Cannarado Genetics Stir Fry

Origins and Backstory:  From Cannarado Genetics, Stir Fry is a cross of two currently-popular strains. It is a cross of GMO and Orange Cookies, and the name seems fitting. While I did not grow this plant from seed, I received a selected clone from @wondermademedoit. GMO and Orange Cookies are two extremely popular plants, with GMO in nearly every storefront at the time of publishing this. GMO is known for intense aromas of garlic, onions, OG funk, and great visual bag appeal. The plant also has an impressive stone, and is really a complete package (especially for a commercially-minded cultivator). There is a lot of (typical) controversy around GMO, some arguing it was named after garlic, mushrooms, and onions (aromas that show up early in flower), but I’ll let the reader do their own research. I have personally never grown GMO or Orange Cookies, but I can see that Stir Fry embodies most of the favorable traits of both parents. In my mind, Stir Fry represents the current commercial cannabis market. The traits in this plant seem to be those sought after by consumers and producers, and I can see why these plants (and similar ones) are all the current rage.

Appearance:  Absolutely stunning, Stir Fry’s dense buds are crusted in trichomes with extreme color variations. The color of fresh buds have nearly every shade of green you could imagine as well as light purple accents on leaf and calyx tips. While I harvested this plant early, I’d certainly expect that a later harvest would accentuate the purpling and more dramatic color changes. The pistils are an attractive and typical reddish-orange, giving a bag of Stir Fry classic appeal. These look like solid, pine-cone-like buds with plenty of color and frost. All in all, Stir Fry’s appearance is somewhere between ripened fruit, and a gemstone. This is really beautiful flower.

Aroma:  Following the lead of the aesthetics, Stir Fry’s bouquet is sweet, candied, and almost inspires hunger—certainly it inspires the want to consume the flower one way or another. Most noticeable are tamarind, orange juice, graham cracker, skunk, and some umami flavors that are somewhere between shiitake mushrooms and fish sauce. There is a prominent garlic note that has come out with a prolonged cure, and I’ve had a few friends also verify a toasted sesame oil aroma. It is some very attractive and delicious-smelling weed. Overall, I’d describe it as orange-blossom/honey/tamarind/umami.

Flavor:  The flavor closely follow the aroma. Floral and sweet, Stir Fry tastes like orange blossom honey. If the reader hasn’t experienced orange blossom honey—go get some! It is floral, citrusy/tangy, sweet/candied, and the first time I tried it I was in mild awe. I am also in mild awe of the flavor of this weed. The aroma perfectly translates to flavor, and makes for a borderline-blissful experience. Not only are the orange blossom honey and tamarind flavors prominent, but they’re tangier in flavor than in aroma. The flavor is an entourage of notes complete with the garlic, graham cracker, and toasted sesame/kelp/crackers that keep the umami aroma intact in flavor. The flavor of this smoke is nothing short of a work of art, and I’m impressed—the hype is real.

Effects:  This weed is immediately felt in the body and behind the eyes, bringing a sense of calm and relaxation. It is potent, coming on gradually but assertively. At first it is sedating and mellowing, and I can feel the tension in my shoulders/neck slowly dissolve as the speed of my thought slows. Each hit takes you higher, but there is a slow settling that occurs (unlike the instant forehead floating of LimepopKushxSkyJaro). This weed is strong but very relaxing, and is certainly in the same vein of most other commercially popular strains in this sense. While some folks complain that cookies are not potent enough, I definitely don’t have that issue with this flower—it gets me plenty high! Even two hits is enough to do the job for a seasoned toker, and my typical dose of this flower is 1-3 solid tokes. Otherwise, the relaxation turns narcotic, and the smoker is totally content with just loafing around. This is classic chill weed felt both in the body and brain. I’d say it’s a well-balanced effect that ultimately leans toward the “indica” end of the spectrum, with a good dose of euphoria and well-being felt in the mind.

Overall:  I will admit it—I am a hater of the hype cultivars. When a new strain comes out that everyone has to have, I am immediately skeptical, and likely even cynical. I assume that if the masses love it, it is probably pretty mediocre. However, in recent years, I think I’ve warmed up more to popular opinion of stoners. Stir Fry is probably one of the best examples of a cultivar that I have no business hating on! I was certainly cynical when I received it, and really didn’t pay the plant much attention. The harvest really changed my mind, and this is an elite-level plant that shines on every level. Like most hype strains, I do feel that it falls a bit short in the “effects” category—it doesn’t stand out in any one way. While enjoyable, strong, relaxing, and happy, it’s not superb. However, every other aspect of this flower is, and Stir Fry is plant worthy of a few cycles. The aroma, flavor, appearance, and everything else about this flower is a special treat!

Hawaiian Heirloom Genetics Hashplant 13 x Pogdawg

Origins and Backstory:  This was bred by @trichome.fields.forever and @hawaiianheirloomgenetics. The Hashplant 13 mother is a legendary plant that I have never even seen, whether in flower, concentrate, plant, or any other form. I have only seen it reviewed in the cannabible—the author, Jason King, raves about HP13 like it is God’s gift to man. The clone apparently has a history in NYC as well as Hawaii, but it seems to have less of an “exclusive” factor on the island. I was lucky enough to be gifted these seeds. Pog is another famous Hawaiian heirloom, but I’ve never seen/heard of it off of the island. It is a cross of Skunkdog and HP13. I believe the Pogdawg is a Pog x Chemdog plant, but I am actually not sure of the details on this one. In any case, this is a mashup of classic and rare Hawaiian heirlooms that I have always wanted to try.

Appearance:  Although broad-leafed, these plants grew tall and lanky, requiring support. The flowers remind me of something halfway between modern cannabis and old-school Thai weed. The flowers are not exactly airy, but they tend to foxtail and stack spires of calyxes—this is a specifically Thai trait in my experience, and I was very surprised to see it here! Despite taking this plant to 90 days of 12/12 before harvesting, none of the pistils had matured by time of harvest. One can see the harvested flowers at the bottom of this post; all the pistils remain white. It is possible they could have finished if I had allowed longer flowering. The resin production on these plants is excellent, and the appearance really reminds me of high quality sativa weed from 2000s Amsterdam.

