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Friday Anything Goes at the Sticky's :
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Every Friday until Sunday at midnight
Friday Anything Goes at the Sticky's :
A New Promo
Every Friday until Sunday at midnight
The Origin of White Widow
White Widow is one of the most legendary cannabis strains ever created, known for its potency, resin production, and balanced hybrid effects. While many have claimed credit for its creation, the truth is that Shantibaba, a renowned breeder and co-founder of Mr. Nice Seedbank, is the true creator of this strain. The journey of White Widow began with a meticulous selection and breeding process, combining two unique landrace genetics to produce this iconic variety.
The story of White Widow traces back to Shantibaba’s travels through South America in 1987-88. During his journey through Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, he spent time in the mountainous region of Tyrone near Santa Marta, close to the Venezuelan border. It was there that he befriended a middle-aged Brazilian man from the Amazon region who possessed an IBL (inbred line) strain that had been cultivated and refined by his family for three generations. This Brazilian landrace had been grown in the same region for many years, developing unique characteristics due to careful selection by its cultivators.
This Brazilian strain reminded Shantibaba of another exceptional IBL he had encountered from Kerala, India. While neither strain was a pure landrace due to inevitable crossbreeding over time, they had both been cultivated and stabilized in their respective regions, developing distinctive and highly desirable traits.
Understanding the potential of these two exceptional genetics, Shantibaba embarked on a breeding project to create something truly unique. Over two years of inbreeding and selection, he worked to stabilize the line, searching for a male that would influence all offspring consistently. The result was White Widow, a hybrid that combined the best qualities of both the Brazilian and Keralan genetics.
The breeding process for White Widow was no easy feat. To find the ideal female plant, Shantibaba conducted extensive trial and error with over 200 seeds. Unlike Super Silver Haze, which took Neville Schoenmakers nearly 1,000 seeds and several years to perfect, White Widow required careful selection of phenotypes that expressed the desired traits.
One of the critical aspects of White Widow’s development was reducing its flowering time. The ideal phenotype exhibited indica-like flowering traits, which allowed it to finish in 9-11 weeks. This was a key breakthrough, as the plant expressed its full potential in the final three weeks of flowering. Growers who harvested too early often missed out on its true potency and resin production.
Additionally, White Widow was not the easiest strain to cultivate. Unlike strains such as Shit or Shark Shock, which produced consistent results with less effort, White Widow required precise feeding and environmental conditions. Different phenotypes within the seed population had varying nutrient needs, making it slightly more challenging for growers to achieve optimal results.
Shantibaba officially released White Widow around 1994-1995 after years of careful breeding. The strain quickly gained a reputation for its potency, with some phenotypes delivering an exceptionally powerful high. Its resin-coated buds and euphoric yet balanced effects made it a favorite among growers and consumers alike.
In 1995, White Widow took home the prestigious Cannabis Cup for Best Indica, cementing its place in cannabis history. Over the years, the strain and its derivatives have won multiple awards and have been used as the foundation for numerous hybrids. Its genetic lineage can be found in many popular modern strains, a testament to its enduring influence.
Despite its undeniable origins, many breeders and seed companies have attempted to claim credit for White Widow’s creation. However, Shantibaba has been the only breeder to provide a detailed account of its genetic lineage and breeding process. He has challenged others who claim to have bred the strain to provide similar documentation, but no credible counterclaims have emerged. As he put it:
“By the way, did any of the other people who claim to be White Widow breeders ever give a detailed account of the plants that led to their so-called version? Because all I ever read is the description I wrote in 1995, regurgitated by people who never left their grow rooms and never sourced anything in their lives... but I would be happy to be proven wrong!”
White Widow remains one of the most iconic cannabis strains in history, with a legacy that continues to shape the industry. Its creation was the result of careful selection, years of breeding, and a deep understanding of cannabis genetics. Thanks to Shantibaba’s expertise and dedication, White Widow has stood the test of time, earning its place as a true legend in the cannabis world.
