Jon’s Ice Cold Cop List #32: Thai Emeralds

December was a wild one. From scouring the streets of Bangkok for the heat, to the premiere of Dank Tank’s Harvest Ball, to a whole host of Christmas celebrations, I’m exhausted. I usually try to use the back half of December to recover and prepare for the year ahead, but it never really works. This year was no exception. I don’t know why I still expect the holidays to be relaxing.

But Thailand was wild! I’m working on an article about our adventure for you all to read sometime next month, but the long and short of it is that the country has embraced legalization like I’ve never seen before. There are independent stands to buy weed in front of dispensaries, there are trucks selling weed, like ice cream trucks on every block. I’m not going to pretend they’re of the highest quality yet, but they’re digging into it and I love to see it. There are a few tips from there topping this month’s list for anyone wanting to experience it. We also have some gems that I found while attending the Harvest Ball that Jimi and I went to the day after we got back to the States. Talk about overbooking.

(Also PS: sorry to everyone I saw this weekend. It was a hurricane and I was still coming off my plane drugs so I can’t remember much but I’m sure I didn’t have enough time to really hang out with either of you I won’t make that mistake again – I’ll get through all of 2023 well rested :))

Anyway, I was hoping to get two more of these out before the year ends as I just turned 33 last week and it felt symbolic, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. I guess we’re starting ’23 at #33, which is my lucky number, so we’re going to say we’re starting on a high note. If you think anything needs to be included, or you just want to talk about any of the choices I’ve made in this list or previous ones, hit me up on Twitter and let’s dig it out!

Thai stick

Jimi Devine shown with an original Thai stick – Courtesy of Derek Fukuhara, High Rise

If you’ve been around the culture for a while, chances are you’ve heard the legend of Thai sticks. Some of the first sativas to be distributed in the States, Thai Sticks were basically Thailand’s version of brick weed back then. Tightly packed and tied around real sticks and smuggled to all corners of the world, largely with the help of the military, they are now something of an urban legend. When we landed in Thailand they were obviously the first thing we asked for but it became clear this was an elusive delicacy. In fact, most of the pharmacists we asked said if we found it for their own use, they should let them know. While this might not be entirely obvious from our looks, we found it, and the guy has been packaging them for nearly 60 years. I can’t give you any information on how to find him, but I can tell you that he’s out there, and so are modern sticks.

Courtesy of Derek Fukuhara, high-rise

I try very hard to make sure I don’t duplicate picks that other journalists have already written about, and although Jimi Dr. As Dopes Double Dawg mentioned in his article “12 Strains of Christmas” for LA Weekly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the best weed we found in a Bangkok dispensary. While the game is still fresh out there and the climate makes it difficult to produce gyros, this was real heat, authentically grown in Thailand. This one actually showed the trichomes, which wasn’t as common as one would expect in the developing market. That means dr. Dope was also a fun and frankly stylish place to stay, worth a stop if you’re in the area!

planopia

Courtesy of Erin Coffey, high-rise

This is less a product and more a destination, but if you want a truly unique weed experience (particularly in Thailand), you must visit Plantopia ‘Weed City’ on Khao San Road. Basically a weed strip mall, this mall has a maze of pharmacies and consumption lounges where you can shop or consume and a nice outdoor smoking terrace where you can mingle with other shops’ customers. It’s crazy that nobody in Asia seems to mind that 100 similar stores are right next to each other, but it surprised me. Still, it’s a unique place to hang out – everyone gets their own taste without compromise.

Courtesy of Casta

At the party, which I’ll detail in the last entry on this list, a local friend from the internet came over with some of his underground to show us. I’ll be honest, this was the best weed I’ve seen that was (I think) actually grown in Thailand, although it wasn’t through a traditional pharmacy experience. He said the farm was being set up and was called Kasta. The group also says the strain is called Nam Wah, which is a cross between Banana OG and Mimosa by Symbiotic Genetics. They love their sativas this side of the world! Also a big thank you to Bbboss for hitting on us at the party!

Courtesy of Trufflez

First off, let me say that Trufflez is taking the branding game to a new level with this game. I was never expecting the faux leather stitched Mylar, but it also feels like a better compromise than most of the fancy bag attempts we’ve seen lately. It feels more luxurious than a Mylar – and while I’m sure it’s more expensive, I’m curious how the weed in this bag will hold up over the long term. I’ll do some experiments with it myself. As far as marketing goes, the weed in the bag is indeed cutting edge. In fact, all the samples I’ve seen from Trufflez were what I would consider real top-notch flower.

