Zsunami - Upstate Gardens
I first learned about Upstate Gardens about a year ago when I went to Not Your Average Fest, and it’s been a mystery since then why it’s not more common on import menus. Terpy Dabber now is stocking their Zsunami flower after he started carrying their rosin earlier in the year, and if I’m being real their flower hits with better first impressions than the already exceptional rosin.
Blue Zangria - Tread Lightly Collective
Tread has been growing some really interesting work in the DMV but so far the most intriguing has been the Blue Zangria, which I’ve been following intently since he popped the seeds. The strain is a hybrid of Rainbow Zangria x Blue Lobster released by Cipher Genetics in collaboration with Maine Trees.
Sour Taffy - 710 Labs (CO)
Last time we covered a jar of 710 Labs Persy Badder, and thanks to Richi at the Highway, I was also able to get a sample of Colorado rosin to compare it to. 710 Labs has sort of a different load out in California than they do in Colorado, but when Richi showed off the Sour Taffy in the selection I knew I had to get some because the ABF Genetics and Symbiotic Genetics collab of Sour Sam x Gassy Taffy was just too hype to pass up.
SB36 #1 - 710 Labs (CA)
The next two reviews I want to cover 710 Labs products from two different states. This SB36 is a 90µ Persy Badder, otherwise known as cold cure live rosin. The black jars are the top of the line jars above all the tiers in California and this jar is one of the flagship strains in their library.
Chem D - Skunkfoot Farms
I’ve gone on record many times saying Chem D is my favorite of the Chemdog line, and it’s batches like this from Skunkfoot that confirm my bias time and time again. A lot of folks might pass up Chem D and its siblings because the whole offering is pretty one note, but I think a lot of folks forget that Chem D is the original one note genetic and in my opinion it does that trope best.
Mumbo Zauce - Heads of State
This is a pretty peculiar review because I’m covering a product from my own grow, but I put a poll on Instagram asking if I should cover my own flowers, and got an overwhelmingly positive response, so I decided to indulge and give it a write up. For those who’ve missed my posting flurry about this strain over the last few months, Mumbo Zauce is a strain I bred by crossing a selection of Highway Runtz, a “white Runtz” bagseed, with pollen from a Gonzo male, Gonzo being GMO x OZK from Bay Area Seed Co.
Z Pie - Gallo Grown x Hushle
If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past two years you’ve probably seen Raw Genetics’ Z Pie on many menus and probably some podiums. Smokey Bodega’s version won gold in the 2024 Billy Awards, and it’s been on the Don Merfos, Last Frontier and Wildflower Cannabis lineups. But Gallo Grown’s version is on a whole other level. To the uninitiated, this flavor is very similar to a lot of other candies, but with a bit more kerosene and lime.
Runtz - Funk House Farm
If you’ve been reading my reviews for a while, since back in the Gentleman Toker days, you know I’ve smoked a LOT of Runtz. Maybe too much Runtz. So it’s safe to say that when a good Runtz passes by my docket, I know what’s up, and lo and behold, this is that guy.
Pineapple Maraschino - Misty’s Melts
It’s no secret I’ve been enjoying any Misty’s Melts flavors I can get my hands on, and I don’t think any have surpassed my expectations as much as Pineapple Maraschino. While I have my speculations on what the hybrid might be, the parentage is unknown, and this is now the second time in the last year Flavor Farming has absolutely wowed me with bagseed genetics, and this is one you really have to taste to understand fully.
UK Cheese - High Seas 207
I’ve been seeing murmurs that UK cheese was making a comeback and frankly I kind of wrote those rumors off as being overblown. But with TenCo coming out with Cheesebanger and Elm Cultivation running a whole line of Cheese hybrids, I decided to tune into the Cheese channel and was given this sample of UK Cheese from High Seas 207.
Cranberry Z - Michelin Terps
Trying award winning hash is always a pleasure, but trying award winning jam diamonds from a brand from Massachusetts, the debut for that state in any of my reviews, has got to be one of the biggest ESPN stat moments I’m publishing yet. Another one from the ADHDDEAD 420 celebrations, Cranberry Z is one that I’ve tried in hyrids a couple of times but this I think is also the first time I’ve tried it on its own.
MurdaBand - Misty’s Melts
Of all the things I’ve been hype to smoke so far this year, MurdaBand is at the top of my list, or at least it was until I tried it. MurdaBand is a hybrid of MattaBand x Sowahh bred by Flavor Farming and has been blown up by everyone in the Flavor Farming squad, including this prime spec rosin from Misty’s Melts. Ever since I smelled the flower for the first time in December, I was in love with the way it burned my nostrils, which is what I appreciate from any Sour line strain.
Z From the Vault - Helios Hash x ADHDDEAD
ADHDDEAD usually tees up some hype collaborations for his events, but maybe the most impressive one to date both in spectacle and quality is Z From the Vault with Helios Hash. What’s outside the jar from Justin Lovato and myself is barely a preview of how sick the rosin on the inside is
207 Headband - Best Friend Farms
207 Headband by Best Friend Farms has been something of a Maine legend the last couple years, and for whatever reason it’s just completely eluded my headstash. Hash on the Hudson heard my cries for heat and hooked it up with this sample, and it was totally worth the wait.
Chem 91 x TK - Shmu the Canna Prophet house curation
Chem 91 x TK is something gas lovers will salivate over while the odor burns in the nostrils, and the pungency is directly correlated with the outright potency. Even smaller doses of this cultivar is enough for a noticeable head change but regular doses are bound to leave even serious smokers heavy eyed and brain-fried.
Cherry Pomelo - Nebula Gardenz
If this sample is a prime example of the rest of their lineup, then we have a serious situation. Cherry Pomelo seems to be a cut of Cherry Biscotti, which if I remember correctly is LCG x Biscotti, and boy does this stuff stink.
Moonbow - Shmu the Canna Prophet house curation
One major complaint a lot of folks have about original Z is that it doesn’t really have a lot of power and that is clearly not the case with this Moonbow. The potency is punishing and much more sedative than the average Zkittlez. It’s no secret I’m a bonafide Z lover, but generally I’ve found it tough to find affordable Z hybrids, and this checks a lot of those boxes
Gas Face - Shmu the Canna Prophet house curation
You may be reading this and thinking “dang there have been a lot of Shmu menu items on review lately” but the reason for that is because value for money especially at the oz rate, the listings are super competitive and there’s a great variety. Gas Face is a great example of this. The nugs presented are massive and swollen just the way I appreciate, but what really got me is the flavor.
Head Hunter - Shmu the Canna Prophet house curation
It’s on record somewhere on this site that I’m a big fan of Gush Mints, probably more than the original Gushers at this point. In general, Purple City tend to be reliably enjoyable for me, so naturally seeing Legend OG x Gush Mints from Head Hunter, I had to try it off Shmu’s menu. Lucky for me this surpassed my expectations.
Struckleburst - Upward Organics
I’ve only gotten to try Upward Organics a few times, but every time I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the experience and specifically the flavor. The smoothness has been great, the luster is incredible and it’s safe to say they’re in the upper echelon of sungrown producers on the east coast