Hard pass on "earthy"

[Apostatize]

That just sounds like mids to me. I've grown and smoked a lot of buds described by others as "earthy" but for most people that seems to equate to what I would call "kushy" or "hashy". The old 88 G13/HP we used to keep tasted like quality semi-sweet pipe tobacco and people would tell me they loved the earthy taste, but to me it was always "Captain Black Gold flavor".

I look at a strain's smell description like I'd look at a product's ingredient list. If it's written correctly, what's in there the most is listed first. So, hard pass if the first scent that comes to mind about a strain is "earthy." But if earthy's the fourth or fifth descriptor, I'll consider it. No nose, no sale.

Another analogy is wine. Americans aren't known for their appreciation of terroir (a sense of place, properties of particular soil/climate grapes were grown), we want big fruit-forward flavors. It's probably the same for cannabis. Perhaps there are noteworthy exceptions, "earthy" seems esoteric.

 

[Hawg Wild]

I look at a strain's smell description like I'd look at a product's ingredient list. If it's written correctly, what's in there the most is listed first. So, hard pass if the first scent that comes to mind about a strain is "earthy." But if earthy's the fourth or fifth descriptor, I'll consider it. No nose, no sale.

Another analogy is wine. Americans aren't known for their appreciation of terroir (a sense of place, properties of particular soil/climate grapes were grown), we want big fruit-forward flavors. It's probably the same for cannabis. Perhaps there are noteworthy exceptions, "earthy" seems esoteric.

I've seen it in a lot of descriptions, but you can't go by that. People say OG is earthy, but I have never gotten a dirt taste (or smell) from any of it.

 

[mindriot]

That just sounds like mids to me. I've grown and smoked a lot of buds described by others as "earthy" but for most people that seems to equate to what I would call "kushy" or "hashy". The old 88 G13/HP we used to keep tasted like quality semi-sweet pipe tobacco and people would tell me they loved the earthy taste, but to me it was always "Captain Black Gold flavor" with a hint of leather and an even lighter hint of citrus.

It's most likely Myrcene that gives the earthly flavor/smell.. it's in a lot of spices. I equate mids to the smell of dry grass

 

[Hawg Wild]

It's most likely Myrcene that gives the earthly flavor/smell.. it's in a lot of spices. I equate mids to the smell of dry grass

I was a practicing professional chef for much of my adult life. Maybe that's why myrcene doesn't make me think of earthy taste.

 

[Fast Money]

I've been growing since the late 90s and smoking longer than that and I have never understood what the hell "earthy" is supposed to mean.

It literally smells like freshly turned soil. But not in a bad way. I haven’t come across really earthy herb in years though.

 

[MyBallzItch]

how long have u been growing bro? I feel like you may b oversimplifying some things (4 basic groups... Indica/sat leaning thin mint.. viewing a strain description like product ingredients list lol?) Plus you really have to make sure you're getting your genetics from a reputable source. A lot of places are using "re-creates" wit a lot of the old building block strains so what u think is one thing is really just someone's interpretation.

this is a funny little thread. Hope u keep it going

 

[Apostatize]

how long have u been growing bro? I feel like you may b oversimplifying some things (4 basic groups... Indica/sat leaning thin mint.. viewing a strain description like product ingredients list lol?) Plus you really have to make sure you're getting your genetics from a reputable source. A lot of places are using "re-creates" wit a lot of the old building block strains so what u think is one thing is really just someone's interpretation.

this is a funny little thread. Hope u keep it going

Not long -- a year this May. Eventually, I'll try new things. But I've put so much money into it -- mostly lights, nutes, and climate control in curing room -- and tried out ~18 strains before cutting them down to 8. It was a coincidence that they ended up four indica and four sativa. I do variety packs. If you buy a qp, you get 8 different half oz. I CAN'T STAND buying a lot of one strain regardless of how good it is -- tolerance kicks in by the end of the week.... So, basically, I wanted 8 different smelling strains that yield pretty well in 7-9 weeks. Just added Taskenti, replacing GDP; and 5 Alive, replacing California Orange Bud, Agent Orange, and Super Lemon Haze (stopped growing ILGM's Sour Diesel, too). Taskenti may have a longer flowering time.

Started buying seeds from ILGM basically because they at least looked legit (initially, I was anxious about fraudulent websites). Looking back, I discontinued everything from ILGM except their White Widow. Really disappointed in their C99. Pineapple Express was ok, I guess. I now have WW seeds from 3 different sources and will vet them now that I'm past strain selection (for the most part) and focusing on phenos.

Then, I got a few things from Grower's Choice (Grape Ape, White Widow, Animal Crackers) before buying from Crop King Seeds (genetic improvements on my final selections + Taskenti and 5 Alive) and elev8 (Gorilla Cookies).

 

[Romulanman]

If you can find 707 Headband it will deliver earth in yur mouth.

 

[MyBallzItch]

Not long -- a year this May. Eventually, I'll try new things. But I've put so much money into it -- mostly lights, nutes, and climate control in curing room -- and tried out ~18 strains before cutting them down to 8. It was a coincidence that they ended up four indica and four sativa. I do variety packs. If you buy a qp, you get 8 different half oz. I CAN'T STAND buying a lot of one strain regardless of how good it is -- tolerance kicks in by the end of the week.... So, basically, I wanted 8 different smelling strains that yield pretty well in 7-9 weeks. Just added Taskenti, replacing GDP; and 5 Alive, replacing California Orange Bud, Agent Orange, and Super Lemon Haze (stopped growing ILGM's Sour Diesel, too). Taskenti may have a longer flowering time.