Aroma: Truly bizarre, the aroma is the high point of this flower. It is simultaneously sweet and savory, offering fruity notes, garlic salt, and other culinary notes that are normally never coupled. There is freshly-chopped white onion and equally-strong notes of as green melon, guava, and fruit punch (Hawaiian-C?). Oregano is also prominent, as is mustard, pickles, and a velveteen spice and floral/ perfume-like back end. It’s a complex smell that is something like a salad a five year old might make. The combinations of sweet honeydew and raw onion are attractive, and possibly the most unique thing on my shelf right now. The sweet, fruit-juice notes seem out of place with the salty, garlic/onion/oregano that reminds me of Italian cooking. I have definitely never smelled weed like this before, and it is awesome. It is a bizarre mix of attractive/repulsive tones, seemingly out of place, that most ganja enthusiasts come to love.

Flavor:  The flavor of this weed is spectacular. Nuanced and layered, a clean pipe makes all the difference! You can taste onion up front, but the flavor lingering in my mouth is like a sour, green apple jolly rancher. It is not super-sweet like candy, but the flavor is there. There are also some really beautiful and soft floral/perfumey notes that come through the back end, and remind me of Thai and Cambodian landraces I’ve smoked. It is a like a mildly spicy perfume, but mostly floral—it’s a rare but distinct aroma in weed that I wish I saw more of! Overall, the flavor is an experience of mildly sour, green-apple-melon-onion perfume tones. Killer and extremely unique—I think what I enjoy most is the diversity, complexity, and strange combinations of flavors you don’t normally associate with one another. The exotic floral spice I associate with southeast Asian sativas is icing on the cake. The taste is on par with the aroma—excellent.

Effects:  This weed is deceivingly potent (all white pistils..?), and is at once euphoric/rushing and relaxing. I find that my inner state goes on a roller coaster ride with this one. Similarly to the aroma, the effect is pulling in two opposing directions. I get giddy belly rushes of excited euphoria that make me feel like a small child. These are immediately followed by calm, centered, and grounded feelings of gratitude, finished off with paranoid thoughts about my nosy neighbors—I seem to be all over the place with this one! The seeming unpredictability makes this a bit of a wildcard, and I smoke it when some “wildcard weed” seems appropriate—social events with friends, feeling like an unusual evening experience, etc. Hashplant 13 x Pogdawg seems to offer something in all occasions, and makes for a fun smoke on all occasions. My only complaint is that the effect is somewhat short-lived, or at least the euphoric aspect. This calls for relatively frequent smoking, and can lead to burnout early in the day.

Overall:  This is extremely unique and high quality cannabis. Every aspect of this weed is unlike any other I’ve smoked really—the appearance is somewhere between high-grade indoor frost-covered commercial strains, and a wild equatorial landrace. The white pistils and platinum sheen of resin make for a striking and unique appearance. The smell is even more captivating; the savory Italian cooking notes mix warmly with the cool, refreshing, sweet-fruity-tropical tones to make a richly layered smell I’ve never experienced elsewhere. The closest thing would be a freshly-baked pizza next to a high-end floral fruit smoothie. On top of it all is a rich, woody, floral-perfume-spice that brings me back to pure Thai and Cambodian weed. The aroma is nuanced, complex, and on par with any weed I’ve ever smoked. This translates to flavor. While not extremely “dank” and mouth-coating, the flavor is enjoyable, nuanced, and one can detect every note from the bouquet. The equally-novel mixture of effects and unpredictability of this weed make it a fun smoke that I don’t take down from the shelf often. However, when I do, I know it is a special occasion that will be remembered (or, won’t!). I understand the legend of Hashplant 13 if it is anything like this herb, and I also understand the Hawaiian enthusiasm for Pog and Pogdawg. Growing and smoking this cultivar are both fantastic experiences, and the quality of this seed is on par with any others I’ve grown.

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Freeborn Selections Sky Cuddler Double Kush (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  Bred by the famous @meangenefrommendocino from Freeborn Selections, SCDK is quite the doozy. The lineage, straight from the horse’s mouth, goes as follows:
Pure Kush x Sour Diesel x Pure Kush x Purple Urkel x Black Afghani x Pure Kush x Skywalker x Pure Kush x Hindu x Big Red
There’s a lot of Pure Kush in the lineage, and a lot of back-crossing and inbreeding. The reader might also notice the lineage seems like a balance between many of the classical tried-and-true varietals (OG, Pure Kush, Urkel, Sour D) with some of the more unique heirloom varieties Gene is famous for (Hindu, Big Red, Black Afghan) tied in. This strain’s lineage more or less has mean gene written all over it!

Appearance:  While flowering, the plants in the garden had a “look” to them—I have only been growing about 10 years, but sometimes I will notice a plant that just looks special. Some are obvious (extreme frost, color, structure, etc.) but the SCDK is much more subtle. It is the cannabis equivalent of a martial artist; when an experienced fighter enters a room, he’s confident but does not need everybody to know. Most people can sense the confidence, but it is understated—this is more or less SCDK! She looks beautiful and incredibly dank, but does not stand out from afar the way the more glamorous varietals might. All my outdoor SCDK plants stayed green, even though they finished with typical CO temperature swings—very hot days, and very cold nights. These plants went into the 30s and even 20s for a brief period of time without turning purple. They did get extremely dense however, and the resin production is spectacular. This herb just looks like classically-dank, chunky, indica greenbud. While not colorful by any means, the structure/density coupled with extreme resin coverage gives SCDK significant bag appeal. The appearance is actually a high point of the flower, especially when on the live plant.

Aroma:  The smell is absolutely the highlight of this flower for me. Most growers I’ve seen have described SCDK as green melon and WD40—yes, I can notice these. It is sweet, not quite candied but close, with both natural aromas like fruit and artificial solvent-tones equally present. There is a note of extreme freshness that brings “spring” to mind, and almost makes me think of Irish Spring soap or some similar hygiene product. The smell is simultaneously sweet/fruity, chemical/funky, and fresh/alluring. This is classically-attractive greenbud.

