Himalaya Gold by Green House Seed Co.

Two mountain landraces went into this plant, one from Nepal and one from the north of India, and it still grows like something from the hills.

Green House calls Himalaya Gold an exotic old-school strain, and its build bears that out: sativa-style vigour and long internodes on a plant that flowers fast. Other breeders have since used it as a parent, a sign of how much character those landrace genes carry.

The breeder's notes read like a spice rack: pepper, cloves and thyme over a sharp, acidic, herbal base, with a smoke that is easy on the throat. Growers add jasmine and pine to the nose, and sandalwood and mint to the taste.

The high is mild and creative, with a clear head the breeder says keeps you active and productive, and a balanced body feel that lingers. Green House lists pain relief and appetite among its reported medical uses.

Expect big, numerous branches and a habit of growing large, so the breeder suggests low-stress training or a screen to keep it compact and productive. It shrugs off cold and is rated for mountain areas; outdoors it reaches 160 to 190 cm and is ready by the end of September in the north, with buds dense enough to need support. Indoors it flowers in seven to eight weeks. Growers report patchy yields and some mould and pest pressure in damp seasons, so give it air.

Himalaya Gold is part of the old-school catalogue of Green House Seed Co., founded in Amsterdam in 1994 by Arjan Roskam and Scott Blakey.

Collector's notice: this pack is sold as a sealed souvenir and novelty item for adults aged 18 and over. Seeds are not to be germinated where doing so is against the law. Strain details are the breeder's published information and reports from growers and users, given for reference only and not as medical advice. You are responsible for knowing and following the law where you live.