Headband (Bandeau) Strain Review (Palmetto)
For this cannabis strain review, I tried out some Headband that Sundial Cannabis makes under the Palmetto brand. In Quebec, they named it “Bandeau,” which is a literal French translation of Headband, cute touch.
Note: This review covers a legal product bought at the SQDC, the only authorized cannabis retailer in Québec, where no one under 21 may possess cannabis. In the US, marijuana remains federally illegal outside a state medical license or an FDA-approved drug, and state laws differ.
This lot was high in THC with very little CBD. THC and terpene levels vary by grower and batch, so check the label on the lot you buy.
The SQDC listed it as a Sativa, but it felt more like a balanced hybrid to me. Below is a detailed breakdown of this cultivar.
Terpene Profile (varies by batch): Pinene, myrcene, humulene, ocimene, and terpineol.
Packaging Details: This was packaged on 8/19/2020 and tested/reviewed on 9/30/2020, exactly 42 days later. Lot# 00000127
Pricing Details: Purchased 3.5 grams for $30.20 at the SQDC in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, at the time of review. ($8.63/gram)
Appearance: 2/5
The Boost humidity pouch that was present kept the buds nice and moist (RH was at 60%), but overall, I found the bag appeal to be average at best. I like big nugs, and I cannot lie (sorry, this happened as I was writing), and well, size DOES matter, so the nug size dropped the score for me.
I know some people don’t mind this as long as the weed is good, but I’ll take a 3.5-gram nug over these little popcorn ones any day. There were 2 medium-sized buds in there, to be fair, but I did see a couple of seed holes, which is always a turn-off.
The buds were of a bright green shade with purple spots on them, covered in a light sheet of trichomes with bright orange pistils sticking out.
Aroma: 3/5
Initially, right after removing the seal, I got rainforest vibes, like walking in the forest during fall time. It’s slightly accented with woodsy notes, which seemed to have disappeared on the inside of the buds.
After breaking up this “bandeau” (I love the literal translation to french!), it felt like a pine explosion, the nostrils filled with piney goodness! You will enjoy the nose on this one if you’re into piney strains.
Flavor: 3/5
I would put the flavor in the “slightly above average” category; the pineyness comes through pretty aggressively on the inhale. While exhaling, there are mostly woodsy notes left on the palate. The smoking experience itself was relatively smooth, with a slight cough but nothing that’ll bring the score down.
The Pinene is quite dominant on this bad boy; it seems like combustion makes it come out even more.
Effects: 3.5/5
microscopic pic, headband by palmetto
The effects that this Headband strain emitted were right up my alley; they just didn’t last too long. This weed got me feeling uplifted right after the first few puffs; it’s a positive buzz that hits you instantly.
I had to lower the score slightly because I wanted more of it after about 45 minutes! It’s a pretty short “high” without any drowsiness afterward. I found this weed suitable for the daytime; I could stay productive after smoking it.
Don't drive after using cannabis; NIDA notes it is the drug most often found in the blood of drivers involved in crashes.
Overall: 3/5
If you’re a fan of Pinene when it comes to aroma and flavor, this will be right up your alley. If you’re a fan of strains that get you quite high but do not knock you on your couch with your brain feeling fried, then you should try some of this out.
This weed is far better than Blue Dream Strain or White Russian Strain and goes in the “slightly above average ” category, and I would buy it again. If you’ve tried some of this Headband or, as we Quebecers call it, “Bandeau,” let me know what you thought of it in the comments below.
Sources
- The Legislation on Cannabis in Brief, Gouvernement du Québec
- Cannabis (Marijuana) DrugFacts, National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Rescheduling of FDA Approved Products Containing Marijuana From Schedule I to Schedule III, Federal Register (DEA/DOJ)
