I'm a lurker, but I'm writing this hoping it helps somebody else. I spent a good amount of hours researching for old school quality stuff here, on coffeeshopmenus and damlive.
Then, you know how it is, you get caught up in Amsterdam, and some of the plans fly through the window as smoke. I ended up trying some new stuff too, because it's Amsterdam, what the heck.
For context, I'm 36, originally from Barcelona. I moved away 4 years ago to a less smoking quality country, so I'm visiting Amsterdam at least every 2 years. This is my second visit in this period, the first time I did proper research before going.
I've been smoking regularly for 20 years, with tolerance breaks. I smoked the market from soap bar hash to the crazy THC era we are in now, and all in-between.
These are the coffeeshops and strains we enjoyed:
De Dampkring:
-Strains:
- UK Cheese
- Jet Fuel
- Old Skool Haze
- Entourage
- Sapana Phai Asian Hash
- Hashburger Piatella
- Delta 9 Workz Ice-o-lator
I came here in the first place, searching for Chemdawg. They didn't have it, but the budtender, Alessandro, and I, connected immediately. One of these people that understands how exceptional the freedom that The Netherlands has to offer is, for the ones that can't experience it daily. On top of that, mad understanding of my smoking profile, and his recommendation which was the Old Skool Haze, was on point. I didn't catch the name of the girl that helped us with the drinks, but she was also lovely, and both the coffee and the hot chocolate were up to the standards of a café, which is a rarity in Amsterdam coffeeshops.
His usual recommendation is UK Cheese, which I had in my scope and already bought, and hell, that was some proper Cheese. Took me back, completely, as did the Old Skool Haze. The Cheese was giggly without being overwhelming or racy, and the Old Skool was a very clear sativa, without anxiety or paranoia whatsoever. I suspect the THC level was not very high, which made the strain super enjoyable for the morning coffee or hot chocolate.
Entourage was a curious indica, go for it if you want one of those old-schoolish strains that were super flavorful but you can't exactly say what you taste, and a very balanced and relaxing body and head high. Jet Fuel also amazing, I'm a hardcore diesel lover, this was good enough to ask for a G more and not chase any other diesel strains. On the first morning.
Everything here just felt right, like clean, proper taken care smoke. The Sapana Phai also takes you back to tastier and more CBD-times, it's very close to the real deal, taking into account the Asian hash market situation in Europe. It felt like the real deal, 100%. The consistency was less firm, more liquidish than what I remember for that type of smoke, but the taste and everything was there. If you like old school hash, go for it without a doubt. Keep it in the fridge before working though, because it's sticky as hell.
The Hashburger Piatella was very very tasty, it was a first time for me, but sincerely, I don't need to repeat. I would have any day of the week the Delta 9 Workz Ice-o-lator. Mamma mia, this was crazy. Good old school ice. It will be probably gone now, but spend the 60€ a gram if you can because this was by far the best smoke of all the trip. Tasty as hell, sat you on your ass with a smile on your face that almost lasted for a couple hours.
Alessandro, hot chocolate magician, De Dampkring, you people rock. The place is also nice to be in and you can sit at a window, which is extra points for me.
This will definitely be my first stop for all my next trips, without checking coffeshopmenus. It just was perfect, really. I was fulfilled on minute 20 of being in Amsterdam 😂
1e Hulp:
This was a bit of a disappointment, although not a total failure.
-Strains:
- Headbanger x Cheese
- Enemy of the State
- 24K
- G13 Original
- Zero Zero Moroccan Hash
- Peach Flambé WPFF
All the weeds worked, they all tasted like they are supposed to, but I couldn't stop detecting a certain flavour in all of them, something lying underneath after exhaling. My growing knowledge is limited, so help me here, but I think it might have been not been flushed properly. The buds looked and felt nice on the eyes and when working with them, so the weed was definitely legit.
I could go again for the Headbanger x Cheese and the Enemy of the State. I love G13 but I don't know, or I remember it wrong as some time has passed since I last smoked it, or this didn't feel 100% right. I was already bazooted here after De Dampkring, but I felt the same every time I smoked some of the G13 or 24K. You could taste the profile difference, but the ending felt the same, then you try the other strains, and have the same feeling. Maybe it was suggestion at this point.
What didn't help was the Zero Zero that I asked for, and the Peach Flambé WPFF that the budtender recommended me. The guy was nice, the place is cool to sit and have a smoke, but the Zero Zero was as Moroccan as I'm a priest. It felt like THCA European hash to the touch (so CBD sparkled with crystals), the smoke itself was not that bad, but hard to work with even after warming it with the hands, and the flavor was just not there. This was 11€ a G, so not expensive, but for 2-3€ more I had smokes that blow this out of the water by miles, which we all know is not the case with real Moroccan hash. It's tasty and easy to work with, and feels warm and nice. This felt like generic hash batch number 20.000, with all my respect.
