Connoisseurs have long wallowed about it and visitors to Angola who’ve tried it like to sing its praises. It is hardly surprising then that Angola Red landrace strain is second on the world’s Top 10 most coveted cannabis varieties, prized for being endangered and difficult to come across.
The list is published by authoritative cannabis platform Herb.co
The Herb list contains rare strains once considered essential for breeding and hybridisation but that are now endangered due to factors including hybridisation, genetic mixing and conflict. Many of the highly prized landrace strains are native to Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia.
Angola Red (or Angola Roja in Spanish) is described as a very hard to get old sativa dating back prior to Portuguese occupation of Angola in 1575, which makes the strain at least 500 years old. Once the Portuguese colonised the country, it reportedly was cultivated and exported to other parts of the world. It is thought to be the parent sativa of the red strains of Central and South America.
The strain is now rarer owing to subsequent prohibition and the continuing ban on cannabis as an illegal substance in Angola. That it is highly sought after and therefore difficult to get contributes to that distinction. Other distinguishing traits are a high potency of between 20-22% THC that gives it its reputation as an energetic strain with a long-lasting effect. It is also highly adaptable and can thrive both indoors and outdoors, ideally at altitudes of between 1 300 and 2 500 metresabove sea level. It is native to northern Angola.
Also on the list are:
Oaxacan Highland
Originating from the Oaxacan region of Mexico, the Sativa-dominant strain is popular for its potent psychedelic effects and pungent aroma. Rising levels of violence and hybridization have contributed to its demise. Some of its traces can be found in less potent off-shoots such as Eldorado.
Lebanese
Lebanon’s hashish is thought to be among the finest in the world. It comes in red and yellow varieties with the yellow thought to be higher in THC and more psychoactive and rarer.
Colombian Red
After making the High Times list of the 40 best strains around in the 1970s, Colombian Red has almost completely disappeared from circulation. Compensating for that near-extinction is the related Colombian Gold, since recovered as a popular landrace.
Roadkill Skunk
This indica-dominant hybrid produces a moderate to high THC content (12-18%) and is making a comeback after falling out of favour. It is thought to be one of the world’s stinkiest and most pungent skunk strains. Some say you can’t find it anymore but others suggest Reserve Privada and Canada’s BC Roadkill as satisfactory substitutes.
Molokai Frost
A Hawaiian landrace sativa with THC levels as high as 22%, Molokai Frost has a pleasant tropical skunk flavor and gives “a nice celebral high”. It is still considered difficult to find though it is not as rare as most of the strains on this list.
Greek Kalamata
Harsh domestic drugs policies lead to the extinction of this high THC sativa-dominant strain with a citrus and woody aroma. It has roots in East Asian strains from the 1100s and some African genetics. It can grow up to 4.5m but then again, it has not been seen in a while and is now thought extinct.
Thai Stick
This has reportedly not been seen since appearing on High Times as one of the top strains of 1977. Some Thai Stick varieties can be obtained at dispensaries but the original heritage is believed to be gone!
Black African Magic
Once popular in the 1970s and 1980s this is considered one of the rarest weed strains and now routinely classified as extinct. It’s left behind a reputation as perhaps the most potent strain one could come across with well-known strains creator DJ Short writing 20 years ago it was the strongest he’s ever tried.
Parvati
A wispy sativa native to Parvati Valley in the India Himalayas, Parvati is used to make a handmade hashish known as charas, popular in India, Nepal and Pakistan. Though THC levels are unknown, it is popular with hash lovers.
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