.

Flavor:  If this weed weren’t so damn potent, the flavor and appearance would really be the show stealers. The flavor of the smoke is extremely unique. It is slightly sweet, piney and botanical, almost effervescent, with very strong incense-like qualities reminiscent of frankincense used in catholic church services. The flavor is first and foremost sweet, piney, and frankincense-incense like. The sweetness is not fruity or candied like so many popular American varieties today, but is a subtle sweetness like that of grass on a prairie. There are many subtle flavors that come out further down in a joint, or are only present in some hits from a bowl—these include mint and menthol, compost, and some other very exotic spice-like notes that I have no idea how to describe with words. The flavor is fairly mild, especially when speaking relatively next to OG and Chem varieties. However, it is stunning in its own rite. The flavor is incredibly unique and really only found in very particular haze lines—I am a lover of it, but maybe hit is only because I have come to associate the one-of-a-kind flavor and aroma with the equally unique effects. In any case, the strange and special combination of flavors comes together beautifully in a flavor profile that is not really seen in any other cultivars.

Effects:  The effects of this varietal are almost unparalleled, especially in today’s market. It is a soaring and euphoric sativa , and does not sacrifice the slightest bit of potency. In fact, it may be one of the most potent sativas available. The only comparable sativas I can think of are Neville’s Haze (the father of this variety), pure Thai, and the occasional and truly exceptional batch of Jack Herer or Mother’s Finest. The effect is overall racing, cerebral, paranoid, and almost psychedelic. Sometimes after smoking this herb, I have visual light tracing effects. There is a near instant shift in how one thinks, as one begins to associate concepts and ideas that are only loosely related—definitely a creativity-inducer! The effects onset immediately, but do not fully come on for at least 20 minutes, but usually even longer. One is high almost instantly when smoking this herb, but the near-overwhelming potency and paranoia will not kick in for about half an hour—which means care should be taken when using this flower! This can be very fun smoke when taken in the right setting, but can also be an anxiety-inducing smoke when used in the wrong one. With friends, this herb makes me silly, giggly, and probably drops me a few IQ points. It can really loosen up a mood. However, this is not active and motivational smoke, despite being a sativa—when I have smoked this cannabis prior to engaging in my “to-do” list, my list usually does not get done. If I go to a public space, I am generally overwhelmed with anxiety and a feeling that everybody is watching, or at least judging me. It is a general social dysphoria, and can come on with little or no warning. If you are immune to these effects in cannabis as some of my friends have claimed, I would strongly encourage sampling this flower—it might give you an experience you’ll never forget! If the reader enjoys horror movies, they could probably forget Netflix for a night, and simply smoke some of this varietal before running errands. Terrifying indeed!

Overall:  This is one of the greatest sativas on the market today, and nonetheless available in seed form! After growing it, it is pretty obvious why it’s not commercially available. While it does not exhibit many of the typical shortcomings of sativa varieties (i.e. extended flowering time, low yields, etc.), the reasons for keeping this out of a commercial facility are understandable. The plant grows tall and is structurally a bit scattered, and the buds are somewhat airy as well as leafy. This makes canopy management difficult for mass production, and trimming is certainly not an easy activity. Even if a commercial cultivator could get over these hurdles, the flower quality and bag appeal quickly degrade with packaging and transportation—much faster than a “golf ball” structured indica might. There are just too many opportunities for this flower to go awry in a commercial setting. However, the quality of smoke is enough to keep any serious enthusiast or small-scale grower engaged. The potency is unparalleled, even by many indicas and OG plants—it is truly in a league of its own. The frankincense and typical “haze” aromas will be a point of nostalgia for many smokers as well, and I frequently receive messages on instagram being asked if the variety smells of frankincense. I personally love having jars of this on my shelf, and it is a great option to impress friends with sheer sativa potency or euphoria, or to induce silliness and giggles into a gathering. However, it is not a jar I reach for for an everyday smoke, as it can be too much at times. I am struggling to produce an apt analogy, but it might be like having a James Bond replica vehicle as a daily driver—I certainly wouldn’t complain about driving such a vehicle, but something about it just isn’t ideally suited for going to the grocery store, and is over the top in some regards. Overall, this is a variety absolutely worth trying, and running enough to have some flowers on the shelf at any given time. It is incredibly special in many different ways, but she won’t be in my flower room every cycle.

Blackberry Kush

Origins and Backstory:  The now-famous Blackberry Kush clone hails from the Pacific Northwest. It is a stout broadleaf indica that tends to turn purple and universally produces buds with exceptional bag appeal. I have heard different stories about her ancestry, but the most plausible include Purple Indica (another old school indica from the PNW), DJ Short’s Blueberry, and/or Afghani. She has since found her way to Colorado, and this was grown by a mountain hermit friend of mine.

Appearance:  One of the highest points of this flower, Blackberry Kush consistently looks amazing. BK plants produce rounded and dense golf-ball shaped buds, always glistening in resin with bright orange pistils. It really is gorgeous herb, an even mixture of purple and green pigments. The buds are always thick and “juicy” appearing, really drawing the eye (and potential buyer). It is pretty uncommon to get purely green Blackberry Kush, and the appearance contributes to the novelty of the cultivar just as much as the aroma. The ball-like purpleish buds usually look something like crystal-crusted alien black berries when they’re in a bag or jar. This is a dime of a plant.

Aroma:  True to its name, these flowers smell distinctly of blackberries. There are also very strong blueberry scents, and less pronounced notes of fruits and other ambiguous berries—nectarine, bilberry, raspberry, black currants to name the ones I can detect. Strong scents of honey and apple blossom are notable as well, really adding to a complex and deliciously-fruity bouquet. Overall, this bud smells almost like a bowl of berries generously topped with honey, or maybe a mixed-berry mead. It is sweet, fruity, and dessert-like. The smell is soft and velvety, smooth in a way that I would describe as an olfactory suede. There is a very mild earth-like compost aroma, and some hints of the classic middle eastern spice and must that I associate with the “Kush” moniker. The bouquet is the high point of Blackberry Kush, thoroughly enticing lovers of sweet but complex varieties.

Flavor:  Blackberry Kush tastes like the aroma, but the emphasis shifts from fruit more to the Kush side of things. There is blackberry, but it is only a background note, while the sensation of prominence is a skunky, dank, spicy Kush flavor that coats the mouth in the classic “dank” flavor. Blueberry follows close behind. It is really satisfying to get a green hit of this herb out of clean glass. One’s mouth is left just sopping with a skunky-botanical-berry flavor, and I am often licking the insides of my cheeks and palate after smoking this one.

Effects:  Unfortunately, this is the singular dimension that Blackberry Kush is lackluster. The effects set in relatively quickly—Blackberry Kush is always laid back, relaxed, and mellow. It is almost impossible to smoke too much, and I have heavily binged on this flower with no couchlock or paranoia. Blackberry Kush is anxiolytic, and might be perfect for someone with high anxiety and a low tolerance. I on the other hand, am rarely satisfied by the effect of Blackberry Kush. I have never had a sample from any grower that I would describe as potent. It is a mellow and generic pick-me-up, but I almost always find myself smoking something stronger an hour or less later.

Overall:  Blackberry Kush has been a popular producer for many reasons—the plant flowers relatively quickly, and produces stunningly-beautiful floral clusters covered in resin, and always accented by royal purple hues. A bag stinks from a room away, but up close smells enticingly of fresh fruit and exotic spice. Her buds are dense grenades of purple-tinted trichomes that smell ambrosial. It is a real shame that this variety was not bred with much potency in mind. Or, maybe I need to lower my tolerance—in any case, the effects don’t quite do it for me. I always smoke something stronger after enjoying some Blackberry Kush. She is the premature ejaculator of cannabis—so get your fun in at the beginning of the experience with foreplay! Really savor the bag appeal, the aroma, and the flavor of this smoke. Breaking up buds by hand is extremely enjoyable, and I’d recommend paying close attention. If you’re an OG head—make sure to keep some tucked close by, because your receptors may be found wanting.

Higher Thought Remedy x Chocolate Rain F2

Origins and Backstory:  I made this cross several years ago. Remedy is a 33:1 CBD:THC cannabis plant. I grew it next to the R4, Wu5, and some other CBD dominant plants, but Remedy was clearly superior in every way. It had excellent bag appeal and resin production, zero stretch in flower, and the aroma was intensely fruity, and noticably unique from THC dominant varietals. At the time, I was using a Chocolate Rain F2 male. A friend, @wiscy420 made the original F2 seeds from Eskobar Seed selection. I selected from these F2, and found a male who mostly smelled like bitter dark chocolate, with hints of cantaloupe and melon. He had good structure and was quick to produce buds when flipped to 11/13, so I gave him a chance to breed. The result is this well-balanced CBD/THC hybrid.

