White Smurf

Ancient Smurf legend told of a rare albino Smurf who would bring peace and good luck to the Smurf village. Ok, not really, but that could be a plausible backstory for the name for this mellow and illuminating strain. A cross between an unnamed Dutch sativa and an unnamed cross between staple strain Northern Lights and Skunk, this strain may actually be named for its blue flowers that come coated in icy white trichomes. This well-balanced bud’s earned the distinction of People’s Choice in the 2000 High Times Cannabis Cup held in Amsterdam. White Smurf’s THC levels have been measured at between 16% and 22%.

White Smurf is distinguished by small to medium flowers that adhere in tapered, elongated shapes, somewhat resembling cocoons. The buds have a pronounced indica-typical structure, compact and dense with tightly coiled leaves. The small leaves themselves are a dark shade of green; frequently, high concentrations of anthocyanin pigments in some phenotypes also result in shades of deep blue or indigo, hence the “Smurf” in this bud’s name. The “White,” meanwhile, comes courtesy of a thick coating of translucent white trichomes that ensure the strain’s psychoactivity.

When properly cured, White Smurf gives off the slightly spicy scent of peppermint and herbs. There’s also a faint hint of tart citrus. Grinding up the multicolored flowers releases a distinctly skunky odor. When burnt and inhaled, White Smurf hits smooth and goes down easily. On the exhale, this smoke has an orange flavor with some herbal notes on the exhale.

White Smurf has a slow onset; users may even forget that they’ve toked before the strain’s effects start taking hold. The buzz begins with a tingling feeling around the lower forehead and temples and amy also manifest as an increase in salivation. After noting these short-lived physical sensations, users become tuned into White Smurf’s cerebral energy, which can result in a fast-paced kind of associative thinking. Ideas and concepts may occupy more brain space than they ordinarily might. Such stimulation of thought can make active inner monologues external, serving to stimulate conversation and break the ice in social situations. This mentally-engaging mindset can also allow smokers to concentrate on complicated, problem-oriented tasks, although users looking to increase their productivity should look elsewhere. White Smurf’s sativa-inflected head high, while potent, tends not to last very long. Within an hour or so, feelings of physical relaxation begin to roll down the spine and radiate outward through the core and limbs. This suddenly subdued energy may have any previously active smokers headed for a couch or another cushy surface. Newly relaxed smokers may notice that any troubling localized pain is dulled, while any neurotic preoccupations of the day give way to an all-around feeling of calm. While it may not lead to immobilizing couchlock, this strain is better suited to kicked-back passive activities like binge-watching or doing a puzzle than to any detail-oriented work or errands. Because of its gradual dip in motivation, White Smurf is recommended for late afternoon or early evening use.

White Smurf’s versatile properties give it many different uses for medical cannabis patients. The bud’s early cerebral focus can help those with attention deficit disorders to concentrate on a single task. Its mood-lifting effects can also have a temporarily beneficial effect on stress and depression. White Smurf can also improve physical pain, whether it’s temporary, as due to injury, or chronic, as due to conditions like fibromyalgia or lupus. Because its onset is associated with recursive thinking patterns that can lead to paranoia, White Smurf is not recommended for patients who are prone to panic or who have a low THC tolerance.

Seeds of this rare strain are not available for sale online. Instead, prospective home growers should seek out clippings of mature plants that can be fostered as clones. Once obtained, the strain can be grown indoors or outdoors in a hot and humid climate. Gardeners looking to accentuate the bud’s strakes of blue and purple should briefly expose their crops to cold (but not freezing!) nighttime temperatures just before flowering begins.

White Smurf makes a good all-purpose smoke for indica and sativa lovers alike. Its unique herbal flavor profile may be worth pursuing by connoisseurs of cannabis terpenes.