Princess: The Lost Matriarch of the Modern Sativa
Princess: The Lost Matriarch of the Modern Sativa
Strain Overview
Type: Sativa-Dominant Hybrid (Phenotype of Jack Herer)
Origin: Netherlands / USA (Selected by Mr. Soul of Brothers Grimm)
Lineage: Jack Herer (Bag Seed Selection)
Status: Legendary Clone-Only (The Mother of Cinderella 99)
THC Content: 18% – 22% (High resin production)
Dominant Terpenes: Terpinolene, Myrcene, Caryophyllene
Key Effects: Dreamy Euphoria, "Trippy" Visuals, Creative Flow, Anxiety Relief
In the genealogy of modern cannabis, Princess holds a status similar to royalty. She is not famous for being sold on dispensary shelves today; she is famous for being the mother of one of the most popular Sativas in history: Cinderella 99 (C99).
Discovered by the legendary breeder Mr. Soul (of Brothers Grimm Seeds), Princess is the "Holy Grail" phenotype that sparked a breeding revolution. She combined the soaring, psychedelic high of a Haze with the fast flowering time and resin production of an Indica. While most growers know her daughter (Cindy), true connoisseurs know that the magic started with the Princess.
This review explores the original cut that launched the "Grimm" legacy.
History: The Bag Seed That Changed Everything
The discovery of Princess is one of the great "happy accidents" in cannabis history.
The Origin: In the late 1990s, Mr. Soul bought a bag of Jack Herer buds from the Sensi Smile coffee shop in Amsterdam. Inside the buds, he found a few stray seeds.
The Hunt: He germinated the seeds. Most were unremarkable, but one female stood out. It grew short and stocky but smelled intensely of tropical fruit and produced resin unlike anything he had seen.
The Name: He named her "Princess."
The Legacy: Realizing he had a "one-in-a-million" plant but no male to breed her with, Mr. Soul used a technique called Cubing (breeding the plant back to its own progeny over multiple generations) to stabilize her genetics in seed form. The result of this project was Cinderella 99.
Therefore, if you have ever smoked C99, you have experienced a stabilized version of the Princess clone.
Terpene Profile: The Smell of Rotting Pineapples
Princess is famous for a specific, unmistakable aroma that she passed down to her daughters. It is not the spicy, piney smell of standard Jack Herer; it is far sweeter.
Dominant Terpenes
Terpinolene (The Fruit): This is the driving force. It provides a complex, floral, and citrusy aroma often associated with "tropical" strains.
Ocimene (The Sweetness): Adds a woody, herbaceous sweetness that rounds out the sharp citrus.
Myrcene (The Funk): Gives the strain its underlying "dank" quality, preventing it from smelling like pure candy.
Flavor Notes:
The Aroma: The most common description is "overripe pineapple." It smells like fruit that has been left in the sun just a little too long—sweet, fermenting, and loud.
The Smoke: It is exceptionally smooth. The taste is a mix of tropical fruit punch, sweet lime, and a hint of skunky cheese.
Strain Effects: The "Glass Slipper" High
Princess is revered because she offers a "Haze" high without the paranoia or the 16-week wait.
The Experience
The Onset: It is rapid and cerebral. Users often report a feeling of "lightness" or floating.
The Psychedelia: Unlike many modern hybrids that just make you sleepy, Princess is known for being mildly hallucinogenic. Colors may seem brighter, and audio perception can shift. It puts the user in a dream-like state.
The Clarity: Despite the trippy edge, there is very little mental fog. You can function, create art, or hold a conversation. It is a "happy drunk" kind of high, rather than a "stoned zombie" high.
The Duration: It is a shorter, sharper high, typically lasting 90 minutes to 2 hours, leaving you with a gentle energy rather than a crash.
Medical Benefits
Princess is a "happy pill" strain. It is almost exclusively used for mental and emotional ailments rather than physical pain.
Depression: The euphoria is instant and reliable. It is difficult to feel down when under the influence of Princess genetics.
Social Anxiety: Because it is clear-headed and uplifting, it acts as a great social lubricant.
Creative Block: It dissolves the ego and allows for free-flowing ideas, making it a favorite among musicians and writers.
Fatigue: It provides a mental spark that can help get you off the couch.
Growing Princess: The Breeding Stock
Getting your hands on the original Princess clone is nearly impossible today unless you are in the inner circle of old-school breeders. However, growing her progeny (Cinderella 99 or Princess Haze) reveals her growth characteristics.
Structure: Unlike her tall Jack Herer ancestors, Princess grows short and bushy (a trait she likely pulled from the Northern Lights or Skunk in the Jack lineage).
Speed: She is incredibly fast for a Sativa dominant plant, finishing in 50 to 55 days.
Resin: She is a "white" strain. The resin production is so heavy that the buds appear dusted in sugar.
Yield: Moderate. She focuses on quality over quantity.
Breeder’s Note: If you want to grow Princess today, your best bet is to buy Cinderella 99 or Princess Haze seeds from Brothers Grimm Seeds. These are the direct genetic descendants bred to replicate the mother.
Final Verdict: The Mother of Innovation
Princess is one of the most important plants in American cannabis history. She proved that you could have the soaring high of a tropical Sativa without the difficult, long-flowering growth habits. She is the bridge between the landrace Sativas of the 70s and the high-speed indoor hybrids of the 2000s.
Score: 9.8/10 (The Matriarch)