Flavor:  The flavor of this herb hits every single note of the aroma out of a clean pipe, and is simultaneously new and familiar. The green melon is dominant, as are clasically-dank flavors like soap and WD40 solvent. It is really bizarre and weird, and again—it is these artificial notes that seemingly don’t belong in the plant kingdom that first got me fascinated with cannabis (that and its anxiolytic properties!). The flavors are intense and carry through the bowl to an extent. The green melon and classically-dank skunky notes are omnipresent, but the barbasol and soap notes quickly fade and give way to more herbaceous notes. I even noted menthol on some hits. Each hit is nose-crinkling and full of terpenes as well as cannabinoids, making each individual toke a satisfying experience.

Effects:  SCDK’s effect is typical of high quality greenbud, but is enjoyably potent, warm, and comforting. I can feel the effect settle in a few seconds after exhaling, with a mild headrush. However, the effect is more settled and less euphoric than most smokes that start out that way. The stone settles in the forehead, temples, and really just all over the head in general. I can feel my body relax, and the little tensions in my musculature dissolve to nothing. This is classic. It is happy, warm, sweet, strong, comforting, and relaxing. This won’t have you passed out on the couch from supreme potency, and it won’t have your heart racing with excitement, anxiety, or paranoia. Sky Cuddler Double Kush makes sweet times a bit sweeter, and is an embodiment of all the things that made me personally fall in love with weed in the first place—it enhances almost everything. I notice I’m more grateful, more considerate, more aware, and just generally a better version of myself when I smoke Sky Cuddler Double Kush. As Bob Marley said, “the herb reveals you to yourself.” How true that is of Sky Cuddler Double Kush. SCDK is versatile weed, and a great choice for almost every occasion.

Overall: This is another exceptional example of American weed from Freeborn Selections and @meangenefrommendocino. Every trait is a high point on both the living plant as well as the dried flower. My plants were self-supporting with generous yields, and really beautiful to look at in the garden. The impressive and nuanced aroma is new and familiar at the same time, which is both intriguing and comforting. This one will keep you coming back with its warm, blissful effect and deeply satisfying flavor. This is versatile weed, making it a great daily driver and one to keep on the shelf. It was difficult for me to make sense of so many people raving about SCDK when all of the detailed reviews just made it sound like “normal” weed. This is certainly classic, familiar, and predictable—but it is in all the best ways, with a balance of its own unique spin. My experience of Sky Cuddler Double Kush is how I would imagine it to be falling in love with your wife a second time; smoking this weed is a potent reminder why we fell in love with cannabis to begin with.

DJ Short F-13

Origins and Backstory:  This is a rare one, and it was a combination of vigilance and luck that brought a package of seeds into my possession. It is DJ Short’s self-proclaimed Holy Grail of sativa plants. Named F13 as an almost anonymous plant from DJ Short’s floral line (think Flo and others), these seeds are actually an F5 selection. After being unavailable for many years, the man himself released some packs from his personal vault. I got my green thumbs on a pack and germinated them shortly thereafter. I grew out four plants, all of which were female. I first read about this strain in Jason King’s Cannabible. King raves about this one as if it is the greatest weed on earth, and I’ve been intrigued ever since reading his review.

Appearance:  These were some of the most visually appealing plants I have grown, and the flowers certainly have a bag appeal as well. The plants had a lot of variation, and were unbelievably beautiful in the garden. I could see these being ornamental someday. Plants were every combination of green and purple you could think of, with some fading toward black at harvest, others displaying neon greens and yellows. The pistils are a bright fire-orange, and the structure of the flowers was either short stacks of calyxes reminiscent of Bubba Kush, or tall stretching foxtails—both ends of the spectrum. There was a lot of variation here in terms of structure/color, but all seemed to pull from the same color palate. Some plants had green flower and purple leaf, others had the opposite, and still others mixed. There really was every combination of colors and structure between the females, but you could easily see they were all sisters. All in all, gorgeous plants. The finished flowers look like skimpier cookies in a bag—they aren’t as chunky as most commercial designer strains, but the color is attractive, and they have a great frost-factor as well.

Aroma:  While anyone who has grown DJ Short gear will be able to tell these come from the same pool, they are incredibly unique, and I have never really smelled weed like this before. Up front is the tell-tale velvety, floral, “blue” smell that DJ Short strains exhibit. There are definite musky notes of leather and cologne as well, and strong notes of almost every berry you can think of—blue, rasp, black, and other exotic variants like bilberry and probably others I’m not personally familiar with. There is a sour/tart back-end as well, that makes me think of currants and elderberries. The incense tones and body odor are also pretty strong on my favorite pheno of F-13, with notes of nag champa, patchouli, garlic, and homeless hippy odor. Some phenotypes tilted one way or the other, with some leaning to gummy bears, Flintstone vitamins, geranium, marigold, vanilla, and even rose. The geranium/rose/marigold phenotypes are really fun to smell in jars, but my ultimately-favorite plant has a great balance of all of the aforementioned aromas. It is musty with notes of body odor, eastern incense, sour berries, and flowers. There is a ton of variation in the smell, and I can see why this strain received such mixed reviews over the years. If I hadn’t found my winning and evenly-balanced plant, I’d be disappointed with this strain.

Flavor:  Well, this is a strange one! The overall mouthfeel is soft and velvety, but the actual flavor of the smoke is pretty wild. It tastes like a cola-flavored drink, and reminds me of Dr Pepper. I’ve probably had a single can of Dr. Pepper in my life, but this just really tastes like a generic cola beverage with a hint of wood-based incense. It is pretty wild, but unfortunately is not incredibly intense. I recently reviewed Triangle Kush, and have been smoking a lot of Limepop Kush x Sky Jaro—compared to these two, F-13 is muted and subtle. The character of the flavor is definitely unique and interesting, but the lack of intensity is a moderate letdown. If the flavor were as lip-smacking, intense, and lingering as the current cutting edge of American ganja, this would be a popular elite.