Appearance:  The weak point of this plant, the flowers are a dark green, with a structure between a spearhead and elongated fingers. After drying/curing, the pistils die back significantly, receding into barely noticeable wisps of dark red/orange. You really have to look close to even find them! The individual calyxes are huge and swollen, giving a bulging and spiky look to the buds, making each calyx appear as if it were about to burst. Flowers are also a bit leafy, but I tend to attribute this to an early frost that forced me to chop this plant down early—I imagine it could have used another 2 weeks or more. Leaves are mostly dark green with some purple accents.

Aroma:  The aroma is one of the high points of this flower. There are heavy upfront notes of fruit and dark chocolate, not unlike a chocolate bar with dried fruit in it. It strongly reminds me of Gatorade Frost Riptide Rush—I used to drink one after every Lacrosse practice in high school, but haven’t had one in years. Sniffing this jar after a cure immediately brought back memories of the beverage that I had long forgotten about. It is also very reminiscent of grape-flavored Fun-Dip, which I also used to eat as a child. For the uninitiated, it smells like artificial grape mixed with sugar. Overall, the aroma is a grapey, bitter chocolate, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, sugar-sweet, candied smell with some of the tell-tale scents from the Remedy as well—indicating CBD content. Other notes that are more mild but noticable are tea tree, eucalyptus, aloe vera, wet wipes, salt water taffy, almond paste, and maraschino cherries. This is definitely not a “dank” smelling variety with,typical notes of skunk, dirty socks, bad breath, etc., but smells amazing nonetheless. Very unique with the sugar-sweet grape, chocolate, and CBD aromas.

Flavor: Extremely robust, the flavor begins as sweet grape candy—similar to fun dip. Velvet floral/perfume aromas are in the background, and on the exhale the flavor becomes more like cantaloupe, honeydew, and whatever flavoring is used in Gatorade Frost. It is really like smoking a candy that is some strange combination of Gatorade, Grape Fun-Dip, and an assortment of melon varieties. It makes the mere smoking of this herb a real pleasure, with a fruity aftertaste eventually fading to a classical dank flavor, one that is not at all evident in the aroma. I love the flavor on this one, it is refreshingly unique, adequately nuanced, and incredibly powerful and complex. I think the intricacies of the flavor would be enough to impress any connoisseur, and is really impressive.

Effects:  The come-up is slow and steady, no immediate rushing feeling at all. It begins as a vague sense of calm, relaxation and increased well-being, and is felt in the shoulders and eyes. Many CBD/THC varieties make me release tension in my shoulders I otherwise would not have known was there, and this is no different. This is one of the few smokes that actually eases social anxiety for me as well. I tend to smoke too much of THC dominant varieties, making me quiet and shy in social situations. This cross is the opposite though, letting me relax into the moment and enjoy social interactions—a welcome change from super potent THC varietals. It is a fairly functional buzz. While relaxing, I am still able to get around the house, and I don’t get much sense of a loss of motivation, which I often get from super potent THC-dominant varieties. The effect is surprisingly long-lasting as well, going on for at least a couple hours. This is really happy, relaxed bud.

Overall Experience: I actually don’t know why strains like this are not more popular. I haven’t had it lab tested, and so I don’t know what the THC:CBD ratio might be. However, this is one of my favorite smokes, and many of my casual smoking friends commented that they would appreciate more of it on the market. They noted that they could take a couple hits or more without feeling overwhelmingly stoned, the way they would smoking potent and famous clone-only plants. The effect is all the best parts of cannabis, without getting overwhelmingly stoned or paranoid. It is relaxed, very mildly euphoric, feel-good social smoke. The flavor is nothing short of excellent, with an equally enjoyable aroma. The smell is really unique, the tell-tale Remedy aroma being extremely uncommon in cannabis. Remedy x Chocolate Rain F2 is a real pleasure to grow, smell, taste, smoke, and chill on. I will be growing more of this in the future, and hope to incorporate Remedy and other CBD varietals back into my breeding. I would consider having this as a staple on my shelf all the time.

Higher Thought Gharuwood

While both phenotypes pictured had extremely similar aromas and growth habits, this one was more resinous. The bouquet was also a bit more nuanced, and certainly more intense.

Origins and Backstory:  Back in the days when I did some higher plant numbers, I was given the Amsterdam Cannabis Cup Winning clone of Amnesia Haze. I was using a Copper Chem male at the time for pollenations, and the Amnesia along with many others were pollenated. These were some really old seeds, and I tossed a couple in my indoor garden bed, thinking they probably wouldn’t germinate. I am continually amazed by this plant, as two of the seedlings germinated and grew some extremely favorable herb—the flower being reviewed. While growing the Gharuwood, I made sure to pollenate them with some Passionfruit Dakini plants (as well.

Appearance:  These plants had a structure that was more reminiscent of their father—solid and well built, with the heft of the flowers growing conveniently and impressively at the tops. Very little larf. The color however comes from mom—the buds are an almost brilliant bright green, with pistils that die back to tiny wisps of what looks like saffron. Both females were extremely resinous as well., and really had a lovely bag appeal.

Aroma:  Overall, these smell like an alien fruit-tree incense. It smells like some exotic fruit tree in Asia that one could dry and cure to use for incense. It is not sickly sweet in its fruitiness, but is vaguely sweet the way cherrywood can be. When breaking open buds, Bubbleicious gum and cotton candy come to mind, as does agarwood and aloeswood. There is some other sweet-but-sour note in there too, a cross of a lemon skittle and rotten lime.In the background, one can smell papaya and mango among other tropical fruits I cannot name. The has an exotic woody/incense aroma that is captivating and really attractive—but not what most American lovers of kush and “gas” are after. I really like this one, and find Chemnesia’s aroma to be almost endlessly intriguing, inviting me to more or less keep my nose in the jar.

Flavor: Many of the candied, sweet, and fruity notes are absent from the smoke—but I would not say lost. The smoke is extremely smooth, intensely floral and woody, with the incense-like notes in the aroma most prominent. If there is some cosmic and otherworldly temple where aliens burn incense, this is it. It is mildly spicy but still very botanical. This makes for a deeply complex smoke, one that is almost addictive in itself. It makes me fantasize about possible culinary endeavors using the flavor of the vapor or smoke from this strain. One of the most unique flavors I have enjoyed in years.

Effects:  While really a creeper, the first leg of the Chemnesia experience is heady and almost psychedelic in effect. My vision is slightly altered, heart-rate speeds a bit, and the exterior world gets a little more beautiful and interesting than at baseline. The beginning come-up is definitely sensual and almost rushing in a way, but I wouldn’t say it’s paranoid. The enhanced sensuality continues throughout the duration of the stone, but moves to the background as the borderline-psychedelic rush feeling fades to a more relaxed, thoughtful, and inward-leaning state. I get really strong munchies about an hour in with this one pretty consistently. The intense euphoria is unfortunately somewhat short-lived, ending along with the craving for food, transitioning into a more thoughtful and introspective experience. It is a hybrid effect, fairly foggy and slowed down, yet mentally stimulating—it inspires one to get heavily involved in thought. About two hours in and the effect is over, with a mild but not overly intense desire for a nap.

Overall Experience:  Perhaps I’m biased, but this was my smoke of choice after the Passionfruit Dakini. It is beautiful flower, and plants are easy to grow as well as relatively easy to trim. The bag appeal is high, but the bouquet is the highlight, followed by the flavor. The effect is definitely a fun one, but it was really the exotic smell that makes me such a big fan. I’m a sucker for anything pungent, complex, and otherworldy—Gharuwood hits on all three criteria. The incense-like aroma is so exotic and uncommon, I really don’t know how to describe it other than as an alien incense. It might be bizarre, but I would call the bouquet meditative, poetic, and peaceful. It is really something to savor, just like a fine stick of incense. I like the high on this one and it has some character, but I do think it was lacking in my favorite effect of general well-being. I hope to do more breeding work in the future with this one, and will look forward to the crosses to Passionfruit Dakini.

CSI Humboldt '79 Xmas Bud

Origins and Backstory: I received these seeds along with some Uzbeki, Pakistani Chitral, and Pine Tar Kush—all highly sought after rarities. I was really intrigued by this one and the Pine Tar Kush, and germinated some seeds side-by-side. All of the seeds (I only germinated 4-5) were male except for this one. Xmas Bud presumably can be traced back to 1979, the year it was either imported or discovered—either way, a vintage variety. I am told it is a Pakistani landrace, and is named for its aroma that is right on par with a Christmas tree. I love pine-flavored/scented cannabis, and haven’t seen any around in a while. An intriguing offering from CSI Humboldt/Humboldt CSI. This plant was grown indoors, and was a triploid.

