Guide for choosing your marijuana strain

Regular cannabis and its beginnings

Cannabis is an ancient plant that has been coexisting with the human species for thousands of years. Studies on the plant argue that it originated in China and that from this initial point, the plant slowly but steadily colonized the world until it reached the 4 continents, using the help of animals, travelers, merchandise, or wars to expand.

This entire cannabis movement meant that marijuana plants had to adapt to the different climatic variations wherever it was exported, generation after generation.

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Today we are going to talk to you about a variety that is taking the cannabis scene by storm, since Oreoz is an American gem that is winning the hearts of many marijuana growers and enthusiasts. What makes it so special? Well, there are several things in fact...first, its impressive resin production, which makes each bud shine as if it were covered in crystals, making it a delight for the eyes and a dream for those looking to do extractions. Furthermore, its bag appeal is simply unbeatable: those dense, beautiful, and perfectly formed buds will conquer you at first sight, making it stand out in any dispensary or personal collection.

And if that were not enough, Oreoz's terpene profile is truly unique. It offers a combination of aromas and flavors that will make you come back for more, unique, it is one of those plants that you will have a hard time identifying with any other similar one that you have smoked. In short, Oreoz is not only a visual beauty and a pleasure to grow but also a well-rounded, amazing experience that raises the current standard of what to expect from a high-quality cannabis strain. Ready to learn more about Oreoz? We tell you everything about her below!

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In the world of cannabis, one of the most valuable skills that any enthusiast can master, whether just a user or a grower, is the ability to distinguish between good quality cannabis flowers and those that, let's say it like this, could be better. While legalization and regulation have raised the quality of products in many areas, there are still notable differences in the quality and potency of cannabis flowers available on the market. In this article, we will guide you through the aspects and keys to help you identify the difference between real green gold and low-quality weed.

It is not just about consuming better or worse weed, but about knowing how to appreciate a series of aspects (such as the presence of fungi in the buds) that your health will appreciate if you take into account, whether you plan to smoke, vaporize, or do any type of resin extraction with those flowers. Let's see what qualities you should look for in a bud to be able to evaluate it as "top weed".

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In recent years, the world of cannabis has experienced a true revolution in terms of the development of new genetics, and among the various varieties that have emerged, one of the most prominent is the Gelato strain. This plant has managed to capture the attention and palates of marijuana enthusiasts around the world thanks to its exceptional combination of flavors, aromas, and unique effects.

Gelato is a hybrid variety, the result of crossing the famous Girl Scout Cookies Thin Mint and Sunset Sherbert. It was developed by the master breeders at the Cookie Fam Genetics company, who you probably know have created some of the most popular and award-winning strains in the cannabis industry in recent years. Since its inception, Gelato has quickly gained recognition and become a favorite choice for both medicinal users and recreational consumers alike. Today we tell you all about her.

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When talking about Haze marijuana, several names usually come to mind, all of them classics from the scene that at the time represented a true revolution both from the point of view of breeding and of the final consumer: Super Silver Haze, Original Haze, Neville's Haze and, of course, Amnesia Haze, are all representative plants of the best that Haze genetics can offer and which, in turn, have become pillars of breeding for the development of dozens - if not hundreds - of new strains.

Today we are going to dedicate this article to Amnesia Haze, one of the most sought-after sativas in Dutch coffee shops and champion in countless cannabis events around the world, characterized by its intense citrus and incense aroma and its potent effect, which provides a strong cerebral charge while invading the body with powerful waves of euphoria and energy. Not for nothing has it become one of the most famous Sativa-dominant strains in the world!

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If you are a faithful follower of Philospher Seeds, you are in luck. After a while without introducing new strains in their catalog but working hard in the shadows, the guys at Philospoher have rolled up their sleeves and now present a new collection of genetics of simply excellent quality.