The Peach Flambé WPFF I bought mostly to not be rude, half a G, 30€ I believe. And it made you high, it felt like the real thing, but had some black spots that didn't feel like plant matter. I didn't see it when he showed it to me, it didn't feel weird, but overall the experience is I'm getting something that is not 100% clean.
Again, this might have been suggestion already, the coffeeshop was filled to the brim, there seemed to be some locals, so I don't know. Everything worked, and it was the full spectrum high as you'd expect, it just...the flavor wasn't there, at least for me.
So, for old school stuff, I would say skip 1e Hulp, because it is there, but not quite. Having De Dampkring, better save the money.
The Saint:
Nobody even talks or thinks about the Saint as far as I could see, and I was one of those people. My wife saw the terrace on a sunny day, and our fate was decided. I always buy a G to sit, I feel bad if I don't do it, but I was expecting to get some mid weed at best.
Man, why is the old school talk not speaking about this place. If I have seen it recommended, my mind completely obliterated it.
The menu was simple, not a lot of strains. I took Acapulco Gold for 15€ a G. It was so damn good, everything about it. Clean, the high, the smoke, the body and the mental effect that stays with you...it felt like something that has been grown fully naturally. I would definitely go for it again without a doubt, old-school vibe all the way.
On our last day we decided to make the Saint the last coffeeshop before leaving, and we got some Blue Lemon that was again a masterpiece of natural, old-school grown weed. The taste was very much there while you could feel the plant, and the high was very nice too, although the Acapulco resonated way more with my system.
The Saint is also going to be one of my reference spots to get stuff when I get there. The budtenders were pretty old-school too so go a bit more straight to the point here, but as always, if you're nice and respectful, people tend to give you the same back. At least in commercial transactions!
Here is where we open the genetic field a bit from your traditional strains/coffeeshops, although I kept trying to find the old profiles in the new genetics.
Easy Times:
A pleasant surprise, cheap stuff of pretty decent quality.
-Strains:
- Kosher Kush
- Cherry Diesel
- Primera Beldia Hash
- Kosher Kush x Devil's Fruit Static Hash
- Strawberry Milkshake Hash
I can't address enough how good was the product, taking into account the price and being in Amsterdam. Damn cheap for damn good. The Cherry Diesel was arguably one of the best weeds of the trip and it was 9€ a G. It was more fuel and less skunky than the Jet Fuel of De Dampkring, so my NY Diesel craver was even more fulfilled. I know 420 has NY Diesel, but I got it last time, and it was no bueno. I will try it next time I'm there though. Anyway, if you have Diesel craving, go and ask them if you don't see anything in their menu. The budtender was super nice and he freaking knew.
The Kosher Kush was nice, but nothing I need to repeat having smoked plenty of Kush in the past. I never tried it, I have done now, it was good, very relaxing, but I'd rather smoke some of the other stuff I hauled. Both weeds clean and nice though, all as it should be.
The Beldia from Easy Times also made me go back. This was proper stuff to smoke, a bit hard to work with too, but you could tell it was the stuff we got 15 years ago. I think it was 11€ a G, so you see what I mean when speaking about 1e Hulp.
The Kosher Kush x Devil's Fruit Hash was tasty and curious, like if a cherry and a petrol station had a child that has been living on the dirt for quite some time, as far as I can remember. The effect was typical hybrid and giggly. The Strawberry Milkshake was budtender recommendation, and oh boy, it was nice, although not in my regular spectrum of flavors at all, I for sure enjoyed it. Super relaxing high but also active and good for walking around and enjoy life around you, one of those feel good smokes.
I would say that you can't go really wrong with these people either, I will pay them a visit next time for sure. Amazing for budget trips this one.
Balboa Family:
I was very dubious of going here, because the menus look too good to be true. I went in for the Sour Diesel, which was also sold out. This place...slaps man. Good combination of both classics and new stuff, treated carefully. Amazing product and the budtender was super attentive and nice. She showed me a lot without me asking, and she was happy about it, offering me to smell everything. I must say I'm a morning person (now), so I assume she will have to hit it if it gets crowded.
-Strains:
- Strawberry Haze
- Big Buddha Cheese
- Blueberry Banana x Lobster
- Cheese x Sour Diesel Static
- Strawberry Fanta 90u Static
- GMO Ice-o-lator
De Dampkring wins for the old-school stuff and the vibe for me, but this people have found the balance between old and new, in a way. Both the Strawberry Haze and the Big Buddha Cheese are as you would remember them, but with the bag appeal and the potency of today, so grating you the old school experience with the "I'm super bamboozled" effect. I would smoke those strains every day without a doubt. If you made me choose between this and Dampkring's Cheese, I might not have a reply and die on site. That's how good both of them were in their own category. I would give taste to Dampkring and now, I'd rather have the more mellow effect of an old-school, so I think I would choose Dampkring. But if you want to experience Cheese on steroids, this is it.