Appearance:  Tbis is definitely the weakest point of the varietal. Xmas Bud looks like standard mids or beasters when grown indoors. It is a dark green bud, in the shape of pine-cones. It is fairly haggard and leafy, with neither pistil nor trichome really that apparent. A jar full of Xmas Bud just looks like an ambiguous green mass. When in flowering, she had giant calyxes. Naturally, I pollenated some—they swelled bigger than any other plant in the tent, despite being the smallest actual plant. Both seeds and calyxes on this one are notably huge.

Aroma:  Just as advertised, ‘79 Xmas Bud is like standing underneath a pine or fir in a forest. There is intense pine needle, earth/dirt/loam/forest floor, hairspray/aerosol, menthol, cologne/old spice, juniper berry/gin, and sandalwood. There is also lemon, lime, and an intense spicy aroma. This is like your grandfather’s cologne from 1994 or something. Most people who have smelled the jar find the aroma very compelling, and one that is often lacking in modern commercial varieties. I am almost embarrassed to show people the jar because the flowers are so ugly, but people (including myself) really love the smell on this one. It is just a really dank, sweaty, earthy, forest smell that probably does something therapeutic for those humans now residing in cities. Huffing a jar is almost like an artificial trip to the forest, with some temple incense on the side. Seriously awesome and different from every other jar on my shelf.

Flavor:  Surprisingly unique, ‘79 Xmas Bud has a very diverse and unexpected flavor profile. It has a lot of parallels to the aroma but is different as well. While piney, the flavor is mostly an exotic spice that reminds me of old men’s country club locker rooms when I was young. It is dank and musty yet with tones of fresh evergreen and old wooden chest as well—it is really bizarre and awesome. It is strains like ‘‘79 Xmas Bud that honestly keep me interested in cannabis and its diversity of traits.

Effects:  A potent indica creeper, ‘79 Xmas Bud begins slowly behind the eyes as a relaxing and smiley stone. It will cut through previous smokes, especially any mental aspects. Xmas Bud is like a mild narcotic with mild euphoria as well—sort of a best of both worlds of relaxation and feel-good. Things are slowed down, mental processes temporarily put on island time. The effect is warm and comforting, very laid back before settling into drowsiness. A fairly standard indica, but scores pleasantly high on the well-being scale, which scores more points than raw potency in my book.

Overall:  I have mixed feelings on this one. While I really enjoy the aroma, flavor, and effect on this one, the flower itself is so bland-looking I am a bit self-conscious showing it to others. To be fair, this plant was somewhat shaded out by its neighbors for a good portion of flowering, which could have contributed. Maybe other people have prettier samples. However, my experience is that she is a standard looking green bud. I think ‘79 Xmas bud belongs in two places: on my shelf, and in breeding programs. Obviously I’m kidding, but I do think it’s worth growing for headstash if you are a cultivator who enjoys nuanced choices, and I think it’s worth cultivating to breed with. The aroma and flavor could probably make for some incredible combinations and unprecedented funk given the right partner.

Higher Thought Passionfruit Dakini

This sample was grown outdoors without irrigation around a mile of elevation. Indoor plants exhibited similar traits, but the outdoor plants were favorable and more complete in terpene and resin content.

Origins and Backstory: I made this cross using several phenotypes of In the Pines and my favorite male from my Copper Chem selection. The parents are extremely different, so one can expect a lot of variation in the F1 generation. I germinated about 40 or so seeds and selected down to 6 by flowering time. Some plants were tested outdoor, and were easily the more impressive—see picture above. Those grown outdoor could have used another week or two of weather, but were harvested the night before a hard frost.

Appearance:  Buds are well formed and dense, obviously resinous. When freshly cured, the buds are like bright green pine-cones occasioned with purple and sinister-looking leaf. My favorite plant to smoke made more spear-like buds, while the higher yielding plants made flowers resembling grenades. both indoor and outdoor plants looked similar—mostly green, with purple accents. Every phenotype was maximally covered with trichomes.

Aroma:  Between all the phenotypes, the aroma varied heavily. My favorite plants had diverse terpene profiles that are hard to sum up shortly. They tended toward putrid but sweet, perfumey and yet almost rotting—this is real yin/yang complete cannabis. I can smell specific notes of passionfruit, vomit/bile, cotton candy, skunk spray, guava, papaya, latex, silly putty, strawberries, brake cleaner, and botanicals (think fresh greehouse). The best phenotypes had intense aromas exhibiting all of the above, while other phenotypes tended toward much more mild, aloe/teatree/baby wipe aromas, and some others still toward garlic, mango, and gasoline.

Flavor:  The flavor of the smoke is extremely rich and complex, very perfumey yet dank at the same time. Like the aroma, it is a wonderfully intriguing balance of what seem like mismatched opposites. tMore dank and funky than fruity, the flavor is like a passionfruit Chemdawg perfume a mechanic might wear. One can immediately taste the passionfruit and guava on the front of the smoke. Every toke is consistently feminine/floral/perfume-like, but the fruits and acidic tones tend to change depending on the weather. Occasionally one gets a taste of strawberry, but there is an acidity that goes with it not unlike solvents or vomit. It is almost caustic, but when coupled with the soft perfume notes, the effect is not off-putting in the slightest. It is really amazingly tasty herb, very unique and yet classic at the same time.

Effects:  This is a hybrid-like effect that can be incredibly potent. Immediately after exhaling, one begins to feel a slight tingling in the forehead, and a sensation of motion or beginnings of vertigo—yet it is light, pleasant, and euphoric. It is like a more calm version of a nicotine-fueled head rush. The immediacy and strength of the come-on lets you know this is some seriously strong herb. The effects intensify, the light-headed euphoria eventually giving way to an almost wobbly effect, where one goes about the day in a happy, silly daze. This is Alice in Wonderland herb, so strong it is close to psychedelic, but grounded in its indica leanings—it doesn’t produce paranoia, but might temporarily reduce your IQ in favor of giggles for a time.

Overall:  Passionfruit Dakini is a gorgeous, full-bodied, nose-crinkling bell ringer that will either make or break your day. This was all I wanted to smoke after this season’s harvest until it was gone. I really think its primary appeal is in its all-encompassing characteristics. The aroma is balanced between sweet candy and nasty funk, the flavor nestled between masculine mechanical notes and feminine fruits and flowers. The high is psychedelic yet devastating, euphoric yet chill. This really is the whole package. Even when a CBD varietal might have been more appropriate, I chose to smoke this one—the flavor, the head rush, the extreme dankness of it all is just too much to pass up in favor of a mellow high. When this jar was around, the only other herb that was smoked was the Deep Line Alchemy 6 right before bed. This is incredible ganja excelling in every category except yield. I made F2 seeds with this phenotype, and it is probably my favorite creation to date. I hope to stabilize this one as it is really something special.

This monstrous tree of a plant was grown from seed by @top_shelf_farms in northern California.

Bodhi/Strayfox Persian Delight aka Deep Line Alchemy #6

Origins and Backstory: A collaboration between Bodhi Seeds and Strayfox Gardenz, Persian Delight (aka Deep Line Alchemy #6) is a cross of an Iraqi female from the village of Ranya, and Bodhi’s famous 88G13HP male. The Deep Line Alchemy series is a line from Bodhi of varying landrace hashplants crossed to his 88G13HP male—a known hashplant. The Iraqi Ranya was supposedly brought back from Iraq by Strayfox’s brother, a veteran serving overseas.

Appearance:  There is no mistaking it, DLA 6 is a hashplant. Buds appear almost bleached they are so heavily coated by trichomes and gland heads. The plant puts out dense grenade tops that looked like they could harbor mold in more humid climates. She handled my Colorado room like a champ though, and her buds were completely free of mold and rot, but were uber-dense and resinous. The grenade shape, heavy resin coverage, and almost white-color make for an impressive bag or jar appeal.

Aroma:  The scent of the growing plant was fairly unimpressive right up until harvest—generically sweet, hashy, and spicy. However, after fully ripening and slow-drying, the aroma dramatically evolves for the better—a perfect example that you really can’t judge keepers until you’ve smoked them. Overall, I think a jar smells like chocolate chip scones. It is sweet but neither overly-so nor candied, spicy, vaguely smelling of baked goods and definite vanilla bean. DLA 6 smells like scones or bread, more sweet than savory, and there is a Hershey chocolate-like quality that makes me think scone. There are other less-remarkable notes of dirty feet, moth balls, tennis balls, old carpet, and the Utah desert. It gives the herb some musty characteristics that bring to mind the ancient civilization it comes from.

