Hindu Kush

One of the original landrace strains that precipitated the popularization of cannabis throughout the world, Hindu Kush is a potent pure indica. It is indigenous to the Hindu Kush mountain chain that forms the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The meaning of the word ?Kush? is disputed, and has been traced back to a Persian term for ?Hindu killer? (in reference to the danger of crossing the inhospitable mountains) as well as to Avestan words meaning simply ?water mountain.? In any case, Kush has become a byword for weed and is often used a suffix in the names of different strains, regardless of whether those strains have Hindu Kush in their lineage.

Seeds of This strain — along with seeds of other Asian landrace varieties like Afghani — were brought to the U.S. in the 1960s and 70s by cannabis enthusiasts and explorers who traveled along a route that has come to be known as the ?hippie trail.? In time, This strain has, perhaps inevitably, been crossed with other strains to allow for stability and adaptation to a radically different climate than its mountainous point of origin; as such, ?true? This strain may not be widely available in the Western Hemisphere. Nevertheless, This strain is a relatively pure strain, simpler and often more potent that the novelty crossbreeds that continue to multiply in today?s competitive cannabis market. It is prized for its heavily sedative, almost narcotic properties and its highly resinous flowers. The THC composition of this strain is typically measured at between 15% and 20%.

This strain is marked by large, clustered green buds that adhere due to their incredibly sticky consistency. Some phenotypes have shades of purple in the leaves, the result of high concentrations of plant pigments called anthocyanins being activated by cold weather during the vegetative stage. The densely-packed flowers are famous for their resin (This strain may have been one of the first strains used to produce hash) and have a heavy coating of silver-white trichomes.