“Weighing In” Reviews

WEIGHING-IN

Orange Push Pop #5 Strain Review

May we interest you in an Orange Push Pop? Orange strains come and go but Orange Push Pop certainly makes a case for staying on the shelf. Take a closer look at our review, on why Orange Push Pop #5 might be the most innovative Orange strain on the market today.

Orange Push Pop #5 comes from two unique parents that have begun to gather interest among many Cannabis Connoisseurs. Orange Push Pop was bred by SeedJunky Genetics who has created some of the best strains on the market today. We have in fact reviewed many strains already in our weighing-in section from Seed Junky Animal Face, La Kush Cake, Sour Kush Mints, and Wedding Cake. Orange Push Pop is one of the more unique offerings from Seed Junky. Orange Push Pop is a cross between Orange Cookies and Triangle Kush F2. Orange Cookies was bred by Franchise Genetics which seems to be known as Obsoul33t genetics currently. Orange Cookies is a cross of G.S.C and Orange Juice. Orange Cookies has certainly seen some popularity among many of it’s famous crosses such as Alien Orange Cookies, and Orange Cookie M.A.C. Orange Cookies on it’s own does seem to be difficult to locate in the Oregon Recreational market. Even it when it comes to these Orange Cookie and these crosses listed they are difficult to locate in flower, though you don’t see quite a few concentrates and cartridges. Triangle Kush F2 is really making a name for itself, people really enjoy this Florida iteration of an OG Kush Phenotype. The breeder is unknown for the most part, other than they believe that this cut did originate from Florida. Triangle Kush is a more Indica heavy cut of OG Kush. It was pretty popular on the market a few years ago, however it seems breeders and growers see it more for it’s breeding potential; as many different crosses have begun to come out using Triangle Kush as a parent. Some of these strains are the famous Bubba Kush, GMO TK Skunk, Gushers, Pre 98 Bubba Kush, Triangle Mints, Triple OG, and Seedjunkies amazing cut of Wedding Cake aka (Triangle Mints #23).   Triangle Kush embodies a lot of traits that connoisseurs are looking for, so it’s no surprise why it is so popular.

                We were surprised with how consistent the Orange Push Pop is when it comes down to it’s appearance. It is very green just like driving through Eugene in the Spring. The buds themselves have a few orange pistils here and there, but overall it’s this consistently forest to lighter shades of green throughout.  The trichome coverage is nice, it seems to lighten parts of the forest green in certain areas on the bud. The structure is pretty tight on the buds with a medium to medium heavy density, if you squeeze the buds they give a squeeze back. We do not feel that the appearance is the main highlight for this strain.

                Where this strain shines are on the nose, there are a lot of different orange strains out there however few seem to nail the actual smell of orange. This absolutely nails the scent profile for an orange strain. Many of the other “Orange” strains take the overt citrus smells from a Jack Herer or a Super Lemon Haze and pass it off as orange. The nose carries this greasy almost artificial Orange funk that just lingers. It carries a hint of nostalgia toward Gojo orange soap if anyone ever used to work in a garage, or workshop you will remember that distinct smell. The Orange really comes through and lingers around for quite some time. This certainly passes the scent test, and as soon as you open the jar even with a mask in it will pierce right through to your nose.

                The effects of the Orange Push Pop #5 are similar to another popular Orange Strain, Agent Orange. This Orange Push Pop carries quite an uplifting cerebral effect. Which is different from many of the other offerings that Seed Junky Genetics has bred. We found that this Orange Push Pop might be a little more versatile than the Agent Orange. It seems to carry a bit more body relaxation, and pain-relieving effects than Agent Orange. Orange Push Pop’s potency is somewhere near the middle of everything on the market. Great for people who are new to Cannabis and want to try something stimulating without being overtly racy. It still hits hard enough though to not leave connoisseurs and longtime Cannabis users wanting for more. This strain is great for all day use, and we recommend pairing with both indoor and outdoor activities. Indoor activities such as gaming, Zoom calls, painting, cooking, cleaning, or reading a book. Outdoor activities that pair well would be hiking, going for a walk, landscaping, cleaning out the car. This strain works quite well for chores; if you have tried other Sativas in the past and they may have made you too scatterbrained to even do chores, give Orange Push Pop a shot. As they say through “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.” So, make sure to take advantage of the effects when you are done with your chores and move onto more recreational activities.

                Rolen Stone is the cultivator of the Orange Push Pop #5, this lines up with many of the other strains that they carry in their lineup. Rolen Stone grows a lot of terp-forward strains such as Watermelon Mimosa, Apple Rock Candy, Sherbet Breath, Tropsantos, and Lemon Granita. Rolen stone does solventless extraction in house and collaborates with Rebel Roots for Hydrocarbon based extraction. Rolen Stone is one of the few OLCC approved Recreational growers to do indoor, greenhouse, and outdoor. Rolen Stone has certainly been keeping themselves busy, and the results show in both their flower and their concentrates. We look forward to seeing what new terpy cultivars Rolen Stone will put out next!

• Appearance 3/5
• Smell 5/5
• Flavor 4/5
• Effect 4/5

                Orange Push Pop #5 certainly popped out quite a few surprises for us. We were not expecting a strain that maintains such a consistency of green throughout the entire bud. It might not be the most triched-out flower on the shelf but it certainly holds it’s own among the other criteria’s it is being judged on. The nose and flavor on this Orange Push Pop are where this strain stands out, it hits you with a flurry of this greasy artificial orange, and it leaves you with a serious case of terp tongue. We hope to see more crosses come out of the Orange Push Pop #5 because this terp profile needs to be carried on. The effects surprised us as well as it deviates from many of the other more Indica-leaning offerings from Seed Junky Genetics. It is much more uplifting than we anticipated, but it carries a lot of great body forward effects from the Triangle Kush as well. It carries a good balance which we feel makes it more versatile than strains such as Agent Orange, which can carry a tendency to be a tad too Sativa forward for some. Orange Push Pop #5 can be paired with both indoor and outdoor activities, whether they are fun or necessary and tedious. If you have been searching for something new to try that deviates from some of the other popular hybrid strains, give Orange Push Pop #5 a shot!

Light Saber Strain Review:

            It is always fun to be able to review a strain that fits so well into the theme of Spacebuds. Many strains contain memorable names to help the strain stand out, but do they ever end up being any good? Follow us through a bit of history and our thoughts on the Lightsaber strain.

            Lightsaber is a creation of Exotic Genetix, it is a cross between Starfighter F1 and Predator Pink. Exotic Genetix is a pretty well known breeder in the Pacific Northwest. Mostly known for their popular crosses of Grease Monkey, Donkey Butter, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Thug Life. Grease Monkey has been their most popular strain, as well as the many different crosses that have come from it such as Donkey Butter. The parents of Lightsaber are not the most popular strains on the market, Starfighter however has made quite a name for itself in terms of being a popular strain parent to many of the current strains on the market. Starfighter comes from Alien Genetics and is a cross of Lemon Alien Dawg and Tahoe Alien. Both of these strains are nearly impossible to find in Oregon’s recreational market, even Starfighter on it’s own is very difficult to find. Starfighter is prominent in a lot of popular strains that are out on the market today however Cookies and Cream, Miracle Alien Cookes (Starfighter F2), and Kimbo Kush. The strain has potent effects that put it in the hybrid category noticeable body effects, with a noticeable euphoric and stimulating head change. The high itself seems to change overtime from a cerebral head high to a more mellow body heavy feel, depending on how much you use. Predator Pink the father of the strain also bred by Exotic Genetix brings more Starfighter to the table it is a cross between Starfighter and Plushberry. Predator Pink is another one of those strains that is really difficult to find in the Oregon Recreational Market. We have seen it before in the form of a sugar wax from Buddies, but we have yet to have seen it in flower in the last few years. Predator Pink differentiates itself from Starfighter with it’s cross of Plush berry which is a cross between the tasty Black Cherry Soda and the ever popular Space Queen. Predator Pink is a strain known more for it’s terps than it’s effects with a fruity nose.

