Rua Bioscience’s Rau Hiwa T23 Legacy Cultivar 01 is a 23% THC sativa-dominant hybrid grown in New Zealand under highly regulated indoor conditions. This breed is notable not just for its cultivation quality, but also for its unique sourcing – its genetics were gained through New Zealand’s local amnesty program, allowing legacy growers to contribute to the legal NZ medicinal cannabis market.
I find this approach refreshing and exciting, especially in an industry where corporate interests overshadows the overshadow the knowledge of the legacy cultivators and market. It’s a move that pays respects to the history of cannabis while creating space for local growers to transition into the regulated NZ market
Fun fact: In New Zealand, cannabis companies are allowed to source genetics from the legacy market.
To learn more on Rua Bioscience, their approach, and the Legacy strain, I contacted the team and had the opportunity to connect with Talmage Herbert and John Sanders, who shared valuable information about the strain’s background and their cultivation methods.
Brand Overview & Legacy Genetics
Rua Bioscience is more than a medical cannabis company; it is a brand with rich cultural origins and a strong commitment to community-driven production. Rua Bioscience, based in Tairāwhiti, New Zealand, takes a fresh approach to strain selection. They use a regulatory framework that permits licensed growers to declare and integrate historical genetics from the legacy markets.
This is possible because they used the Illicit Declaration process to legally bank and maintain genetics from New Zealand’s Tairāwhiti region, which has a long history of cannabis growing. These cultivars have been traded and bred since the 1960s, with families relying on the legacy market to supplement their incomes in economically deprived areas.
Community and collaboration are key. Rua has created a platform to demonstrate the skills and efforts of local breeders, ensuring that New Zealand-grown cannabis genetics remain relevant in the medicinal market rather than being lost to history.
Cultivation & Growing Methods
Rua Bioscience takes a versatile approach to cultivation, experimenting with different growing environments to find the best possible expression of their genetics. The horticulture team from Tairāwhiti has spent years phenohunting, improving genetic stock, and breeding novel S1 and F1 hybrids to enhance heterosis and market potential.
Rua’s team doesn’t just focus on one type of grow setup – they explore everything from outdoor living soil to fully controlled indoor environments, ensuring that each cultivar is grown in the optimal conditions for its genetic potential.
The Rau Hiwa T23 Legacy Cultivar 01 available in Australia is cultivated in partnership with South Island-based indoor facility, Kalyx, a South Island-based indoor facility that specializes in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Their process follows a classic indoor method, using rockwool blocks, mineral salt fertilizers, and LED lighting to maximize consistency and potency. This allows them to replicate ideal growing conditions batch after batch, ensuring that the flower patients receive is both high-quality and standardized.
Strain Overview
- Type: Hybrid (Sativa-Dominant)
- THC: 23%
- CBD: <1%
- Primary Terpenes: Limonene, Pinene, Caryophyllene, Humulene
- Flavour: Fresh, herbaceous, with citrus and spice
- Aroma: Citrus, pine, with earthy spice
Appearance & Aroma
Legacy Cultivar 01 makes a strong first impression when you open the jar, with its dense, trichome covered buds that are a vivid green with rich amber pistils. The aroma is refreshing, offering a subtle lemon and earthy aromas. This hybrid (sativa dominant) flower has notable limonene and caryophyllene terpenes.
Flavour
Vaporized at 175°C to 185°C in the Herbamate dry herb vaporizer, Rau Hiwa T23 delivers a smooth flavour, with subtle lemon on the inhale. At lower temperatures, the citrus and herbal notes dominate.
Experience
The effects of Rau Hiwa T23 build gradually, beginning with an uplifting mental clarity and light energy boost. For a sativa-dominant hybrid, I found the initial high clear-headed and made me feel ‘light,’ making it suitable for daytime use without overstimulation. Over about an hour or two, the sativa effects level out into a relaxed state, offering mild body relief while keeping the mind engaged.
Jar Appeal
Rua Bioscience’s packaging is sleek and polished, with a green textured cardboard box and a dark glass jar that adds a premium touch. Upon opening the jar, I was met with dense, spongy nugs, richly coated with trichomes, and well-cured.
Final Thoughts
Rau Hiwa T23 Legacy Cultivar 01 makes a solid first impression with its frosty buds, clean flavour, and balanced effects, but it falls short in longevity and intensity. While the uplifting effects and smooth flavour make it a good option for patients and users looking for a daytime strain, its a light sativa in my eyes. I think at $155 it’s a little expensive, I believe the Rau Hiwa Legacy Cultivar has a place in the market however I think it would be more appropriately priced around $119-139.
That said, Rua Bioscience’s approach to incorporating legacy genetics is promising, and I’m looking forward to seeing what else they bring to the market in the future.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟 (3/5)
FAQs
Where can I get medicinal cannabis in New Zealand?
For New Zealand patients, you can visit this website for more information – here
Can I travel with medicinal cannabis in New Zealand?
Yes, if you have a valid prescription. Always carry your prescription and original packaging when traveling within New Zealand.
Who can access medicinal cannabis in New Zealand?
Any patient with a valid prescription from a registered New Zealand doctor can access medicinal cannabis products that meet the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme’s minimum quality standards.
Do I need to have a specific condition to be prescribed medicinal cannabis?
No. There are no restrictions on specific conditions, meaning doctors can prescribe medicinal cannabis based on their clinical judgment and patient needs.