Foam

Co-owners and growers Halden and Nate officially announced Zilem Collective in early 2023. The brand is a relatively new name, but these garden geniuses are certainly not new to the game. Like many in this industry, they’ve been behind the scenes putting in the work with several reputable Oregon farms. But they eventually found the right fit in the stunning Eugene countryside, where they now nurture a true living soil environment and some seriously scrumptious smoke. 

This Strain of the Month selection is a superb example: it’s grayish-green and black fades, popping with purple inside each calyx. Foam is a cross of Soap (Animal Mints x Kush Mints) and Zwish [Animal Mints x (Zkittlez x (Biscotti x Froyo))] bred by Umami Seed Co. — strong emphasis on the “umami.” As the seed company’s website vividly illustrates, “Some phenos smell like a strip club during the zombie apocalypse.” We don’t know what that means, but it feels right. 

Zilem Collective has zoned in on some seriously savory and complex flavors with Foam — and savory might not even be the right word. This writer is even at a loss for lacy descriptors to depict its deliciousness. It’s a really complex profile. Bouncing from antibacterial soap to gym socks, it does seem to land firmly on a very creamy note, but it’s hard to ignore the quick slap of acrid, chemical stench that fans of funk are so fond of. 

We can’t understate how smooth and enjoyable this smoke is. There’s a full-bodied flavor that lingers in the mouth long after you’ve let out the last huff from your lungs. That creamy note comes through with a bold mouthfeel that cushions the funkier flavors so sweetly. Pillowy-puff after puff, this is a plush ride to a dreamy state that feels like Sunday. 

@zilem.collective | @umamiseed