by Andrew Moore
Many times, in the backrooms of dispensaries, deep in the fields of green, or during long smoky reasoning sessions—the discussions about the Oregon market will pick up the topic of lost classic strains that are hard to find.
This flower offering from the small craft farm, Northwest Artisan, is a wonderful example of traditional breeding and flavor, one of many that Northwest Artisan has released in the Oregon market. It also shows what can happen when a strong, stable genetic gets abused, and the nuance of the cultivar gets sacrificed for commercial yield. This particular run shows the deep earthy lineage with light notes that I have not found in other farm’s larger runs of Lemon Kush in the past few years in Oregon.
From a farm that can boast some powerhouse classic heirloom strains in their lineup—they have a mother room that is full of phenotyped and stabilized classics–Romulan, Super Silver Haze, and most notably one of the best Durban Poison (Mendo ‘79) in the game. Many of these mothers represent some of the genetic cornerstones of the modern 21st century breeding lines. The fact that their Lemon Kush can be named along with them in this roster run down is why this pheno seems so notable.
At one point Lemon Kush was everywhere and it was so popular, much like all easier to grow high yield strains that it flooded the market, that it fell out of fashion. A Chitral Kush from the Hindu Kush mountain range in Afghanistan and Pakistan that saw its earliest origins in legendary trading tribal breeder lore and forum discussion rooms. Ohio, Amsterdam, Humboldt all lay claim to this mythical hybrid citrusy Kush.
Northwest Artisans seems to have scored a classic, this smells like the old Afghani earthy citrus lemon cross that I first saw 30 years ago. Its Kush lineage shows in its structure, smell, and node stack, sativa looks but with a strong indica high. When you break the bud smelling true cannabis history, straight old school Kush! This is the nose that we all seek but rarely find.
The deep lineage of the old hash plants really shows as you’re breaking up the flower it gets very oily and sticky in its final form before becoming fine enough to roll into a joint.
Excellent smooth, soft tasting smoke that is a true Kush experience. This fantastic flavor is accompanied by a strong and long-lasting cerebral effect. Its taste can be credited to the high amounts of Limonene found within the strain. While I am not a number chaser, I do not disagree with its 28% compliance test.
Structure
Classic Kush structure, bright lime greens thin bright hairs.
Nose
Pungent, classic Kush, wet earth, sweet spice, slight stank, deep lemon rind
Taste
Inhale- soft tastes, sour earth, sweet citrus spice sage
Exhale- a cross of lemonhead candy and lemon pledge
5 minutes in
Light and cerebral that gets very heavy very quick!
10 minutes in
Body melt and easy but heavy high with a creepy of self-reflection and the slow creeps of a little paranoia.
20 minutes in
Grooving to the music, euphoria, no paranoia at all.
Relit joint tastes good, like lemon saltwater taffy, and black licorice
1 hour later(!)
Still riding serious high with some couch lock coming on with the beginnings of the come down.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND ask for Northwest Artisan by name at your local Oregon dispensary.