These new Limited Edition lines have been carefully chosen and always developed from elite clones, mostly incorporating American genetics but keeping a perfect balance between terpenes, ease of cultivation, and yield, the latter characteristic being of vital importance for most growers and not very common in most varieties from the USA.

The hybrids now available in limited edition form are 8, including an automatic variety. The outdoor season has only just begun in the Northern Hemisphere, and it is the ideal time to get hold of one of the new genetics from Philosopher Seeds and enjoy the winter with a good collection of genuine flowers from these unique crosses.

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THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is the best-known cannabinoid in the cannabis plant, responsible for its psychoactive effects. So, although the effects produced when weed is consumed also depend on other compounds present in it, such as secondary cannabinoids and terpenes (in the phenomenon known as the entourage effect), its concentration plays a pivotal role in the potency of cannabis.

Whether it is to obtain the most intense high possible, but also to be able to reduce the doses consumed or to easily obtain the medicinal effects sought in the context of therapeutic cannabis use, the THC level of the cannabis plant is a feature of great interest to many growers and consumers.

Today we invite you to get to know the most potent cannabis strains of 2022 currently available on the market.

Godfather OG, 34% THC

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Like all plants, cannabis can develop phenotypes of all shapes and sizes. Generally speaking, varieties will exhibit differences in resin production, colouring, stature or structure. Other times, cannabis will express itself with characteristics you've probably never seen before. And sometimes those characteristics can be stabilised from generation to generation to give us pleasant surprises.

For example, most of us would love to have a magical cloaking mechanism that makes our cannabis plants "disappear" from view, especially when growing outdoors. But beyond discretion, we also want plants whose yield, aroma and flavour are above average. And these are some examples present in the seed banks on our website that achieve this effect with great skill.

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Candyland by Grand Daddy Purple Seeds, one of Ken Estes' jewels

For this smoke report, we tasted a bud of Candyland, a variety from the Grand Daddy Purple Seeds bank. Created by legendary breeder Ken Estes, it is only available in regular seed form, resulting from the cross between Bay Platinum Cookies and the world-famous Grand Daddy Purple.

This is a magnificent indica variety, an easy-to-grow cannabis strain with wonderful colouring and pungent earthy, sugary aromas of an organic character with strong nuances of forest fruits such as berries and grapes; a variety that, without a doubt, bears the mark of its creator, both for its organoleptic properties and for its powerful relaxing effects, totally in line with the style and philosophy of Grand Daddy Purple Seeds.

The parent used as the father in this cross is Grand Daddy Purple, a Skunk-based variety but at the same time very different from what we Europeans understand by Skunk; these lines were worked in California rather than in Holland, and it is highly likely that the ancestors of Grand Daddy Purple originate from Mendocino, South America and Afghanistan. The Bay Platinum Cookies mother provides that component so characteristic of the cookies family by adding earthy and creamy butter terpenes in addition to changing the morphology of the flower, affecting its density and bract (calyx) size.

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New American varieties, Autumn 2021

We're back again, with another batch of new releases in terms of American cannabis genetics, this time presenting three new seed banks that you can find in the Alchimia Grow Shop catalogue right now. As you already know, we do our very best to bring you the latest varieties from the other side of the pond, and this summer we've been really busy, with no less than three great new banks for your growing pleasure!

So, this time we'll be highlighting some of the most interesting varieties from breeders such as Mz Jill (a true legend in the American cannabis scene for more than 20 years), Dungeons Vault Genetics (created by the former breeder of the prestigious Grand Daddy Purple Seeds company owned by Ken Estes) and Cult Classic Seeds (based in Sonoma County, California, who come out swinging with their Cement Shoes). As you can see, this autumn is packed with new and exciting strains!

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Deciding which cannabis variety to grow is not always an easy task because, apart from factors such as the desired characteristics of the final product, our choice may depend on other, no less important, aspects such as the local climate or the natural photoperiod in our area. As such, we often receive inquiries from countries near the equator, where the photoperiod sometimes plays tricks on the grower, who ends up with plants that have not grown enough to give a satisfactory harvest.

