Tirah valley is located in West/ Northwestern Pakistan in a mountaious area formerly called FATA, ( Federally Administered Tribal Areas) , loosely governed until recently in a somewhat similar way to Indian Reservations in the US… with the area having a semi autonomous government.
The area itself was only recently added to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan (2018)and still retains a semi autonomous mindset.Federally Administered Tribal Areas - Wikipedia Always will I’d imagine. This area is most commonly associated with the strategic Khyber pass and older OGer’s will recall the famed “Khyber Sativa” variant from SSSC catalogs years ago.
There are two different populations of plants in the Tirah Valley region. The first is an amalgamated heirloom/landrace consisting of various imported genetics from the greater South Asian region, including, but not limited to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and of course, Pakistan. These genetics have been thoroughly mixed into various different family heirlooms, thousands of which make up the local cannabis populations of today, with farmers continually selecting the type of plants they favor for breeding despite constant bombardment of pollen from neighboring, or even distant fields. Remarkable. This population of cannabis is famed for it’s narcotic, relaxing high and is found within the finest Tirah garda( hash).
The second population of cannabis is older, for sure a true landrace and perhaps the areas last remaining stronghold of the South Asian (Northern) Sativa that was so prominent until the 50’s- 70’s in neighboring Afghanistan. This is the old Khyber Sativa, still grown by the Afridi tribe like they have done for centuries or even a millenia or more.
So far, it’s the world’s most Northerly potent Sativa landrace that i have found. Reaching a height of 14+ feet tall outdoors, this one can be a behemoth if you let it. Most of you know how love my Sativas!!
Special thanks to the Afridi Tribe for maintaining and @LandraceWarden for providing the opportunity to grow this famous strain!