Strain Hunters India Expedition
In this feature-length documentary, the Strain Hunters team (Arjan, Franco, and Simon) travels to the remote mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India, to study the unique cannabis landraces of the Himalayas and the ancient art of hand-rubbing Charas (live-plant hashish).
🏔️ The Malana Valley and “Cream”
- Traditional Techniques: Unlike in many other regions where hashish is made from dried plants, the Malana region is famous for rubbing live, growing plants with bare hands to collect resin. This produces the world-renowned “Malana Cream” [02:34], [15:20].
- The Process: Franco demonstrates the meticulous process of hand-rubbing. It requires gently “caressing” the buds with clean, warm palms to collect the resin without breaking the plant. A skilled worker might only produce 6 to 10 grams (less than one Tola) in a full day [19:34], [20:07], [21:13].
- Genetics: At higher altitudes (around 3,000 meters), the plants exhibit more Indica traits and produce higher quality resin. Lower down, the plants take on a more Sativa-like character with minty, piney, and woody aromas [15:41], [18:31], [52:53].
🎭 Culture and Heritage
- Malana Village: The team visits Malana, a village that considers itself one of the oldest democracies in the world. Legend has it that the inhabitants are descendants of Alexander the Great’s soldiers. They have strict social taboos: outsiders cannot touch the residents, their houses, or their temples [22:21], [23:02].
- Spiritual Significance: Cannabis is deeply woven into the local culture and religion. The team observes a ceremony honoring Lord Shiva, the “God of Charas,” and even offers a sacrifice to ensure their safety in the mountains [04:48], [05:20].
- Festivals: In Kullu, they witness the Dussehra festival, where hundreds of local deities are paraded through the streets in a vibrant, chaotic celebration of the victory of Lord Rama [09:06], [09:42].
🚔 The “War on Drugs” in the Mountains
- Police Intervention: The team encounters the reality of government-led eradication programs. Despite 10 million euros in European aid to cut down plants, the efforts are often futile as farmers simply move their fields higher and deeper into the mountains [26:26], [28:41].
- Economic Reality: Many farmers grow cannabis for survival because alternative crops, like chickpeas, are not financially viable. The police themselves often have a complex relationship with the plant, sometimes smoking it even after a day of cutting it down [28:56], [29:42].
🏍️ Adventure and Exploration
- The Royal Enfield Experience: To navigate the treacherous mountain roads, the team uses the classic Royal Enfield Bullet, an iconic Indian motorcycle that Arjan has been riding since his first trip to India in 1989 [43:04], [43:32].
- Diverse Landscapes: From the “Valley of the Devils” (Rolly Touch) to the coffee-shop-like guest houses of Tosh, the expedition highlights the vastness and beauty of the Parvati Valley and surrounding areas [26:06], [47:21].
✨ The Strain Hunters Mission
The team explains that their goal is not just to find high-quality cannabis, but to preserve these unique genetics and bring awareness to the cultural and medicinal importance of the plant. They emphasize the need for legalization and a more logical approach to cannabis globally [56:10], [57:06].
Watch the full expedition here: Strain Hunters India Expedition (FULL HD MOVIE)
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