Holy Grail Kush

For Holy Grail Kush, there is a clear gap between the breeder's figure and declared product values: DNA Genetics gives around 20 % THC, while a Canadian batch packaged in 2023 carried 27.3 % THC on its label. The cross of Kosher Kush and OG #18 won the hybrid category at the 2011 High Times Cannabis Cup, with full marks according to DNA Genetics.

THC and CBD Content:

Other strain descriptions also arrive at 20 % THC, and one adds 1 % CBG. A batch from Illinois was listed in 2021 with 24.43 % THCA and 27.72 % total cannabinoids; neither this listing nor the Canadian product information states which laboratory did the measuring in each case. A further single measurement without laboratory or year gave 20.3 % THC and 0.03 % CBD. The values apply only to the respective batch and vary with cultivation and phenotype.

Aroma and Flavor:

Limonene, myrcene and caryophyllene are considered the main terpenes, though in varying order. Other strain descriptions put limonene first, the Canadian producer caryophyllene, at 0.99 % total terpenes in its batch. DNA Genetics adds alpha-pinene and linalool.

In flavor, the breeder lists lime and lemon, with pine, wood and warm spice beneath, plus coffee, mint and tea; for aroma, the breeder emphasizes pine and citrus with earthy notes of grass and cardamom. Coffee, mint and tea also appear in other descriptions. Another describes diesel, lime and bubble gum in the smell and an earthy taste with hashish notes. A test report on the Illinois batch found cedar wood, mint and cinnamon.

Genetics and Origin:

As parent strains, DNA Genetics names Kosher Kush and OG #18; other descriptions list the father as OG Kush #18. One strain description attributes both parents to Reserva Privada. The breeder puts the indica share at 60 %. A 2nd place in the Indoor Hydro category at the Spannabis Champions Cup is also reported for 2012, though in only one source. Holy Grail and Holy Grail OG are common name variants.

For HG23, DNA Genetics crossed the strain again with Kosher Kush. Blasphemy by Treeology Genetics, Holy Cherry Gelato by Equilibrium Genetics and Holy Communion by The Bakery Genetics also have it as a parent; without a breeder given, Zero Gravity and Lamborghini are listed as offspring.

Effects:

Consumers consistently describe the effect as relaxing and euphoric. How strongly it takes hold of the body is perceived differently: some report a heavy, long-lasting effect extending to reluctance to move and tiredness, others a light body feel with a clear head. Creativity, concentration or drive are mentioned in isolated cases. Reported side effects are dry mouth, dry eyes and dizziness, and in individual cases paranoia and underlying nervousness.

Cultivation:

DNA Genetics offered the strain as feminized seed. Two breeder statements exist on flowering time: the original description gives 9 weeks, the current strain page 8 to 10 weeks. The original description puts indoor yield at 500 to 650 g/m², the strain page at 17 to 23 ounces per square meter; outdoors, DNA Genetics gives about 28 ounces per plant.

According to the breeder, the plant is nutrient-hungry and, with experienced growers, tolerates feeding up to the limit. The breeder recommends a warm, dry climate. Because the buds become heavy and dense, the breeder and a cultivation guide advise 40 to 50 % relative humidity against mold; the shoots need supports. The strong flowering odor calls for good ventilation, for which the guide names activated carbon filters. The guide rates the difficulty as moderate, whereas the original breeder description also considers the strain suitable for beginners.

Community Experiences:

The indoor grows covered in the reports reviewed lasted 63 to 80 days in flower. Reports on stretch differ widely: one plant grew from about 100 to 150 cm after the switch, another from 25 to 100 cm. The range of growth forms is correspondingly broad, from fir-shaped or bushy plants with an indica-like habit to tall, fast-growing specimens with sativa-like growth. Numerous strong side branches are described repeatedly.

Several growers call the dried buds rock-hard and very compact, two others slightly below average. All growers who report on the ratio of flower to leaf mass rate it as very good. The plants tolerated topping of the main shoot well; two growers consider them suitable for SCROG and supported them in flower with nets or stakes. Reports on fungus susceptibility contradict each other: twice the strain was spared, once it proved susceptible. Yield assessments range from slightly below average to very high. In one case both seedlings stunted and the grow was abandoned.