            Lightsaber’s background is certainly different than most strains that end up in the legal recreational market. It is one of the few strains out there that does not carry a direct link to a Cookies, Chemdawg, or Gelato, heritage. This is a pleasant surprise to see something unique in a market that does tend to carry a lot of crossover. There is nothing wrong with the popular  strains on the market, they test well, look good, and they are popular to the consumer. However as they say “Variety is the spice of life” and we can always appreciate some diversity in the market.  

            Well this Lightsaber might as well be powered by a Kyber Crystals, because this bud shines! The main thing that we see on this strain is just how coated in trichomes it is. It carries this powdered sugar effect all over the bud, and lightens up the color of the bud dramatically. We are impressed with the trichome coverage up close as you can see in the picture, when you get up close into the bud you can just see how sandwiched with trichomes this strain is. There is some nice color on these buds it has a nice mix of light green, with these big spots of dark purple all the way around the buds. The Lightsaber certainly passes the Instagram weed test(Although these days that also makes you pass the banhammer test on Insta it would seem).

            Lightsabers nose is a bit tough to discern on the first whiff. The first smell we noticed is this floral creamy smell that is more on the subtle side. We have had Lightsaber before in the past and this smells the same, honestly this one has more jar appeal than it does on the nose. However, when you actually end up smoking it, it is very enjoyable for it’s taste. That creaminess translate to a nice smooth smoke/vape. In this regard it reminds us quite a bit of the strain Cookies and Cream, which as we know has Starfighter in it.  

            The effects of Lightsaber make it one of the more unique Indica Hybrids on the market. We found that even though it carries the typical pain-relieving and muscle relaxing effects of other Indica Hybrids, it differentiates itself by having an intense euphoric energy inducing effect. This effect makes the strain a little less versatile than some of the other hybrids. We feel that because of this; people are going to either be in love with this strain, or try it and never touch it again. This strain would be paired best with a game night, reading a book, or creating art. We felt that the strains surprisingly cerebral effects make it hard to recommend with more relaxing activities, and due to the nature of it’s relaxing body effects it’s hard to recommend with really active activities as well. If you enjoy other sativa leaning cookies strains that carry that classic uplifting head change, we think you would really enjoy this. Especially if you are looking for something to use much later in the day.

            The cultivator of the Lightsaber is Looking Glass Farms. Looking Glass Farms is a Micro Tier Craft Cannabis indoor grower from Portland Oregon. Their Cultivar lineup seems to carry quite a few strain from the breeder Exotic Genetix. As well as some other strains that are unique to the Oregon Recreational market such as 3xcrazy, Oregon Afghani, Ultra Violet, and Hippie Crippler. Looking Glass seems to be changing their lineup regularly, and we look forward to what they put out next!

• Appearance 5/5
• Smell 3/5
• Flavor 4/5
• Effect 3/5

            Overall Lightsaber does enough to separate itself from others not only from Exotic Genetixs lineup, but all other top shelf hybrids on the market. This strain is gorgeous and could certainly be a contender as one of the prettiest strains on the planet. Trichome coverage can tend to lighten the colors of the buds, this however is on another a level. The bud already has a nice coverage of various hues of green and purple, and then you have trichomes just layered throughout and practically glazing the outside. The Nose on the Lightsaber is not the strongest. The creamy earth tones do a good job of mellowing the overall nose; however we loved the taste. The floral-creamy notes really come through when vaping this on a volcano, and the vapor comes out plentiful and smooth. This fits the case of tastes better than it smells. The effects of this strain throw a curveball in our normal reviewing sample, many of the hybrids we have reviewed in the past have a ton of versatility to them. Making them essentially great for all day use, this strain is a vastly different beast. Even as connoisseurs we were really surprised just how much this strain hits both ends of the spectrum for a hybrid, and it is surprisingly potent. If you are looking for something that can help your body relax, but you want your mind to stay up this is as good of a strain as we have seen for this use case. It just seems that this use case is a little rarer than most. In any case we are glad that we got to try the Lightsaber, as it goes to show just how unique hybrid strains can be. In an industry where there is to believed to be over 20,000 unique strains, it is nice to see Lightsaber cutting its way through many other hybrids that are hard to discern from one to another.

Animal Face Strain Review:

            We can appreciate the simplicity in the name Animal Face as it is pretty bold to just state what the strain is a cross between Animal Mints and Face Off OG.  With the Mint strains beginning to make their mark on the Oregon market, what does Animal Face bring to the stable that the others do not?

            Animal Face being a cross of Animal Mints and Face Off OG gives it some mystique. Animal Mints has seen quite a rise in popularity in the last few years. Animal Mints has quite the genetic backstory. It is a cross between Animal Cookies, G.S.C, and Blue Power. Animal Cookies which is G.S.C and Fire OG crossed together. This is a wildly popular G.S.C cookie cross it takes an already strong cerebral strain and crosses it with another very potent OG. G.S.C is arguably one of the most popular strains of all time is a cross between O.G Kush and Durban Poison. Then There is Blue Power which is a creation from Sin City Seeds, it is a cross from Sour Double, Master Kush, The White, and Blue Moonshine. Animal Mints on paper is wild it has a lot of cookie origins, but it seems to carry at least some trait from every popular strain out on the market today. Animal Mints in terms of it’s effects shares more Indica dominant characteristics, it’s not as cerebral as we were expecting and reminds us a lot of Kush Mints. Face Off OG on the other hand is quite different from Animal Mints. Face Off OG was bred by Archive Seeds in the 90’s and is a derivative of a special batch of OG Kush. Many people who enjoy OG Kush have reported that the strain is very potent, euphoric, and body heavy. Face Off OG is pretty rarely seen in todays market, however there are still quite a few crosses that we see regularly on the market most of these crosses were bred by Archive Seeds; Hazmat OG, Double Dosido, Rocket Fuel, Scooby Snacks, and Valley Girl. 

Animal Face was bred by Seed Junky Genetics, there is no coincidence that Seed Junky has managed to be the predominant breeder in most of our reviews. Seed Junky seems to put out some of the most popular strains out on the market. If you were to sample the Oregon market right now, it would be highly likely that your favorite top shelf indoor grower, would have one cultivar from their breeding lineup. The simple reason that we see is they have developed some of the most popular strains to date. Wedding Cake, LA Kush Cake, Animal Mints, Kush Mints, and Ice Cream Cake have all been developed by Seed Junky Genetics. Wedding Cake has led to a huge number of different strains that pretty much nail everything a connoisseur is looking for. We were excited to see Animal Face being bred by Seed Junky because it is a combination of their Animal Mints crossed with a much older strain that was originally bred by Archive.

Animal Face has a dense but elongated structure, it carries a traditional Sativa structure to it. The structure reminds us quite a bit of the Sour Kush Mints, where the structure is elongated but is still quite dense. The Animal Face does have very small flecks of purple throughout the bud, and is very sugary on the outside. Sugarbud is certainly living up to its name with this one. It seems to carry both a sugary look as well as that more glazed coating that strains such as Miracle Alien Cookies carry. The trichome coverage on this strain brightens the look of the buds, and certainly gives it an edge in its appeal. It carries more of the phenotypic traits from the Animal Mints than it does from Face Off OG.

Deep down this Animal Face has the smell we have been missing most that comes from Face Off OG. That deep gassy earthy smell that many OG’s tend to carry. Notes of Fuel and Pine are certainly the two that stand out. Animal Mints carries the cookie smell that tends to be on the smoother side, which we certainly get out of the end notes on the Animal Face. We feel that like many other OG’s the smell doesn’t carry as far as some of the newer strains, but when it comes down to actual flavor of the strain it does certainly have some linger of the flavor on the tongue. We have noticed that when Gas strains mix with earth notes such as pine, the waft of the bud tends to be subdued.