Flavor:  Very much like the aroma, the flavor is mild but pleasant, with emphases on spice-like hashy notes and southern biscuits. The flavor is not as sweet as the aroma, and the sense of chocolate as well as that of scone is unfortunately lost. This tastes like a high-end hashplant from some of the earlier days of cultivation. It is spicy, very hashy, and actually is unusually well-layered for a hashplant. There are a few different dimensions of spice, none of which are familiar to me from culinary endeavors, but nonetheless enjoyable. All in all, a nice selection of hashy flavors. The flavor is a bit dry, and is nice but not the strong point.

Effects:  This herb is about as stereotypical couchlock indica as you can get. She is pretty potent, with potential to knock one into a temporary coma—it’s great for end of the day relaxation, sleeping, physical pain, anxiety (only taken in small doses though), and melting face. The come-up can be a bit slow, and honestly can almost be frustrating in some ways. I smoked a bowl before a movie, and really didn’t feel much of a stone. I began to pack another, did some things quickly around my apartment, and by the time I sat down to smoke the second bowl, I was too high to take another hit. I ended up just setting the fully packed bowl down, began to watch the movie, and fell asleep very quickly. If you manage to go through the full effects without sleeping, they can last nearly all day. Once you smoke DLA6, you will move a bit slower until the next day—a mental molasses of sorts.. The stone builds up to full effect maybe 30 minutes in, and the full potency is felt. I can feel a throbbing in my face and head, and thoroughly feel put at peace in my own world. DLA6 is to be treated as any deeply stoning indica in regards to effect. Very strong, medicinal effects.

Overall:  This is a fairly unique hashplant that is novel and pleasantly surprising in some ways. The plant itself is a very easy grow, plants are reasonably vigorous with great structure and an acceptable yield. The bag appeal of finished flowers is exceptional, and I imagine this is a hash-maker’s dream of a plant. The aroma and flavor are the highlights, but the effect is almost perfect for most nightcaps. I love the chocolate scone aroma from a jar of finished flowers, and it really is a unique one to have on the shelf. I do find myself reaching for this one at the end of most nights, as the cloudy, relaxed, and extremely sleepy effect tends to overpower any previous highs or just general anxiety. All in all, Deep Line Alchemy #6 is a plant worth growing and possibly breeding with—but on its own, it won’t be taking any Cups/Titles soon.

The DLA line almost defines the “hashplant” category.

Long Valley Royal Kush x Versailles OG F2

Origins and Backstory:  This flower might have some of the richest backstory of any on my blog.  Both Long Valley Royal Kush (which can be found on the archive) and Versailles OG are seed offerings from Aficionado Seeds.  I purchased and pheno-hunted the former, while @planthoarder searched through the latter.  @Planthoarder was kind enough to gift me his 4 male plants from his package of seeds--I selected 2 of these based on structure, vigor, and most importantly aroma for pollenation.  To make a long story short, I grew all these plants out to mid-flower, and then had to in turn give them back to @planthoarder to finish and process the pollenation.  After successfully making this F1 hybrid, I passed some seeds out.  @bocobeans was a recipient of these seeds, and grew out a number of them.  I do not know how he made his selections or pollenated, but he successfully made F2 from our own F1 selection.  This flower is the sample of one of @bocobeans F2 selections.  So, where to give credit for this flower? It rests on Ras Truth/Mandelbrot of Emerald Mountain Legacy, with Mean Gene from Freeborn Selections, with Leo Stone from Aficionado Seeds, with myself, @planthoarder, and @bocobeans.  There are obviously others preceding even the aforementioned characters, but the responsibility for this creation is spread far among the cannabis community.

Appearance:  This flower is pretty apparently OG.  Her appearance is similar to that of many OG plants I know.  The floral clusters appear dense (but are in fact more dense than they look), heavily resinous, with an almost sickly puke green color to the calyxes.  Pistils are a more dull red-brown.  The floral structure is dense and halfway between pine cones and fingers.  Leaf bottoms are resin-encrusted, while the tops of untrimmed leaves are a much darker green than the surrounding flower--this is the characteristic which makes me think "OG" when I see flowers of this build.

Aroma:  The smell is probably the most unexpected aspect of this flower, and catches me off-guard every time I open the jar for a whiff or break open a nug for smoking.  On first impression, the scent is more sweet and floral than anything.  It is a mild sugary-sweetness with hints of grape, like Welch's grape or raspberry jam.  The floral notes are unlike those I typically experience in cannabis.  Bocobeans insists on the presence of the terpene geraniol, named after the flower Geranium.  I am personally not so familiar with this terpene to confidently announce its presence here, but there is an unmistakable presence of rose-like aroma.  Accompanied by the sweetness, my overall impression of this flower is that of rose water or rose syrup.  One can find rose water/syrup and other similar products in middle-easter grocery stores.  It is typically used as a subtle flavoring in desserts--it comes out really nicely here!  The flower smells vaguely of a floral candy or something.  When broken up, the buds reveal nuances that an open jar does not.  The aroma is more complex, with many notes that remind me of hops from my homebrewing days.  It is skunky, piney, and has the very slightest note of citrus.  While I could be incorrect, I believe it is the Cascadia hop variety that this flower reminds me of.  I will also note that while the aroma from an open jar seems relatively mild, my hands absolutely stink of super heady, skunky herb for hours after breaking up some nugs.  

Flavor:  The flavor of this Rosy plant isn't as rosy or floral when smoked.  When combusted, this flower definitely leans toward the Cascadia-hop and skunk side of things, almost like a fruity or citrus-heavy IPA beer.  It is heavy pine, with a definite and bright fruitiness--citrus as well as other understated fruits.  It is sweet, but not nearly as sweet as the aroma would imply.  While rose and geranium do not take the forefront, there is a strange floral note that is noticeable toward the middle/backend.  While the flavor is enjoyable and hits several different aspects (floral, sweet, spicy, skunky, herbal), it is not as awesome as the bouquet--it is fairly complex but not incredibly original.

Effects:  This flower settles in slowly and gently, simultaneously in both body and mind.  The first noticeable element is relaxation and a sense of being at ease.  My breathing rhythm seems to slow as does my heart rate, and my thoughts begin to move inward.  This herb is more inner than outer, more mellow/relaxing than exciting or inspiring.  Perhaps it is just the day, but generally when I smoke in the evenings, I'm inspired to visit a creative project that I have been neglecting.  Today smoking this flower, I feel content with the day's work and am fine to retire into recreational pursuits and relaxation.  It is a good feeling of being content and satiated, but this is not the flower to smoke when looking for inspiration or euphoria.  For such indica-like effects, this flower is pretty functional.  It doesn't give the user that feeling of alien paranoia and of being watched in public.  The full strength creeps over time, and ends up being a warm cocoon of chilled out vibes.  I do not withdraw after heavy use of this variety, the same way I would with a pure OG--sometimes, today's designer strains are so powerful I just want to retreat to the comfort of my bed and watch a movie. 

Overall:  This cultivar looks like a classic OG cut, but the aroma tells a completely different story.  The bouquet reminds me of roses, grape jam, and a citrus india pale ale, heavy on floral, hop-like, and skunky notes.  These two factors really give the flower a lovely bag appeal, the buyer knowing they're in for a good time.  The flavor is certainly enjoyable and hits several different notes.  I particularly appreciate the brightness, and how similar to hops this variety is--if the reader doesn't know, hops and cannabis are very closely related.  It actually surprises me that I do not pick up more hop-like aromas in the vast array of plants I encounter.  I digress.....this phenotype is really not lacking in any category.  Her best attribute is definitely her smell, and I would say her weakest trait is maybe her effect.  While not lacking in potency, the character is just not my favorite cup of tea.  I prefer cultivars that lean more toward the extremes, either geared toward soaring cerebral sensations or debilitating paralysis and munchies.  Since this one sort of sits in the middle of most of the effects, it doesn't really stand out to me.  I will be really curious how the extracts of this varietal turn out--a cut with commercial potential.

Heavyweight Seeds Superb OG

Origins and Backstory:  This sample of beyond-organic cannabis was grown indoor by the same grower of the last series of flowers.  The attention paid to these plants is amazing.  The description given by the seed company is pretty sparse, and really doesn't reveal much about this varietal other than it has roots in OG Kush genetics.  Superb OG is apparently some kind of OG cross or inbred line.  I don't know much about the cultivar, but it was certainly grown superbly.