Courtesy of my iPhone

Every time I see something new from Turtle, I know it’s going to be something that hits the streets, but their latest, Purple Sticky Rice, takes it to a whole new level. Redefining the ‘candy’ nose that most expect from a purple strain, some of the sweetest buds to ever hit my nose. And I’m not including that just for the Asian nod, this is definitely a gelato cousin and we all know how the market loves that! All I’ve seen so far is the tasters, so I’m not entirely sure if this one has hit the road yet, but if you get the chance, definitely grab it.

Courtesy of Life is Not Grape

You’ve heard me rave about LING in the past, so I don’t need to elaborate on how great his production skills or branding has been so far. You already know that his flower is making a splash across the country and that his hash collabs and donuts are top notch. Well friends, have you tried his new Runtz x Gushers cross yet? Because let me tell you, I’m writing home about it. With all the sweet firepower you’ve come to expect from two of the most popular strains of the last decade, LING has something really special on their hands with this one – need I even mention how goddamn tough this branding is?

Courtesy of Spoomalack

I’m not exactly sure what’s going on with this one. I don’t know if he’s a brand or if he’s just making fire, but I can assure you he definitely is. I first met the new homie at Chronic Culture at their Kalya dinner (that was right after Jimi and I got off the plane back to the States) and every single cut he showed me was outstanding and got me hooked upon closer inspection fully shaken (into my lungs). Not knowing if it’s a full brand, I’m not sure how available this flower is, but if you’re on the bay and hear someone talking about a cultivator with an odd name (I mean, what IS Spoomalack?), maybe it’s that homie. If so, you’re in luck, young Padawan.

Courtesy of Flytrap

These guys have been making a LOT of noise down in Florida and I’ve gotten more questions about Gumbo than pretty much any other strain in recent history, so I’m happy to report that it’s not just hype – the guys are doing something down there in the southeast. I was lucky enough to catch Superfly and El Tay off the bay on my return voyage (shout out to Jet Suite X, the trapper’s choice!) and they dumped me with some of their latest crop and carte blanche, that’s the best weed that I’ve seen from Florida so far.

Courtesy of Sherbinski

Felipe brought this to us at Dank Tank Jimi and I hosted the Harvest Ball and I have to say for a guy who has said he’s done with gelato countless times, their new collaboration with the creator himself, Sherbinski, just got me rekindles love. This crossing of Apples & Bananas x Gelato 41 smells and tastes exactly as you would expect with a natural flavor that couldn’t be better dialed in with added terpenes when you try the flavor. You can smell the apples, the bananas, and the sweet candy finish that gelato is known for. And it smokes too! While not quite as stunning as many gelato strains, she is a beautiful sunset smoke.

Bonus: Thai Lasagna

Courtesy of Tropicanna Cafe

If you ever get the chance, you must try a Thai lasagna. I dreamed about these damn things. When we visited Tropicanna, after tasting their wares, the gang informed us that they had prepared lunch in case we were hungry. I knew one of the owners who had lived in Italy for years (you could tell he had style); I didn’t know he was half Italian. I won’t lie I never expected to eat a lasagna and curry feast but boy did we fit it. It was the best hospitality we have experienced in Thailand in my opinion. There will be more about this in the piece I’m working on, The Gang goes to Bangkok, but all I know for now is that I ate almost an entire lasagna by myself.

Nepotism Bonus: phandee

Courtesy of Phandée

I’m adding this as a nepotism bonus because Oliver, one of the owners of Phandée, was our guide for the Thailand trip, but I’m not saying this was my favorite shop we saw in Bangkok. While the shop itself isn’t all that big, it’s part of a larger area that also sells food, drinks and even liquor and has a great little patio in the middle for everyone to enjoy it all together. Not only is it a good setup, it also looks crazy because the outside is clad in that translucent rainbow glass. Or plastic, I don’t know, but I know I like it. Oliver also threw us a party at the store while we were there and to be honest I didn’t expect anywhere near the kind of turnout we got or the amount of people who knew who we were. It was a great time and will certainly be a check-in when I’m in town.