Effects:  This herb is enjoyable, functional, positive and pleasant. F-13 immediately feels happy and uplifting, with an emphasis on optimism and euphoria. There is a sensation that reminds me of psilocybin mushrooms—this is unfortunately lost if you smoke a lot. F-13 is really best enjoyed in moderation, as I feel the finer points of the smoke are lost to overindulging, and the effect becomes much more generic. The high point of the effect for me is the trifecta of relaxing, psychedelic, and euphoric traits. F-13 emphasizes all three of these things, and is a lovely choice for daytime or morning smoking. It is surprisingly strong, and a little bit can go a long way. If I smoke this on a Saturday or Sunday morning, I just like to take 2-3 hits from a bowl to sail through my morning and brighten the day.

Overall:  F-13 is on the more unique end of the spectrum in every category. Unfortunately, I think these plants lack the traits needed to make them popular and commercially viable. After growing these, it is apparent why this has never become a people’s strain, in spite of every aspect of the experience being enjoyable. The aroma and flavor are pleasant, nuanced, delicate, and subtle. The effect could be described similarly—while not lacking in potency, I do think the best traits of the high are lost after smoking heavily. While the plants are incredibly beautiful, none of these factors are appreciated by the market, and therefore are not appreciated by commercial cultivators. While I enjoy smoking this weed and certainly enjoy growing it, it is not something I need to have on my shelf all the time. And on top of all the aforementioned reasons, I might’ve gotten lucky with my single “keeper” phenotype—there was really only one female I had that was worth even considering growing a second time, with each of her sisters basically being fractions of her. For example, imagine an athletic, intelligent, and sociable human with an athletic sibling, an intelligent sibling, and a sociable sibling—only one is the complete package, while the others are all somewhat unremarkable on their own. F-13 is unique enough that I hope it is preserved for the long term in seed, but the gene pool does need to be narrowed down in my opinion, even at F5.

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Wifi Ghost

Origins and Backstory:  This famous cut is a cross of Ghost OG and Wifi or White Fire, in turn a cross of the White and Fire OG (originally done by OG Raskal). I’m not sure if the Wifi Ghost was made by Raskal, or just the Wifi. I received the clone from @bocobeans, but it is a somewhat well-known clone on the front range of Colorado. I’ve seen it in dispensaries and friend’s gardens, but this is the first time I had an opportunity to grow it myself. I have no idea who created this strain originally, or who selected the cut, but it is really an amazing plant. I’ve seen it around in Colorado the last several years, so if anyone has information I would love to hear it!

Appearance:  These plants look like something out of a lab; the resin production is excellent, and the structure is absolutely perfect for someone trying to keep an even canopy and full room. The plants stay relatively short and don’t stretch much, and put out hefty harvests of goff-ball shaped buds. All of which are caked in resin. The calyxes glisten with trichomes, and the foliage turn all kinds of autumn-like colors through the finish. The buds stay green with minimal purple accenting, but the sheen of resin on the round buds is really impressive. The pistils finish darker than fire-engine red, and really make for a striking appearance. These plants exhibit excellent bag appeal, and are fun to watch.

Aroma*: As one could imagine, the smell coming from both the plants and finished bud is very OG-dominant. It reminds me of the SFV (San Fernando Valley) OG cut more than any others, even more than the Ghost. There are notes of burnt rubber, sweet-skunk, janitorial cleaning agents (most ending in “sol”), but citrus/lemon is muted if at all present. The White cut has a heavy influence, with some hashy, almost marshmallow-like tones coming through. The White is similar to some of the more traditional kushes like Hollywood and Master, in that it has hashy and spicey tones, but is relatively mild overall. This clone shares those aromas, with a lot of the softer, more velvety Kush tones coming through. There’s a sweetness to this one as well that is not found in the original Triangle/SFV/Ghost cuts—it is not candy-like, but almost a bit sweet-sour, like apple blossom or apple cider. It really reminds me of a classic OG, but is more generic. This cut is like a hashy, muted, sweet OG Kush.

*As a side-note, I thought this strain was remarkable in that it smelled almost like 100% gasoline with a hint of pinesol for several weeks after harvest. The jars smelled like literal gasoline, but this eventually fades into the sweeter, more floral and perfumey tones I attempt to describe above. I always think it is interesting how strains can transform after/during a cure. After a few months, the gasoline notes are almost completely gone.

Flavor: Immediately, the smoke has a rubber pinesol OG front end, with marshmallow-hash-kushspice sweetness on the follow through. Overall, it’s like a muted OG with heavy hashplant tones. It reminds me of Hollywood Pure Kush with the marshmallow and classic kush spice, but there are definite OG tones as well. Just like the aroma, the closest OG clone that the flavor Wifi Ghost is comparable to is the SFV cut. This clone of Wifi Ghost lacks most of the sharp, astringent, chemical tones that I often experience in pure Ghost OG. The flavor is classically dank and skunky as well as enjoyable—that being said, any of the elite clone-only OGs that have more fame (SFV, Ghost, Fire, Larry, Triangle, etc.) taste better than this one. The flavor is pleasant and enjoyable, but is not in the same league with other OGs—overall, skunky, dank, hashy, but moderate.

Effects:   This one comes up slowly and gently, and is a stark contrast to the Limepop Kush x Sky Jaro I’ve been smoking so much of lately. Wifi Ghost creeps up slowly and easily, at first yielding an uplifted, classically euphoric high. Again, this is personally reminiscent of the SFV OG. These flowers have a pleasant and pronounced feeling of well-being tat is really comforting. It seems as though you could smoke yourself straight to heaven while coming up on this weed, and it’s very tempting to go overboard. However, as I have confirmed time and again, that is not always a great idea. Most OG smoke makes me weird (at the least it makes me feel weird) in public, and I really don’t like to smoke this weed until later in the day. There is a more laid back and calming quality to this smoke compared to other OGs, and it seems like The White’s influence comes through significantly. The White has always been a relaxed, mellow, and chill effect for me—Wifi Ghost carries a lot of these traits through. I’d say the effect is more round and less sharp than some of the other well-known OGs, but it is strong and OG enough to give me social anxiety/paranoia. The upside is that although pretty relaxed in private, it is not narcotic and motivation-killing, so you can get a lot done around the house. The effect is overall just a warm, nice, mellow high that I like to enjoy on lazy Sundays or some laid-back work during the week. Like the flavor, this is pleasant but I prefer other elite clone OGs.

