The Karma Club team has been really excited about carrying one of Illinois’ new craft cultivators, NEZ. The brand originates from our very own state, and the Nez team is thus dedicated to embodying the spirit of Illinois within every harvest. There actually isn’t a lot of information about Nez available online just yet, but I dig that. I can see where they are investing all their time and energy first: their product. It’s exciting to see a cultivator put forth effort in the development of their strain lineup and product offerings, despite being a new entrant to the Illinois market, which can be evidenced by their choice to set up a hydroponic growing system monitored by state-of-the-art equipment. I’ve recently had the privilege of trying a few of Nez’s cultivars, and I have to say, I found a new hope for the future of Illinois cannabis with each jar I opened.
First was the Sherb Cream Pie, and this one became my favorite. This cut is a cross between Ice Cream Cake and Sherb BX1. The buds were dark purple with a light frost. They had the perfect cure: fluffy with a little moisture, sticky, and a great snap when breaking them up. In aroma and flavor, I got notes of spicy plum, followed by some gassy sweetness. This was one of the most blissful indicas I’ve smoked in a minute. Sherb Cream Pie brought on a classic stony high with a euphoric undertone that made me nostalgic for my early days smoking weed. I was reminded of all the times I was with my best friends and loved ones experiencing something together for the first time. I felt at peace and present, a feeling my anxiety has me longing for that this strain so easily. If I had to describe this strain in one word, it would be medicine.
Next, I tried their Blockberry (SB Cut). This one was also indica leaning and visually stunning. The buds were a colorful blend of Green and Purple with fiery orange hairs. Not to mention, they were totally CAKED in trichomes. This cross between Black Cherry Punch and Tropicana Cookies left me feeling mellow. If you’ve had a stressful day and just need to zone out and dissociate, this strain is for you. Another delightful dose of strong terpenes that provided notes of sweet berry and dark cherry. This cut of Blockberry was simply pleasant and tasty.
The final strain I had the privilege of trying was the Platinum Cake. This is definitely “I got shit to do today” weed. Platinum Cake is a very invigorating, focus-forward, buzzy cross between Platinum OG and Wedding Cake. The nose was light and reminiscent of a freshly mowed lawn, with a touch of sweetness. On the other hand, this cultivar possesses a strong taste of copper/metal, something I have found unique to Platinum-related strains in my experience. The buds were quite moist and had nice structure. This one had the most trichomes out of the three I tried – it was almost white! A perfect strain for errands, a hike, or even a sunny day in the park with good company.
So far, Nez has been laser-focused on perfecting their launch strains, but we’re looking forward to their future as they have some exciting new cultivars waiting in the wings. I’m beyond excited to see what they put out next. Karma Club will be one of the first to carry their fresh drops, so stay tuned! As I say to customers daily: You can tell everything about a cultivator by the quality of their flower. NEZ goes above and beyond to deliver.