Started buying seeds from ILGM basically because they at least looked legit (initially, I was anxious about fraudulent websites). Looking back, I discontinued everything from ILGM except their White Widow. Really disappointed in their C99. Pineapple Express was ok, I guess. I now have WW seeds from 3 different sources and will vet them now that I'm past strain selection (for the most part) and focusing on phenos.

Then, I got a few things from Grower's Choice (Grape Ape, White Widow, Animal Crackers) before buying from Crop King Seeds (genetic improvements on my final selections + Taskenti and 5 Alive) and elev8 (Gorilla Cookies).

Right on man seems like your progressing and I always enjoy when ppl are open to change, keep it up!

In this world there r breeders who are connected in the community and make 2 calls and get verified cuts and then there are breeders who order from dark heart or pink box lol


Check out cannaventure. The guy who runs it is one of the rare gems in the community. A throw back to how things used to b in a lot of ways

Cannarado - respected breeder, well connected, a lot of old school genetics in are usually sprinkled in his drops. His last sour apple drop is an old school cross of c99 and diesel I believe


Csihumboldt is another one who u can trust he's running breeder cuts and not buying them off shelf.


There are others but I think u get the jist. I would personally rather buy genetics from breeders that fall closer to the connected category. Those guys I listed r also extremely fairly priced and usually generous with freebies

 

[Apostatize]

I've posted this spreadsheet before. It's a draft of my pheno selection spreadsheet (I'm adding selection criteria). You can see the strains and sources. I'll be checking out those respected breeders mentioned above. Now that I have 8 pretty good strains, I can focus on their phenos and probably add/swap 1-2 new strains per year. Thanks!

 

[waterproof808]

the hawaii white widow is super earthy smelling but joints of it taste far better than a lot of new stuff.

 

[Tartaria Genetics]

I've been growing since the late 90s and smoking longer than that and I have never understood what the hell "earthy" is supposed to mean.

I personally have taken it to taste like dirt/earth. Not quite hay because to me, i associate hay as having a dry grassy. Is that what Kush is supposed to taste like? Noob here, my pallette is unrefined.

 

[Apostatize]

I like a strong fuel funk with slight artificial candy smells on the backend. Like gas and big league chew gum.

Sounds like a must-have -- which strain(s) gets you there?

 

[Hawg Wild]

I personally have taken it to taste like dirt/earth. Not quite hay because to me, i associate hay as having a dry grassy. Is that what Kush is supposed to taste like? Noob here, my pallette is unrefined.

To me modern "kush" tastes range from Brut cologne to astringent lemon peel to musky coffee to oil rag/fuel. Never dirt. I've seen phenos of actual landrace cultivars from the Hindu Kush region that you could say have a dirty sort of taste, but one that I would equate more to basil, bay leaves, or patchouli, not dirt. All the weed I've ever had that I'd equate with a dirt taste has been actual shit weed, like dried brick weed or bottom tier mids (if they don't taste like mothballs).

 

[Apostatize]

Getting a little off-topic but if you offer multiple strains with diverse qualities (especially polyhybrids), I think it's important to include a well-executed classic in your stable. For me, it's White Widow. It's the strain I've gotten seeds from 3 sources, other strains I have seeds from 1 or 2 sources. Consumers likely have some familiarity with what WW is supposed to look like. If I do WW right, they won't question why other strains may not all be the commercially-popular light green. For example, phenos for F1 Bruce Banner are drastically different. Some are large light green nugs with little-to-no leaves within the bud, some have similar leaf composition but are also entirely covered in thick orange hairs that formed a nice resin crust layer during ripening -- great bag appeal, but not if you set the bar at "light green or nah."

I do variety packs (8 strains bagged separately), so people get a little of everything and, hopefully, appreciate the process.

 

[Apostatize]

Recently discontinued a "GDP," not Ken's GDP. So many cuts of GDP ... ILGM's GDP smokes well, there's just not a whole lot going on. Replaced that 100% indica with Taskenti (mint, lemon, hash). I'll likely need a few more seeds or make due for a while cloning the one seedling that's thriving right now.

Oh, yeah ... and grape flavor is currently covered by Grape Ape (Mendocino Purps, Skunk, Afghani) (7+ week flowering time, high-yield, high calyx-to-leaf ratio, flexible, vigorous plant). It's relatively inexpensive at Grower's Choice (< 21% THC) and, unlike most of my final selections, Crop King's version isn't advertised as having 4+% higher THC; it's the same or less (~19%), so I don't pay more for another one unless its THC's > 4% higher (assuming no major yield loss).

 

[BodegaBud]

I have plants that smell super sweet like if you ever smelled Jamaican Pearl. It’s two hash plants crossed

 

[georgekush405]

To me earthy is the flavor profile for the old heads who have been smoking for decades. The old school cultivars - Afghan/Hindu Kushes, Mexican sativas, old school haze and landraces around the world were mostly "earthy". In that earthy profiles are the long lasting effects and subtle flavors that I enjoy personally - but I fell in love with old school mexican brick weed in the early 90s. Different strokes I guess. Cheers

 

[Thundercat]

If you really want good quality buds the first place to start is get this 7-9 week flowering time out of your head. Plants don't flower based on a calendar, and breeders flat out lie about finishing times to sell seeds.

MOST GOOD/Great plants need 9-10 weeks of actual flowering time(from when they start forming flowers, not the 12/12 flip) and some need more to be properly finished and provide the diverse terpene profiles you want, along with the weight and potency you desire.

Earthy to me is represents a hashiness. I grew a landrace afghan kush years ago that had a "earthy lime" smell and tasted like good hash with a little brightness from the lime.

 

[Johiem]

I've got a jar of mimosa that you would swear someone just dumped some soil in your mouth. Earthy is just the beginning. I've turns this strain into gummies, mct caps, and chocolates, it still tastes like potting soil to me.