Piff
Piff
Also known as: NYC Haze, Uptown Haze, Uptown Piff, Manhattan Brown, Golden Haze, Cuban Black Haze, Frankie, Church, Silver Haze, Purple Haze, The Piff, Pep, Pepper Haze, Blue
Piff Strain Overview
Piff is an East Coast cannabis classic, often linked to old-school Haze genetics. Known for its incense-like aroma, cerebral high, and cultural roots in NYC, it's one of the most iconic haze strains ever smoked. Piff is one of the legendary East Coast strains that hit its heyday in the mid-2000s. Long ago, piff was a slang term for "the good stuff," which is probably why today you'll find so many riffs off "piff," like Ghost Piff, Motor Piff, and African Piff, just to name a few. The genetics behind Piff involve old Haze genetics — particularly Neville's Haze, Haze A, and Northern Lights 5 × Haze crosses. These long-flowering sativa lines were circulating in Europe and made their way stateside. Some breeders, like the Brazilian Seed Company, trace Piff back to a 2004 Purple Haze gifted by Tom Hill. This lineage adds floral and berry notes to the otherwise incense-heavy profile.
Unlike today's dessert-heavy hybrids, Piff is unapologetically hazy. The buds are often light and airy, the flowering times are long, and the payoff is an unforgettable smoke that defined East Coast weed culture for decades. Users describe Piff as having a distinctive church frankincense smell with a musty, basement chemical scent that's incredibly potent. The odor alone gives a knockout effect, and people used to think it was soaked in heroin or opium due to its strong, unique aroma and potency. Piff takes forever to flower compared to modern 8-week strains, which is why it's rarer — many growers don't want to commit. While modern strains chase THC percentages, Piff delivers a long-lasting, cerebral ride that doesn't feel like every other strain. The strain spread through Harlem, the Bronx, and Uptown in the 80s and 90s, where it became synonymous with high-grade cannabis and gained legendary status in East Coast hip-hop culture.
Piff Strain Effects
Piff Strain Positive Effects
- Users report relief from chronic fatigue
- May help with depression
- Often used for stress management
- Users report help with migraines
- May assist with mood swings
- Often used for nausea relief
- Users report creative stimulation
This is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional.
Piff Strain Possible Negative Effects
Piff Strain Growing Information
Piff is challenging to grow with extremely long flowering times of 10-12+ weeks, making it a grower's challenge but a smoker's reward. It takes much longer to flower than modern strains and doesn't yield as much as modern hybrids, which is why many growers moved away from it. The Brazilian Seed Company version has a flowering time of approximately 110 days and can be cultivated indoors, outdoors and greenhouse. Growing difficulty is considered moderate, making it suitable for growers with some experience. It thrives in sunny, warm climates and can reach heights of 5-8 feet indoors and over 8 feet outdoors. The buds are often light and airy with a sativa-style structure that doesn't always look flashy but smokes incredibly. Plants exhibit the typical long, stretched characteristics of pure sativa genetics. Due to the extended flowering period and lower yields compared to modern hybrids, Piff requires patience and dedication from cultivators but rewards them with an exceptional, historic smoking experience.
Piff Strain Genetics
Piff Strain Parent Strains
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Piff make you feel?
Piff is known to produce the following effects:
- Cerebral: 85%
- Energetic: 80%
- Creative: 75%
- Uplifting: 75%
- Euphoric: 70%
- Focused: 70%
- Sociable: 65%
- Giggly: 60%
What are the positive effects of Piff?
Piff has these reported positive effects:
- Users report relief from chronic fatigue
- May help with depression
- Often used for stress management
- Users report help with migraines
- May assist with mood swings
- Often used for nausea relief
- Users report creative stimulation
This is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional.
What are the negative effects of Piff?
Possible negative effects include:
- Dry Mouth
- Dry Eyes
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Dry mouth
- Dry eyes
- Possible anxiety in sensitive users
- May cause paranoia at high doses
- Potential for psychedelic effects that can be overwhelming
What does Piff taste like?
Piff has the following flavor profile:
- Chemical
- Citrus
- Earthy
- Floral
- Herbal
- Incense
- Pepper
- Pine
- Sandalwood
- Spicy