RENEW (ALIEN DAWG)
INDICA-DOMINANT
MEDIUM THC: 17-23%
LOW CBD: 0-1%
Potency: Below average
Licensed Producer: Aphria (Tilray)
Brand: Solei
Genetics: Chemdawg x Alien Technology
Appearance: Airy/leafy buds, light and dark greens, dark brown-orange pistils. visible trichomes
Terpenes: Limonene, Beta-Pinene, Caryophyllene, Humulene, Myrcene
Scent: Diesel, Woody, Citrus
Flavour: Earthy, Spicy
Initial Effects:
- Uplifted
- Relaxed
- Happy
- Energetic
Later EFfects:
- Relaxed
- Decreased Energy
- Increased Appetite
Side Effects:
- Dry Mouth
- Dry Eyes
- Anxiety/Paranoia
- Dizziness/Confusion
- Headache
Therapeutic Uses:
- Stress
- Fatigue
- Appetite Loss
Aphria Inc. has come to be a rather major player in the Canadian adult-use cannabis market. The Ontario-based company, originally founded in 2013, began by using its greenhouse and agriculture proficiency to produce and sell regulated medical cannabis. Aphria’s dedication to patient care and its adherence to state-of-the-art greenhouse growing practices are among the factors that have allowed this company to thrive as cannabis producers. The brands cultivated by Aphria Inc are outstandingly prevalent in almost all recreational cannabis retail outlets across the country. Aphria’s 5 main adult-use brands (Solei, Riff, Good Supply, B!NGO, and P’tite Pof) offer relatively low-cost products, although, Aphria’s acquisition of Broken Coast Cannabis allows for them to boast a few premium offerings as well. Aphria has also made headlines recently for taking part in a reverse-acquisition merger with fellow cannabis giant Tilray. The combination of Aphria and Tilray will form the largest cannabis company in the entire world by revenue, and it will henceforth operate under the title of “Tilray.”
Solei is a brand under the Aphria (Tilray) umbrella that focuses on delivering “moments” or specific experiences with each product in its line. Each “moment” is distinguished by individual cannabis strains, for example, the Renew moment contains dried flower, pre-rolls, and oil made from the strain Alien Dawg. Solei offers a relatively basic menu, however, it has still created a very comprehensive line of products. Cannabis plants produced by Solei are grown in outdoor greenhouses under light from the sun, as well as LEDs. Aphria claims that its growing practices are environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient and also result in consistently clean and top-quality products.
For me, buying a gram of Solei’s Renew was a bit like buying a pack of gum while standing at the supermarket checkout. My sales associate was ringing up the purchases that I had actually come into the store to buy, and while he did so, I spotted this little strain marked for clearance. “I’ll grab one of those to try as well,” I pointed to Renew on the countertop digital menu, “just the gram.” It was sheepishly begging to be purchased after spending quite some time in the “sale” section. The single gram came in zip-lock baggie style packaging, which was covered with organic-looking brown paper to house the labels and hide the contents. I had a tiny moment of trouble with the deceptively tricky seal (intended to serve as a child-protective measure), but this could have been avoided by paying attention to the instructions on the back. The packaging of the material ensured that the bud was squished flat like a pancake after opening, although, this meant that the flower was moist enough to be squished and still retain its integrity, ie, it didn’t fall apart as shake in the bottom of the bag. I consumed this bud in a bong, the smoke was slightly harsh and not very flavourful. The effects crept on slowly and then didn’t last very long afterward. I initially felt a sense of calmness and tranquility with a slightly uplifted and energized mood. The effects were a nice complement to my activities at the time, which were: enjoying some music alone and doing some light house cleaning and organizing. Unfortunately, the mood faded pretty quickly for me and slipped into something that was more lazy and mellow, although not fully couch-locked or sedated. Renew is Solei’s most indica-leaning offering, however, the strain also features limonene as its most prominent terpene. In my opinion, the lower potency levels and the dominance of the uplifting limonene made Renew feel more like a sativa-leaning hybrid, or a strain I would use as a mid-day pick-me-up. I expect that a consumer with lower tolerance levels may be able to have a nice deep sleep after using Renew, although I would definitely require something much heavier for my bed-time routine. The comedown from this strain made me a tad restless and anxious, so using this strain before bed would have probably had me tossing and turning. I don’t think Renew was the best name choice for this particular cultivar, I did not feel a sense of renewal, mostly just agitation. I am suspicious of the claimed genetics, but the effects are familiar to Chemdawg family strains. If it were up to me, I would make up a new name for this strain, something like Lemon ChemTech.
Overall, there is nothing exceptionally wrong with Renew by Solei, their line of products appears to be straightforward mids available at a reasonable price. However, I am simply just not a consumer that would fall into this brand’s target market. If I were to compare a brand like Solei to a brand that exists in the Canadian liquor market, I would liken it to a label like Jackson Triggs. Essentially, I put these brands into a category of low-cost products that appeal to naïve mass markets, or products made by very large companies that are available ubiquitously. Buying a gram of Solei Renew is like picking up a bottle of discounted Barefoot Moscato, it’ll do the job if you’re feeling thrifty, but you’ll never see it in a connoisseur’s collection. Brands like Solei are quite well-designed for people who are mostly just dabbling into cannabis and also for those who only desire lower-strength products. I personally don’t fit into either category and so, this cannabis by Aphria really didn’t fit the bill for me.