Overall:  This is one of the best looking plants I have ever grown, both before and after harvest. The flowers are really beautiful on the plant and in the bag, and make for an incredibly aesthetic package. This is really a commercial flower grower’s dream, and is of a quality that a connoisseur can enjoy it as well. That being said, I’d prefer to grow pure Ghost OG, or the White clone. When it comes to actually enjoying the herb, I’d prefer one or the other to a blend. I love the intense effect and sharp aroma of Ghost, and I do enjoy the relaxed and chill smoke of the White as well. However, I really would prefer picking one or the other if I had the jars on the shelf, instead of this compromise. This is fantastic flower that certainly shouldn’t disappoint anyone. This is great smoke and warrants a report of “excellent,” but if you’ve smoked pure Ghost or some of the other OGs, this won’t do anything new for you. Commercial producers should much prefer this to the Ghost though—to each their own.

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Freeborn Selections Limepop Kush x Sky Jaro

Origins and Backstory:  Bred by Freeborn Selections, I paid $5 for these seeds at the cup (only available if you bought a $2-300 pack). Limepop Kush is a combination of Ghost OG and Meangene’s famous and retired Limepop male. Sky Jaro is a cross of Skywalker and Jaro—Skywalker is a popular OG clone, and Jaro is one of Mean Gene’s in-house crosses. The lineage of Jaro looks like: Sour Diesel x (Hollywood Pure Kush x (Black Afghani x Hindu Kush)). I germinated the whole pack and grew out 5 different females (the rest were male). Obviously given the lineage, this is a polyhybrid with all kinds of plants in the gene pool. However, they’re all winners, and these seeds were surprisingly somewhat uniform.

Appearance:  The buds are so light green and frosty, and the pistils remain white so late into flower, that these flowers basically look white for a while (even after harvest!). They shimmer on and off the plant, and everyone who takes a bud out of the bag for inspection is instantly impressed. The resin production is fantastic, with copious coverage of trichomes all the way out to the edges of most of the leaves. The structure of the flowers is OG-esque, with large bulging calyxes of the typical OG curves. Pistils protrude from the almost-white flowers, giving an unusually ghost-like appearance to the buds. I could have fed my plants more, and they ended up fading a bit early. This produced mostly pale greens and yellows, but some red pigments did come out as well. This is definitely a yielder, with buds stacking the entirety of the stems with minimal leaf matter—making LPKSJ a very easy trim. At harvest, these plants basically look like platinum/white colored buds with a few yellow/red fan leaves attached for good measure. The plants are almost entirely platinum-sheened flower at finish, due to the intense resin production. Overall, this one is pretty, but seems to get more beautiful the closer you look and the more you handle the bud.

Aroma:  Like other Freeborn gear, these are extremely loud and aromatic flowers. Growing plants smelled a lot like mom (Limepop Kush), with strong aromas of lime rind, lime soda, urinal cake, lysol, and pinesol. Perhaps the best aspect of the aroma is that there are no overly-dominant notes, and each tone is easily detectable. This gives the aroma a feeling of being “layered” as opposed to being one-dimensional (as is too often the case). There are other notes that I did not experience in pure Limepop Kush as well. They are mostly sour in nature, reminiscent of Sour Diesel and OG varieties. I detect cream, heavy skunk, sponge cake, gasoline, tarmac, sugar cookies, and that sour perfume note that I associate with high-quality OG clones. These flowers are really intense and notable, and exhibit many of my favorite smells I associate with cannabis. Overally, they’re sour, skunky, intensely-limey OG plants. My personally favorite phenotypes were profoundly lime-lysol, but there are more candied and diverse citrus notes to be found in this genepool as well. I’d say the olfactory experience is a highlight for this strain, but that would not be accurate—every aspect of this flower is a highlight.

Flavor:  The smoke from these flowers varies slightly pheno to pheno (as does the aroma), but my favorite-flavored plants taste somewhere between a lime-lysol soft drink and a Country Time lemon/limeade. Genuinely, the flavor is as if Lysol made a transition to a beverage company, and then released a “Twist of Lime” version that had far more lime than just a twist. The smoke is sour, intensely and unmistakably lime (juice, rind, and flesh notes are all detectable), and my favorite phenotypes have heavy chemical influences. One is exactly like lysol, while another is more like urinal cakes, fuel, and OG. There is one outlying phenotype that tastes sweet, lacks lime entirely but has strong orange juice and urinal cake scents (as well as flavors). Aside from her, the other four females don’t stray far from one another. The flavor lingers, which is welcome—it leaves a supremely dank, sour-OG-skunk-fuel aftertaste that coats every part of the mouth for minutes. This reminds me of every great sample of Sour and OG I have had, but the lime flavor is so pronounced that it doesn’t seem old and tired by any means. All in all, this is a lip-smacker and is easily some of the best-tasting weed I’ve ever consumed. The only better-tasting weed I can recall are the bags from my youth that will eternally be etched in my mind, but I don’t think I’ve grown anything tastier. All my other weed tastes like nothing after smoking this.

Effects:  Immediate and strong, LPKSJ hits like an OG. It is less euphoric and uplifting than pure LPK, and has more of a narcotic, relaxed effect. It is more potent, and really opiate-like. The strongest effects are felt within seconds to minutes, with a steep peak, prolonged stone, and gradual come-down. There is no creeping up with this one. The high is not narcotic immediately; it is at first a bit rushing and euphoric, but the sharp upswing quickly subsides into a more relaxed, lazy, and laid-back stone that has the power to end days, inspire naps, and has the tendency to completely sap me of productivity and gumption. This is not a smoke for getting things done, but is an ideal choice for winding down in the evenings, playing video games/watching movies, or settling in for a stay-cation with your partner. This is super strong smoke with no hidden surprises—after a toke or two, the smoker is quickly rewarded with the sensation of saturated cannabinoid receptors. If you smoke this one early in the day, it is incredibly difficult to get much “punch” from smoking any other flowers later on. My personally-favorite time to smoke this herb is when I haven’t smoked all day, and come home in late evening. When your receptors are fresh after a long day, the smack from LPKSJ is extremely strong and enjoyable, and I usually just lay down with my eyes closed for about 10 or fifteen minutes before doing anything else. I just let that sweet cannabinoid saturation wash over me, and enjoy the ride. The sensation is blissful, powerful, and even introspective/insightful before it settles into a more smiley, pain-killing effect. This is really great herb to have on the shelf in winter time, and a great choice for evenings at home.*

*At time of publishing, the covid-19 social-distancing has just begun. This is great weed to have on hand.

