Top Ten Seeds of 2013

AK-47 “AK-47 has a legendary status and is, in our opinion, the best strain from Serious Seeds. It’s described as a ‘one-hit wonder,’ hence the name AK-47. The high is very complex and provides a heavy, long-lasting stony-ness. The taste is spicy-sweet but not harsh. AK-47 is easy to grow and is mostly sativa strain, but has a surprisingly short flowering period. It produces compact, not too leafy buds, which are covered with resin crystals; quality without compromise!”

Big Buddha Cheese “The Cheese is the No. 1 cannabis strain in the UK. Big Buddha Seeds crossed this strain with a pure Afghani male, which resulted in the Big Buddha Cheese. Once you’ve smoked this Cheese, you’ll never forget its unique smell. (It’s truly very cheezy and a bit musty, like somebody put a piece of cheddar in a bag of Skunk.) The taste is also surprisingly similar to the smell. Overall, Big Buddha Cheese is a very clean, strong and tasty weed for the “seasoned smoker.”

Blueberry “Blueberry is an immensely popular cannabis strain from Dutch Passion and is one of our classic favorites. It’s mostly an Indica strain that dates to the late 1970’s. It has a taste of fresh blueberry muffins when burnt and a very subtle, juicy fruit aroma with anti-anxiety and pain relief properties. It gives a very good cerebral high with a bit of physical effect to accompany it.”

Chocolope “When we first tried Chocolope a few years back, at a coffeeshop in Amsterdam, we immediately fell in love with this amazing strain. The sweet, chocolate-like taste gives a euphoric, energetic buzz that lasts for hours. Besides Chocolope being an unreal fantastic smoke, it’s also very, very easy to grow. What more could you ask for?”

Critical + “Critical + from Dinafem Seeds is probably the No. 1 cannabis strain in Spain. It’s a mix between the wonderful genes of two amazing plants: Big Bud and Skunk (a Sativa-Indica hybrid). Besides the potentially enormous harvest possibilities, it leaves the user with an incredible high. Critical + produces a very strong and intensely fruity Skunk smell, so indoor growers certainly need to take care of some odor control. You just can’t go wrong with Critical +. Totally recommended!”

Heavy Duty Fruity “Heavy Duty Fruity is a strain that lives up to its name in more ways than one: Flavor — fruity and thick, like a blend between berries and citrus fruit; and effect — seriously powerful and intoxicating. This is not a strain recommended for functional moments, as Heavy Duty Fruity will most likely leave you locked to whatever couch you were in when you smoked some.”

Opium “Opium is a Sativa-Indica hybrid and is a majestic plant, with intense smoke from liftoff to landing; it doesn’t leave you crashing on the ground at the end of the ride. Massive colas feature an amazing amount of trichomes that trigger the senses into a cerebral and graphic encounter that must be experienced to be believed. Growers will find that Opium benefits from multiple branching for substantial yields of super-dense buds coated with resin.”

Royal Caramel “Royal Caramel by Royal Queen Seeds is an outstanding three-way crossing between BlueBlack, Maple Leaf Indica and White Rhino. The aroma peaks while flowering, but is also pungent when toking up; it really does have a sweet caramel flavor. Royal Caramel grows short and bushy, like a typical Indica, even though it is a Sativa-Indica hybrid. When smoking the fruits of this plant, you will discover why this plant belongs in our Top 10. The smoke is thick and tastes fantastic; the effect is amazing and delivers a relaxing and heavy stone that will satisfy the true cannabis connoisseur. A Royal Winner!”

Even though the college version of me would have beamed with pride over an assignment such as “which pot seeds are the best,” the grown-up in me realized early on that I was dead in the water for this assignment. Employing my ingenuity as a decent reporter, I sought the information from those whose job it is to separate the kind from schwag. The experts at the online resource The Daily Smoker laid out in deliciously descriptive detail those strains that have appeared on this year’s (one-) hit parade. The opinions expressed are those of the editors at The Daily Smoker and are based on countless hours toking for the good of humanity. Spark it up … Bryan Gottlieb is editor-in-chief of Metro Times.

Super Silver Haze “Super Silver Haze is a pure haze sativa crossed with Skunk No. 1 and Northern Lights. It’s one of the most famous strains in cannabis genetics and is certainly one of our favorites. The buds from Super Silver Haze smell incredibly sharp with a touch of spice and create a creepy high with a very powerful body feeling. Basically this hybrid is the cutting edge in practical Haze hybrids, designed to astound the grower and consumer alike.”

Warlock “Warlock has a spicy-musty taste and gives an uplifting, Sativa-like high. You become chill, but energetic and focused. Logic seems to shut off though, which makes Warlock perfect for some daytime activities that require no thinking or responsibility. While the smell of Warlock is incredible when you light it up; growing Warlock, the odor is that of a very powerful and nasty pure Skunk, so some odor control is essential.”