Wappa, Wappa! Behind the scenes of a Paradise Seeds Starlette

Paradise Seeds is one of Amsterdam's oldest seed banks, offering some forty varieties of Cannabis, some of them very famous. This collection has been built up over the last 25 years through a vast program of empirical and in-house selection, guaranteeing the quality and authenticity of Paradise-labelled genetics.

The great names of Paradise Seeds varieties created over the years sound familiar: Belladonna , Nebula, Atomical Haze and multi-winner indica, the Sensi Star . However, there is one variety in the catalog which, since its release in 2006, has never overshadowed its rivals, while remaining extremely popular. Its underground success has made Wappa a loved by growers the world over in its entirety!

Indica-dominant Wappa (60/40) is based on a relatively mild Skunk. Launched in the late 2000s, it is one of the most popular strains at the bank.

The founder of Paradise Seeds, Luc Krol, has been growing and selecting Cannabis since the late 80s. He ranks Wappa among the Top 5 best varieties created by Paradise.

«Right from the start, I had a feeling this plant was going to be a success,» Luc explains, recalling the first batch of Wappa. «The overall character of the plant was exceptionally strong. It was part of the new series of strains Paradise Seeds was releasing. I'm naturally interested in exploring the potential of hybrids. From a breeder's point of view, they're very exciting because they allow you to accentuate the strengths of the Sativa and Indica genetics individually and produce a magnificent all-rounder. Wappa has come through the selection process with enormous strength and vigour.»

Wappa: Why the name?

As European genetics grew, so did Paradise Seeds. At a time when Cannabis plants grown in Europe had no identity of their own, the only varieties that existed were Skunk, Haze and others. Northern Lights. With the development of the Amsterdam scene, variety names multiplied as new hybrids were created.

If hash already had its own cultural markers (the Afghan black, the Moroccan double zero, the Lebanese red, the Charas Indian...), it wasn't until the 70s and the arrival of Nederwiet, the Dutch weed, made possible by a supply of healthy, vigorous cultivars from the United States, that more modern varieties were born that met growers' new criteria.

Wappa was named in honor of Patrick, an original team member who now runs the Paradise Seeds warehouse. His «Wappa, Wappa!» (“Allez, Allez!”) often echoes around the company premises, and it's only natural that a strain should bear his name.

Wappa, The Essential Ingredients

Some plants like Sensi Star are distinguished by a dominant specificity. Other varieties stand out for their great versatility (taste, yield, resistance...). Such is the case of Wappa.

Grown legally in Canada, the plant develops into a large bush bearing beautiful flowers formed on tiny stems. The flowering tops become so large that branch support is needed during the flowering phase to help support their weight. Once harvested and dried, Wappa is remarkable not only for its powerful physical effect, but also for its mental one, bringing notable relaxation to the body and jovial serenity to the mind. It is notably available at SQDC in Quebec.

The medicinal value of this variety is well known to patients. Another defining characteristic is its incredibly sweet, fruity flavor. When selecting Wappa, Luc was keen, among other things, to enhance the plant's sweetness, and was very pleased when he finally got his «sweet treat».

«I remember walking into a party with a bag of Wappa, shortly after it came out,» Luc recounts. «The fragrance was so charming, so sweet, so fruity that everyone more or less stopped what they were doing and started sniffing the air. It was as if the fragrance invaded and lifted the atmosphere of the whole room. I remember thinking at the time: ha yeah, it's the Wappa effect!»

To find out more about Wappa, visit the Paradise Seeds website.