Appearance:  The buds are fully developed, very dense, and highly resinous.  The abundance of still-intact resin glands give the flowers a platinum glow.  Undersides of untrimmed leaves are accented with purple, while the calyxes are a classic dark green.  This amalgamates to a diverse array of colors decorating the classically-beautiful cannabis flower.

Aroma: The bouquet is surprisingly a bit mild, but there is an element that conveys sheer potency.  Overall the aroma is like a slightly sour or diesely lemon flavored sugar cookie--not an uncommon trait in descendants of OG Kush and Chemdawg.  However, there is an aroma present in certain varietals that can only be described as "raw."  It is like some raw chemical or industrial product--however, unlike most other astringent tones in cannabis, the "rawness" is very subtle.  It is like a giant vat of ultra-diluted bleach solution, garnished with the most slender lemon slice.  It is similar in character to Chem 34 from Greenpoint Seeds--the sheer resin content seems to be the culprit responsible for this subtlety.  

Flavor:  The flavor is a bit more impressive and less subtle than the aroma--a reversal of what is typical.  It is consistently reminiscent of lemon pledge with industrial/chemical undertones of latex, mild rubber, and just a hint of diesel.  All of the flavors present are nothing unheard of; anyone who has imbibed in the OG/Chem/Diesel genetics will have encountered these flavors before.  They are nonetheless enjoyable, and Superb OG seems to put an emphasis on sweet lemon and latex.  

Effects: Superb OG shines in her potency and effect.  Just one or two hits is enough to make me socially awkward and start paying more attention to my inner world.  You can really go deep with this one, for better and for worse.  Her effect is very much felt in the head, but it is so perception-warping that interfacing with the body itself becomes a bit awkward.  I am a lifelong athlete, but after smoking this weed I could barley walk around much less conduct myself around people.  The body almost feels like a foreign entity you are obligated to deal with after smoking Superb OG.  There is also a corporeal numbness which grows over time, creeping into full effect about 20-30 minutes after smoking.  Many extremely potent strains are "creepers," describing the creeping effect of the stone which is not actualized until long after smoking--Superb OG is a great example of this, and she can be devastating over time.

Overall:  Superb OG is a gorgeous cultivar, exhibiting top tier resin production, density, and above-average coloration.  Her aroma and flavor are enjoyable, but I do not anticipate the terpene profile winning any contests soon.  However, the potency of Superb OG is remarkable.  She is stronger than some of the clone-only OGs, and the reality-warping effect remind me of Romulan on a speed-steroid cocktail.  The effect oscillates between heady psychedelia and being completely grounded in one's body.  It is really a bit bizarre, but also very enjoyable.  While overdoing it is all-too-easy, Superb OG is a fun ride--many other uber potent varieties are not so fun after overindulging.  I generally do not hold high expectations for unknown seed companies, much less ones putting out generic OGs with no credible background.  However, this flower smokes really well.  The flavor and bag appeal are above-average, while she truly shines in her ability to blast you into outer space, suit intact.  And it should go without saying by now, but bravo to the four-mile cultivator on this specimen.

Buddha Seeds Buddha OG Kush

Origins and Backstory:  I am not familiar with Buddha Seeds and their varieties in general.  However, this beautiful flower is from the same grower that has brought me the other recent organic offerings, and I am not about to turn down cannabis this exquisite!  By the breeder's report, this flower is the result of a cross of a "unnamed Californian OG Kush" and a reversed Pre 98 Bubba Kush clone.  I believe the grower only germinated a single seed.

Appearance:  These floral clusters are tightly packed, and heavily frosted.  Pistils range from whitish to mellow-fire-orange.  The green calyxes and slightly-tinged purple leaves give the flowers an overall platinum-blue-green appearance that is fairly striking.  The structure of the flowers are dense but finger-like as opposed to a Christmas-tree shape.  Overall beautiful looking flowers, but nothing too stand-out besides the seeming blue-platinum sheen.

Aroma: The aroma is fairly rich and complex, but most striking and immediate are the uncanny aromas of lemon pledge and Lysol.  It is really bizarre how accurately these flowers smell like these cleaning products, and it certainly makes one wonder at the awe of nature.  The second notes I notice are skunk and garlic-onion, almost like a homeless person who has been eating Indian food.   More subtly, tones of industrial manufacturing make their way through the bouquet.  This scent is a combination of freshly-formed plastic, latex, rubber, and industrial petroleum products.  I want to add a caveat to this--most OG Kush is heavily fuel/gasoline smelling, and the oil/petroleum notes have a strong emphasis.  This flower really does not have these signature OG notes, and the only thing I'd categorize as "OG" about this sample is the lemon pledge/lysol.  Really though, it is more reminiscent of Lemon Diesel than an OG.

Flavor:  The smoke loses some of the grunge of the aroma, and picks up some serious sweetness.  The flavor is overall is like a lemon pledge pound cake served on a latex glove.  It is really weird, and really awesome. Each specific note comes through distinctly, and yet they all blend into a single experience that changes throughout a bowl.  Some hits lean more lemon cake, while others tend more toward sweet onion and melted latex.  Unfortunately, there is not much lingering on the palate afterward--typically OGs coat the mouth in a skunky and tangy fuel-like sensation.  Definitely above average.

Effects:  Immediately felt behind the eyes and in the body, this smoke is relaxing and mellowing at first.  I instantly feel my thoughts start to loosen up and some of my daily stress melt away as my spine slinks back a bit.  Buddha Kush comes on in the forehead and brow, giving the instant effects of feeling like a pleasantly-content Neanderthal.  It is a bit like Headband in the sense that the user feels as if they are wearing a hat or--headband.  The potency is comparable to a diesel, headband, or OG--this flower is super potent, and just a few hits had me sweating in paranoia as I attempted to decipher my Swiss landlady's passive-aggressive communication style--of course she would drop in while I'm doing this review.  Overall the effect is really powerful, with both euphoric and relaxing elements.  This is an all-around pleaser, and I ended up having a blast endeavoring in writing, some guitar playing, and conversation with a friend.  I seemed a bit more enthusiastic, almost giddy in all of the above activities.

Overall:  I tend to smoke varietals from seed companies I've never heard of with some skepticism, but this sample was pretty impressive.  I attribute this more to my friend's growing technique than genetics, but certainly genetics were not a limiting factor here.  Buddha OG Kush (or Buddha OG?  I believe the name has changed since my friend acquired his seeds) is best in the flavor department in my opinion, with the effect following behind.  The aroma was interesting, but there was nothing novel about it.  I imagine a real winner could be found if someone hunted a full pack of these seeds--there was enough complexity in the bouquet to promise more potential deeper in the genetic line.  Buddha OG is an overall winner, probably a good settle-in-after-work staple.  However, this strain will do nothing for growers after exotics, and offers nothing innovative to the cannabis gene pool.

Bodhi Seeds Silver Mountain (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  From Bodhi Seeds, this variety is a cross of Super Silver Haze and Appalachia.  Appalachia is in turn a cross of Green Crack and Tres Dawg.  My friend grew this plant from seed at 7500' in the Colorado mountains.  This plant was resilient to weather, pests (including squirrel and bear, which did destroy other plants), and other harsh environmental factors.  This is the same grower of the Blueberry, Super Skunk, Cannalope Haze, and AK-47 featured on this blog.  He grows beyond organically and the quality of his flowers are always impressive.

Appearance:  These flowers fooled me, and I thought they were indoor on inspection.  Side-by-side with other flowers grown under identical conditions revealed the ability for Silver Mountain to thrive in outdoor environment.  I could immediately tell all the other flowers my friend showed me were outdoor, but these beautiful lime-green nuggets were so sparkly and bright that they retained a "museum quality" to their appearance.  Seriously impressive.

Aroma: The bouquet of this phenotype of Silver Mountain leans heavily to the Super Silver Haze side of things.  For those unfamiliar with SSH, the Dutch cultivar is unbelievably sweet.  It has spicy as well as floral elements, and an overall velveteen character that reminds me of high-altitude Colorado summer lichens and mosses.  The aroma is seriously compelling, and I love huffing the jar of this one.  It's is sweet, soft, fruity, alien, with grungy notes of garlic and roasted vedalia onion.  The bizarre combination flirts with the line of body odor.  I hate to exhaust my supply, just because the smell will no longer be available!  There is also a hint of tropical fruit and cantaloupe in addition to the lemon-lime-sprite.  A bit metallic as well--guava?  All in all, a strong point.

