Egyptian Sinai Landrace Project 2023

Ever since I learned that cannabis was central to many mystical traditions of ancient Egypt, as well as the Holy Sacrament of Moses, I knew I was destined to secure some Egyptian seeds. After a few years of searching, they found me via  The Real Seed Company. A seed source, dedicated to preserving “landrace” cannabis genetics, usually collected directly from the source. Their website described the variety as being collected in Sinai Egypt during the years 1990-1997. The scent was described as “tangy, rose, with indica hashy notes that ranged from sweet and floral, to ammonia or cat urine. Flowering was said to begin early with some finishing times occurring in late August/early September. The term that was used to described this was semi-autoflower. Expected height was 0.6-1.8 meters (2-6ft), with the taller plants having airy flowers and the shorter plants having denser ones. Being from North Africa the strain has adapted to the harsh environment of the Egyptian mountains which can be extremely hot and then near freezing in the winter. The bedouin who cultivate this variety normally only use camel dung to fertilize and occasionally bring in mud from the Nile.

Hoping that any modern descendants of Egyptian cannabis might hold the key to the ecstatic, blissful states described in the Old Testament. From the first crop, our efforts were focused on selecting spiritually stimulating females, while maintaining open pollination for the health our of this genetic.

The first grow showed me short and tall plants with buds ranging from extremely airy and wispy, to denser and more full but still somewhat open and loose. The resin content was low to moderate and consisted of very small glandular trichomes. They seemed much smaller than what I was used to from prior strains. Smells ranged from sharp and acrid, with citrus & incense, to sweet, floral, and fruity, with incense. The effects were mellow and relaxing, slightly stimulating, and mediative. We felt if the Sinai were to be subjected to rigorous selection as is performed in the renowned hash producing areas of Morocco and Lebanon that it could be on par with these more famous sources. Thus began our journey into intentional selection of this variety and it has been a very rewarding 8 years.

Within the first two years, I began to see that some plants had better overall resin coverage and though the glands still remained small. They carried a floral, peachy, incense funk and an even more pronounced meditative stone, that is centering, heart opening, increases self awareness & mindfulness. It was an experience that felt very real, like a lucid dream, where I was relaxed yet alert. Open in mind and heart, aware of the barrier between me and the world becoming thinner. At higher doses, these effects deepened and became psychedelic. This was what I had been waiting for. From that experience onward, I only selected seeds from plants that had this effect, aesthetics and yields took a back seat. I wanted to narrow down this effect before working on any other traits. It is from this line of selections that I conducted my Egyptian “Sinai” Landrace Project 2023. While only choosing “select” mothers for seeds, I always utilized all healthy, vigorous males that were available. In this way, I have been able to preserve biodiversity and health.

The project was intended to test the resilience of this strain due to my prior crops being grown in with containers, or raised beds. These were always amended with organic fertilizers such as “Subcool’s Super Soil” and variations of that growing style. They always had plenty of water were carefully looked after. My intention was to evaluate how well this selected Sinai, would adapt to a harsh desert like environment. Being minimally watered, fed, and trained. I was blessed to be able to use a friends land for this project, as it featured a nearby creek, sandy soil, and full sunlight. Our cultivation site was in USDA Zone 9B and would break 100F regularly in the summer. I started over 50 seeds in small pots filled with light potting soil. When sprouted around May, this variety finishes anywhere between late August and mid October, depending on how ripe you want the trichomes. Once the seedlings were a few inches tall, I planted them in the sand. This was amended with aged horse manure, mixed with straw and wood shavings and watered from the creek lightly. The only food they received other than this, was a lightly dusting of chicken manure, and Down To Earth’s Bio Live. The plants grew rapidly, and only received light training, in the form of pinching. I would lightly break the top stems of each branch to help the plants open up more and to try to control the height as I was growing inside of a 7 foot tall greenhouse. Some grew so tall that I had to bend them down to stop them from pressing into the roof. Others were quite short, only being around 1-1.5 meters tall. The taller ones, left unbroken, would likely end up around 2.2 meters.

As they began to flower, I looked at the specimens that flowered quickest, now that I consistently find the effect I desire, I used this season to look more at speed, and yield. Some specimens stood out, like #11, which showcased, early flowers, large frame, intense vigor, large buds with a high yield. The flowers were light and airy but thick and long, with gorgeous pink stigmas. In fact a large portion of these seeds produced pink stigma variants. I noticed that the pink flowers have a stronger pungent peachy flower incense odor. Some express the pungent peach as rotting fruit, or peach with a yeasty undertone, and a few had no funk but just sweet peach. For all these reasons, the pink haired expressions have become some of my favorites.

One of the fastest to flower was #7 and she produced a hearty harvest for such a small plant and once cured via light fermentation. The flowers took on a light golden brown hue and produced the meditative, centered effect, that in larger amounts produced a psychedelic experience that took around 45 mins to build up after smoking and lasted for 4.5+ hrs. She possessed a peachy, citrus, incense and old man cologne/soap scent. A beautiful open structure of airy but tightly knit buds, with minimal branching. This one became a fast favorite because of the effect she produced.

Numbers #28 and #29 were very similar, they had smaller yields, and had a strong citrus based scent with backings of peach flowers, and a strong nose burning plastic note. These produced an effect that came on quick and powerful. While the yield is smaller, the potency and quality is spectacular.

There were many standout specimens and it is from the few mentioned above and a handful of others, that my breeding will continue. I plan to focus on pink stigmas, the meditative, heart opening, spiritual effects, quick flower onset, and vigor. Various longer flowering specimens, and two narrow leafed variants with scents reminiscent of peach flowers and Irish Springs Soap, were collected and will be stored for deeper study at a later date. All the plants in this grow performed beyond expectation, and I am very excited to know that they can tolerate such intense heat, lack of water and food, and still produced good yields and quality flowers. When pampered, these plants can perform even better, but as I learned this year, an extremely simple setup can be more than substantial. With so much variation still present in these selections whilst maintaining that spiritually inspired effect, we are excited for what the future will bring.

I am eternally grateful to all those who came before me and carried this strain into the modern age. Without them, my research would not be possible, it is because of their efforts that I am able to enjoy and share my efforts with others. If you are interested in experiencing what this sacred teacher has to offer, please consider visiting our shop. There you will find seeds of selections like the ones mentioned above. It is my intention that all who receive these seeds, experience the oneness that unites us all. We are all in this world together to help each other succeed. As we pool our efforts together, we can create lasting impact and change. May this plant teacher, help you as much as it has helped me.

Namaste,

Baba

Lokah Samastah Sukinho Bhavantu