Overall:  There was a time when I was somewhat jaded with Sour and OG crosses, and honestly I still am in some ways—after over 20 years of clone-only OG being around, I’d like to delve further into the gene pool and see what other incredible combinations of genetics are as yet unlocked. I am thankful and surprised to announce that while LimepopKush x SkyJaro carries all kinds of OG traits (less noticable but present are Sour traits), it is very unique and has been my favorite smoke (really no contest) all winter long. It is so enjoyable that it has actually renewed my interest in Sour/OG seed remixes. I have been smoking it almost exclusively for the last three weeks (except for mornings), as it is truly a complete package of a cannabis plant. There are genuinely no favorable traits lacking here—these plants were easy to grow, smell/taste incredible, produce high quality/quantity resin, are high yield, easy-to-trim, have great structure/bag appeal, and the stone is face-smacking. The mouth-coating flavor is nothing short of incredible, and the only flowers on my shelf rivaling potency of LPKSJ are the Triangle Kush clone and Sky Cuddler Double Kush flowers. I germinated the LPKSJ seeds while in a move because they held little value to me, relatively speaking (I wasn’t sure if they’d survive, but wanted to have some plants going, etc.). I knew they’d be decent coming from Freeborn, but certainly did not expect these to be the incredible plants that they became. These flowers are genuinely the best I’ve grown in several years, and it will be a sad day when I smoke the final bit. If you have some of these, rejoice—In my opinion, you are in possession of one of the greatest exemplars of everything that American weed should be.

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Bodhi Seeds Genius Thai Extreme F2

Origins and Backstory:  Bodhi originally released Genius Thai Extreme seeds as F1—a hybrid between the Apollo 11 Genius cut (originally from Brother’s Grimm seed stock) and a landrace Thai sativa. A friend of mine, @planthoarder, open pollenated those and made F2. I passed the F2 seed onto yet another friend here in Colorado, who then grew the pictured flower organically, indoors, and around 7500 feet. The Apollo 1 1 Genius cut is so named because it will get your brain juices flowing and take you into orbit; it is universally loved by sativa enthusiasts, especially those who were active in the ‘90s. Thai landrace plants are known for being hard to tame, but have uniquely soaring and cerebral highs that are sought after by connoisseurs. I imagine Bodhi’s goal of the cross was to get all of the best parts of sativa effects into a fast-flowering and easy to grow plant.

Appearance:  These flowers are beautiful! The buds exhibit all the best aspects of both parents; they are full and dense, and covered in resin. This gives the flower a modern bag appeal with a heavy frost factor. At the same time, they have a tell-tale calyx structure that is omnipresent in southeast asian cultivars. The way the pistils almost fold out of the calyxes remind me of Thai temples in a way—maybe that’s just placebo. In any case, these flowers are stunning. They look like Thai flowers that have been well-tempered and bred for the indoor clime, but the density, fullness, and resin-coverage of these flowers is what is really impressive—a true achievement when working with landrace equatorial sativas.

Aroma:  Exotic, fruity, and floral, the aroma is a high point. It comes off as an exotic smoothie including pink lemonade, hibiscus tea, and indian spices. It is like a sweet-sour-floral smoothie, with immediate notes of pineapple, nectarine, mango, guava, papaya, and strangely foreign fruits that I do not have words for. An exotic note is prevalent that is somewhere between incense, fruit, and spice, and really smells like some unbelievably exotic culinary spice from Asia. I can only describe it as “Thai,” but it is strong. There are more notes of lemongrass, and a few other herbaceous/botanical notes that remind me of tropical greenhouses and botanical gardens. The aroma is “juicy,” and makes me think of a fruit blend that has been sitting in the sun. Genius Thai is really exotic, unusual, and attractive.

Flavor:  While not quite as punchy as the aroma, the flavor is a fun experience. The smoke is more herbal and botanical than the aroma, and slightly less fruity. The hibiscus and other floral/herbaceous greenhouse flavors are present, and make for a really unique smoke. The most dominant notes of the smoke are nectarine, Thai-weed-spice (I don’t know how else to describe this), mango/guava, and hibiscus. Just as unique as the aroma, the flavor is something special. It is smoky experiences like these that make Bodhi such a cult favorite breeder.

Effects:  This is a floaty, thoughtful, and giggly herb that is guaranteed to pick you up. You could expect most of the effects just from the lineage, and it is a great compromise of Thai genetics with a good indoor sativa performer, the Apollo 11 Genius clone. The come-up is floaty, happy, euphoric, with hints of soaring/cerebral Thai. The Thai effects are just traceable here, but noticeable. For the uninitiated, Thai weed is some of the most unique sativa smoke in existence—it can come in waves like psychedelics, can inspire extreme giggling/euphoria as equally as it can terror and paranoia. There is truly no weed as psychedelic as Thai/Cambodian weed, and this Genius Thai Extreme manages to capture a few pieces of that. This herb is certainly giggly and euphoric, but not as soaring as Thai. Fortunately, I think a terrifying and paranoid experience on this weed would be very difficult to have. It’s not nearly as overwhelming as a pure Thai smoke, and would probably be equally favored by beginning smokers and sativa-connoisseurs alike. All in all, this is good wake n bake herb on weekends for happy, easeful activities. I smoked this and got quite a bit done around my house, and looked around at my current life situation with optimism. The feeling does eventually fade into something dream-like; the lack of clarity keeps me from smoking this one when I’m aiming to be productive. Overall, this is a day brightener and great summer-time herb.