Flavor:  The velvety, and sweet-fruity aspects of the aroma translate well to flavor.  While very tasty, it is not quite as nuanced as the aroma.  This is somewhat typical, and it is really the exception when a flower tastes as good as it smells.  It is impressive with Silver Mountain how well the metallic fruit flavor and summer-lichen-velvet notes translate to flavor however, and it is certainly an enjoyable smoke.  Some of the fruit makes it through to the palate as well, leaning toward lemon citrus and melon.

Effects:  Silver Mountain is euphoric and super active, ideal for hiking--or perhaps that's a psychological effect from the name.  The smoke is uplifting, enjoyable, happy, and really pretty blissful when coupled with a sunny day and some skin exposure.  However, there is a "warm blanket" effect that sets in later and takes some pep out of my step.  Silver Mountain seems to be very uppity without raciness, paranoia, or a feeling of being overwhelmed--an amazing and rare trait to be cherished.  Mellow smoke, but the intensity is still satisfying.  The ability of this weed to pick you up without letting you down too hard, and without risking social anxiety/paranoia is super impressive

Overall:  Another instant hit from Bodhi, Silver Mountain is a versatile sativa-dominant variety that pleases all around.  Her flowers really are unbelievably beautiful, faring exceptionally well in a harsh mountain environment.  The aroma of Silver Mountain is something to be beheld, and I have made sure to do so often.  The flavor is enjoyable, but it is the bouquet and effect of Silver Mountain that really make her shine.  She is uplifting and inspiring, whether in creative endeavors or pursuits of physical activity.  Maybe most impressively, she manages to do so without being too racy like many descendants of Haze.  Another winner from Bodhi, no surprise.  Silver Mountain nears the acme of the "fruity sativa" category.

DJ Short '90s Blueberry (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  This sample of DJ Short's Blueberry was gifted to me by a friend who grew it outdoors, organically, between 7,000 and 8,000 ft. altitude.  The cut is a local clone that is well passed around, and has been all over Colorado since the 90s by most reports.  DJ Short, the breeder, reports that his Blueberry selection is an inbred line of three landrace heirlooms:  an Afghan, Purple Thai, and Oaxacan sativa.  

Appearance:  These bulbous flowers are a darker green due to their outdoor, sun-beaten environment.  However, they are well-formed with slightly above-average resin content.  Purple and blue hues accent the larger-than-normal calyxes, due in part to genetics and also to the cool fall temperatures.   I would say these buds look almost like good commercial outdoor.

Aroma: The aroma of these flowers is really intriguing..  As the name would suggest, there is a definitive blueberry aroma that wafts out of a jar.  Grown indoors, this same cutting smells like blueberry muffins.  However, it expresses itself differently in the outdoor environment.  This sample has a distinct spiciness to it, like that of an old rug or hashish.  Spicy, musty, blueberry notes, and a distinctly-other fruit note are at the forefront, and call for a 2nd and 3rd inhalation from a bag or jar.  It is somewhat reminiscent of Flo, another of DJ Short's famous clones.  The bouquet wafting off a jar is fruity, jammy, floral, and herbal, and is like some bizarrely-fruity-but-floral herbal tea.

Flavor:  Just as complex and intriguing as the aroma, the flavor of DJ Short's Blueberry is the highlight.  It is indeed like a smokable fruit-flavored floral-herbal tea, with many different notes contributing to an overall complex flavor.  There's a lot going on here, and the specifically blue and blackberry like flavors are really a novel experience to be beheld.  It is a wonder such a flavor profile found its way into a cannabis plant, and is really a testament to the sourcing, selection, and breeding done by DJ Short as well as the quality of care given by the grower.  I have genuinely had many herbal teas that were not as enjoyable to drink as this flower was to smoke.  

Effects:  Blueberry is happy and feel-good, but mellow and laid-back.  While some euphoric sensations occur, Blueberry is more of a relaxing end-of-day variety than a flower to be enjoyed before or during activities.  Blueberry consistently puts me in a drowsy dreamspace that I imagine could be quite a useful effect for certain ailments.  In my own experience, this varietal makes me lazy and unproductive, perfectly content with the way things are.  This is a double-edged sword.

Overall Experience: DJ Short's Blueberry is a classical legend, etched in stone among the unofficial "Strain Hall of Fame."  Her aroma and flavor are unparalleled in their uniqueness and potency, genuinely capturing aromas of blueberry, blackberry, and other berry flavors that are a real delight to experience in cannabis.  The effect is somewhat unremarkable, the potency hovering around average, and the character of the effects leaning toward a euphoric but otherwise generic indica effect.  This is a great variety to smoke at the end of the day to reflect on things, or with casual and comfortable company.  

Rare Dankness Moonshine Haze

Origins and Backstory:  This sample of Rare Dankness's cup-winning Moonshine Haze was gifted to me by a very talented and dedicated grower.  It was grown indoors organically, and then cured for three years in ideal conditions.  It has the same sort of paled-aesthetic as outdoor-grown cannabis, but is every bit as potent and intense as fresh flower.  A prolonged curing process like this one completely removes chlorophyll (and other components) that tend to make the smoke harsh.  The result is an unbelievably smooth and tasty smoke.  Moonshine Haze is a cross of Amnesia Haze and Neville's Wreck.

Appearance:  The bag appeal on this sample would be underwhelming for most.  The grower and I agreed on this--however, we also both agreed that those in the know would be able to examine this flower and immediately realize how high quality it really is.  Resin content is relatively high, and buds are well-developed elongated fingers with long, wispy pistils. The actual flowers themselves are not airy at all, but have a surprising and satisfying density. Obviously, this sample is a much darker green than normal, because all of the green plant matter has ended up evacuating through the long process of curing.  This lack of vibrancy is both what makes it appealing to smokers who have experienced long-cured cannabis before, and makes it unappealing to those who have not, and associate dark-colored flower with poor quality import cannabis.

Aroma: This cannabis reminds me of Amsterdam coffee shops.  The aroma is that of Hazes, but has more than enough depth to stand out from the crowd.  It is effervescent and bubbly, with definitive lemon and lime notes that bring Sprite and 7up to mind.  There is a distinct spiciness in the bouquet as well, sandalwood and other hard-to-describe elements that are almost like juniper berries or gin.  Once all is said and done, the incredibly distinguished aroma comes out smelling like a country club's golf locker room.  It really is not too far off from smelling like your grandfather's classy and overly-spicy cologne, and I mean that in the best of ways.  To capture such a combination of scents in cannabis is a huge part of what makes the plant so special.

Flavor:   The flavor of Moonshine is absolutely a highlight.  As nuanced as the aroma, the flavor possesses sweet, spicy, floral, herbal, and fruity characters.  The sprite-like lemon/lime effervescence comes on strongly, layered with the sweet-spicy sandalwood quality associated with hazes.  The flavor is strong and dangerously good, keeping the hits going without allowing the effects to fully set in.  The elements of aftershave, cologne, shaving cream, and other bizarre notes that conjure up locker room memories are present in the flavor as well.  This combination of factors makes for a uniquely tasty and distinguished flavor, an experience I would venture to guess is entirely unavailable outside of smoking cannabis.

Effects:  Moonshine Haze is well renowned for her effects, a classic-yet-contemporary representation of Dutch Haze cultivars.  She is zippy, heart-pounding, racy, and euphoric.  Moonshine can be lighthearted and uplifting in small doses, perfect for a conversation and walk in the park on a sunny day.  However, she has the potential to be terrifying in larger doses.  With increased toking, odds for symptoms of paranoia and social anxiety go up.  Visual acuity seems more intense as colors become more vibrant.  Thoughts swirl around ones head making social situations difficult to navigate with focus and calm.  The effects can be long lasting, especially for a sativa.  The come down is almost like a terrifying roller coaster ride.  Even if you were miserably paranoid, you will want to get back in line and hit the ride all over again.  Scary fun!

Overall Experience:   Moonshine Haze is a fun remix of old Dutch Haze genetics.  I have sampled several phenotypes with aroma varying from granny smith apples to strawberries to lemon-lime.  There is a common denominator of sweet-spicy signature pine and haze, and the buzz is always potent and uplifting.  It is basically a universal factor with delicious sativas that you will inevitably smoke more than is ideal for your mental well-being; Moonshine Haze is no exception.  There is no shortage of reasons to imbibe in Moonshine Haze when it's on the shelf, and it is almost always one of the quickest of my jars to empty out.  Killer job by the grower on this euphoric and unbelievably complex flower.

Bodhi Seeds Congolese Pine x Mother's Milk

Origins and Backstory: I received a pack of testers from Bodhi, and germinated the whole thing.  I unfortunately only received one female from the package.  Bodhi used a Congolese (pine) landrace as a mother for this strain, and a Mother's Milk (Nepali OG x Appalachia) father.  I've not heard of many other strains using the Mother's Milk pollen, so this one seems like a rarity.

