HIGH TIMES Top 10 Strains of 2008

By Danny Danko

Each year, we at HIGH TIMES painstakingly scour the entire planet in search of the tastiest and most potent pot to feature in our esteemed rundown of the world’s finest cannabis varieties. It’s a tough decision, yet certain strains always seem to shine through—making themselves known as something special for growers, pot aficionados and cannabis connoisseurs across the universe. Grow some out today!

BRAINSTORM HAZE
Delta 9 Labs
Smokers interested in heady, inspirational marijuana always seek out the longer-flowering, Hazy sativas, sometimes referred to colloquially as “ampheta-weed” for their uplifting qualities. Harry and Ed from Delta 9 Labs have engineered an incredible new variety called Brainstorm Haze that will make your visions clearer and let your ideas fly. A pure Thai Haze mother fertilized by their Stargazer (Sensi Star x Warlock x AK-47) produces pot that feels almost electric, with a distinct Hazy flavor and heart-racing power that makes you want to get outside and complete some tasks—a wonderful daytime weed.
Flowering time: 10 to 12 weeks
Contact: Delta 9 Labs, Delta9labs.com

ANUNNAKI
DNA Genetics
Having placed or won in every cannabis contest they’ve ever entered, Don and Aaron of DNA Genetics (get it? D ’n’ A Genetics) continue riding high. These Southern Cali transplants to Holland utilized a California Hash Plant female fertilized by a Cannalope Haze male to make the Anunnaki. Tall and lanky, she won’t be a tremendous yielder, but her subtle tastes and racy “up” high are well worth the wait. Indoors, do some severe pruning early on to avoid growing too much lumber (i.e., foot-long distances between the nodes). Let Anunnaki go the full distance and the rewards will make it self-evident that not all sativa-dominant strains are created equal.
Flowering time: nine to 10 weeks
Contact: DNA Genetics, dnagenetics.com

WHITE BERRY
Paradise Seeds
Luc and the Paradise Seeds cannabis crew score pot points time and time again with impeccable and time-tested breeding techniques, resulting in strong crosses that always grow big, chunky buds. Their indica-heavy White Berry is no exception, growing into huge, frosty nuggets covered in trichomes and bursting with flavors. The high calyx-to-leaf ratio makes White Berry easy to trim and absolutely wonderful for hash-making. It’s also a great nighttime smoke, with soothing qualities that can induce a peaceful, easy feeling perfect for sitting on the couch with a bong and some video games. Medicinal patients also highly recommend White Berry for muscle spasms and restless-leg syndrome.
Flowering time: seven weeks
Contact: Paradise Seeds, paradise-seeds.com

DESTROYER
Cannabiogen
Spain continues to make its global ganja presence known with incredible genetics geared for growers interested in high yields of the stickiest ganja. On a recent visit to Barcelona for the Spannabis Fair, we were lucky enough to try Destroyer, a powerful strain from Cannabiogen, a company long at the forefront of Spain’s sensi surge. Destroyer is an almost-pure sativa sporting a combined Thai, Mexican and Colombian heritage, but with all of the exotic flavors and racy highs that are typical of Thai. The longer you let this plant flower, the more psychedelic the experience of smoking her becomes—so be patient. The results are guaranteed to destroy you (in a good way).
Flowering time: eight to 12 weeks
Contact: Cannabiogen Seeds, cannabiogen.com

JORGE'Ss DIAMONDS #1
Dutch Passion
In an exciting tribute to HIGH TIMES’s own longtime cultivation expert, Jorge Cervantes, the breeding experts at the Dutch Passion Seed Company have created Jorge’s Diamonds #1. Resinous and thought-provoking (much like the man it’s named for), Jorge’s Diamonds #1 will entice you with an incredible taste and aroma. This indica-dominant strain was selected from the 25-year-old Dutch Passion “Research Gene Pool,” and its sweet, fruity smell and taste come from just the right amount of sativa genetics mixed in. Two legends unite to bring the world an incredible new cannabis variety whose potency is rivaled only by its amazing flavors and complex notes.
Flowering time: eight to nine weeks
Contact: Dutch Passion, dutch-passion.nl

THE FLAV
Subcool Seeds (TGA)
The Green Avengers, led by the cannabis couple Subcool and MzJill, are dedicated to their quest to provide medicinal-cannabis hybrids for patients in need. Their newest release, The Flav, combines Canada’s legendary Romulan with the original Space Queen (Romulan x Cinderella 99) for a taste sensation that’s hard to beat.