 Now for the most important part of the review, the effects. When it comes to Animal Face it reminds us a lot of a less stoney, and more euphoric Face Off OG. This strain contains a good mix of pain-relief as well as the typical head change and euphoria people come to expect with the cookie strains. Animal Face has a lot of strengths because of this, and we see it becoming more popular in general than Face Off OG for this reason. OG Kush is universally loved as a strain, however it is known to be something to be used after the day is over and before bed. The big strength that we see with the Animal Face is that it provides enough pain-relief and stimulation without being too overbearing on the mind and body. For this reason, we suggest it for both indoor, as well as outdoor activities. Some websites have listed this strain to be more Sativa leaning, however there is not really anything in the genetics that we have found to support that. We feel that the strain can sort of lean either way most likely depending on how much you have consumed. Hybrid strains have become some of the most popular and are continuing to be the ones that end up on the shelf, so no doubt that Animal Face will continue to be in that same vain.

Sugarbud is the grower of the Animal Face, and as far as we know they are the only recreational producer in the Oregon Market that grows the strain. Sugarbud has done a great job with their extensive cultivar lineup of new and distinctive strains. Strains such as Blueberry Cheesecake, True OG, Grapehead, Robots, and Hidden Pastry. Are all pretty different from what most growers on the market are offering. Sugarbud is an indoor Craft producer that is very proud of the standards they set for their flower. As they say on their website “Quality is our craft” and we certainly agree. They have been incredibly consistent with the flower they put out, and we feel that they have nailed their curing process. Their strains come out the way the way they are intended to.

• Appearance 4/5
• Smell 4/5
• Flavor 4/5
• Effect 5/5

Trying this on the podcast, we found that this helped fuel our discussions of movie technology influencing the real world. Animal Face is a pleasant strain to see when there has been such an absence of Face Off OG. The strain is nice and frosty and carries a look from both the Animal Mints as well as the Face Off OG. Long and dense body with a heft coating of trichomes. Smell has a hint of OG with more earthy overtones layered throughout. This is a great hybrid that can lean both ways depending on how much you consume. It is a fantastic pairing for active activities as well as activities where participation is not as necessary. We would recommend you give Animal Face a shot if you’re looking for something with an OG background but are not looking to get locked down for the day.   

Durban Poison Strain Review:

After reviewing tons of hybrids it is so exciting to finally get the chance to review a land race Sativa Strain such as Durban Poison. Durban Poison is a building block onto what we see through our current Cannabis market. It has been a precursor to many of the hybrids that we see on the shelf, and it still manages to continue to put itself as a direct parent in many Sativa/Sativa hybrids to this day. We think the real question is if Durban Poison still manages to maintain potency and flavor, will it hold up as well as many of the newer genetic hybrids on the market? Land Races are fading faster than ever in the spurring Cannabis Industry, especially when speaking to the legal commercial market. Gnome Grown has continued to carry Durban Poison in its cultivar lineup. Jump on into our review to see if Durban Poison can pass the test.

                Durban Poison origin story is unique and surprisingly quite clear as to how it came into existence. Durban Poison is a land race Sativa strain that originates from the port city of Durban in South Africa. For those unfamiliar with what a land race strain is; a land race strain is strain that originated from a region that has not been hybridized with other strains. Typically land race strain names refer to the region that they are from, for example Pakistani, Afghani, Thai, and Durban Poison. What makes these strains unique is that since they are grown natively to the region, and they adopt unique traits that suit the strain to its environmental conditions. Durban Poison has gained a lot of notoriety from Sativa fans around the globe specifically for the intense cerebral and uplifting effects. Some even say that Durban Poison is the “espresso”’ of Cannabis. Durban Poison falls into the likely camp of, ‘If you enjoy Sativa strains you will likely be a fan of it.’ However, if you are sensitive to Sativas or prefer Cannabis that is on the mellower side, this is likely not to be one you would be interested in. Even if you are not a big fan of Sativas, Durban Poison has cemented its legendary status in the industry because it has created some of the most popular hybrids on earth. Both G.S.C and Cherry Pie (arguably two of the most important hybrids in the modern Cannabis industry) come directly from Durban Poison. These two strains have created so many of the modern hybrids that we currently see on the shelf. Without Durban Poison; any Cookie Strains, many Cake strains, and the ever popular Forbidden Fruit would not exist. So even if you are not a personal fan of Durban Poison, there should certainly be an appreciation for it, as it has created some of the best hybrid Cannabis that people enjoy to this day.

                Land Races such as Durban Poison do not carry the same modern-day genetics that we typically see, so in terms of appearance it will not carry the look that a lot of the modern-day strains have. What we will say is even though Durban Poison does carry older genetics, it certainly holds its own among many of the popular strains we see today. It carries some quite interesting characteristics for being a pure Sativa. Most Sativas carry a longer, skinnier bud structure and tend to be lighter and not as “packed-in”. Durban Poison, however, carries a very robust, compact and surprisingly more dense bud structure than many other pure Sativa strains on the market. It’s not as dense as some of the more modern hybrids, but its shape and structure certainly stands out especially among other similar Sativas in its class. As for the trichome coverage it’s not the most caked on strain, however the trichomes do lighten the outside of the bud quite a bit, giving it a lighter green shading.

                While the appearance of the Durban Poison was unusual given the normal source material, the nose on this is spot on to many other heavy Sativa strains. This strain carries a slightly sweet/floral smell with maybe a touch of pine on some notes. But the sweetness will cover up the pine notes quite quickly. If you have ever had any strong Haze strains the notes on it are quite similar. Although compared to many of the other hazes this carries a sweetness that is not seen as much in many of the other pure Sativas. We almost want to say that the sweetness is comparable to the smell of a lot of the “gas” strains, but the floral notes pull it away from that. Whatever the verdict of the exact nose is, it is terrific. This makes Durban Poison stand out from many of the strains that we are currently seeing on the market today.

                Earlier in the review we spoke to Durban Poison being either loved by the people, or hated, depending on how you enjoy the effects of your Cannabis. Sativas in particular usually carry love or hate relationships more so than any other category in Cannabis. The simple reason being that uplifting and euphoric strains tend to cause anxiety, paranoia, or a mind racing effect for newer or more sensitive consumers. Durban Poison can certainly fall into these categories. One thing we will say is that Durban Poison is on the more clearheaded side for a Sativa. So, the mind racing effect is a lot less likely than say Sour Diesel, which is also either loved or hated. If you enjoy Savitas, this strain is awesome. It has wonderful uplifting effects and it can give you a boost, which makes it perfect for a wake and bake. It does not carry any body-heavy effects to it so if you want to be active, it’s a good pairing. It is great if you need to do chores in and out of the house, and it is perfect for going hiking or taking a long walk. It is nice for gaming because of its “clear-headed” yet stimulating qualities. For watching movies, however, it’s not a bad paring, but you would likely want to do something more creative or more engaging with the Durban Poison. So, while this strain is versatile in a lot of activities it is not the most versatile when it comes to the approachability for all consumers. People who are newer to Cannabis or sensitive to Sativas should approach Durban Poison with caution, as it is quite potent and could lead to some instances of discomfort. If you are unfamiliar with Durban Poison and want to try it our best advice would be to start with a micro dose and see how you are affected.

                This Durban was grown by Gnome Grown who has quite a positive growing reputation in the PNW. They have been growing Cannabis in the PNW for over 25 years. They use a greenhouse setup that uses living soil and other beneficial factors of the surrounding area where they are located in Oregon City. They use water from a local stream and use a proprietary mix of soil that has yielded them awesome results. One reason we have carried Gnome Grown for so long is they carry an extensive lineup of fantastic Sativas; Durban Poison, Blue Dream, Allen Wrench, and Mimosa to name a few. They also carry some really unique strains such as Montana Silvertip, Mother’s Milk, and Banana Punch that we normally don’t see on the market. As always, we look forward to seeing what will come next from Gnome Grown.