Appearance:  Flowers from this cultivar almost appear whitish-platinum, an almost blueish-white hue.  It reminds me of the Lotus Larry x Sunshine Daydream with respect to the color of the flowers.  Flowers are highly resinous, but are a bit fluffy.  This could be because of the harvest time; many landrace sativas and their progeny often take longer to fully develop, but I chopped this plant at 77 days, possibly early.  Overall, this variety still put out pretty flowers that are highly resinous with an unusual color.  All other aspects of appearance are normal or unremarkable.

Aroma:  Interestingly, the bouquet from this variety has changed drastically over the course of flowering.  The finished product is sweet, candied, and skunky, smelling like Pez, candy valentine hearts, tic-tacs, and brand-new tennis balls.  It is also very skunky, and a jar from across the room smells classically like sweet-skunky cannabis.  It is when one cracks a bud open under the nose that notes of powdered and condensed milk, valentine hearts, and tennis-ball-tube become so prevalent.

Flavor: The flavor strays from the aroma just the slightest bit. It is indeed candied, skunky, and sweet with strong notes of sweet, condensed milk and pez.  However, there is also a very noticeable profile that I cannot put my finger on but reminds me of Christmas-time.  There is a flavor profile of a Christmas potpourri or some Christmas spice mix that was only present in the aroma for a couple weeks in mid-flower.  This profile does come through strongly in the flavor of the smoke though, and instantly brings back memories as a child gathered with the family underneath the Christmas tree.  It is bizarre but extremely nostalgic, unique, memorable, and enjoyable.

Effects:  Like mother's milk, this variety is welcoming, warming, soft, and sweet.  Mildly sedating, the smoke from this variety is euphoric and happy but overindulgence can lead to a dulling of mental function and some tiredness.  This is long-lasting hybrid smoke that is uplifting but relaxing, and very dreamy.  It puts a sort of simple, dumb smile on the user for a few hours before coming back down into a foggy dream-state.  The most value that I personally have found from this variety is its reliable ability to give a satisfying feeling of happiness and euphoria, regardless when or what one has smoked earlier in the day.  The sedative properties are rarely too much, and one rarely finds themselves incapacitated from this variety although it certainly doesn't lack potency.  This can be strong smoke, but it never lasts long and after a quick climax, the effect significantly mellows out only an hour or two after smoking.

Overall Experience:  While a fun smoke, Congolese Mother's Milk was never a particular favorite of mine.  The unique candy heart smell made these flowers fun for a novelty smoke every now and then, but the effect was too short-lived to make it any sort of staple.  The CMM is a warm, happy, sweet effect, which seems to be everything one might expect from a flower that smells like sweet, happy candy!  I'm certainly grateful to have explored these seeds as testers, as they were fairly unique and pushed the horizons of my personal experience with cannabis even further.  That being said, there wasn't much reason for me to keep clones or keep the harvests of CMM going, and I prefer something like Long Valley Royal Kush for a staple smoking variety.

Super Skunk

Origins and Backstory: I received this flower from a friend.  I do not review other people's flowers due to issues with consistency and integrity.  However, this friend of mine grows beyond organically and the quality of his flowers always impress me.  He appreciates older Dutch genetics, sweet and fruity varieties with creative and euphoric effects.  This varietal was grown indoors from seed.

Appearance:  Super Skunk flowers appear like classic high quality bud.  The flowers are bright green and highly resinous, wrapped up in thin purple-tipped leaves.  The flower structure is long and finger-like, like stretched out pine cones.  On first glance, Super Skunk is reminiscent of the old "headies" I used to be able to occasionally score in the midwest.

Aroma:  A jar of Super Skunk smells like most generic cannabis from across the room.  It is vaguely sweet and skunky, smelling like classic high-grade cannabis.  Broken buds tell a more interesting story though.  I was surprised by this flower, as Dutch Skunk varieties are typically more sweet than skunky.  This generally warrants disdain and a snobby attitude from most American skunk lovers--I would argue rightfully so, as I am one of them.  However, the aroma on this particular sample reminded me of a more generic version of Trinity or Synergy.  For those who don't know, Trinity is a classic NorCal clone that is known for its incredibly dank, skunky, and funky aroma.  Synergy is reviewed previously on my blog.  This plant has similar tones.  There are the skunky funky notes when flowers are broken up, and these are complimented well by a sort of sweet, silly-puddy-plastic-90s-action-figure smell.  I really appreciate the weird plastic smell which I have only noticed in Trinity and Synergy out of all the cultivars I have grown/smoked.  There are some background scents that one must search hard for, but miniscule amounts of garlic, onion, and old garbage can be noted as well.

Flavor: The flavor is a surprise on this one.  Chlorinated compounds are immediately obvious, as is a cheesy, mildew-like flavor.  Cue the "you're smoking moldy weed bro" comments.  This flower is not moldy (I checked after tasting), but has a weird, cheesy-mildew flavor.  It seriously is like tasting an old gym bag or an old locker room.  This bizarre flavor eventually leaves the palate, allowing more of the notes from the aroma to translate.  The lingering flavor is sweet, plastic-like, and smoky (go figure). 

Effect:  Super Skunk is more of an upper than a downer, and imparts a clear-headed and functional high.  She begins by imbuing creativity, euphoria, and a greater appreciation for music.  This settles down into a more relaxed and dreamy effect.  The stone is long lasting and satisfying, perfect for an early to mid afternoon toke.  While possessing many traits typically associated with sativas, I would not classify Super Skunk as floaty or cerebral.  I prefer Jack Herer, Super Silver Haze, or something similar to go on a magic flight of euphoria.  Super Skunk is a mellow and versatile ride.

Overall Experience:  This Super Skunk was grown superbly, there is no doubt about that. I felt that the aroma and flavor were the highlights.  I oddly love cultivars with offensive aromas of skunk, garbage, and putrid matter--Super Skunk manages to capture a couple of them.  She is skunky and funky, but I really love the plastic smells that bring back memories of Silly Putty and Power Rangers.  It's even more incredible when this note translates to flavor in the smoke!  Again, this was really a highlight.  The effect isn't lacking in strength, but in my opinion could use a bit more character.  I want to clarify--the effect really isn't lacking in any arena.  However, it does not excel in any particular area either, other than pure versatility.  Personally, I enjoy varieties with emphasis on something, whether it is extreme euphoria, racing heart/mind/thoughts, super-sleepiness, anxiety relief, etc.  Super Skunk is uplifting and happy, but generic among her specific effects with nothing outstanding.  Overall, I am pleasantly surprised with the quality of Super Skunk genetics, pushed to their full potential by the grower.

DNA Genetics Cannalope Haze (Outdoor)

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.  

AK-47

Origins and Backstory:  I received this from an anonymous friend, who is the only person to date to have flowers grown with enough integrity that not only will I smoke them, but I will write about them.  He is a lover of fruity, sweet, hazy varieties from the days of yore--a truly nostalgic stoner.  I believe he ordered a single seed from Amsterdam, and this was the phenotype.

Appearance:  The floral clusters from this AK-47 specimen are densely put together, and highly resinous.  The quantity of trichomes alone is enough to get one excited.  I appreciate the density of these bright green flowers, and it matches their grenade and/or golfball shape.  Coloration of calyxes and pistils are about par for the course, and there is no purple tint on any of the flowers--some different cultivars from the same garden exhibit purple coloration, making the pure green on these flowers notable.  This looks like high quality indica or hybrid bud.

Aroma:  The aroma of this sample was the biggest surprise to me.  A whole bud placed under my nose brought immediate and pronounced notes of sweet, pink grapefruit.  When buds are broken, the bouquet deepens with complex scents of cotton candy, sandalwood, haze, spice, and velvet.  It is a smell that reminds me of Amsterdam hazes more than anything else, which was greatly surprising.  Everyone has their own experiences, but the AK-47 of my youth was a much woodier, softer smell, almost like an old cedar or pine box.  In totality, this sample of AK-47 is not what I would expect, but is appetizing nonetheless.  The overall aroma could be stronger, and I suspect that other phenotypes with similar aromas of higher intensity could be found.

Flavor:  The flavor of the smoke is similar to that of aroma, with a lot of direct translation.  There are definite grapefruit and wood (but no pine) flavors, more of a sweet-spicy-woody than the flavor I recall from my younger days. I would assume that Amsterdam has done some genetic rearranging since then, but it's equally possible my  memory is warped.  The  flavor is tasty and enjoyable, but is not about to convert the OG or Cookie heads of today.

