December was a wild one. From looking out 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 get well & put together for the upcoming yr, but it surely by no means actually works out. This yr was no exception. I don’t know why I nonetheless anticipate holidays to be stress-free.
However Thailand was wild! I’m engaged on a chunk overlaying our journey that you just’ll all be capable of 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 unbiased 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 acquired the very best high quality but, however they’re throwing themselves at it, and I like to see it. There are a couple of picks from there main the record this month for anybody seeking to expertise it. We’ve additionally acquired some gems I discovered whereas attending the Harvest Ball, which Jimi & I went to the day after we returned to the states. Discuss 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 aircraft medication so I barely keep in mind something, however I’m certain I didn’t get sufficient time to correctly grasp with any of you. I received’t make that mistake once more – I’m coming nicely rested all 2023 :))
Anyway, I hoped to get two extra of those out earlier than the yr ends as I simply turned 33 final week and it felt symbolic, but it surely doesn’t seem like 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 word. If there’s something you suppose must be included, otherwise you simply need 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
Should you’ve been taking note of the tradition for awhile you’ve in all probability heard the legend of Thai sticks earlier than. Among the first Sativas proliferating the states, Thai sticks had been mainly 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 by means of the assistance of the navy, they’re one thing of an city legend at present. After we landed in Thailand they had been clearly the very first thing we requested about, but it surely turned clear that this was an elusive delicacy. In reality, a lot of the dispensary guys we requested mentioned 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 offer you data on easy methods to discover him, however I can let you know he’s on the market, and so are trendy sticks.
I strive very onerous 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’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the perfect weed we discovered at a dispensary in Bangkok. Whereas the sport out there may be nonetheless recent, and the local weather makes it tough to supply tops, this was some actual authentically Thai-grown warmth. You might truly see the trichomes on this one, which was not as frequent as you’d anticipate within the creating market. That mentioned, Dr. Dope was additionally a enjoyable and admittedly stylish spot to hold in, well worth the cease when you’re within the space!
Plantopia
That is much less of a product and extra of a vacation spot, however if you need a really distinctive weed expertise (particularly in Thailand), you’ve acquired to hit up Plantopia ‘Weed Metropolis’ on Khao San Highway. Mainly a weed strip mall, this procuring middle has a maze of dispensaries and consumption lounges so that you can buy or devour in, and a pleasant open air smoking patio so that you can sesh with the shoppers 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 trouble anybody, but it surely was shocking for me. That mentioned, 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 record, a neighborhood pal from the web pulled up with a few of his underground grown to indicate us. I’ll be sincere, this was the perfect weed I noticed that (I imagine) was truly grown in Thailand, although it wasn’t by means of a conventional dispensary expertise. He mentioned the farm is simply getting arrange, and that it’s known as Kasta. The group additionally says the minimize 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 recreation to a brand new stage with this one. The pleather stitched mylar was not one thing I ever anticipated to see, but it surely additionally looks like a greater compromise than a lot of the fancy bag makes an attempt we’ve seen currently. It feels classier than a mylar – and whereas I’m certain it’s costlier I’m curious to see how weed will final on this pouch long run. I’m going to do some experiments with that by myself. That mentioned concerning the advertising and marketing, the weed within the bag is definitely as much as par. In reality, all of the samples I noticed from Trufflez had been what I’d think about actual prime 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 stage. Redefining the ‘sweet’ nostril most anticipate 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 up to now are the tasters so I’m not completely certain if this one’s hit the streets but, however while 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 prime tier. Nicely mates, have you ever tried his new Runtz x Gushers cross but? As a result of let me let you know, I’m writing dwelling about it. With all of the candy firepower you anticipate from two of the most well-liked strains of the previous decade, LING’s acquired one thing actually particular on his arms with this one – do I even want to say how god rattling onerous this branding is?
I’m not completely certain what’s happening with this one. I don’t know if he’s a model, or if he’s simply rising hearth, however what I can guarantee you of is he’s undoubtedly doing that. I met the brand new homie at Continual Tradition for the primary time at their Kalya dinner (which was immediately after Jimi & I acquired off the aircraft returning to the states) and each single minimize he confirmed me was stellar, and totally rocked me upon deeper inspection (into my lungs). Not realizing if he’s a full model, I’m unsure how obtainable this flower is, however when you’re within the Bay and also you hear somebody speaking a few cultivator with a bizarre title (I imply, what IS Spoomalack?), possibly 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 blokes 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 selection!), they usually 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 introduced this to us within the Dank Tank Jimi and I hosted on the Harvest Ball and I’ve acquired to say, for a man who has mentioned 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’d anticipate, with a pure, but couldn’t be extra dialed in with additive terps when you tried taste. You possibly can odor the apples, the bananas, and that candy sweet end Gelato’s identified for. And it’s smokin’ too! Whereas not fairly as knock-you-out as a number of Gelato varietals, this one’s a pleasant sundown smoke.
Bonus: Thai Lasagna
Should you ever get the possibility, you’ve acquired to strive a Thai lasagna. I’ve been dreaming about these freakin’ issues. After we went to go to Tropicanna, after sampling their wares the gang tell us that they had ready lunch if we had been hungry. I had identified one of many house owners spent years residing in Italy (you can inform, he had fashion); I didn’t understand 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, for my part. There will probably 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 complete 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 once 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 awesome little patio within the center so everybody can take pleasure in every part collectively. It’s not solely a great setup, it additionally appears to be like insane as a result of the surface 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 sincere, I used to be not anticipating anyplace close to the kind of turnout we acquired, or the quantity of people that knew who we had been. It was a good time and can absolutely be a check-in anytime I’m within the metropolis.
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