Overall: This is an almost ideal exemplar of breeding. Thai cannabis is some of the best in the world (it is my personal favorite), but it is just as easily some of the most difficult to manage. Even outdoors, the extensive flowering time (14-24 weeks) prevents most North American cultivators from even attempting to grow these strains. Genius Thai Extreme captures a lot of the best aspects of Thai weed in a plant that is easy to grow inside, has great bag appeal, and a very reasonable flowering time. This strain is really impressive from a breeding standpoint. It is great in theory, excellent in execution, and makes a “Thai Lite” version of weed accessible to many more growers/smokers than will ever be able to enjoy true pure Thai. This is a complete package plant, and is not lacking in any category. Personally, when I compare this to the 30 or so other varieties I have on my shelf, I tend to prefer others for smoking. That being said—if this was the only flower I had available to me, I’d be incredibly grateful. This is an excellent quality sativa in virtually every category. The effect is a bit too dreamy for me to enjoy smoking this a ton during the day, and lacking the OG punch that I enjoy during the evenings. Personally, I’d prefer a selection with a longer flowering time but a more soaring/cerebral/psychedelic effect. So, I don’t get into this jar too often. If I’m heading for a hike on a sunny weekend with a friend or doing a home yoga session—this is the first weed I’ll think of (along with DJ Short F-13). I hope that gives the reader enough info to accurately gauge where this one settles out, but overall I think it’s an impressive plant and one I feel lucky to be smoking.

Triangle Kush (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  I won’t even go into the backstory on this one; if you’re curious and ignorant, you can search things like “Josh D OG” and “Triangle Kush Florida” or listen to the Pot Cast. There is plenty of information out there—rather than screw it up, I invite the reader to do their own investigations. In any case, this is one of the most legendary and revered clones of all time and it is highly likely that all other OG cuts (Ghost, SFV, Fire, etc.) are ancestors of this amazing plant. I was fortunate enough to be gifted this clone by @bocobeans. Regardless of its origins and your thoughts on it, this plant has irreversibly changed cannabis in America (and consequently worldwide) for eternity. It is a bit humbling to grow a clone with so much history behind it, and inspires wonder. In any case, after growing and smoking this flower, I am completely of the mind that this is one of the finest cannabis plants ever produced. I grew this plant using beyond-organic methods in full sun at around 5300’.

Appearance:  Triangle and other OG cuts are usually identifiable due to their signature characteristics—they tend to produce tight buds built on a somewhat lanky frame, and the top-heavy plants usually end up sagging at harvest. The buds themselves are tight floral clusters of incredibly resinous calyxes, and are always green—this plant has no genetic proclivity for purpling, even when exposed to low temperatures or other stresses. The densely packed, pine cone-shaped green buds have typical dark orange/red pistils that are typical of many strains, but the way the calyxes stack on top of each other gives OG a sort of signature appearance. When grown to full maturity, any veteran can spot OG buds or at least can tell when a plant is related to OG. It definitely has a look!

Aroma:  Triangle Kush has an endearing bouquet, and is world-class. It is at once skunky, sweet, sour, and chemical. It smells of lemon pledge, pinesol, pine tree, gasoline, jet fuel, acetone, nail polish remover, and rubber. It is unbelievably deep, and is one of a handful of strains that never gets old. Unlike some complex strains, Triangle Kush’s aroma is incredibly intense, and can be described as one of the “loudest” flowers around. My particular outdoor sample here started off with more emphasis on lemon peel, lemon pledge/floor cleaner, and gasoline. After a six-month cure (at the time of this review), the tones mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph have all mellowed out to be evenly-expressed. The acetone and nail polish remover scents are particularly strong at this point, while the lemon, citrus, and gasoline have died a bit into the middle. They are still present, but much less up front. Triangle has less rubber and asphalt tones than most OG cuts, and I would say is on the sharper end of the spectrum. The janitorial chemical aromas come through hard, but it is still very much an OG-dominant aroma as opposed to a Chemdog-like one. In my experience, Chem plants tend to lean more toward “rotten” nasty funky aromas. While many OG plants have a lot of funk, the Triangle doesn’t have much of that nose-crinkling character that only weedheads enjoy. It is hard to accurately and originally describe this one, as OGs have been smoked and reviewed so many times. Overall, this one is heavy on the sweet-skunk, solvents, cleaner aromas, and lemon, and the notes blend together into a really attractive package. The aroma is at once recognizable as OG, but veterans will definitely be able to discern between Triangle, SFV (more citrus), Ghost (more gas), and others.

Flavor:  As if the smell isn’t overwhelming enough, the flavor is equally as incredible, if not better. The smoke is immediately lemony as well as fuel-like with notes of diesel and jet fuel. The first pull is heavy on pine and nail polish too. It has markedly different emphases than the smell, but there is a lot of crossover, and it will have you reach for more. When Triangle is on the fresher side of harvest, it is really lemony and fuel like. After a cure, the flavors meld together and it becomes equally lemony (think warheads or other candies—not peel or juice) and skunky, but there are also earthy notes on the back of the palate not far from peat, forest floor, or moss. The gas seems to die down with a cure. The flavor really evolves through a bowl or joint, and you get a full spectrum experience. I have had hits that taste like lemon floor cleaner, lemon peel, skunk spray, dirty basement, northwestern forests, jet tarmac, and beyond. Even minutes after smoking, the flavor continues to change in the mouth. Tasting Triangle Kush is really a lovely experience, and certainly helps contribute to the overall legend and majesty of this clone.

Effects:  Triangle Kush hits hard and fast, but the full effect won’t manifest for 20-30 minutes. I can feel Triangle by the time I exhale my first hit, and the effect quickly builds. I feel it first in the forehead as a sensation of the frontal lobe floating, and it starts to settle into the cheeks and behind the eyes shortly afterward. This is the kind of weed that will give you forehead sweats. Take a day off, load up the bong, and take an over-confident hit—BOOM. You’ll be sweating, hot and flushed, and feeling like this is your first time smoking again. You can really layer the hits with this one—while you’re still coming up on the first hit, take another, and you can ride the high of Triangle Kush like a series of waves. This is incredibly strong, giggly, silly weed that put OG on the map. I love the high from his herb, and frequently want to share the experience with friends so that they can relate. When you hit the right dose, this is incredibly awesome weed that can facilitate experiences you simply cannot have in a sober state of mind—which is what we’re all really after. Overindulging can easily make one paranoid, and I recommend going slow with this one—regardless of how awesome it tastes. The effect eventually settles out of the forehead-sweating rush and into a more mellow, laid back effect that is great for nights in, movies, munchies, and really just all classic activities associated with cannabis. This is great for good times with friends and loved ones as well as good times alone.

