White Widow

Thanks to a cameo in the TV comedy-drama Weeds, and frequent mentions in rap songs, this strain remains one of the most popular and famous strains in the world after rising to prominence in the ‘90s by winning the High times Cup in 1995, a year after it was first released. This legendary Sativa-dominant hybrid is known for its energising high that typically induce conversation and creativity.

The White Widow gets its name from white crystal resin that forms on its buds, making the plant appear almost white. This abundance of resin also contributes to its potency, making it a popular strain amongst breeders hoping to up the strength of other strains. When grown indoors, the White Widow comes to flower in about 60 days and the buds are chunky, conical and tapered, with a loose, fluffy texture that breaks up fairly easily. Despite being 60% Sativa and 40% Indica, its appearance closely resembles an Indica strain during cultivation, especially during the vegetative stage, when it appears bushy and wide.

It has an earthy taste, thanks to the dominance of Myrcene, while caryophyllene and limonene add some peppery and citrusy flavours with a lingering lemon aftertaste. Whilst the taste itself is relatively subtle, when lit up its smell can be particularly pungent and thus not ideal for those trying to smoke discreetly.

A feel-good strain that is ideal for relaxed, social use, White Widow is predominantly taken to alleviate stress, anxiety and pain, with most users reporting feelings of happiness, euphoria and chattiness. This hybrid is also popular amongst many medicinal users, who often prefer the combined effect of THC and CBD to alleviate the symptoms of chronic pain, depression and insomnia. Its purported effects kick in relatively fast and can last up to one and a half to two hours. Amongst the negative effects associated with the White Widow, dry mouth appeared to be the most common, followed by dry eyes and less than 1 in 10 people reporting some dizziness as well.

While some may fear the White Widow’s strength, it is a perfectly balanced strain and highly recommended for those who wish to relax without losing their sense of mental awareness.