December was a wild one. From looking the streets of Bangkok for the warmth, to the Harvest Ball’s premiere of the Dank Tank, to a complete lot of vacation events, I’m exhausted. I normally attempt to take the again half of December to try to recuperate & put together for the upcoming 12 months, however it by no means actually works out. This 12 months was no exception. I don’t know why I nonetheless count on holidays to be enjoyable.
However Thailand was wild! I’m engaged on a bit overlaying our journey that you simply’ll all have the ability to learn someday subsequent month, however the lengthy and wanting it’s that the nation has embraced legalization like I’ve by no means seen earlier than. There are impartial stands to purchase weed in entrance of dispensaries, there are vehicles promoting weed like ice cream vehicles on each block. I’m not going to fake they’ve bought the very best high quality but, however they’re throwing themselves at it, and I like to see it. There are just a few picks from there main the checklist this month for anybody seeking to expertise it. We’ve additionally bought some gems I discovered whereas attending the Harvest Ball, which Jimi & I went to the day after we returned to the states. Speak about overbooking.
(Additionally P.S. sorry to everybody I noticed that weekend. It was a whirlwind and I used to be nonetheless coming down from my airplane medicine so I barely keep in mind something, however I’m certain I didn’t get sufficient time to correctly hold with any of you. I gained’t make that mistake once more – I’m coming effectively rested all 2023 :))
Anyway, I hoped to get two extra of those out earlier than the 12 months ends as I simply turned 33 final week and it felt symbolic, however it doesn’t appear to be that’s going to occur. Guess we’ll begin off ‘23 with #33, which is my fortunate quantity so we’ll say we’re beginning on a excessive be aware. If there’s something you assume must be included, otherwise you simply wish to discuss one of many picks I made on this or earlier lists, hit me on Twitter and let’s hash it out!
Thai Stick
In case you’ve been taking note of the tradition for awhile you’ve in all probability heard the legend of Thai sticks earlier than. A few of the first Sativas proliferating the states, Thai sticks had been principally Thailand’s model of brick weed again within the day. Packed and sure tightly round precise sticks and smuggled to all of the corners of the world largely via the assistance of the army, they’re one thing of an city legend at this time. Once we landed in Thailand they had been clearly the very first thing we requested about, however it turned clear that this was an elusive delicacy. In actual fact, many of the dispensary guys we requested stated to allow them to know if we discovered it for their very own consumption wants. Whereas this may not be fully apparent by the appears to be like of us, however we discovered it, and the man who has been packing them for nearly 60 years. I can’t provide you with data on easy methods to discover him, however I can inform you he’s on the market, and so are trendy sticks.
I attempt very laborious to make sure I’m not duplicating picks that different journalists have already written about, and though Jimi already talked about Dr. Dope’s Double Dawg in his 12 Strains of Christmas piece for LA Weekly I might be remiss if I didn’t point out the perfect weed we discovered at a dispensary in Bangkok. Whereas the sport out there’s nonetheless contemporary, and the local weather makes it troublesome to provide tops, this was some actual authentically Thai-grown warmth. You might truly see the trichomes on this one, which was not as widespread as you’d count on within the creating market. That stated, Dr. Dope was additionally a enjoyable and admittedly stylish spot to hold in, definitely worth the cease in case you’re within the space!
Plantopia
That is much less of a product and extra of a vacation spot, however in order for you a really distinctive weed expertise (particularly in Thailand), you’ve bought to hit up Plantopia ‘Weed Metropolis’ on Khao San Highway. Principally a weed strip mall, this procuring middle has a maze of dispensaries and consumption lounges so that you can buy or eat in, and a pleasant open air smoking patio so that you can sesh with the purchasers of different outlets. It’s wild how in Asia having 100 of the identical kind of shops proper subsequent to one another doesn’t appear to hassle anybody, however it was shocking for me. That stated, it’s a really distinctive place to hold – everybody will get their very own taste with out compromise.
On the occasion I’ll element within the final entry on this checklist, a neighborhood pal from the web pulled up with a few of his underground grown to point out us. I’ll be trustworthy, this was the perfect weed I noticed that (I imagine) was truly grown in Thailand, although it wasn’t via a standard dispensary expertise. He stated the farm is simply getting arrange, and that it’s known as Kasta. The group additionally says the lower is known as Nam Wah, which is a cross between Banana OG & Mimosa from Symbiotic Genetics. They do love their sativa’s on that aspect of the world! Additionally large shout out to Bbboss for pulling up on us on the occasion!