Overall: I cannot overemphasize that this is some of the best cannabis on the planet. This plant captures a “Win” in every category, whether you are a cultivator, connoisseur, or both. The plants are beautiful without a tough trim, but the flowers themselves are of the highest order. The aroma is incredibly intense and layered, with so many notes attractive to cannabis lovers. The lemon-cleaner-solvent-fuel smell is incredible, and I am honestly puzzled that I never get sick of this strain. It’s hard to believe people were smoking this weed almost 30 years ago—it is just so good! The bouquet matches the flavor, with many of the better notes translating into the smoke and onto the palate. The flavor is addictive in itself, but the potency of this strain will prevent most smokers from puffing away for taste alone. The smoke really coats your mouth with a skunky, fuel-lemon flavor that will keep your tongue roaming around your mouth long after you’ve exhaled. The stone from Triangle Kush feels incredibly euphoric while also being chilled out and mellow (providing you don’t smoke too much), and will quickly become a favorite and staple on any regular smoker’s shelf. Chances are if you’re reading this, you’ve smoked herb before, and have a few favorite things to do when you’re high. If that’s the case, Triangle Kush will most definitely enhance those activities and make them more fun or engaging for you. This truly historic weed is an all-time favorite of mine. Triangle Kush has helped shape American cannabis, and is just as relevant 30 years later.

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Freeborn Selections Limepop Kush F3

Origins and Backstory:  I purchased these seeds at the Emerald Cup—they are @meangenefrommendocino’s cross of the famous Ghost OG Kush and Mean Gene’s Limepop 5—this hybrid was then bred to the F3 generation. I selected a single male from the pack to use for pollenations, based on stem rub aroma and vigor. Five female phenotypes were grown out and pollenated to make the F4 generation. I grew these indoors organically in soil. They were all uniform, so this review equally applies to the whole gang.

Appearance:  Like a typical OG, The Limepop Kush grows lime green pyramid-sloped buds with heavy tops. I didn’t realize how OG heavy the genes on this cross were until late into flowering, when the plants started to look (and smell) like OG Kush. The finished flowers are pinecone shaped fingerling buds, with the terminal calyxes stacking to appear almost like little crowns. This really looks every part of a classic OG plant, and finished flowers are no different.

Aroma: The Limepop really comes through in the aroma and flavor, a match made in heaven for an already funky/citrusy plant like Ghost OG. While the plants predominantly smelled of Lime rind, turpentine, and classic OG, notes among phenotypes ranged through candied ginger, lime freezer pops, 7Up, rubber, tarmac, Pledge/Pinesol, perfume, lemon warhead candies, and gasoline. The most dominant aromas are lime, lemon, ginger, and various chemical solvents—it is really a bizarre combination of pleasant citrusy aromas and harsh janitorial scents. There is definitely a “pop” or “Soda” element to the aroma as well; the smell is not like cracking open a lime, but makes me think of drinking a lime-flavored soft drink. The union of these seemingly-unrelated scent profiles is really lovely, and it is rare that I can say someone has done something different, unique, and interesting with an OG. However, this is one of those rare occasions! The bouquet is typical of an OG, but is unique enough to inspire intrigue. The unique aroma, which I have not experienced in cannabis, differentiates itself from other clone-only OGs as well as any I have seen in seed form.

Flavor:  The bouquet translates well to flavor on Limpeop Kush, yielding a deeply citrusy, janitorial/chemical flavor that hits on many subtleties and complexities. It encourages one to repeatedly taste one’s own palate, smack lips and tongue, and really just to savor the experience. The citrus comes through strongly as does the ginger. One pheno in particular tasted of ginger snaps with artificial lime flavoring, while another leaned heavily toward lemon pledge and turpentine. There is an element of bitterness and funk as well, which pushes the bright lemon aromas into more of a bitter lemon/lime rind flavor. The flavor is less sweet than the smell, but certainly more funky, which I welcome with open arms (and mouth). Another phenotype was reminiscent of Pure Kush, with a velvety softness not far from marshmallow and vanilla—flavors I have experienced in Hollywood Pure Kush as well as Lucky Charms. The flavor is just as enjoyable as the smell, and just as novel. It is incredibly rare to experience such a well-composed collection of flavors all in a single plant, and it is flavors like this one that remind me why Freeborn Selections is considered a top-tier seed company.

Effects:  Limepop Kush has a quickly-setting stone, and characteristics like instant-nose-crinkling, forehead sweating, and a head rush that can be somewhat similar to tobacco. The effects are classically OG for the first couple minutes. The high starts to differentiate itself as time goes on, and LPK is reliably uplifting, euphoric, and happy. While some plants are more relaxing or mellow, LPK consistently gives me a happy effect that inspires smiles, a feel-good attitude, and strong sense of well being and optimism. The feeling isn’t incredibly long-lived, as it settles back into a more relaxed, numbing, silly-dumb kind of high after an hour or two of looking at the glass as half-full. The effect does settle down into a high I typically associate with indicas, so this can be a tricky one for day smoking. Morning smoke is great on this one, but the comedown is on the heavy side and can interfere with plans later on.

Overall: Limepop Kush is one of the more unique strains to make it in my garden recently. She really shines in her structure, aroma, and flavor, which are all exceptional. Not only are these aspects of LPK incredibly desirable, but the aroma and flavor really cannot be found elsewhere in my experience. I’ve smelled some plants that were mildly similar, but the overlap is only slight, and LPK really has her own thing going on. Her delightfully-effervescent lime flavor (layered with all the chemical aromas is really something else) kept me coming back for more, and I depleted jars of LPK much faster than Pillow Book (I harvested these at the same time, and so I constantly had to make a choice between which of the two I wanted to smoke). I did make the mistake, many times over, of smoking LPK in the morning. The optimistic euphoria is really an incredible way to start your day, but the foggy comedown was less than ideal for me. This is a really great strain for commercial cultivators and the home-growing connoisseur alike. I would especially recommend this to fans of OG looking for fresh terpene profiles.

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.