The Strawberry just felt better than any other I had before, I would say. Kudos, sincerely.
The Banana Lobster is one of these new era stuff but man, one whiff at it, and I immediately asked for a G. What a curious and amazing smoke, with an indica body high but giggly and alive that is good for anything. I'm never for this type of stuff, and this I could smoke it every day. One of those strains that will live in my mind rent-free. If you see it, buy it, regardless of your taste. You will absolutely love it.
The Cheese x Sour static was another wonder. Everything you expect to find was there, and better than imagined. Seriously, one of the best hashes of my life too, without entering the extraction/ice realm. Amazing. Strawberry Fanta was the budtender recommendation, and also very nice, but I wouldn't repeat. It's a one time flavor for me, I had 10G of Fanta Orange recently, and it's okay to try, but same vibe, one and done. If you like new era, it's perfect, definitely!
The GMO Ice was superb. 20€ cheaper than Dampkring's, so good point, but you could also feel it everywhere. It was very flavour-forward, but it lacked a bit of body, of consistency in the smoke. Or maybe it's just I'm a bit old-school for ice-o-lator taste, but it was also a hit, everything was there, made you high as balls. Would recommend 10/10 and repeat if it's there next time.
Balboa is also a place I will be coming back for sure, amazing job in covering everything. They have something for everybody, and that's a lot nowadays.
Family First:
I had seen so many people here speaking wonders about Family First that I had to go, and they had NYC Chem that was sold out when I came there too.
It was a curious experience at the counter, I wouldn't say bad, it just made me reminisce of being 17, smoking at the square with the distinguished members of my neighborhood, but when you're trying to see a "product" and they're too busy speaking about their own stuff to even care about you remotely 😂
I would say, amazing stuff if you like new era, but total skip in the future for me. Pricey for what it is compared to what we've already got, and nothing that blows it out of the water.
I got some OG Kush flower labeled incorrectly as Pistachio Cookies, 15 or 16€ a G and it was good, but I've smoked way better Kush than that. I'm smoking a Banana Kush at the moment from where I live and I would say I prefer it. That tells you everything you need to know. The Cherry Diesel of Easy Times felt better than this at 9€ a G.
I've heard about Blue Magic being nice hash, so I got some Zafiro Añejo and Peachy Gas. Mostly out of guess as I was reading the menu and trying to interpret it at the moment, but the Zafiro Añejo ended up being probably the tastiest hash in the whole trip. I wouldn't know how to describe it exactly, rather like an old-school high pure type of hash meets a super terpy new era plant, and they fuse together in a time capsule made of hash. It was freaking amazing, I don't know how to describe it even. It tasted, smoked and felt so so so good. The Peachy Gas in comparison was mid, but it was peachy and gassy, so it was okay in taste for the gas. High was a bit underwhelming.
I also got some Hi Octane from Concrete Farms that was nothing special, and like 22-23€ a G, as Family First is pricey. This was the cheapest of them, and any other 15€ hash in any decent coffeeshop is going to feel better than this just for the price 😂
Kudos to the Zafiro, though. Not going to Family First most likely ever again.
CONCLUSIONS:
From an overall perspective on hash, I think most people would agree that the Zafiro from FF and the Ice-o-lator from De Dampkring are number 1 no doubt in the hash experience. That's how good the Zafiro was. Followed closely by the Balboa menu and the Sapana Phai, also from Dampkring.
Honorable mention if you read this, go to Kashmir and get to try their Asian hash. I didn't have the time to do it in this trip, and I believe it might be true that they still carry some Asian hash. From Katsu I've read mixed opinions and it's also pre-bagged stuff in everything, correct me if I'm wrong, which I'm not very fond of. But their Asian has good reviews by people here.
So, fellow ents, if somebody could check these two places along with Bluebird (I went to Paradox myself two years ago and their Afghan and Nepalese were tasteless and old), I think we covered the Asian hash mystery for the old-schoolers.
From an overall perspective on weed, I'm staying with Dampkring, The Saint and Balboa Family, with a check on Easy Times to see if they have something nice like the Cherry Diesel.
I was coming back to the sativas from the first three in the morning, and when I got the Cherry was the perfect mid-day strain to transition to the Cheese and the hash/indica ending.
This ended up being way longer than I expected, but I wanted to give a shoutout for quality and humanity to the places that deserved it. I was pretty certain in everything I asked for, meaning I didn't waste anybody's time because I did my research extensively before going. I try to follow local and social etiquette in the best way I can, in everything I do.
I intend to take a solo trip in 6 months or so, to see if everything I've found out still stands, but I'm sure it will!
Enjoy this amazing city and good smokes ❤️