• Appearance 3/5
• Smell 5/5
• Flavor 5/5
• Effect 4/5

                Durban Poison has a legendary status for so many reasons and this batch from Gnome Grown nails all the great things this strain has to offer. Even if this strain didn’t help create all of the wonderful strains we have today it, is still deserving of its legendary status. For a strain that is much older it still holds its appeal among many of its children hybrid strains that are out on the market. The nose on this Durban Poison is one to remember for sure. While it might not be that “gas” that many are searching for, it offers a much more familiar sweet/floral smell that many Sativas carry in the past. The diversity of the nose is certainly appreciated in a market that is becoming saturated with a lot of “gas” heavy cookie strains. The effects are certainly not for everyone which makes this strain less versatile than most, but that just comes with the territory of many Sativa heavy strains. If you do enjoy Sativas this would likely end up being one of your absolute favorites. We hope we will continue to see Durban Poison and other land race strains in the commercial market, as having a wider variety of unique strains can only benefit consumers, connoisseurs, and the Cannabis industry as a whole.

Sour Kush Mints Strain Review

            Sour Kush Mints is an exciting hybrid between the classic Sour Diesel strain, and a brand new up and comer Kush Mints. These two strains are vastly different, but together they create nice uplifted effect, with the typical body you get from the Kush Mints strain. Sour Kush Mints is very new to the scene and in fact Herbal Dynamics is one of the first to bring the cultivar to our market. Can you teach an old dog new tricks, lets jump on in and find out.

            Sour Kush mints is a cross between Sour Diesel and Kush Mints. This Sour Kush Mints was bred by Seed Junky Genetics however it hasn’t been released to the public so we don’t really have a good idea how many grows got packs of this strain.  Let us go back into the origin of these two strains, and find out what made these two strains stand out as they do today. Sour Diesel has been around for quite a long time and is still grown quite regularly to this day. There are many variations of  the Sour Diesel strain, and like other strains such as G.S.C there are many arguments as to what the true cut of Sour Diesel is, as well as who really created the strain in the first place. It is suggested that it is from the East Coast when a ChemDawg and Super Skunk were crossed together in the 90’s.However there are so many variations on this story so it is hard to pinpoint it’s true origins. Sour Diesel falls into the camp of strains that people either seem to really love, or it is just not for them. This is understandable as Sour Diesel effects are on the cerebral side of things. People typically note that they feel a head rush as well as mood elevation. If you are not a fan of Sativas you might be best in avoiding Sour Diesel, and trying one of it is many crosses, such as Sour Kush Mints. Kush Mints was created by Seed Junky Genetics and has surged in popularity. Kush Mints is a cross between the popular Animal Mints and an absolute classic Indica Bubba Kush. People enjoy Kush Mints for its deep seeded stoniness and Euphoria. We have found that in the Oregon Rec market that Kush Mint crosses seem to be much more popular than just Kush Mints. LA Kush Cake which we have reviewed in the past, also grown by Herbal Dynamics is a Wedding Cake Kush Mints cross that has seen a lot of popularity in California and Oregon. Kush Mint Crosses are exceedingly popular in California and they are making their way up to Oregon. We really like the idea of the cross of Sour Diesel and Kush Mints as they have vastly different lineages as well as effects, which can lead to a chance at an amazing hybrid. These hybrids allow for people to try strains that they never thought they would try in the first place.

            The Sour Kush Mints has a longer bud structure reminiscent of Sour Diesel, where the buds tend to be skinnier and longer. It does carry a denser bud structure than traditional Sour Diesel. Kush Mints and strains that contain Kush Mints tend to be quite dense. It carries a nice light green color throughout, being brightened up by all those pretty trichomes. Lots of nice little orange pistils on this one to show some color variation. This one carries the Trichomes throughout the flower where it is layered throughout the bud. As well as a nice coating on the outside that lightens up this strain.

            The Nose on the Sour Kush Mints has a tad bit of sour, but mostly this very traditional Kush Mints smell. If you have had Kush Mints before you know what we are talking about, it’s similar to Wedding Cake but less of a gas finish. It’s this floral slightly creamy smooth flavor. Honestly, the nose is not terribly strong, but one thing we really enjoy about the Kush Mints strains is the flavor. This one will give you a serious of case of terp tongue, the lingering flavor is very pleasant and gives off this floral smoothness that a lot of other strains on the current market are not carrying. Where a lot of strains currently are trying to push things like Garlic, Chem, or Gas, and even Fruit notes this goes for something much lighter, and reminiscent of more floral hybrids from the past.   

            Sour Kush Mints could go a lot of different ways with it’s effects. We found that it’s a bit of an edgier or buzzier Kush Mint. It does carry some of the head buzz that the Sour Diesel does, but it doesn’t carry the same intensity in energy. The Kush Mints really comes through, and while Kush Mints can tend to carry quite a bit of stoniness along with it, the Sour Kush Mint provides more of a general relaxation on the body and the mind. This is a really nice hybrid for it’s effects, and just shows how effective and important it is to continue to make new exciting hybrids. If you have been apprehensive to try strains with Sour Diesel, this is certainly more relaxing and mellow than other Sour Diesel Crosses, such as Blue City Diesel, Soco, and especially Chemdog and Headband. Sour Kush Mints is very versatile in what it can do cleaning the house, watching a movie, playing a game, going on a hike. It’s also very calm and relaxing, so it can be a good choice before bed, it might not knock you out but it should put you into a calmer state.

            This Sour Kush Mints is brought to you by Herbal Dynamics. In the Oregon recreational market, it may be possible that Sour Kush Mints will only be brought out by Herbal Dynamics. We have had nothing but good things to say about this farm. They continue to put out extremely solid cultivars that are grown extremely well. Their Ice Cream Cake, LA Kush Cake, Sour Power OG and Velvet Glove have all been phenomenal. Herbal Dynamics commitment to using living soil as well as organic practices, and all their experience in growing continues to produce some of the best Cannabis we have reviewed. We as always look forward to seeing what comes next!

• Appearance 4/5
• Smell 4/5
• Flavor 5/5
• Effect 5/5

            Sour Kush Mints really impressed the inner Cannabis nerd within us, this strains combination of old and new school strains is exciting to see. It carries the best of both traits of Sour Diesel and Kush Mints. The Sour Kush Mints certainly take on characteristics of newer genetics with the much more visually trichome exterior. The Notes are of a light Sour yet at the same time it carries this Creamy Kush taste with it. The taste really stands out a lot too, usually the nose seems to get the main highlight, however with this strain we found that the taste is more memorable. Effects are by far considered to be one of the most important parts on reviewing Cannabis and the Sour Kush Mints delivers. The versatility of this strain is on par with popular strains such as Blue Dream. Something that works for all times of day, as well as many indoor and outdoor activities. We hope we continue to see more Sour Kush Mints from Herbal Dynamics in the future, as this is a strain that holds up well as a staple on the shelf.  

Blue Dream strain Review:

            Blue Dream is one of the most well-known strains to the modern consumer. While its origins maybe a mystery, it’s popularity certainly is not. The mixture of a nice terpene rich relaxing Indica and the effects of cerebral heavy hazy create a combination that is loved by so many. We have seen many iterations of Blue Dream come through Spacebuds, this cut of Blue Dream from High Valley Organics is one of our absolute favorites!

             Blue Dreams origins are bit a of a mystery there is not one breeder per say that made the strain. They believe that the strain originates from Northern California in the Santa Cruz region. This strain has been bred by many so there are many different cuts and genetics when it comes to Blue Dream. The original cut should be a cross between an Indica heavy Blueberry and a Sativa heavy Haze. Blueberry might not be the popular strain it used to be however the influence it has in the Cannabis space is still seen to this day. There are many strains that contain Blueberry somewhere along in its genetics. DJ Short is the most well-known breeder when it comes to this strain, while the genetics are not exactly known it’s believed to be a mix of two completely different Land Race strains.  Blueberry’s popularity as a strain comes down to two main factors, the flavor, and the effects. Blueberry has a very strong berry heavy nose, this makes it such a hit for breeding with other strains. The effects seemed to be universally liked as it is a nice relaxing Indica, that carries more of a mellowness to it. Haze on the other hand is a very energizing Sativa, that like Blue dream originates from Santa Cruz. Original Haze on it’s own isn’t to popular, however you see it crossed within many of the Sativa strains that are currently on the market. If you enjoy Savita’s that give that classic Cerebral head buzz/haziness this is one of the most ideal strains to get out there. As it is one of the most pure Haze experiences you will get, what differentiates hazes from other Sativas is they give an alteration to your current train of thought, almost as if you are actually in a haze,

            While Blue Dream is extremely popular, we love to stress the importance of record keeping, and using a Strain Journal for collecting data. We have seen massive variances in the Blue Dreams we have tried. They do not just look or smell different, they effect the entire experience of the high. We have even seen growers try to pass off a cross of Blueberry and Super Silver Haze as Blue Dream, which do not get us wrong those two sound like an awesome cross, but it is not traditional Blue Dream.

