Ethiopia

 

Ethiopia is the birthplace of humanity, land of origins and cradle of civilization. She has a rich, royal and diverse history stretching back thousands of years into antiquity. Her story is that of kings and queens, faith, unity, perseverance, and greatness. It is a story uniquely her own, built on both ancient and modern knowledge. Ethiopia is one of the world's first Christian nations, having never been colonized, and is home to numerous plants and animals that are distinct to the region. 

 

The Ethiopian heirloom variety is not just a plant. She is more than a flavor, more than a high, beyond all hype and more than meets the eye. She is a part of the living historical, spiritual, and cultural heritage of Ethiopia, and of humanity as a whole.

 

 

Although traditionally kept out of the eyes of the public, the roots of this plants presence run deep in Ethiopia's history. Evidence of cannabis resin found in smoking pipes dating back to the 13th century was discovered near Lalibela Cave in the north of the country. There are monastic paintings over a thousand years old hidden in the highlands that appear to depict the image of a cannabis leaf as well. According to numerous elders, landrace herb has a long-standing history of spiritual use in and around monasteries throughout Ethiopia.

 

As with other regions around the globe, the plant has become increasingly widespread and interbred in Ethiopia in recent decades, making it less common to find native varieties.

 

Today most cannabis in Ethiopia is hybridized with higher levels of THC and more complex in genetic makeup than the traditional landraces. This reality is not specifically unique to Ethiopia, as original heirloom varieties are often quickly replaced by new and more popular cultivars, resulting in the potentially permanent loss of genetic diversity. The loss of these genetics can be attributed to a variety of factors beyond our own ignorance, including industrial agriculture, government eradication efforts, land disputes, war, and environmental factors. These are issues unfortunately not unfamiliar to Ethiopia. 

Our hearts and prayers are with the Ethiopian people during this time. As part of the country's collective resource and history, the plants protection and preservation for future generations is of paramount importance. Currently it is difficult and unsafe to undertake preservation and breeding work within Ethiopia. 

 

While small batches of cured flower are released for seasonal tastings and pop up events, clones nor seeds of this rare variety have ever been made available to the public.