Let me begin off by saying that Trufflez is taking the branding sport to a brand new degree with this one. The pleather stitched mylar was not one thing I ever anticipated to see, however it additionally looks like a greater compromise than many of the fancy bag makes an attempt we’ve seen currently. It feels classier than a mylar – and whereas I’m certain it’s dearer I’m curious to see how weed will final on this pouch long run. I’m going to do some experiments with that alone. That stated in regards to the advertising, the weed within the bag is definitely as much as par. In actual fact, all of the samples I noticed from Trufflez had been what I might think about actual high shelf flower.
Anytime I see one thing new from Turtle I do know it’s going to be one thing that’s going to hit within the streets, however their newest, Purple Sticky Rice is hitting on a complete new degree. Redefining the ‘sweet’ nostril most count on from some purple dank, these had been among the sweetest nugs to ever hit my nostrils. And I’m not simply together with this due to the Asian nod, this one’s undoubtedly a gelato relative and everyone knows how the market loves that! All I’ve seen to this point are the tasters so I’m not totally certain if this one’s hit the streets but, however if you get an opportunity, undoubtedly faucet in.
You’ve heard me rave about LING prior to now so I don’t want to enter how nice his manufacturing abilities, or model design, has been up to now. You already know that his flower is killing it all around the nation, and that his hash collaborations and donuts are high tier. Properly pals, have you ever tried his new Runtz x Gushers cross but? As a result of let me inform you, I’m writing house about it. With all of the candy firepower you count on from two of the most well-liked strains of the previous decade, LING’s bought one thing actually particular on his arms with this one – do I even want to say how god rattling laborious this branding is?
I’m not totally certain what’s occurring with this one. I don’t know if he’s a model, or if he’s simply rising fireplace, however what I can guarantee you of is he’s undoubtedly doing that. I met the brand new homie at Persistent Tradition for the primary time at their Kalya dinner (which was immediately after Jimi & I bought off the airplane returning to the states) and each single lower he confirmed me was stellar, and totally rocked me upon deeper inspection (into my lungs). Not figuring out if he’s a full model, I’m unsure how obtainable this flower is, however in case you’re within the Bay and also you hear somebody speaking a couple of cultivator with a bizarre title (I imply, what IS Spoomalack?), perhaps it’s this homie. Whether it is, you’re in luck, younger padawan.
These guys have been making a TON of noise down in Florida and I’ve been requested extra about Gumbo than just about another cultivar in latest historical past, so I’m happy to report that it’s not simply hype – the fellows are doing one thing down there within the South East. I used to be lucky sufficient to catch Superfly and El Tay on my journey again from the Bay (shout out to Jet Suite X, the trapper’s alternative!), and so they broke me off with a few of their newest harvest and carte blanche, that is the perfect weed I’ve seen come out of Florida but.
Felipe offered this to us within the Dank Tank Jimi and I hosted on the Harvest Ball and I’ve bought to say, for a man who has stated numerous occasions he’s over gelato, their new collaboration with the creator himself, Sherbinski, simply rekindled my love. This Apples & Bananas x Gelato 41 cross smells and tastes precisely how you’ll count on, with a pure, but couldn’t be extra dialed in with additive terps in case you tried taste. You may scent the apples, the bananas, and that candy sweet end Gelato’s recognized for. And it’s smokin’ too! Whereas not fairly as knock-you-out as plenty of Gelato varietals, this one’s a pleasant sundown smoke.
Bonus: Thai Lasagna
In case you ever get the possibility, you’ve bought to attempt a Thai lasagna. I’ve been dreaming about these freakin’ issues. Once we went to go to Tropicanna, after sampling their wares the gang tell us they’d ready lunch if we had been hungry. I had recognized one of many house owners spent years residing in Italy (you possibly can inform, he had type); I didn’t notice he was half Italian. Not going to lie, I by no means anticipated to eat a lasagna and curry feast, however boy did we home it. It was the perfect hospitality we skilled in Thailand, in my view. There can be extra on this within the ‘the Gang goes to Bangkok’ piece I’m engaged on, however for now simply know I ate near a whole lasagna on my own.
Nepotism Bonus: Phandee
I’m including this as a nepotism bonus as a result of Oliver, one of many proprietors of Phandee, was our information for the Thailand journey, however I’m not fronting after I say this was my favourite of the outlets we noticed in Bangkok. Whereas the shop itself isn’t all that large, it’s half of a bigger footprint that additionally sells meals, drinks and even booze, and has an incredible little patio within the center so everybody can take pleasure in all the things collectively. It’s not solely setup, it additionally appears to be like insane as a result of the skin is wrapped on this rainbow translucent glass. Or plastic, I don’t know, however I do know I prefer it. Oliver additionally hosted a celebration on the store for us whereas we had been there and I’ll be trustworthy, I used to be not anticipating anyplace close to the kind of turnout we bought, or the quantity of people that knew who we had been. It was a good time and can certainly be a check-in anytime I’m within the metropolis.