            This cut of Blue Dream is different to most of the ones we have seen come through Spacebuds. This cut of Blue Dream almost looks just like Blueberry. The buds are much more circular in appearance and carry a very traditional Indica structure to them. The buds are a nice green color with trichomes layered underneath the flower. While they have this dense look to them, they are kind of hollow throughout the center. It is not the most coated strain in terms of trichome coverage, but it has a lot of trichomes layered into these circular buds, it is like opening up a wonder ball, if anyone from the 90’s remembers those.

            The nose on this puts the Blue in “Blue Dream” the Blueberry notes come through this intensely, you can smell it in the room socially distanced with a masking on, it is like opening Pandora’s box. Honestly, we really wonder if this is not just a cut of the Blueberry strain, because the nose leans so far toward berries. Typically, most Blue Dream strains have a sharpness of the citrus scent of the Haze. In fact there are some Blue Dreams that we’ve even carried that are on the complete opposite end of the spectrum and seem to smell exclusively like haze. And Until you break open the buds and smoke them do you notice notes of the berry.

The way we see it is if the Blue Dream smells more like Blueberry it’s going to be more on the mellow side, where as you find a Blue Dream that has more of a Haze note to it, it’s going to get you more wired like the Haze strains tend to do. We have also noticed with some of the Hazier Blue Dreams that the shape tends to carry a more traditional Sativa Shape, with longer skinnier buds. Whereas this one grown by High Valley Organics is much more Indica shaped and carries the characteristics from the Blueberry plant, is much more rounded and sweet/berry scented.    

            Blue Dream is one of the most well-known strains for a reason, there seems to be a mass appeal to the way it makes people feel. Most people who tend to avoid Blue Dream tend to avoid most Sativa hazes in general. This cut of Blue Dream we argue has more of a mainstream appeal than some of the other cuts we have seen. If you have tried Blue Dream in the past and did not enjoy it, we would say it’s worth exploring this option. This is unlike any Blue Dream we have had before, it’s much more relaxing, than the typical head buzz associated with most Blue Dream. Blue Dream effects people differently so it is certainly worth experimenting, some might find it’s better to just chill on, while others may find it more fruitful to use it when doing outdoor activities. That is the real strength behind Blue Dream is that it is very versatile, and can be used to enhance many different activities.  

            High Valley Organics is an Outdoor Living Soil, Organic grow out in Southern Oregon. They feature quite a few unique terpene rich strains such as Green Thai Dragon, Strawberry Banana, and Sour Apple. While also featuring some staple strains such as Chocolate Hashberry, The White, and of course Blue Dream. High Valley Organics combination of Organic growing methods and use of living soil has made them one of our favorite outdoor farms that we carry. The Blue dream batch to batch only seems to have gotten better and better, and we look forward to seeing what other strains they bring forward in their cultivar lineup!

• Appearance 2/5
• Smell 5/5
• Flavor 4/5
• Effect 4/5

            There is a reason Blue Dream is loved by so many. Blue Dream as a strain has never been the prettiest strain out there, but it certainly holds its own. Appearance is an odd thing to review because older strains struggle in terms of physical look, for instance not being the most triched-out bud, or having massive variations in the appearance such as Tropicana Cookies. This Blue Dream is not the prettiest we have seen, and we think that is due to the circular indica structure of the flower, it hides all the sugary trichomes on the inside. The nose however blows it away, the nose on this Blue dream beats some of the Indoor we have seen by miles. The notes are so strong on the Blueberry, and it just pierces your nose with sweetness and berries Smokes and Vapes exceptionally Smooth and carries that sweet berry flavor when you smoke it. When it comes to the effects it seems to carry itself as a more mellow blue dream, which we see as actually more versatile than some of the traditional Blue Dream that comes around. We do not think it’s perfect as Blue Dream is still unapproachable by some, but this comes very close. If you have tried Blue Dream and it was too buzzy/hazy for you, this batch from High Valley Organics is certainly worth trying.

White Tahoe Cookies Strain Review:

White Tahoe Cookies has become a bit of a cult classic in the short time of it’s existence. This is a strain that has been on the menu on Spacebuds from many different growers, but this is the first time we have seen top shelf White Tahoe Cookies come around Oregon. We were excited to see this strain on the top shelf, due to the amount of different patrons we’ve had that enjoy this strain. We found that this strain has a nice balance of effects that can be enjoyed medicinally or recreationally.

            White Tahoe Cookies was bred by Kush4Breakfast, but is distributed by Archive. Kush4Breakfast is known for creating a few popular strains such as Aria, Smarties, and Gushers. Many of Kush4Breakfast stains are very popular in California, but are being distributed to many different recreational and medical states. Kush4Breakfast likely used Archive as a distributor as they have a large seed distributing footprint through Archive Seedbank.

            White Tahoe Cookies is cross between G.S.C x (The White x Tahoe OG). G.S.C is one of the most well-known cookie strains out there, if not one of the most well-known over all. The Origins of G.S.C are debated, and some people even debate it’s lineage. Most people seem to agree that it is a cross between Durban Poison and OG Kush. People love G.S.C for it’s intense mind-altering effects, and body relaxation. G.S.C has been crossed with many classic strains and is still being crossed with new strains to this day. The White is quite different from G.S.C however the origin of it seems to be a mystery as well. Many online say that it is either a phenotype/f1 of a strain called Triangle. Even without it’s true origin many agree that it’s effects and the way it grows puts it somewhere in the Kush family. The White is different from G.S.C as it is much more mellow, and body heavy. The White does not offer much in the way of cerebral effects. Like we spoke about on Episode 2 of the Podcast THC Percentages are not the final story when it comes to flower; The White is typically an extremely high tester, many times reaching above 30%. Most of The White’s effects are in for the form of pain relief, and body relaxation. We find that often times other strain that are crossed with The White mellow out the flavor, and the effects of the strain. It can also help bolster the THC percentage of the flower it is crossed with. Tahoe OG is another popular Indica Leaning strain, being a cross of OG Kush and SFV OG. Tahoe OG is another staple we try to keep stocked throughout the year. People really enjoy the sedative, body heavy effects the strain tends to carry. It can be very helpful for people suffering from pain, or are having issues with Insomnia.

            White Tahoe Cookies is a cross between quite a few different things and to carries quite a bit of OG Kush in it’s background. The nose definitely has resemblance to G.S.C and The White, which as a Kushy odor to it you can tell that it is rounding out the smell. In terms of appearance it resembles a cookie strain. It is a nice bright green with lots of orange pistils throughout the flower. The effects of the White Tahoe Cookies seems to be somewhere close to more of a cross between the White and Tahoe OG. It is very relaxing, and quite heavy on the body. It seems to be rounding out the Tahoe OG, as it isn’t as sedating but it is still good at loosening muscles and providing relaxation.

            The appearance of this White Tahoe Cookies is pretty, nice light green with orange pistils throughout. The Light green can be attributed to it’s nice coverage of Trichomes, it has more of a powdered sugar appearance as opposed to a layer of sugar throughout the buds. This strain however has never been the prettiest at least compared to some of the modern hybrids on the shelf. While it is an incredibly pretty batch of White Tahoe Cookies, we find that this strain compared to some other top shelf is not going to win out on it’s looks alone.         

