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. This strain may not be widely available in the Western Hemisphere. Nevertheless, Hindu Kush is a relatively pure strain, simpler and often more potent than the novelty crossbreeds that continue to multiply in today’s competitive cannabis market. The aroma of this strain is very complex, with a simultaneously sweet and musky scent, redolent of spice, sandalwood, pine, and wet earth. The resulting smoke is harsh and cough-inducing; when exhaled, smoke tastes vaguely like pine. The overall flavor impression of this strain is one of incense and herbs.

High

The Hindu Kush boasts a slowly-mounting high that begins as a sense of physical relaxation and then progresses toward a state of mental fogginess. Users will feel a heavy sensation in the limbs and head and may not want to be especially active. This immobilization can free up the mind for lazy contemplation and meandering creative thinking.

Some psychedelic effects like visual distortions and strange tactile sensations may also be present. Instead, it works well as a numbing agent for chronic pain, and anti-nausea treatment, and as a way to relieve stress and anxiety. Negative effects include dry mouth and eyes, occasionally accompanied by paranoia and dizziness. A few users have also reported experiencing anxiety from larger doses of this strain. The Hindu Kush is particularly helpful for users with insomnia, as large enough doses can induce sleep.

Cultivation

The purely Indica lineage of Hindu Kush is evident in its stature. Indica plants are much shorter and stockier than their Sativa counterparts. Hindu Kush strain epitomizes this, hardly ever-growing taller than 5 feet.  It can be grown indoors, provided that multiple plants are spaced to allow for the strain’s wide lateral branches. Outdoor cultivation tends to be more difficult, as the strain’s native climate is highly variable.

Growers should also trim broad fan leaves to allow light to penetrate to flowering nodes. When cultivated indoors, Hindu Kush flowers anywhere between 7 to 10 weeks. If grown outside, plants are usually ready for harvest in late October. Hindu Kush can yield up to 1.5 oz per square foot and reach a THC count of up to 20%.

Procuring the Hindu Kush is a unique encounter for the cannabis novice and connoisseur alike. Shaped over countless generations of natural selection, its aromatic flowers offer a way to experience a piece of botanical and cultural history. The strain’s powerful knockout high may introduce a new kind of respect for nature — or at the very least, an understanding of why this plant has been selectively bred by humans for centuries. A true nighttime smoke.

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