For these cases, today we'd like to recommend a series of varieties from one of the most prestigious seed banks we have in stock: ACE Seeds. Known throughout the world for their impressive pure varieties and the hybrids created from them, ACE Seeds offers a range of Sativa-dominant plants that can solve many of the problems that these growers face.

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We receive many queries about the parameters included in the descriptions of the different cannabis strains, and more specifically, the traits section. While some aspects, like production per square meter or cannabinoid content, are very clear for the experienced grower, newcomers to the wonderful world of marijuana home growing can find them confusing.

Today, we are explaining in detail each of the attributes that can be found in the information provided by the cannabis seed banks in relation to the genetics they sell. This will help you to clear any doubts when checking the strains? index cards and descriptions, and to understand every trait of the plants outlined in their catalogues.

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Today we'd like to invite you to share in a tasting session with one of Purple City Genetics' most spectacular varieties: Punch Out. Coming from a cross between Legend OG and the mythical Purple Punch, this hybrid has a rich and complex flavour and aroma that stand out above the rest, whether consumed in a cannabis vaporiser or, as in our case, rolled up in a traditional joint.

Just one look at the pedigree of this variety is all that's needed to know that we're dealing with something very special. For its part, Legend OG (The Crinkle Cut) is a clone-only strain with OG Kush genetics, which is pretty much held as the benchmark of quality that many other varieties are measured by, and used in countless top-quality hybrids. On the other hand, we can't add much to everything that has already been written about Purple Punch, a plant that stands out on its own, but which also offers amazing results as a parent equalled by very few other strains. Without a doubt, the guys at PCG have come up with a knockout combination for Punch Out!

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With the rise of medicinal cannabis use and the inclusion of CBD in a multitude of products, the varieties of hemp chosen for cultivation are becoming increasingly important for the producer, who can see how the total CBD yield can easily double if the right choice is made. However, and as every professional hemp farmer knows, his activity is restricted by limits on the THC content in his plants permitted under the corresponding legislation, and that each country has its own limits and regulations.

In today's article, we're going to introduce you to the best currently available varieties with THC levels below 1%, meaning that they can be grown in certain countries without any type of legal issues because they stay below the limits established by the respective jurisprudence. Not only that, but we'll also show you some of the certified hemp varieties that we offer in our seed catalogue.

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Without a doubt, and especially after winning in record time a fair amount of awards in some of the most prestigious US cannabis cups, one of the biggest genetics hypes of the moment is Runtz by Cookie Fam. This impressive variety has produced some phenotypes of truly amazing quality, and has been used as mother plant to create several first-class hybrids which have won the hearts of marijuana fans, professionals and cup judges alike.

Runtz caused such a stir that, only three years after its release in California, it was voted best strain of the year 2020 by the prestigious Leafly platform, an award worthy of the impact created by this plant. But let's not get ahead of ourselves and start at the beginning... Where does Runtz come from?

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The use of therapeutic or medicinal cannabis has seen an unprecedented boom in recent years, with thousands of people treating their illnesses, ailments and side-effects derived from other treatments either with the cannabis plant itself or the extracts that derive from it. The multiple benefits offered and the growing number of users bear witness to its effectiveness, which in recent times has led to redoubled efforts by breeders and seedbanks to create new hybrids with better ratios of certain cannabinoids, such as THC, CBD or, more recently, CBG.

Today we're going to take a look at the best cannabis varieties for medicinal use, in particular from the point of view of the relative quantity of cannabinoids they contain. Nowadays, although CBG is fast gaining popularity, the "star cannabinoids" in terms of medicinal properties are THC and CBD, and we can find plenty of varieties with different ratios or proportions between one compound and the other. So, here we're going to list them according to their cannabinoid ratio so that it's easier for you to find the one you're looking for.

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