**Intro**
Before I get into the review, I want to briefly mention that Fire Chief is Signal-only and I’m not in a position to be making referrals. It took me a long time to get connected with them, just like it did with Quadzaza, Heady Tings, and other excellent vendors that don’t have websites. There are lots of great vendors out there with webpages (Get My High, the High Club {.biz}, and others) that you can turn to as you work towards meeting people who will give you a link to a Signal provider. I can assure that the Signal vendors have excellent bud, but you can get excellent bud from commonly used vendors with websites. It’s not like you are missing out on the only good weed out there.
This was my first order from Fire Chief and I’ve been trying to connect with them for a while. The people who run the operation are really cool and kind, which is always a bonus when doing any kind of business. If you tell them what you like, they will make recommendations, and they don’t just sell flower. I was lucky enough to get some rosin edibles that I LOVE. They are tasty, the perfect strength for me, and just one of a dozen choices. They also do extracts, but I don’t smoke rosin or other concentrates these days, so I can’t comment on them.
As far as my order, it arrived the day after I ordered it, which is pretty impressive, the prices are reasonable, the menu is always changing, and I don’t think it’s possible to make a bad choice. From what I’ve seen and heard, all their bud is fire. Anyhow, here is my review…
**TOAD VENOM (no till)**
**Appearance**
The buds are medium green, medium-to-large in size, and are characterized by thick, dense calyxes, swollen from the final stages of flowering, completely encrusted with stalked trichomes filled with white and slightly amber cannabinoids. Because the calyxes are so swollen and have that characteristic chunky texture, the bud is not characterized by bright pistils, but rather a thick, clumpy appearance. This strain doesn’t dazzle with colors, but the sheer frosted chunkiness of the buds tell you it’s going to be a heavy smoke, and it is.
**Aroma**
Toad venom has a nose that is hard to describe. It’s sweet and sour, pungent and a little skunky/gassy, with some of that chemical funk of really potent indica strains and hybrids. It’s not fruity or earthy, nor does it have a garlic/meat smell of some strains. It doesn’t really have a complex aroma and reminds me of rubbing a small sugar leaf between my fingers and holding it to my nostrils, inhaling the pure THC. The best way I can describe it is by saying that it makes you pay attention by announcing itself with an overwhelming smell of high-potency flower that leaves no doubt as to its potency.
**Taste and Burn**:
To approach describing taste of the toad, it’s probably best to mention how it doesn’t taste: tropical fruit, berry, grape, woody, earthy. It has a smooth, clean inhale with a sweet-and-sour note that hits the hard palette om the way down. On the exhale, it’s minty, piney, skunky/gassy, high octane flavor with strong acidic chemical notes (chemical in a good way, to clarify.) It has a clean taste that isn’t too complex, but is a nice smoke. I don’t think it is a flavor-focused strain, but it’s enjoyable and certainly tastes like the powerhouse it is.
As far as the burn, I did have some issues with the joint going out and burning unevenly, but I don’t want say anything either way about the burn until it goes in the mason jar for a couple weeks and has more time to cure. It also could have been my roll and the fact that my grinder broke and I haven’t yet bought a new one, so I had to break it up with scissors and fingers. Because the bud is so dense, it’s hard to get a good consistency this way. I think giving it a little more time to cure and grinding it will allow me to say more about the burn with some confidence.
**Effects and Potency:**
The potency of this strain is undeniable and among the hardest hitting flowers I’ve smoked in a while. It comes on strong and I felt the effects long before I put the joint out, but there was also a second wave of intensity that kicked me in the head some time after I finished smoking. For those who are looking for really potent flower, this definitely checks that box.
I found this bud to have excellent medicinal properties. Because of a health condition, I deal with frequent nausea and other issues that cause me a lot of gastrointestinal discomfort. Cannabis can be very effective for some health conditions, and the Toad has helped me treat nausea with excellent results. I would highly recommend it for those dealing with poor appetite for various reasons, or who take medication or have a condition that causes nausea. Only a couple puffs are needed to realize the medicinal effects, which is good for those who have to medicate during the day but don’t want to be completely stoned the whole time. That said, it is also excellent for insomnia, and if you smoke 1-2 hours before you want to sleep, this strain is very effective.
For recreational use, I would categorize the effects as one might expect from a high-potency indica-leaning hybrid. For me, it hit me hard and while I was able to make use of the glow and energy that the first 40-60 minutes gave me. However, once the munchies kicked in and I had eaten everything possible, I found myself in a kind of stupor and enjoyed an almost narcotic effect where I was caught half-way between wakefulness and sleep, lucid dreaming and feeling like I was floating. It was an amazing hour or so of psychedelic relaxation that I look forward to repeating. In the end, the effects were great, but make sure you smoke it when you can hang out and relax. It’s not the kind of weed you want to smoke before you go out dancing, but it’s excellent for a night at home, stocked up on tasty treats, and able to relax and enjoy doing something that doesn’t take much effort.
**Conclusion**:
All in all, I’m quite happy with Toad Venom and it’s definitely one of the strongest indica-dominant strains I’ve smoked in a while. The buds don’t have the pretty colors that attract many people, or the complex nose and flavor that some people seek, but it smells like what it is - a powerful strain packed to the brim with stalked capitate trichomes whose aroma is reminiscent of Afghan #1, but cleaner - and smokes nicely, with a smooth draw and enough flavor to be enjoyable without stealing the show. Some of the samples that came with my order have stronger and more interesting flavors, but the Toad is an extremely consistent, potent smoke that can be guaranteed to get the job done. It works excellent for relieving the symptoms of certain medical conditions, including nausea, stomach upset, and insomnia. It also works great for simply relaxing enjoying some down time. My verdict is highly recommended