            This strain is an absolute favorite for people just for to its effects . The Feedback from customers from this strain is fantastic. It is loved by Veterans, Parents, Seniors, people in their mid-20s, connoisseurs, and people who are new to the Cannabis world. We spoke with a regular who is a veteran at Spacebuds why he enjoys the strain, and he said that it is one of the few strains that he feels does not exacerbate his anxiety. We found that a lot of people enjoy this strain because they feel that it can really help them unwind after a long day and feel “Chill”. We found that it has a really great grounding effect, and is a great strain to have if you’re going for a long walk. We really enjoy this strain for the effects as well, and we feel that it is a great strain for people who are new to Cannabis. We found that if the White Tahoe Cookies isn’t giving the cerebral effects you are looking for; that it is a perfect mixer, and can help bring some extra body to some of the more cerebral/Hazy strains that are more popular in the current Cannabis market.         

            This White Tahoe Cookies was grown by Tao Gardens. We were so excited to know Tao Gardens was growing White Tahoe Cookies, as we feel they do an excellent job of showing off the terpenes in the plant. They will even grow certain strains with similar terpene compositions to maintain the flavor of the plant. Tao Gardens is an all Organic No-Till Living Soil grow right here in Eugene, OR. They grow a wide variety strains from Mars Love Triangle, Miracle Alien Cookies, GMO Cookies, Purple Punch, and exclusive to Tao Gardens Chem Skunk OG. Tao Gardens has built quite a reputation for being such a new grow to the Oregon Market.

• Appearance 3/5
• Smell 4/5
• Flavor 4/5
• Effect 5/5

            We believe that the versatility of the White Tahoe Cookies is it’s strong suite. Comparing this to other top shelf strains we found that it doesn’t hit the mark in terms of it’s appearance or smell. The Oregon Cannabis market is highly competitive, and features some of the best Cannabis in the world. We feel that Tao did a great job with this strain, however the strain certainly has some limits when it comes to it’s physical traits. We do recommend White Tahoe Cookies, it a strain that lots of people enjoy, and it is a good starting point for people who are getting approaching Cannabis. It is also a fantastic strain to mix with Sativa’s and Sativa Hybrids, as it can help mellow them out. 

Alien Cookies Strain Review:

                Alien Cookies may not carry the notoriety of its offspring M.A.C (Miracle Alien Cookies); notoriety aside what it does share are positively gorgeous buds, and effects. We will dive into why Alien Cookies is definitely worth your time and go into the distinct differences between the two strains.  Even if you are not a fan of Alien strains, this one has some key differences from other Alien strains circulating the market. We will say that if you take away anything from this review; this strain is pretty rare to find, so if you do end up seeing a good batch of it do yourself a favor and get Alien Cookies.

            Alien Cookies is a cross between G.S.C (Forum cut) and Aliendawg. Alien Cookies was bred by Jaws Genetics. Jaws Genetics grows many variations off previously established strains, they carry unique cuts of both Banana Kush and FPOG (Fruity Pebbles OG). They have also bred some other rare strains known as Dark Matter, Green Demon OG, and Jane’s OG. G.S.C. as we have spoken about in other reviews is hotly debated, there are many different cuts and versions of G.S.C. that people argue are the true G.S.C. Regardless of which cut is the best many people enjoy the phenotypic traits that the forum cut contains, and many seem to prefer the effects of the forum cut for having more mind altering traits. AlienDawg is much less well known and is a cross between ChemDawg, and Alien Technology. This is a great example of what unique breeding can bring to the industry. If you think of these plants at their core they’re not too different from a GMO Cookie cross, however they are extremely different in the way they make you feel and effect your body. We suspect that most of the mind altering effects that come from this strain is the combination of the Forum cut GSC and the Chemdawg. Both are known for their potent euphoric- mind altering effects.

  One thing that might surprise you as that Capulator the person who is the creator of M.A.C said in an article in CannabisNow. “Cap said the pairing that led to MAC was inspired by the phenomenal genetics of the Alien Cookies F2 #7, which, in his opinion, is probably the most incredible flower many people will smoke in their lifetime. It tastes so good, packs an amazing high and the smoke on the exhale smells like nag champa, he said of the Alien Cookies. “It lingers in a room and just smells so damn good. The problem is, it is incredibly slow growing and doesn’t stretch at all, so yields are terrible.” So this is the likely reason that the strain is so rare, is that because yields are typically low. Many commercial growers would lose interest in growing the strain in the first place as there is a lower return on their investment, as well as a higher risk if the strain grows worse than it’s normal low yield.  

            Alien Cookies sure looks out of this world, this strain is absolutely frosted throughout the buds. One thing that really sets this strain apart is that underneath the Trichomes you have these nice dark green buds, with nice hints of dark purple throughout. The buds have a nice density, dense enough that it will grind well but not crush into powder. The big difference we notice between the Alien Cookies and the M.A.C is that the Alien Cookies are much darker in color. The difference would be a Forest Green to a Tea Green. They however both seem to carry similar trichome structures where the Keif looks just like powdered sugar.

            The nose on the Alien Cookies is vastly different than what we suspected. The first notes that come off of this strain is of vanilla and earth. In a lot of ways It reminds us wedding cake, but heavier on the earth notes. What makes this a unique smell is that typically cannabis strains that exhibit earthy notes tend to have that be the main note. This carries both the vanilla and earth notes pretty even throughout. This is vastly different than the notes that MAC carries. M.A.C has a much more sour smell to it, and if properly executed should smell like sour cherry Yoplait yogurt. It seems though both noses on these strains are on the milder side.

            The effects of the Alien Cookies are on the more hybrid side of things. It has a nice uplifting effect on the mood with euphoric effects. It also has nice relaxing effects on the body, not one to lock you down to the couch but you will certainly feel a nice loosening of your muscles. The difference we noticed between this and the MAC is that the Alien Cookies seems to carry a bit more body than the M.A.C. The effects are very nice and potent, which both strains seem to carry.

            The Alien Cookies #7 was cultivated by Pacific Grove PDX. They are one of the few growers left that still grow this cut. They are a family owned/operated Indoor grow located in Portland. They carry an extensive variety of high quality Cannabis, and carry unique and rare strains. Many of them you do not see from any other grower in the state of Oregon. Some of their more unique strains are Royal addiction, Billy Idol, and Rhubarb Pie.

• Appearance 5/5
• Smell 4/5
• Flavor 4/5
• Effect 5/5

            Alien Cookies is truly something special, in a lot of ways it is a shame that it is so rare, as we think many would enjoy it. It’s appearance and effects are where this strain truly shines, it has a very unique look. The high is also enjoyable, and much stronger than many of the other Alien strains out there, such as Alien OG. The nose while not necessarily our favorite is different, and pleasant. It is not too common to get strains that have a smooth earthy note to them. We would pair this with more with activities near the end of the day, gaming, watching movies, or a late night walking the dog. If you happen to see some Alien Cookies in your future, do yourself a favor and try it.

References: Devine, J. (2019, October 21). Return of the MAC. Retrieved September 21, 2020, from https://cannabisnow.com/return-of-the-mac/

Sangiovese Strain Review:

Sangiovese in the wine world is a more savory variety of Red wine, the meaning of Sangiovese derives from the Latin Sanguis Jovis meaning the “Blood of Jupiter”. Sangiovese is not a very popular Cannabis strain, in fact NW Kind is the only grower we know of that grows it in Oregon. We thought that the most memorable thing from this flower would be the smell, but it turns out to be the effect. Sampling the Sangiovese surprised us in more ways than one.

Sangiovese is a cross between Brandywine and GMO Cookies. Sangiovese was bred by Dungeon Vault Genetics; they are also the breeder of Brandywine. Brandywine is a bit of an odd strain when it comes to genetics, it is a cross between Pink Champagne and Grandpa’s Breath (Which means there is a lot of Grand Daddy Purple in its lineage). Pink Champagne is nearly unheard of (Even its origin is not well known), other than in crosses such as Brandywine. Grandpa’s Breath, which is another strain, bred by Dungeon Vault Genetics has begun to see a resurgence. Strains such as Pal-patine, False Teeth, and Hot Rod have been making the rounds through the legal recreational market. Dungeon Vault Genetics origins seem to come from breeding quite a lot of Grand Daddy Purple. Brandywine is known as a more relaxing more mild Indica. It has an incredibly unique scent; some say it’s like tea and others say it’s more reminiscent of hops. GMO Cookies in a lot of ways seems almost opposite to Brandywine. While they are both Indica, the scent, and effects of the GMO Cookies are so different. First of all GMO Cookies happens to have one of the most funky noses around. The effects are very potent, the combination of the Chemdawg and G.S.C makes it much more physically intense. So it is really interesting to see the Brandywine and GMO Cookies be paired together. As we will jump into later in the review it leads to some seriously interesting results.

