Strain of the Month: Sour Diesel

Understanding the production methods that go into what we smoke is just as important as the effect. So when I tried one of New Day Cannabis’ products, I wanted to learn about the company’s approach to quality and the environment. I learned that they use LED lighting and operate an earth-sheltered production facility to cut back on energy use. They also make sure the location is pesticide-free, requiring close attention throughout the entire growing cycle. Their sustainable practices amount to “organic” although the term cannot be officially used for cannabis. Appearance: The color of its Sour Diesel ranges from light green, from the nice amount of leaf on the bud, to a pale golden on the actual flower, with plenty of reddish brown “hairs” coming from down deep. The fairly tight buds, but not rock hard, also speak to its freshness. Aroma: As someone who owns diesel vehicles, I couldn’t detect any actual diesel aromas. What came out instead was a warm dry energizing spice like Indian cuisine, with evidence of grapefruit zest. In the spice profile was Ajwain seed, sort of a slightly pungent oil which could be imagined as diesel if there wasn’t a botanical source of that smell. Taste: A buttery smooth smoke with a slight hint of hazelnut. The warm spice coming through had a little oil flavor on the finish. Interesting with a lot to savor. Effects: With relatively low THC compared to other premium cannabis brands, this Sour Diesel produced a nice balance between a sharp, creative head and a soothing, relaxed body high. Very soon after ignition, I felt a soft cloak spreading evenly over my body. No jolting rush but a steady creeping of comfort and relaxation. Good clear mental focus opened creative possibilities yet with energized motivation. This strain helped me through a couple of long days of physical labor. These effects arise from the high levels of Myrcene. This “cause and effect”” should alert us to the futility of giving our cannabis names like “Sativa” or “Indica.” These terms have become popular as a convenience to explain certain effects, and I would prefer to describe how a plant makes us feel. In future reviews I’ll try and get away from these outdated terms.