Sinai

Durban Poison isn’t the only commercially-cultivated strain originating in Africa; Sinai, a landrace from Egypt, has its roots in the country’s northeastern Sinai Peninsula. Sinai has phenotypes that express both indica and sativa qualities. The strain has a pungent and uniquely herbal aroma, as well as long-lasting effects. Sinai’s THC content has been measured at between 14% and 22%.

Available visual samples of Sinai suggest that the flowers have a small to medium size and a tapered, pinecone-like shape. Their dense internal structure leans toward the indica end of the spectrum. The strain’s small and stubby leaves, which curl tightly inward toward their central stems, are a very bright shade of lime green and provide a contrasting background for vivid orange pistils. Finally, cloudy white trichomes coat these nuggets, making them very sticky to the touch.

Sinai’s cured flowers have a herbal aroma with distinct notes of mint. A closer inspection might pick up on some underlying skunkiness as well. Meanwhile, breaking open or grinding up these buds may release a hashy, peppery odor that can tickle the palate and sinuses. When combusted in a pipe or a joint, Sinai burns with an acrid, sour smoke that’s liable to cause a coughing fit or watery eyes. On the exhale, this smoke tastes herbal with some pungent traces of skunk.

Sinai’s sativa phenotype can strike the user quickly, bringing a crash of euphoria alongside head-focused effects like flushing in the cheeks or an increase in salivation. These sensations may be followed up by a discernible uptick in cerebral thinking; consumers may find their thoughts moving more quickly or taking on a new intensity. This activated, plugged-in thinking can enable extended work on complicated tasks; it may also inspire creative personal projects or help to kick off brainstorming sessions. When shared in social situations, this buzzy vibe can spill over into camaraderie and free-flowing conversation, even among relative strangers. Because of its mostly upbeat energy, Sinai’s sativa expression is best enjoyed during the daytime (or even morning).

Sinai’s indica phenotype, on the other hand, comes with more downbeat properties. It may be several minutes before users pick up on the strain’s stoney high, characterized by a heaviness in the limbs and eyelids and a concerted pressure around the temples and cheekbones. This variety may have some cerebral effects, but is more often characterized by a psychedelic quality of sensory distortion; phenomena like mild visual and auditory hallucinations and a creepy sense of time dilation are commonly reported. More sedative than energizing, Sinai’s indica-leaning pheno is tailor-made for stretching out in comfortable surroundings and enjoying relaxing activities like binge-watching or reading. This version of the strain is recommended for evening or nighttime consumption.

Sinai’s wide-ranging effects can also benefit medical cannabis patients. The feeling of focus that comes with its sativa version can enable long-term concentration for those with attention deficit disorders. The strain’s indica variations, meanwhile, can soothe psychological afflictions like stress, depression, and anxiety, as well as physical aches and pains, whether due to minor inflammation or to major, chronic diseases. In high enough quantities, the indica phenotype may even counteract stubborn cases of insomnia. Because it comes with an elevated risk or paranoia or obsessive thinking, this strain’s sativa cultivar is not recommended for patients who are prone to panic or who are inexperienced with THC.

Seeds of this potent landrace strain have not yet been cultivated for commercial distribution. Those looking to grow it at home should somehow obtain clippings of mature, healthy plants from a reputable source. Known as “clones,” these clippings can be fostered indoors or out, although success outdoors calls for a semi-humid climate with daytime temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit; that said, both indica and sativa phenotypes of the strain may be hardier than your average cannabis crop thanks to generations of wild landrace growth, and may be resistant to adverse outdoor conditions like temperature variations. Plants may range anywhere from two to six feet in height and indoor growers may need to contain the height of their crops with occasional pruning. Sinai flowers within a lengthy 10 to 12 weeks.

Although somewhat difficult to come by, Sinai is worth trying whenever spotted for its worldly provenance. Its high resin output also makes Sinai a valuable strain for the production of hash and other THC concentrates.