The Sangiovese did not look how we expected, these are some very light-colored buds. It does not have any of the coloring that GMO Cookies has, as well as scouting pictures of Brandywine; it does not resemble much similarity. The buds are a nice lime green to yellowish color, with smaller orange pistils throughout the buds. The buds are nice and dense, and the flower is cured well. We believe that some of the lightening of the bud is coming from the trichomes. This bud is packed with Trichomes, it is layered nicely throughout the flower, so this should certainly turn out good no matter how you grind it. This is not the first of NW Kind flower that has come out on the light side, we were surprised how much this looks like their XJ-13.

The nose of the Sangiovese seems to be a real love or hate relationship. We believe that it comes down to how earthy the strain smells. The GMO Cookies does not really come through on this one. The Sangiovese smells somewhere between the garden center at your local hardware store, and a tea shop. One thing we will give this strain is that the smell is not very offensive. We found to that using a dry herb vaporizer it has quite a pleasant taste, that is more like tea. One important thing that we do want to mention is that, badly cured flower can have a hay/tea smell. This is not the same as the nose you get on the Sangiovese, the Sangiovese carries this flavor throughout the nose the entire time. Typically badly cured Cannabis the hay/tea smell will hit you right away, and the nose of whatever strain you are smelling is muted.

The effects of the Sangiovese are where this strain shines. Comparing Cannabis to wine is a weird thing but in this situation it seems oddly appropriate. We found that the Sangiovese is quite talkative, and surprisingly stimulating for an Indica. One thing we really liked about the Sangiovese is that while it is stimulating, it is not very hazy. Some of the other GMO Cookies crosses, will just absolutely lay you out. As far as pairings go, video gaming, board games with friends, hanging out on zoom calls. We would not necessarily recommend this strain for sleep, but it can help you get into a more relaxed state of mind and body.

NW Kind is cultivator of the Sangiovese. NW Kind is more well known for their extracts than their flower. They make some of the prettiest, high quality shatter in the state. Their Flower is beginning to make its way around the state, with most of their distribution being centered around where they are from Bend, Oregon. NW Kind’s top shelf Craft Cannabis flower is exciting to see, this is certainly up there with their XJ-13. We appreciate the variety of strains that they grow, and they still grow some popular strains that may have gotten lost in the weeds(No Pun intended). They carry some interesting strains such as an interesting cross of Thin Mint crossed with G.S.C and Lemon Gelato. We are excited to see what new strains they will have in their cultivation lineup next!

• Appearance 4/5
• Smell 3/5
• Flavor 4/5
• Effect 5/5

We really enjoyed the Sangiovese, we think that it offers a little something for everyone. The appearance is great, it certainly should be top shelf great appearance with a nice trichome coating throughout.  If you are a terp chaser this may not be the strain for you, but there are plenty of other strains out there to enjoy. If you do enjoy earthier strains, this is right up your alley, this is about as earthy as it gets. Effects wise we absolutely love it, it makes us want to try Brandywine to see if they are similar. We hope to see so more strains from Dungeon Vault Genetics, that have Brandywine in it’s lineage. Not all Cannabis has to be the hardest hitting, finding Cannabis that meets your needs is always the goal. Strains like the Sangiovese show that not all strains that contain GMO Cookies are going to hit you the same, and that is why hybridization in this industry is so fascinating.

Garlic Sherbet Strain Review:

The simple concept of Garlic Sherbet to a mainstream audience, as well as vampires sounds simply vile. In the Cannabis industry Garlic strains have shown up at the forefront as some of the most popular strains on menu. We have reviewed many Garlic strains in the past, and we have enjoyed many of them. This Garlic Sherbet from Urban Canna however, is special and in total honesty might be the pinnacle of true craft Cannabis. This Garlic Sherbet brings tears to our eyes, and it is not because of the garlic.

Garlic Sherbet is a cross between GMO Cookies and Blue Sherbet. It was bred by IN-House Genetics who are best known for their strains Black Cherry Punch, Crystal Cookies, and Slurricane. GMO Cookies has been a staple for many growers in Oregon. Origins are rather washy when it comes to GMO Cookies some people say it was created by Divine Genetics, but because Divine has no tangible base of operations many third parties have claimed they created GMO Cookies.  When it comes to GMO Cookies, we have found that while the scent/flavor is very consistent, the effects can seem to really differ. Some cuts of GMO tend to be far more Indica leaning, while others seem to lean more towards the 50/50 Hybrid side of things. We’ve found that the cuts that tend to smell sweeter and more like cookies tend to be more on the Hybrid side. GMO Cookies that tends to be on the more savory side and have more of the umami notes tend to be on the Indica side. GMO cookies is certainly here to stay, it does some many things well for Cannabis connoisseurs, Growers, and Dispensaries. Being a cross of ChemDawg and G.S.C you have two very potent powerhouses crossed together. In doing so have flower that tests well, potent cerebral effects(ChemDawg), and somehow it attains the flavor of Garlic so it has a great nose. Blue Sherbet on the other hand is almost unheard of to many consumers. Created by The Plug Genetics Blue Sherbet is a cross between Blue Cookies and Sunset Sherbet. Blue Cookies and Sunset Sherbet are both cookies strains at heart, however they are on different sides of the spectrum when it comes to effects, Blue cookies is a more Indica leaning due to it’s Blueberry Genetics, where as Sunset Sherbet has a more uplifting 50/50 effect from Pink Panties. Blue Cookies used to be quite a popular strain but has been phased out by some other indica dominant cookie strains. Sunset Sherbet is making a come back as it is being crossed into many different trending strains.

This Garlic Sherbet is stunning, some truly out of this world bud. It has more purple/blue hues and orange pistils throughout it, than it has green on it. Most of the green on this bud seems to come out on the ends, or on the very insides of the bud when you break it open. This is definitely worth posting on the Instagram feed, its also insanely triched out which lightens up the color of the buds a lot. This is the kind of Cannabis that makes you appreciate how much growers have stepped up their game in the short amount of time that the legal industry has been around.

 GMO Cookies should not be the only one getting love for its flavor. This Garlic Sherbet nose is something that you can only smell Cannabis. It’s has the musky, earthy, umami notes that you get from most GMO Cookies strains; but it then ramps it up with the sweetness from the Blue sherbet and the combination of the two is wonderful. The sweet and savory notes mix from this is remeniscant of some of the better GMO Cookies we’ve had the pleasure of trying, however it is even sweeter than those. This is a reminder for us why we love Cannabis so much in the first place, this strain has something to offer that we have never encountered before.

Garlic Sherbet is not just another GMO Cookies off shoot, the effects of this are much more reminiscent of Sunset Sherbet. It starts off as this sporadic uplifting yet grounded high, almost Sativa-hybrid type of effects. It then begins to transition into a more body heavy relaxing strain that swings over to more of an Indica leaning hybrid. We found that the strains effects are quite long lasting, and would be ideal as something to have later in the day, as it can be a bit weighted after time. We found that while it is not as potent as GMO Cookies, it is also not as limiting. GMO Cookies even from the most seasoned of Cannabis Connoisseurs can be a bit too heavy handed. Some of us noted some nice sparks of creativity and found that it is also a good strain for having a nice chat with some friends, especially over Cannabis talk and conspiracy theories.