Anyone who’s grown or smoked the Romulan knows its intense flavor and yields, and the Flav brings out the best of both. The phenotypes expressed by these seeds all show significant trichome production, resulting in sticky nuggets with that characteristic “ripe-to-rotting” fruit odor of the real Rom. Haven’t we all been on the lookout for an exceptional indica with superior flavor to boot? Believe the hype.
Flowering time: 8-9 weeks
Contact: Subcool and TGA Seeds, breedbay.co.uk or cannaseur.com

PINEAPPLE PUNCH
Flying Dutchmen
Having always loved the incredible and unique Hawaiian cannabis varieties, and having really appreciated Flying Dutchmen’s Real McCoy at Coffeeshop Media in Amsterdam, we were very excited to learn of the Pineapple Punch, a cross of a meticulously selected Real McCoy female with a sturdy Skunk #1 male. The result is a sublime and extremely cerebral taste of the tropics, complete with the unique flavors for which the best sativa-dominant hybrids are known. Fruity pineapple tastes and scents abound in this flavorful and potent strain, making her a pleasure to grow as well as to smoke. Careful, though—the intense sativa elements of Pineapple Punch can cause heart racing and even paranoia among inexperienced puffers.
Flowering time: nine to 10 weeks
Contact: Flying Dutchmen, flyingdutchmen.com

THE BLACK
BC Bud Depot
Following up their award-winning strain the Purps, the BC Bud Depot crew releases The Black—a potent and tasty indica variety known for her frosty, tight, dark-colored nuggets. She’s a heavy feeder, with fan leaves that turn dark purple to almost black as harvest time approaches. Ninety percent indica, the Black is definitely a nighttime smoke—truly narcotic, with a stone that hits hard and is especially appreciated by medicinal users. Fast-flowering, and with a great yield of buds heavy on pure bag appeal, it appears that Black is the new Purple for pot connoisseurs.
Flowering time: seven to eight weeks
Contact: BC Bud Depot, bcbudonline.com

COLE TRAIN
Reserva Privada
Aaron and Don from DNA Genetics have decided to provide a showcase for some of their favorite medicinal strains from their California home. The idea was to take some of the West Coast’s finest private vintage strains, such as this year’s winner, Cole Train, and release them to the public through a collective they call Reserva Privada. Cole Train originates from the Humboldt County area and is the result of pollinating the female Jasmine (a mid-’90s Silver Haze hybrid) with the Trainwreck (T4) male. This one tastes like the old-school Colombian genetics prized and treasured by seasoned smokers from the days of yore. This mostly indica variety also resists pests and molds, making Cole Train perfect to grow in harsher climates.
Flowering time: seven to nine weeks
Contact: Reserva Privada, dnagenetics.com

FUCKING INCREDIBLE

Vancouver Island Seed Company

G and Kat have been growing and breeding cannabis for decades. Their years of experience creating strains for the harsh environment of Vancouver Island has resulted in plants that withstand the most challenging elements, resist molds and diseases, and produce huge colas that dry into the stickiest and stinkiest of buds, The wonderfully (and aptly) named Fucking Incredible – a.k.a. the FI for short – is a tasty, indica-heavy hybrid with lots of vigor that’s easy to grow and fucking incredible to smoke.

Flowering time: six to eight weeks

Contact: Green Life Seeds, vancouverseed.com

Check out the HIGH TIMES Top 10 Strains of 2008 "Potcast"!

THIS ARTICLE WAS FEATURED IN THE DECEMBER 2008 ISSUE OF HIGH TIMES MAGAZINE:

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