Texada Timewarp - A Forgotten Past

"Texada Timewarp single-handedly revolutionized my perspective of what outdoor cannabis could do in this country"

Friends,

Four weeks ago I had an in-depth conversation with Adolfo Gonzalez who is the Co-owner & Seminar leader at CannaReps in regards to his experiences with the famous Texada Timewarp.

I learned a lot from this conversation, and in turn, asked Adolfo if he would be interested in putting pen to paper such that I could share his unique experiences and perspective with others. 👇🏽

Some Context To Set The Stage

Texada Timewarp is an incredibly unique heirloom (something that has been passed down from generation to generation through family members) that can easily outperform most indoor genetics in terms of hardiness, potency, and aroma when growing outdoors, in the unforgiving and sometimes unpredictable coastal climate of British Columbia, Canada.

The story behind this Texada Timewarp goes back to the 70’s, when a group of draft-dodging ‘hippies’ migrated up to Texada and surrounding islands on the BC coast, bringing a whole bunch of heirloom outdoor genetics from the United States with them. Despite what you have heard from the US government, all cannabis did not contain a maximum of 1%-2% THC back in the 60’s and 70’s. 

In fact, by the mid 70’s there was already a blossoming cannabis breeding scene on the US west coast that was gathering a crossing some very biochemically rich ancestral populations, and Texada Timewarp is living proof of that. These types of myths are what happens when we rely on politically motivated organizations like the DEA to shape our view of history.

Out of all of the old-school outdoor genetics brought by migrating Americans, it was the heirloom that would later be known as ‘Texada Timewarp’ that consistently proved itself the crowd favorite from season to season among local island growers and consumers. Slowly, this cultivar cemented its place as what is ostensibly the most desired and ubiquitous outdoor cannabis genetic in Canadian history.

The local islander families and individuals who took stewardship of this culturally impactful cultivar understand it's significance, and have made a concerted effort to preserve the genetic in its original form. 

Those with experience growing and/or consuming Texada Timewarp can easily recognize the highly distinctive look and smell that has won the hearts of so many. It would be an enormous loss if this genetic were to disappear, and it is a shame that most Canadians - even most working in the cannabis biz - are not yet privy to its existence.

(📸 / Vancouver Island)

A Sudden Shift In Perspective

In relatively recent times, some seed companies launched ‘collection’ seeds derived from the Texada Timewarp genetic lines, with most selling the inferior ‘seawarp’ genetics as the original Texada Timewarp, however, any descriptions indicating light green buds and citrus aromas are likely referring to this substantially inferior descendant.

There are other seed companies claiming that they made the ‘original’ Timewarp, of which Texada is a supposed descendant.  This of course cannot be true, as the appearance of Texada Timewarp in the BC region predates that of any seed company even in Amsterdam, where this genetic has still not made an appearance (as there is virtually no outdoor scene in Amsterdam). 

When I personally discovered this cultivar in the summer of 2003, I saw a different side to the Canadian outdoor scene. Typically, people choose whatever cut (clone) they could get their hands on for their outdoor grow, however it was clear to me from an early stage that indoor genetics could not produce the same quality outdoor as they did indoors, and hence I had come to believe that no outdoor plants could produce high quality in a place like Canada.

I didn’t understand the power of acclimatized genetics just yet. 

Texada Timewarp single-handedly revolutionized my perspective of what outdoor cannabis could do in this country. For the first time in my life, I saw an outdoor crop that could get the same kind of prices as mid-quality indoor-grown cannabis when done right. What blew my mind the most was the fact that when taken indoors, this cultivar became notoriously difficult to grow, whereas outdoors even in certain years with bad weather, planted right into the ground and barely even watering the damn things, we saw consistent, relatively high-quality crops. It almost seemed like magic. 

From the very first moment I saw the colors and smelled the undefinably complex aroma that combines a spicey type of pine with dark fruits, and incense, I understood why this cultivar had built such legendary status over the years.

(📸 / Reddit)

What Makes Texada Timewarp So Unique?

Texada timewarp doesn’t smell quite like anything else, but the look also sets it aside. Phenotypes of Texada Timewarp can range in height however, most finish with deep purple, reds, and dark green coloration that can be jaw-dropping in appearance. 

Ideally, you start vegging this clearly hybridic looking plant indoors starting sometime mid-April so that by the time the 1st of June comes around, you already have a big bush capable of producing over a pound a plant. Harvest time tends to come around the beginning of October, but this can vary depending on climate/pheno expression. 

The most interesting part comes when you send a sample of your cured harvest to the lab. Despite being grown outdoors, this old school cultivar can produce THC in excess of 20% of its own weight while producing an impressive nose.

Like most drug type cultivars, Texada Timewarp tends to maintain a Type 1 chemotype profile (THC dominant)  between phenotypes,  with CBD consistently occurring below 2%. However, it is worth noting that the famed local BC 1:1  known as Halley’s Comet (not the one done by flying dutchmen) was in fact a mutant derived from the Texada Timewarp line, with a typical pheno scoring around 8% / 8% (THC/CBD). 

While the distinctive overall aroma is maintained between phenotypes, dominant terpene profiles are a bit trickier to predict as environmental differences between seasons and variations in pheno expression will have a significant impact. Myrcene, Linalool, and Beta-caryophyllene all made very regular appearances as primary terpenes in lab results that I had the privilege to review as part of my job working for a licensed testing facility located on Vancouver Island during the 2013-2014 seasons. 

Is Texada Timewarp Right For You?

If you want to find out if Texada Timewarp is right for you, the only way to really figure this out is to get your hands on some and give it a go. Whatever you do, don’t listen to any websites peddling one-size-fits-all predictions as to how this legendary cannabis cultivar will affect you, as cannabis can affect us all differently.

Now getting your hands on the real deal may not be so easy as this cultivar comes down once a year during harvest season and mostly in one very small part of a very large country, and it’s always the first outdoor crop to run out (predictably). Hopefully, we will see a courageous licensed producer here in Canada deliver this product in dried flower form to the regulated cannabis market sometime soon.

Up until now, the cost of taxes and storage has made outdoor flower economically unfeasible for the regulated market, but a genetic like Texada Timewarp may just be the key to crack this code.

For any interested home growers, this genetic cannot be sourced from any licensed producer, however, the best example of this genetic that can be found on the ‘collection seed’ market is sold by BC Pot Depot in the humble opinion of this author.

Most phenos will actually show the dark colorations and spicy-piney-berry aroma that is to be expected out of this line. Otherwise the original can only be sourced from certain families found on a few different islands on the BC coast, including Texada of course. Building trust and buy-in from local outdoor island growers will one day bring the world this jewel of our Canadian cannabis heritage.

Until then, keep your nose clear, your eyes open and your fingers crossed - Adolfo G.

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This article was written by Adolfo Gonzalez, Co-owner & Seminar leader at CannaReps, the industry-leading cannabis education company responsible for developing the Cannabis Sommelier certification program.

For more information about CannaReps check out cannareps.ca

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