Durban Poison Strain Review

Nobody could write a list of the “world’s best sativas” without including the ultra-dank Durban Poison. First bred in the 1970s, this lovely landrace remains one of the most sought-after sativas in the cannabis industry. On top of its intense head-rush effects, Durban Poison is beloved for its sweet & earthy flavors, dense layer of trichomes, and ridiculously fast-flowering schedule.

Despite the recent shift towards cannabis hybrids, it’s not hard to find Durban Poison on any respected dispensary’s shelves. Anyone searching for a stimulating high won’t be disappointed with a batch of these super-sticky buds.

The African Lion of Landraces: Durban Poison’s Genetic Heritage

When most cannabis enthusiasts think of landrace strains, their minds often travel to the Hindu Kush mountains, Southeast Asia, or Central America. While these areas certainly play a significant role in cannabis cultivation, don’t forget that many traditional African tribes have been growing ganja for centuries. Indeed, it’s thanks to these years of careful cultivation that we can enjoy strains like Durban Poison today.

If you didn’t already know, Durban is one of the largest cities in South Africa. According to cannabis historians, an American breeder named Ed Rosenthal first discovered the landrace that would become Durban Poison on a trip to this bustling port city. After collecting a few seed samples, Rosenthal traveled back to the USA and shared his genetics with various breeders. Eventually, Sam the Skunkman got his hands on Rosenthal’s creation, and Durban Poison was born!

Since Durban Poison has no “parents,” it’s easy to cross-breed with other strains. Indeed, dozens of the hottest hybrids on today’s market have some traces of Durban Poison in their lineage. The two most popular hybrids directly related to Durban Poison are Girl Scout Cookies and Cherry Pie, but anything with the title “Poison” most likely has this sativa’s genes.

Durban Poison’s Appearance

The standout feature of Durban Poison buds is their thick layer of sticky trichomes. Indeed, the trichomes on these nugs are so huge that breeders often cultivate Durban Poison specifically for concentrates. Whether you like making hashish or rosin, you’ll have an easy time extracting the glorious trichomes on Durban Poison buds. Just be sure to wear a good pair of gloves when handling Durban Poison because these buds are sticky!

Besides the generous layer of trichomes, Durban Poison also delights the eye with bright green leaves and orange pistils. Due to Durban Poison’s sativa lineage, it can reach heights of around 7.5 feet tall, so indoor growers should prepare accordingly.

Durban Poison’s Flavor Profile

As you might expect from a pure landrace strain, Durban Poison has pronounced earthy and herby flavors. When you first smell these delicate nugs, you’ll probably pick up woodsy notes like pine and fresh Mediterranean herbs. Users also commonly report smelling dank skunk and sap as they break these buds apart.

But it’s not all earthiness with Durban Poison buds. Indeed, tokers often experience flavors like licorice and star anise as they smoke Durban Poison. Underneath all of these earthy notes, you might also notice faint traces of sweet citrus and black pepper, especially as you exhale.

Most often, the terpene terpinolene plays a significant role in Durban Poison’s aromatics. Unlike many other terpenes, terpinolene’s flavor is hard to pin down with just a few words. Some users describe this terpene as floral and earthy, while others detect sweet fruit and citrus. In nature, you can find high traces of terpinolene in flowers like lilacs or spices like nutmeg. This terpene also plays a central role in other big-name sativa strains, especially Jack Herer.

Besides terpinolene, Durban Poison often has high traces of terpenes like spicy beta-caryophyllene, citrusy limonene, and hoppy humulene. It’s also possible for Durban Poison to have faint traces of the mango-like myrcene and the woodsy alpha-pinene.

Durban Poison’s Typical Effects

We don’t care how much you love weed; nobody should take Durban Poison before bed! With its strong euphoric and cerebral effects, Durban Poison is a strain that’s strictly for daytime use. Smokers typically say they feel “invigorated” and “pumped” after taking only a few hits of this purebred sativa. This is excellent news for anyone who needs a little extra push to do chores, go to work, or hit the gym.

In terms of medical marijuana, people struggling with fatigue-related disorders like depression or fibromyalgia often report great success with Durban Poison. Artistic types also enjoy using Durban Poison to help work through “creative blocks.” Since Durban Poison helps stimulate thought, it might open artists to new ideas that could help them see their creative endeavors from a new perspective.

Another popular way people use Durban Poison is to increase sociability and focus. Anyone who struggles with social phobia or attention-deficit disorder might benefit from Durban Poison’s euphoric properties. As long as you could handle this strain’s intense high, Durban Poison is also a perfect choice for parties.

Does Durban Poison Have Side Effects?

There’s a reason why this strain has “Poison” in its name. If you aren’t prepared for an intense sativa high, Durban Poison could prove a tad overwhelming. Inexperienced tokers might experience paranoia or dizziness, especially when smoking Durban Poison in higher doses.

Although Durban Poison could stimulate creativity, users prone to anxiety might notice an uptick in uncontrollable negative thoughts. Please approach this strain with caution if you’re prone to panic attacks.

Is Durban Poison Good For Beginner Growers?

Sativas often get a bad rap in cultivation circles due to their difficulty. Not only do these strains grow taller than indicas, but they also take longer to grow, require more nutrients, and yield fewer buds. While these traits are true in general, that doesn’t mean all sativas aren’t beginner-friendly.

In fact, Durban Poison is an exceptional strain from novice cultivators. Yes, even though this strain is 100 percent sativa, it has many desirable traits that make it easy and rewarding to grow at home.

Most remarkably, Durban Poison only takes 8 – 9 weeks to reach full maturity. When it’s time to harvest your strain, you can expect respectable yields of about 1.3 oz per ft2.

Another positive of growing Durban Poison seeds is they’re naturally mold resistant. As long as you provide this strain with a reliable Mediterranean climate, you shouldn’t have any issues with mold outbreaks or pest infestations.

The only downside of growing Durban Poison is that it can grow upwards of 7.5 feet high. Also, Durban Poison could give off a strong scent, which makes it tricky for stealth growing. For both of these reasons, many cultivators recommend growing Durban Poison outdoors. If you are going to grow your ganja indoors, be sure to practice low-stress training and install a carbon air filter.

What Strains Are Similar To Durban Poison?

If you’re a fan of Durban Poison’s effects, we’ve got good news: there are loads of other sativas on the market that are remarkably similar to this strain. For instance, strains like Green Crack and Sour Diesel are well-known for inducing a robust head-rush high. Super Lemon Haze and Chernobyl are also good names to keep in mind when searching for Durban Poison alternatives.

As mentioned earlier, Durban Poison has also been used in many of the world’s best-known hybrids. Perhaps the most famous of these hybrids is Girl Scout Cookies (aka GSC), which has since spawned its own line of “Cookies” descendants. Just keep in mind that GSC leans more on the indica side, so don’t expect a “wake and bake” sensation.

Durban Poison Will Get You Going!

Instead of grabbing a cup of coffee, why not try puffing a joint of Durban Poison in the morning. Smokers fortunate enough to get a batch of this sticky strain will be rewarded with a fast-acting head-rush high. No matter how tired you feel, a few puffs of Durban Poison will keep you motivated and productive. People who love cerebral sativa highs must experience this legendary landrace at some point in their cannabis smoking careers.