Citral: The Pakistani Hash Legend
Citral: The Pakistani Hash Legend
Strain Overview
Type: Indica-Dominant Landrace Selection (Often 100% Indica or close to it)
Breeder: Homegrown Fantaseeds / Nirvana Seeds (Dutch Originators)
Lineage: Landrace Selection from the Chitral Valley (Hindu Kush region, Pakistan)
Market Status: The "Breeder's Foundation"; Citral is rarely found as raw flower in modern dispensaries, yet it is one of the most important genetic building blocks in cannabis history. Originating from the rugged Chitral region of Pakistan (famous for its hash production), this strain was brought to the Netherlands in the early 90s. It was selected not just for its narcotic potency, but for its incredibly unique aroma—a mix of herbal spice and sour, fermented lemon. It is the genetic mother of Citral Skunk and the grandmother of modern giants like Citral Glue and Lilac Diesel.
THC Content: Moderate (15% – 20% - Higher in resin concentrate form)
Dominant Terpenes: Myrcene, Limonene, Caryophyllene, Humulene
Key Effects: Narcotic Sedation, Meditative Calm, "Stony" Heaviness, Sleep Aid
Citral is the taste of the Hindu Kush mountains.
It is a "Hash Plant" in the truest sense. It wasn't originally bred to be smoked as green flower; it was bred to be sieved into charas. Consequently, it produces a resin that is oily, spicy, and profoundly relaxing. It smells of wet earth, spicy incense, and a distinct, sour citrus note that gave it its name.
History and Lineage: The Chitral Valley
To understand Citral, you have to understand where it comes from.
The Origin: The Chitral District in Northern Pakistan is part of the Hindu Kush mountain range. The cannabis plants here have evolved over centuries to survive harsh weather, high altitudes, and dry summers.
The Selection: Dutch breeders in the early 90s traveled to this region to collect seeds. They weren't looking for the sweet Sativas of Thailand; they were looking for the short, stout, resin-producing Indicas that fueled the local hash trade.
The Result: Citral was the resulting stabilization of these genetics. It was famous in Amsterdam coffeeshops not for its bag appeal (it is leafy and rugged), but for its unique flavor—a sharp, herbal citrus that cut through the usual "skunk" smells of the era.
Terpene Profile: Sour Hash and Herbal Tea
The aroma of Citral is widely considered "savory" rather than sweet. It has an "Old World" terpene profile.
Dominant Terpenes
Myrcene (The Earth): The dominant terpene. It provides the heavy damp soil and musk aroma that defines traditional Kush strains.
Limonene (The Sour): Unusually for a heavy Indica, Citral packs a punch of Limonene. However, it presents as sour lemon peel, lemongrass, or cleaning fluid rather than sweet candy.
Humulene (The Hops): Adds a distinct woody, earthy, and beer-like note. This contributes to the "dryness" of the smoke.
Flavor Notes:
The Aroma: It is subtle but distinct. It smells of spicy herbal tea, wet soil, and sour lemon rind.
The Smoke: Thick and harsh. It tastes of charas hash and woody spice on the inhale, with a sour, earthy finish on the exhale.
Strain Effects: The Narcotic Stone
Citral is a pure Indica experience. It is physical, heavy, and slow.
The Experience
The Slow Down: The high is not immediate. It creeps up on you. After 10 minutes, you notice a slowing of thoughts and a quieting of the mind.
The Stone: A wave of physical heaviness settles into the bones. It is a classic "couch-lock" strain. It feels like gravity has increased.
The Calm: It is exceptionally anxiety-reducing. It forces a meditative state, making it impossible to worry about deadlines or drama.
The Sleep: As the high wears off, it leads almost inevitably to deep sleep. It is a natural sedative.
Best For: Insomnia, muscle spasms, severe anxiety, chronic pain, and making hash.
Growing Citral: The Hash Plant
Citral displays the classic growth characteristics of a landrace Indica.
Growth Structure
The Height: Short and Squat. This plant stays low to the ground. It rarely stretches, making it ideal for small indoor spaces or sea-of-green (SOG) setups.
The Bud Structure: The buds are hard and rock-like, but they can be leafy. The calyxes are small and tight.
The Resin: Elite. The plant produces a different type of trichome—oily and sticky, designed to protect the plant from mountain UV rays. This makes it incredible for washing hash or pressing rosin.
The Hardiness: It is tough. Having evolved in the mountains, it handles cold nights and underwatering better than most modern hybrids.
The Time: It finishes flowering very quickly, often in 7 to 8 weeks.
Grower’s Tip: Do not over-fertilize. Landrace strains are used to poor, rocky soil. If you blast Citral with modern high-EC nutrient solutions, you will burn it. Keep the feed light and organic for the best flavor expression.
Final Verdict: The Pakistani Hash Legend
Citral is a piece of living history. It is not the frostiest or the sweetest strain on the market, but it offers something modern hybrids often lack: character. It provides a distinct, sour-herbal flavor profile and a high that is purely medicinal and narcotic. It is the genetic bedrock that allowed breeders to add "lemon" notes to Indicas without introducing Sativa genetics. If you want to smoke the strain that started the "Citral" lineage, you have to go back to the source.
You should choose Citral if:
You love "Old School" Hash.
You suffer from Insomnia.
You are a Hash Maker.
You have limited vertical grow space.
Score: 8.8/10 (The Genetic Foundation)