Urban Canna cultivated the Garlic Sherbet, and as far as we know or they only cultivator of this strain in the state. Urban Canna has been growing craft Cannabis in Eugene for quite some time. They have an almost cult like following from around the state. They put out some seriously unique strains, such as Dirty Bananas, Lee Ann WoMAC, Divine Kush Breath, Blue Pearl, and Gelato Cake. They strive to grow the best craft Cannabis flowers, and the results seriously show. Their Garlic Sherbet as well as their Gelato Cake which we picked up recently are both seriously impressive. We seriously cannot wait to see what they bring to the table in the future.

• Appearance 5/5
• Smell 5/5
• Flavor 5/5
• Effect 5/5

Our overall thoughts on the Garlic Sherbet are as follows. In the looks department this meets and or exceeds the rest of the top rated strains that we have reviewed. The Garlic Sherbet is colorful, dense, and just coated in Trichomes on the exterior and interior of the buds. We’ve noticed that the buds tend to be a bit on the drier side, but we sample using a volcano and it still vaped well, and wasn’t overtly harsh like other drier buds. The smell is where Garlic Sherbet shines it just carries this unique sweet/savory funk that cannot be found in anything else, the flavor when smoked/vaped comes off very similar to GMO Cookies but on the sweeter side of things. We enjoyed the effects a lot as well, as the high transitions from a more creative/cerebral high to a more relaxed hits under the eyes type of effect. If you see the Garlic Sherbet from Urban Canna, pick it up we guarantee It will not be on the shelf for long!

Grape Octane OG Strain Review

This is no ordinary grape gas, this is some premium high octane fuel!

Like many Grape strains this strain was bred by Cannarado Genetics. Cannarado Genetics is the biggest grape on the block. They have been absolutely slaying it when it comes to grape genetics. Cannarado’s strains have been really popular in Oregon, you will atleast find one of their strains on every growers menu. Sundae Driver has certainly been their biggest hit, and the amount of new strains that have come from Sundae Driver alone has been pretty surprising.

Grape Octane OG is a cross between Grape Pie and High Octane OG. Grape Pie is a really popular strain for a quick mental engagement, that turns from Euphoria into a nice body sedating effect. Grape Pie is crossed with many strains due to it’s indica like effects, as well as it’s nice sweet grape flavor. High Octane OG is an Indica leaning Hybrid as well however, the effects are more similar to an OG Kush in where the effect is more Cerebrally stoney, on top of the Body sedation. The mix of these leads to a nice body relaxing effect, with some serious mental stimulation.

The optics on this one are bright, literally looks to be coated in frost. Cold Frame did a fantastic job growing this batch of Grape Octane OG. The trichome coverage on these buds actually lighten up the entire look of the flower, to a light green color. There are slight flecks of purple throughout the buds themselves. It’s trichome coverage is similar to Mac in which it seems as if it is just powdered right on.

The Nose on this should appeal to two different groups. People who prefer their Cannabis to have a more floral fruit forward note. If you enjoy grape/berry strains, you will likely enjoy the Grape Octane OG. The other group is for people who are looking for that “Gas”, it’s a little lighter on the notes of Fuel, but you can certainly tell that it is there. It reminds us a bit of GMO Cookies without the funk savory notes, and more of a sweet gas like Gelato #33. It’s exciting to get a strain that has sweet fuel notes, that is neither a GMO cross, or a Gelato cross.

We found the effects on the Grape Octane OG to be different than anticipated. While we got the body heavy effects that you would anticipate from an Indica leaning hybrid. The cerebral effects are quite surprising, this strain has an uplifiting elevated effect on the mind. It’s not racy like a golden goat or Green Cra*k but it certainly comes through and made us feel quite alert. We found this strain would be best for outdoor, active activities. This strain would be great for working out, camping, or going for a hike. We also found that it would be quite good for some competitive gaming, as we found that the strain helped with getting zoned in.

Cold Frame Farms is the cultivator of the Grape Octane OG. Cold Frame is known for growing Exotic strains for the connoisseur. Cold Frame is really passionate about using older growing methods with new technology. They are committed to what they call “Conscious cultivation”, their methodology is creating great flower, while having a minimal impact on the environment around them.

• Appearance 5/5
• Smell 5/5
• Flavor 4/5
• Effect 4/5

Grape Octane OG is quite a potent exotic strain. It’s a really nice mix up from Cannarado’s other parings such as Sundae driver which tend to be on the milder side when it comes to effects. Cold Frame did a great job on this strain, it looks great, has flavor notes that other Oregon growers have been neglecting. The effects are certainly exotic, which make it hard to place in a daily rotation. It works well for taking the edge off while remaining engaged and active. The versatility of the strain however knocks it down one point, and with it being grape, those strains are always going to have a love/hate relationship.

Mule Fuel Strain Review

Mule Fuel jumps onto the GMO train with a cross of the Lurch, a strain which everyone seems to talk about but have no real information about. This is one of the most social highs we’ve seen from a GMO cross yet. Muel Fuel is a testament that lower testing flower can hit just as hard as some of the 30% THC strains out on the market.

ThugPug genetics has become really big on the scene for their “Breath” strains. Garlic Breath, Meat Breath, Peanut Breath, and Sherb Breath. They also are known for their popular strain Unicorn Poop (Another GMO Cross). ThugPug’s online presence is through the founders “Gromer” @Gromerjuana instagram, which has a huge following in the industry . But as far as ThugPug’s companies online presence, they do not have a huge following to their consumers,

Muel Fuel was created by Thug Pug genetics, it is a cross between GMO and Lurch. GMO has really made a name for itself in the scene, it’s one of the few strains that has managed to keep up with it’s hype. There are so many strains that get over hyped manage to get on a farms grow menu, and then after 1-2 grow cycles completely disappear into obscurity. GMO has notoriously stuck around, and in fact has become a staple for many Oregon farms, any grow menu in Oregon will likely have GMO, or a GMO cross on it’s menu. GMO has become the new G.S.C, and we do not see it going anyway anytime soon. Lurch on the other hand has very little information about it. The closest thing we could find is that it is a male version of Mendo Montage, which is a cross between Mendo Purps and Crystal Locomotive.

Even with a name like Mule Fuel this flower came out gorgeous! It has a really nice slightly fluffy, yet still nice and dense bud structure. It has a really nice mixture of different hues of purple, and green throughout. It’s Trichome coverage is layered within the bud, almost as if there is just these nice pockets of dank throughout.

Muel Fuel is a one way ticket to flavor town. Mule Fuel is a very pungent strain that hits you with notes of gas and earth throughout. This is the gassiest GMO cross we’ve had tried. The GMO really boosts the notes of the gas, and gives it savory notes throughout. It’s very different then say a Gelato which has gassy/fuel notes to it, but is much sweeter in nature. The combination of GMO and the Lurch is wonderful, and if you are a fan of gas this is a must try.

The effect of the Mule Fuel is quite interesting especially for a strain that has GMO in it. We found that out of many of the GMO strains we have tried, that the Mule fuel has the most social effects to it. Mule Fuel has the nice body relaxation that comes from the GMO, but it is not as cerebral. Mule Fuel is not the highest tester, but as we’ve said there is so much more to flower than raw THC percentage. This Mule Fuel hits just as well as any of the other top shelf that tests 10% higher. We’ve been personally enjoying this Mule Fuel in our flower rotations, it is extremely good at mellowing out, without making you feel like your locked into your seat.

Gardens of Odin is the cultivator of the Muel Fuel. Gardens of Odin grows really great indoor flower, and they carry a wide variety of different strains. They carry a lot of strains that you dont normally see such as Dutch Treat, The Purps, Member Berry to name a few. We’ve really enjoyed have Gardens of Odin on our shelf as they have brought a lot of unique strains, with great terpene profiles that we normally do not see in the Oregon Cannabis market.

• Appearance 4/5
• Smell 5/5
• Flavor 4/5
• Effect 4/5

Mule Fuel really wowed us, we came into Mule Fuel blind, and we fell in love. The nose on this is so pungent, that umami/gassy mix that it has is so special. It’s beautiful flower with good trichrome coverage, has a really good structure. Novice users should be cautious when giving this one a try, it is very potent like a lot of strains that have chemdawg in them. If you’re a connoisseur give this strain a try it offers a very different experience than many of the other GMO crosses out there.