Effects: The effects from the AK-47 surprised me as well.  I would have thought that compared to the OGs and Chemdawgs of today, AK-47 would pale in potency.  This is not the case, and a three-hit bowl keeps me lifted for up to four hours.   Effects are felt first and foremost in the temples and on the sides of ones head.  Immediately, there is a gliding/floating sensation that comes into perception, building in intensity until a general sense of happiness and euphoria is prominent.  Concerns seem a lot less serious, the world seems a lot friendlier, and I seem a lot happier.  The effect is floaty, wispy, and cloud-like, and reminds me a bit of a less-focused Super Silver Haze.  I think this sample is more toward the indica spectrum of things than SSH, but certainly mirrors the heady effects to some extent.  It is happy and inspiring smoke, and truly is almost entirely felt above the neck, besides some mild tingling in the extremities.  It seems to hold all of the positive aspects of narrow leaf drug cultivars without the drawbacks of raciness, paranoia, dysphoria, etc. This smoke also tends to inspire creativity and curiosity, which makes this the grower's particular favorite.

Overall Experience:   As expected, this sample of AK-47 did not conform to my old memories.  However, judged objectively, it's a surprisingly high-quality flower. The bag appeal is excellent, and I couldn't imagine any smoker not being happy going with the resinous, sparkling, green grenades.  However, I am not alone among smokers to look down my nose at most of the contemporary Dutch gene pool.  Elite clones from the  American underground (and now, the not-so-underground) are in a league entirely superior to most of what can be found in Amsterdam.  There is of course the odd exception.  While I personally preferred other varieties from the same grower, this AK-47 has a plethora of positives.  This flower is strong, euphoric, uplifting, and active.  To be especially appreciated is the uplifting effect which is consistently creative.  How much more valuable can a mind-altering substance be?  For artists, philosophers, and creatives of all kinds, this is a great one to have on the shelf.  The aroma and flavor, while pleasant, do not stand up to other well-known (typically American) seed lines or elite clones in my opinion. While enjoyable and pleasant, it is just not quite complex enough for my adoration.  This is a great variety to be able to draw from for creative endeavors, but is not my daily driver of choice, nor is it a varietal I would pull out to impress OG/Kush/Chem lovers.

Big Bubba Diesel

Origins and Backstory: Big Bubba Diesel is a cross of the pre98 Bubba Kush and Sour Diesel.  I'm unaware of which Sour Diesel clone this is or where it came from.  This plant is grown in medical warehouses in Colorado due to its extreme potency, high bag appeal, and nose.

Appearance: The flowers from this plant are very aesthetically-pleasing.  Greens, purples, blacks, and reds can be seen.  The flowers are incredibly-dense, but they still have a pine-cone structure to them.  They are like elongated or oblong golf balls, like stretching out Bubba Kush flowers without losing density.  The leaves can reach dark hues of purple and black, but the flowers almost always remain a dark green.  The flowers are also highly resinous.  It's obvious this one was bred for the indoors.

Aroma:  Very metallic and chem-like, Big Bubba Diesel is a darker, more rank version of its Sour Diesel father.  It smells like classic dark cave and chemdog, but the fuel tones are a bit sweeter and more fruity.  Strong notes of copper, tin, and iron are present, as are hints of perfectly-ripe papaya and mango.  There are mustier, old style hashish aromas present as well, obviously coming by way of the Bubba Kush side of the lineage.  Sweet, metallic, chem-like, and mild notes of diesel fuel. 

Flavor:  The flavor of Big Bubba Diesel is appropriate for its namesake--it is big and bold, immediately reminiscent of Diesel and middle-eastern Kush.  There are sour, metallic, coppery flavors up front that completely coat the palate like any good Diesel plant.  Big Bubba Diesel is less fuely than diesel but has a pleasantly potent sour flavor.  Also very noticeable are coffee and subtle notes of spicy, marshmallow "Kush" flavors.  It makes me think more of Pure Kush than Bubba, and is really an incredible spin on both the Kush and diesel genetic lines of cannabis.

Effects:  Very indica-oriented, BBD is potent, sleepy, hungry, and happy.  It is long-lasting and very powerful herb.  I was told it has significant CBD content.  While that has never been verified, I could believe it.  This is very deep-cutting and medicinal flower.  She will put you to sleep at the end of the night, and can cut through the stone of nearly any other plant.  If you smoke her earlier in the day, prepare to be productive in nothing but feeding yourself.  This strain inspires munchies of the greatest order.  However, it can be incredibly lethargic and eye-reddening, making mobility a challenge.  This is definitely a headier version of Bubba Kush, and seems to be more potent.  This will hit hard on all fronts--your mind will be stunned, curious, scared, relaxed, and pleased--the body will be deeply relaxed and aches just melt away.  This is powerful, medicinal canna-magic that has tremendous medical value as well as recreational value on the nights in.  This plant will hit just as hard as any OG or Chemdog variety.

Overall Experience:  A favorite nightcap of mine, Big Bubba Diesel is pretty much sure to put you to sleep.  It is so warm and relaxing, and seems to accentuate the luxuries of having blankets and pillows.  In bed with closed eyes, I feel as if floating on clouds and cuddling with puppies.  This flower is very narcotic in its effect, and is not meant for day use.  The aroma and structure make for amazing bag appeal, and the flavor is sure to be enjoyed.  Unfortunately, the only real use I can find for this herb is right before bed.  It might be OK for an evening movie, but I would probably still fall asleep.

TopDawg Seeds Stardawg

Origins and Backstory: Originally bred by JJNYC of Topdawg seeds, Stardawg is now passed around in clone-only form and has been bred with by others.  I acquired a clone from a friend of a proven Stardawg female.  She is originally a cross of Chem 4 and Tres Dawg.

Appearance: Eye-popping, the lime-green, trichome-encrusted flowers from this plant have incredible bag appeal.  They tend to come in smaller, golf-ball shaped nuggets.  The buds are very dense, very bright and resinous, and have bright orange pistils to further catch the eye.  Clearly, appearance was taken strongly into account for whoever selected this phenotype.

Aroma:  Stardawg absolutely reeks classically of skunky, dank cannabis.  Listed in order of prevalence, Stardawg smells of gasoline, diesel/jet fuel, skunk, burnt rubber, body odor, coffee, dirty feet, bad breath, garlic, onion, old rug, and guava juice.  It is incredibly powerful, and can offend non-smokers easily in my experience.  A jar will make you crinkle your nose in a strange sort of satisfied disgust.  It smells like a classic Chemdog strain, disgustingly-awesome.  I absolutely love the near-revolting odor from this flower, and it brings back fond memories of "headies" from the early 2000s.

Flavor:  The flavor of Stardawg is sour and chemdawg-like, but is more metallic and guava/grapefruit than its aroma would imply.  There is a strong aspect of coffee toward the front end of inhalations, but most of the body odor, notes of dirty feet and other offensive bodily functions are (thankfully?) lost in the smoke.  The onion and notes of hashish and spice are subtle but present.  The diverse and complex array of flavors puts a spin on the Chemdawg line.  Chemdawg lovers will find Stardawg familiar but refreshing.

Effects:  Stardawg is a potent, knock-you-out Chemdog variety that is potent and warm as could be. It is a head-numbing/warming indica-dominant smoke that takes one into an hours-long experience.  The creeping effects are long-lasting, and will ultimately end in a clouded, foggy stone.  It is difficult, if not impossible, to feel the more subtle effects of day-brightening sativas after delving into some Stardawg.  Stardawg is very much like a classic Chemdawg; she is very potent, dreamy, euphoric and happy, but there's a more narcotic aspect to Stardawg than I typically associate with the clone-only Chemdawg varietals.  The effect is also felt strongly in the head, but does not imbue any strong motivational senses or much creative thoughts.  Stardawg is ideal for curling up on a winter night with a loved one to watch a movie.

Overall Experience:  Stardawg is an excellent represenation of Chemdawg in a seed line.  It has many of the best traits of Chem 4 and Chemdawg D, and both can be detected in the aroma and flavor.  Stardawg has some Afghan bred into it, giving some vigor and density to the Chemdawg line.  This cultivar is equally adaptable to both the discerning connoisseur, or the casual toker--the smoke is world-class like any Chemdawg, the yields are good, bag appeal is great, and the aroma is incredibly powerful.  Stardawg won't please any fruity-sativa lovers, and while a crowd-pleaser, offends the odd smoker who prefers their cannabis NOT to smell like a hint of death.  Overall a lovely variety, but as a matter of personal preference, I still find both the Chem 4 and Chem D to be ultimately superior smoke.