Are dried CBG flowers the next big thing to vape?
By Herbert M. Green
This is already the fourth non-psychoactive strain I have had the honour of reviewing for Dispensr. Yet, it is my first experience with a CBG-dominant strain. Unlike Viper Haze, Very Berry Boa and Red Rattler, all CBD-rich strains that contain a small number of other cannabinoids, Siesta Sidewinder is an organically grown Californian hemp strain that contains 17,2% CBG and nothing else. Well, except for terpenes, of course. Does such a specialised strain have a desirable fragrance? I’m going in blank, so join me to find out if Siesta Sidewinder is up to snuff.
Before we begin; what exactly is CBG and why you’d want to vape it?
Just like its better-known cousins CBD and CBN, CBG or cannabigerol is a beneficial, non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant.
When talking about the potential health benefits of CBG, it’s important to note that the benefits of CBG are yet to be officially proven and the research done up to this point is still preliminary. Even though it is heavily researched nowadays, only a few studies have been done on how CBG interacts with the endocannabinoid system, its receptors and other cannabinoids in the human body.
Having said that, the results of these studies suggest that CBG can be a potential treatment for all sorts of medical conditions such as:
- Mood disorders
- Feeding disorders
- Inflammation
- Colon cancer
- Glaucoma
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Bacterial infections
- Neuroinflammation
- Bladder dysfunctions
Besides being potentially helpful in treating these medical conditions, there are signs that CBG might have neuroprotective properties and it is also speculated that CBG may be effective in treating pain, as it is pharmacologically active at many receptors that are traditionally associated with pain and pain relief, yet more research on this subject is needed to say anything conclusive.
The flavour, aroma and quality of Siesta Sidewinder
Even at a glance, I can see that Siesta Sidewinder (SSW) is an expertly grown CBG-rich cannabis flower. I’m delighted to see that SSW has been grown with the same care and attention as Red Rattler - one of Dispensr’s other non-psychoactive strains I reviewed previously.
Looking at the structure of the bud (not too dense, nodes not spread out too much) and the overall colour (a shade lighter than other strains, but still bright and fresh) I can see this strain was provided with the right growing conditions and growing time to achieve its full potential. The generous coat of snowy trichomes is also a good indicator that this is top quality organic CBG hemp.
Taking out my trusted jewellers-loupe to have a closer look at these trichomes reveals further evidence that SSW really is top-notch weed. The abundant and tightly clustered resin sacks are perfectly milky white, exactly what you want to see in a bud that’s harvested at the exact right time and has been dried and cured just right. No crystal clear or overly brown trichome-heads to be found, only pearly white ones, just as they should be.
Look at those densely clustered and snowy white trichomes! I sincerely wished all the weed I vaped looked as good as this bud does.
The flavour of Siesta Sidewinder is subtle, yet surprising. Honestly, I didn’t really know what to expect, seeing this is my first experience with CBG-only cannabis, but I didn’t anticipate it being this unique (within the spectrum of cannabis, that is).
The overall aroma has a distinct creamy and buttery quality to it, with a hint of woodiness thrown in the mix, something I’ve never encountered before. Sure, most of the ‘new’ Cali strains such as Gelato or Wedding Cake have similar creamy characteristics, but that aroma is more akin to fresh yoghurt and not butter, as with SSW. Buttermilk maybe? I don’t know. Anyhoo, I like it!
This ‘buttermilky’ overtone is accompanied by an equally subtle yet refreshing undertone of sweet fruits. I get a sense of something between nectarines and mandarins; citrusy, but sweet as opposed to sour. Maybe with a faint whiff of limes. Very pleasant and fresh, uplifting even.
On the exhale, SSW’s buttery quality is transformed into an earthy and nutty flavour that is followed by a lingering lemongrass and lime aftertaste. Complimentary to its aroma, but still different enough to make smelling and tasting SSW a distinctive experience.
What a CBG-only strain does for me
Due to the fact we (or better yet, the scientific community) still don’t have the full scope of how CBG interacts with our body and our endocannabinoid system, it’s hard to say anything about the effects of SSW. Anecdotally I’ve heard people say it helped them calm down and fall asleep, while others described it more as an energiser. I guess that I fall into the latter category, as I feel as I can write for hours. Don’t worry, I’ll spare you. I think I’ve said all I have to say about this marvellous strain and you probably have other things to do.
Final verdict on Siesta Sidewinder, a CBG-only hemp flower
I’m happy with what I feel when consuming Siesta Sidewinder. I don’t have a ton of experience with a pure CBG strain, but if this is what it means to vape CBG-rich or dominant hemp flowers, then I’m more than willing to include it in my daily vaping routine.
Its interesting bouquet is subtle yet unique enough to make me wonder if this is just a very good CBG-only strain or if the specific circumstances needed to create CBG-only strains gives us an entirely different terpene profile as opposed to THC and CBD-dominant strains. I can’t wait to find out what Dispensr has in store for us next time.
Now it’s your turn to tell us what you think about this CBG strain. Have you tried it yet? Did I hit all the right notes? Or is there something I missed? Are you a true die-hard CBG fan now or still sceptical? Let us know in the comments below or on one of Dispensr’s social media channels.
Peace out & vape on!
Herbert M. Green
