♦RubyLeeSchembari.blog♦

Written and edited by Ruby Lee Schembari

After exclusively buying and reviewing dispensary weed for the past few weeks, I’ve decided to switch things up and test some craft-grown cannabis from a private grower who wished to be identified as Ashe’s Gourmet Genetics.

Ashe has been growing for 4 years, and initially started growing to save money but stuck with it because of his love for the quality and genetic choices of homegrown cannabis.  He says his biggest challenge is overwatering, but explained that it’s a deceptively simple concept with a sharp learning curve. 

The strains Ashe provided me to review are: 

Trop-Cherry (Tropicanna Cookies x Cherry Cookies) (Sativa-Hybrid) 

Purple Punch (Larry OG x Grand Daddy Purple) (Indica-Hybrid) 

Kush Mints (Animal Mints x Bubba Kush) (50-50-Hybrid) 

Big Leauge Grape #2 (Grape Stomper x Bubblegum) (Indica-Hybrid) 

I’ll be reviewing Ashe’s strains based on scent, taste, and high. To get a good idea of how these products work, I’ll vape them individually in my Arizer Solo 2 dry-herb vape. 

Trop-Cherry

Scent: From the get-go, you can smell ripe tropical fruits, citrus, and hints of salty but fresh ocean air. It makes me think of standing on the beach with a Mai-Tai on a warm summer day. 

Taste: Upon inhaling the vapor, I could taste sweet citrus fruits like oranges and limes doused in cream, accompanied by hints of salt water. Tastes like a tropical vacation. 

High: The high is primarily in the head, focused specifically behind the eyes. My vision felt brighter, and I felt uplifted. I would describe this as a functional high, meaning I could take a business call and be just fine. 

Final Thoughts: This is one of the best versions of Trop-Cherry I have ever had. Other versions of this strain I’ve tried usually have great bag appeal and scent but lack a strong defining high, resulting in tasty but weak smoke. Not this version. Ashe really knocked it out of the park, balancing the flavor and the potency of this strain. 

10/10 

Great flavor and functional high!

Purple Punch 

Scent: This version of Purple Punch smells like tart red grapes with hints of gas.  

Taste: It took me a few bowls to distinguish the flavor of this strain, and to me it tastes very subtly of sour grapes and flowers. 

High: When vaped out of my Arizer, this strain felt like a classic Indica high with relaxed muscles, cloudy thoughts, and the munchies. 

Final Thoughts: This strain is much more potent than the Trop-Cherry, and its effects are more in line with what I look for in cannabis. However, the flavor is a little too underwhelming for me, as I like things that have a much bolder flavor. Still great flower that’s drenched in trichomes!

7/10 

Best high on the list but lighter on flavor. 

Big League Grape #2

Scent: This strain smells like a sweet but sour white wine paired with sweet berries. 

Taste: The flavor of this flower isn’t initially very bold, but it makes itself known gently with hints of sour white grapes that tease your tongue with pockets of acidity.

High: This batch of BLG #2 has a very relaxing but focused head high that allowed me to relax and enjoy my music in peace. I like that it didn’t cloud my mind, as it allowed me to write and edit this article. 

Some music that pairs well with the BLG #2 is Boards of Canada or AFX.

Final Thoughts: I like this strain; I think it has a very nice nose and a relaxing high; however, I’m not sure I’m a big fan of grape/wine strains, as they seem to have very subtle flavors compared to a gassy strain like OG Kush or an earthy/herbal strain like Durban Poison. 

6/10 

A nice change of pace from what I normally vape, but I prefer stronger flavors.

Kush Mints

Scent: Ashe’s Kush Mints smells of sweet cream and pungent gasoline.

Taste: A strong taste of gasoline with hints of sweet cream washed over my tongue upon inhalation. It has a very strong gassy flavor that I love!

High: This strain feels like a weaker version of the Purple Punch flower. However, I don’t mind that it’s not as potent, as it allows me to be somewhat functional while stoned. Also, I didn’t get the munchies, so that’s a plus. 

Final Thoughts: I really like this strain despite it not being as potent as others on this list, because of its strong gassy scent and flavor. This and the Trop-Cherry are my two favorites out of the four I was given. Thank you, Ashe, for blessing me with this wonderful bouquet!

10/10 

My favorite besides the Trop-Cherry

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