Neville's A5 Haze: The Holy Grail of Sativas
Neville's A5 Haze: The Holy Grail of Sativas
Strain Overview
Type: Sativa-Dominant Hybrid (60/40) (Functionally Pure Sativa Effect)
Breeder: Neville Schoenmakers (Preserved/Revived by Karma Genetics & Ace Seeds)
Lineage: Northern Lights #5 x Haze A (Original 1980s Male)
Market Status: The "White Whale"; In the circle of hardcore Sativa connoisseurs ("Haze Heads"), Neville's A5 Haze is mythical. It is not the same as the commercial "Neville's Haze" seeds found on most websites. The A5 is a specific clone selected by Neville Schoenmakers himself in the late 1980s. It was considered lost for decades until it was rediscovered in southern Holland and used by breeders like Karma Genetics to resurrect the "Old School" church-incense Haze profile. It is widely considered one of the most potent, psychedelic, and difficult-to-grow strains in existence.
THC Content: 20% – 26% (Psychedelic & Racy)
Dominant Terpenes: Terpinolene, Ocimene, Myrcene, Nerolidol
Key Effects: Intense Energy, Visual Distortion, Heart-Racing Euphoria, Zero Ceiling
If standard Haze strains are like espresso, Neville's A5 Haze is like rocket fuel. This strain represents the pinnacle of Dutch breeding in the 1980s—a moment when the goal was to capture the wildest tropical Sativa effects in a plant that could just barely be grown indoors.
The A5 is famous for two things: its smell, which is not fruity but savory (often described as "stewed meat" or "church incense"), and its high, which has "no ceiling." The more you smoke, the higher you get, until you are vibrating with energy. It is a relic of a time before commercial viability dictated short flowering times.
History and Lineage: The Lost Clone
The story of the A5 is the stuff of cannabis legend.
The Architect (Neville Schoenmakers): The founder of The Seed Bank (later Sensi Seeds/Green House). He revolutionized cannabis by combining tropical Sativas with the newly discovered Northern Lights.
The Cross: The A5 is a cross of Northern Lights #5 (the perfect Indica) and Haze A (a pure Sativa male made of Colombian, Mexican, Thai, and Indian genetics).
The Selection: Out of hundreds of plants, Neville selected the "A5" female. It was chosen because, despite having an Indica mother, it expressed almost pure Haze traits—towering height and terrifying potency.
The Revival: The clone was maintained by a small circle of growers in Southern Holland for 30 years before being gifted to Karma Genetics, who used it to create modern hybrids (like A5 Haze S1), finally allowing the public to taste the legend.
Terpene Profile: The "Church" and The "Liver"
This is a flavor profile that effectively no longer exists in modern commercial weed. It is savory, metallic, and religious.
Dominant Terpenes
Terpinolene (The Haze): The primary driver. It provides that fresh, herbal, floral scent that is distinct from the heavy gas of modern strains.
Ocimene (The Sweetness): Adds a woody, herbaceous sweetness.
Nerolidol (The Bark): Contributes a deep woody, bark-like aroma.
Flavor Notes:
The Aroma: It is complex and strange. It smells of Frankincense (Church Incense), old leather, stewed meat (liver), and pine solvent. It is a "brown" smell, distinct from the "green" smell of most weed.
The Smoke: Sharp and expanding. It tastes of metallic Haze, cedar wood, and spicy musk. It leaves a lingering taste of incense on the palate.
Strain Effects: The Psychedelic Elevator
This is not a strain for beginners. It is not a strain for "chilling." It is a strain for flying.
The Experience
The Launch: There is no delay. Immediately after exhaling, you feel a pressure behind the eyes and a rapid increase in heart rate.
The Rush: A surge of electric energy moves through the nervous system. Users often report feeling "vibrations" or visual sharpening.
The No-Ceiling: Unlike Indicas that plateau, the A5 keeps climbing. If you keep smoking, the effects can become borderline psychedelic or dissociative.
The Paranoia: Warning: This strain is notorious for inducing anxiety and paranoia in those not used to pure Sativas. It is introspective and racy.
Best For: Concerts, intense creative work, long-distance running, and experienced "Haze Heads" chasing the dragon.
Growing Neville's A5 Haze: The Expert's Challenge
This plant fights the grower. It requires patience, space, and skill.
Growth Structure
The Stretch: It is uncontrollable. Even with the NL#5 parent, the A5 stretches 300% to 400% in flower. You must flip it to flower almost immediately after rooting.
The Time: It is a marathon. It requires 10 to 14 weeks (70–100 days) of flowering.
The Feeding: It is incredibly sensitive. It hates high nitrogen. You must feed it low EC (low nutrient strength), or it will curl and burn.
The Structure: It grows thin, vine-like branches (foxtails) that struggle to hold the weight of the buds. Scrogging (Screen of Green) is mandatory to tame it.
The Yield: If you can keep it healthy for 100 days, the yield is Massive.
Grower’s Tip: The A5 Haze does not stop growing. Even in week 8 of flower, it may still be putting out new white pistils. You have to judge harvest by the resin cloudiness, not the hair color. Be patient—the "Frankincense" flavor only arrives in the final few weeks.
Final Verdict: The King of Sativas
Neville's A5 Haze is a time capsule. It transports you back to the Amsterdam of the early 90s, where weed was judged by how hard it could make your heart beat. It is a difficult, finicky, and terrifyingly potent plant that offers a flavor profile (Liver/Incense) that is completely unique. If you are bored of the sedative "Cookies" and "Cake" strains and want to experience the true electric power of cannabis, you must pay homage to the A5.
You should choose Neville's A5 Haze if:
You are an Expert Grower.
You want a "Racy/Psychedelic" high.
You love "Church Incense" terpenes.
You hate being tired.
Score: 9.9/10 (The Sativa Benchmark)