Kush – or often called OG Kush – is the original gangster, the master, the one that started it all. At least, in terms of contemporary hemp genetics. This 90’s classic is the most common recent ancestor of all the strains that stem from the West Coast, thus its name and its iconic reputation in the world of hemp. Its rich terpene profile and rapturous hybrid effects can leave even the most experienced veteran hemp-heads clinging to the edge of their seats.
Often considered a hemp stash staple, Kush is a strain that has birthed countless other classics and icons after it. And what’s really interesting is that even without a partner in marriage, Kush comes out as a prolific herb, coming out with other legends like Tahoe OG, Ghost OG, and SFV OG as its popular phenotypes that have gone on to make names for themselves in the cut-throat hemp scene.
It’s hard to trace the lineage of a self-made strain. But what we do know is that Kush started out with the intermingling of an unnamed Northern California strain with the legendary Hindu Kush. The resulting strain was nothing less than blissful, bringing out the perfectly balanced effects of sativa and indica, the way that a true hybrid should. Up to this day, there’s not a lot of information on what the other parent strain might have been. However there are some experts that speculate that it might be a sativa dominant landrace.
Its only known parent is the Hindu Kush strain. This potent landrace is one of the most accessible on the planet today. Its thick cannabinoid profile and delicious flavor come together to knock your socks off and bring you to the next level of peace and relaxation. As an indica strain, this landrace offers an otherworldly encounter with tranquility, and even poses effects on your mind and body to work away stress and tension for a truly easy-going trip.
OG Kush is a monster nug, brandishing oversized leaves and an unruly mop of orange hairs that explode together for a clustered look that’s without rhyme or reason. The eruption of rowdy, disorderly green leaves that intertwine with chaotic red-orange hairs make the nugs look like hemp’s version of Frankenstein’s monster. The oversized, angry nugs stick out in a line up and can definitely grab your attention from their seat on the top shelf.
When you finally muster the curiosity to ask your friendly neighborhood budtender to take the jar down and crack it open for whiff, you get slapped in the kisser with a spicy punch of pepper and herb that pierces through the nostrils and strips through the throat. The herbal flavor can clear the sinus, especially as it intertwines with the aroma of lemon and citrus. Towards the tail end, a gasoline finish drags the smell encounter, working to round off the fragrances and heighten their potency with a bit of contrast.
These strong aromas come from Kush’s immense trichome display that produces the resin for both cannabinoids and terpenes. And with such a rich abundance of fragrance, you best believe OG Kush won’t disappoint with its body tingling effects.
As billows of smoke course through your throat and lungs, the flavors expressed by Kush’s rich terpene content seem to magnify with each puff. The slow, smooth travel of smoke from toke to chest heavies down the torso, but also makes you feel feather light as it exist your system on the exhale. Blending citrus and herb dominate the taste experience, but hints of earth and char wiggle their way through, grasping your taste buds as though clinging on for dear life.
The raging effects of the strain pick up within minutes of the first inhale. And the first effect to take a hold of your system is none other than good old relaxation. What sets Kush’s relaxation apart from other strains is that it isn’t compelling, it doesn’t demand your full attention. Simply, it soothes your mind and body, leaving you feeling relatively calm and collected without the deep, drowsy feeling of heavy eyelids.
A gentle buzz tingles up and down the spine as the soothing tranquility settles in, and thoughts rush and race from idea to idea, giving rise to a creative fever. And as you focus on the various cognitive activities taking place, the strain births feelings of euphoria and happiness that can definitely turn around even the sourest of moods. At the end, Kush will leave you uplifted and stimulated albeit calm and relaxed, perfect for those moments when you want to enjoy a few happy moments with yourself, without the stresses of daily life eating away at every thought.
Kush is one of those strains that you’re not likely to find at your local dispensary. And when it does finally show up, you best believe that stuff’s going to be gone within minutes. The reason for the scarcity is because as a strain, Kush is especially difficult to cultivate. Usually reserved for farmers with years (or even decades) or cultivation experience, Kush is an exceedingly temperamental plant that requires loads of TLC.
That said, no one should ever attempt growing the stuff outdoors. With such specific growing needs, Kush is best cultivated indoors where you can manipulate every variable of the entire process. If you do things right, the plant can reach maturity within just 7 weeks from the seed. Harvest wise, you should manage your expectations. Kush is a shy plant that yields a modest bud count of just around 1 to 2 ounces for every foot of its height.
The appearance of the plant itself is more similar to sativa genetics, with long leaves arranged spaciously from one another, all linked together to a tall, airy plant. On average, a Kush herb should grow up to 6 feet in height or more. So its essential that you have enough space in your growing facilities to accommodate the tall growth. If all goes well, you should be able to pick up hints of its aromatic properties wafting from the leaves as it reaches maturity.
If you’re hoping to give Kush a try but your local budtender just doesn’t have any on hand, then these alternatives might give you a similar experience:
As with any other strain, the key to fully appreciating the majest of Kush is by managing your dosage. After all, too much – or too little – of a good thing might be bad for you. Veterans with more experience are likely to be able to enjoy the speedy thoughts that come rushing with higher doses of Kush. But for those who have yet to truly experience a 90’s classic, taking it easy with smaller doses might be far wiser.
On the other hand, farmers with little experience growing hemp might feel a little disappointed growing this stuff since it can be especially difficult to bring to maturity. Nonetheless, home gardeners who want a little extra challenge might find what they’re looking for with the tall, fragrant Kush plant growing in their backyard.
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