Recent coffeshop visits ...

Lyla · Post by **Lyla** » Mon 19th Jan 2009 05:38 pm

Hi everyone,

I´ve been a regular reader of the forum for a while now and thought I´d post a report from last week, which some people might find helpful for an upcoming trip.

I´ve just returned from a couple of days break in Ámsterdam and for anyone interested, here´s some info on the weed and hash sampled. My first port of call from Central Station, was the Dampring in Haarlemerstraat, where I was looking for some of their superb NYCD but none in stock, so settled for a couple of grams of LA Con (10 eu per gm) and Lavender (8.50 per gm). Both were lovely buds and very nice high. shop was really busy, so after a quick latte and smoke I wandered down to Picasso´s and bought some their Charas, strong and spicy smoke, very nice indeed and on offer at 20 eu for 2 grams. I like my hash, so picked up a couple of grams for their Afghan for around 15 euros, again, nice, strong high and not as rough as other Afganis can be.

The Rockery on Singel was empty when I popped in around 8pm, had a relaxed coffee and tried some of their Super Lemon Haze (10eu per gram), faintly lemony but disappointing and overpriced weed, wished I´d looked at it before buying. Bought some of their Xmas Pollen (10 eu per gram), pleasant smoke but not the greatest to be honest and a couple of grams of Jack Herer (8.50 eu per gram), which was the best of the lot. Kicking myself about the SLH, but you live and learn. Stayed in The Rookies near Leidseplein, which was clean, well priced and friendly, around 50 euros per night for a single room and the pleasure of smoking weed anywhere I liked. The budtender there also recommended some great record shops, I loved Concierto on Ultrechtsraat with it´s extensive range of new and s/h vinyl.

As Stix was a 5 mins walk away, I popped in there to look over my purchases and try to some of their Caramello, which is such a smooth and uplifting smoke and excellent value at 9eu per gram. Beautiful, pliable hash which barely needed a flame put to it before fluffing up and crumbling – 10 % discount too on 5 grams. Stix is one of my favourite coffeeshops as the staff are very friendly and knowlegeable about what they sell there, cool music too, Tricky and Portishead when I visited.

Closer to the centre, I noticed Ben´s coffeeshop (off Warmoestraat, I think) and having read positive reviews thought I´d check it out. Fairly small with budtender at the front of the shop and my god, did this guy love to talk about hash, its purity, strength etc … Had originally considered getting some weed but this guy sold me on the excellent hash they sold, so I got around 3 grams of Ben´s Special, for 25 eu. Looked very similar to the Caramello, soft, crystally looking and a very nice smoke. Small but concise menú and a budtender who really knows his shit but more of a take away place for me.

Next up, back to the Dampring for some more of their Lavender, smelt gorgeous, another lovely smoke, a couple of more grams of LA Con and a bargain basement buy of some Laughing Buddha for 6.50 per gram. I bought some of this a couple of months ago and it was a surprisingly good smoke, but this batch didn´t match up at all, so another for the mixer pot. Quick mention for their hot chocolate which is sublime, a large cube of belgian choc on the end of a wooden stick, which is stirred into a tall glass of hot milk, yum. The shop near Leidseplein is great for chilling when it´s not too packed and lots of reasonable places to eat in the area.

Anyway, to conclude, went for a drink in De Kuill (420 coffeeshop) which I like a lot, cool staff and a lovely stripy cat, not to mention some Maroc Red which was around 6.50 eu per gram and very good it was too. My final purchase was made at De Kroon, another few of grams of Afgani which was really cheap, 25 eu for 5 grams and whilst not as smooth as Picasso´s batch, it was money well spent. I faintly recall buying some Shark´s Breath somewhere too but cannot remember where, other than it was another good buy at around 9 eu per gram, had my final smoke in Abraxas and then caught my flight home to snowy Ireland.

Well that´s all for now, enjoy Ámsterdam!

Epsilon · Post by **Epsilon** » Mon 19th Jan 2009 06:15 pm

Thanks for the report ,enjoyed reading it ...Record Store ?...like LPs ?

geoffk · Post by **geoffk** » Mon 19th Jan 2009 06:46 pm

Epsilon wrote:Thanks for the report ,enjoyed reading it ...Record Store ?...like LPs ?

Concerto sells LPs and CDs. Great shop, lots of rarities, at least to me. Nice, succinct report BTW, thanks.

bobhope45 · Post by **bobhope45** » Mon 19th Jan 2009 08:03 pm

good report , helpful info for me thanks going for first time in may, cheers

puffpuffgive · Post by **puffpuffgive** » Mon 19th Jan 2009 08:28 pm

thanks for the info-packed report

I also loved the charas from Picasso last Nov. mm spicy!
might have to try stix caramello, El Guapo had some great stuff in Nov very uplifting but more like 12e/g if i remember
Yeah, they're pretty friendly in Ben. never tried their bud or hash tho.

ed the head · Post by **ed the head** » Mon 19th Jan 2009 09:17 pm

Great report, thanks! Sure to come in handy for my trip in 22 days, YEAH!

smokestaxlitenin · Post by **smokestaxlitenin** » Tue 20th Jan 2009 12:57 am

great job...you're my hero....

jollylittlehun · Post by **jollylittlehun** » Tue 20th Jan 2009 01:30 am

Cheers really good report, think i might go to Dampkring to try some Lavender and the hot chocolate sounds amazing!

godneps · Post by **godneps** » Fri 23rd Jan 2009 07:34 am

I sure hope they have some NYCD in stock when I get there! I'm looking forward to trying it!

SoulRider · Post by **SoulRider** » Fri 23rd Jan 2009 10:19 pm

godneps wrote:I sure hope they have some NYCD in stock when I get there! I'm looking forward to trying it!

Dude, if their out of stock of a batch, it's generally for no more than a few hours, or a day at most, unless there is a problem, but thats very rare.

godneps · Post by **godneps** » Thu 29th Jan 2009 08:10 pm

Whoa... just seen the new Dampkring menu here

http://www.black-arts.org/~reatta/Menus ... pennah.jpg

and no NYCD.... what's going on?!!!!

And half the menus online have it down as a sativa and half as an indica....

Can anyone shed any light? I [i]was[/i] looking forward to trying some

pengaldinho · Post by **pengaldinho** » Fri 30th Jan 2009 11:19 am

i was in Dampkring/tweede over the weekend and even though not on the menus they had both sour and nyc diesel, its always worth asking.

Kingdoc · Post by **Kingdoc** » Sat 31st Jan 2009 05:05 pm

Nice report! the rockerij on the singel is a great place but there bush isnt up to much sometimes,Take that jack herrer! very average if you ask me.