Gelato: sweet, creamy goodness.
Let’s take, for instance, the case of Gelato, a mouthwatering hybrid strain that has risen like fire in the marijuana world. This strain is a cross of Sunset Sherbet and Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies, so the flavor profile is sweet, fruity, and also creamy. Pop open one of these, and you get a complex aroma of berries, citrus, and just the faintest trace of vanilla.
But Gelato is not just good in flavor; it truly packs a potent high that makes you relaxed and happy. Many users describe it as having a strong clarity of mind and focus, most suitable for creative endeavors or socializing.
Gelato is a strain with great renown, having been listed in the 2020 Leafly survey as coming in as the 5th most popular strain within the United States. Its popularity has grown only increased with different phenotypes and crosses making their way through the scene, providing even more options for flavor chasers.
Growing Gelato: Tips and Tricks
Remember this when growing Gelato on your own: it likes a warm and sunny environment. It enjoys a balanced diet rich in nutrients. Be very careful because Gelato will be prone to mold and mildew if it is excessively damp.
As long as Gelato plants are brought up well, they will give a convincing yield of high-quality buds. Prepare to witness a frosty and dense nuggle with a bright green color and bright orange hairs. On average, the Gelato strain flowers for about 8-10 weeks, hence considered one of the fast-finishing cannabis strains.
Bubba Kush: Earthy, Pungent, and Powerful
Bubba Kush is an indica-dominant strain treasured for its pungent earthy smell and very potent relaxation effects. Many believe it to be a crossing of OG Kush with some unidentified indica, which created a strong plant with dense, resinous buds.
When you take a whiff of Bubba Kush, you’ll be smacked with a pretty strong, musky smell with hints of coffee and chocolate. The flavor is earthy, with very slight sweetness about the tongue.
Besides this, Bubba Kush is used for deep relaxation, with stress relief coming to the fore. Its strong indica effects can have you feeling heavy and sedated, which makes it very good to unwind either at the end of a very long day or for the treatment of sleep-related problems.
According to the reports of the Colorado Pot Guide, Bubba Kush tends to fall between 14-25% in terms of THC. A few exceptional phenotypes might push just a bit beyond that if testing accuracy is to be believed. Even more so than its potency, it would be the flavor profile that has kept this strain also among the most represented in the cannabis community for many years.
The History of Bubba Kush
Bubba Kush makes for an interesting history, perhaps a little mysterious. The very exact origin of this strain is not known. It is said to have evolved in the mid-1990s. Some of the opinions are that the strain was created in Florida, courtesy of a breeder by the name Bubba, but others argue it was New Orleans.
Though its true parentage remains a well-kept secret, the Bubba Kush was notorious for its strength and taste. It was immediately cherished by both medical and smokers, since then being used to create many popular crosses and variations.
Northern Lights: A Vintage Sativa with a Dash of Spice
Lastly, but not in any way the least, we have the Northern Lights, a legendary and very well-known indica strain that dates to the 1980s. This strain was bred from Thai and Afghani landrace strains and combined into a fast-flowering and resilient herb, with an unbelievable flavor profile.
Northern Lights have an exotic smell that is spicy, piney, and earthy, among other descriptions. When inhaled by smoking or vaporizing, it presents a smooth and creamy smoke, harboring a slight taste of sweetness that’s deliberately irresistible.
Northern Lights is somewhat prized for its potent relaxation capabilities, similar in a way to Bubba Kush. It’s often used to relieve stress, anxiety, and insomnia, as it provides a heavy, full-body sensation bound to leave its users in perfectly blissful couch-lock.
According to Leafly, statistics have demonstrated that Northern Lights is in the top ten favorite strains across the globe. Its wide availability and predictable effect have been known to make it a go-to for any fans of the indica strain.
Through the years, Northern Lights has somehow entered popular culture in its own right. It has been used in songs, like in Cypress Hill and Snoop Dogg’s work, it has been used in films and TV shows, and even elsewhere.
Perhaps the best-known reference to Northern Lights is from the television show “Weeds”. The show’s heroine, Nancy Botwin, vends a fictive variety called “MILF Weed” purported to be a permutation of Northern Lights and another, also Mystery, strain.
The Science Behind Flavor: Terpenes and Cannabinoids
Ever wondered what makes each cannabis variety have a different taste and smell? Terpenes are a group of organic molecules responsible for this. These are aromatic oils found in the resin glands of the cannabis plant, together with cannabinoids such as THC and CBD.
There are more than 100 different terpenes found within the cannabis plant, each responsible for a unique smell and flavor. Some common terpenes include:
Myrcene, which is earthy, musky, and herbal; one can find it in strains such as OG Kush and Granddaddy Purple.
Limonene, which has a citrusy, sweet aroma; one can find it in strains like Sour Diesel and Super Lemon Haze.
Caryophyllene, which is spicy and peppery; one can find it in strains like Bubba Kush and Sour Diesel.
α-Pinene: Piney and woody. Also found in strains like Blue Dream and Jack Herer.
Terpenes aren’t just playing a part in flavor and aroma they are involved with the zones of action in a strain. Some well-known terpenes, such as myrcene, are sedatives, while others, such as limonene, are said to be potentially uplifting and energizing.
Beyond that, with cannabinoids especially with THC and CBD terpenes may confer a range of interaction effects believed to underly the therapeutic value in what’s called the “entourage effect.” This theory posits that the many compounds in cannabis work together in synergy to produce a wider variety of therapeutic effects than one alone.
Key Takeaways
Gelato is a sweet, creamy strain with an impressively fruity smell, very much uplifting.
Bubba Kush: Earthy and pungent—strong relaxation, stress relief. Northern Lights: Classic indica spicy, pungent, piney, strong sedative. All three strains offer dramatically different tastes and quality effects. These strains come as the most popular varieties in the United States and globally.
Conclusion
These three strains Gelato, Bubba Kush, and Northern Lights are for connoisseurs of the flavor of cannabis; they display wide variability of the plant. Every single one of these offers a unique flavor profile and set of effects that being one of the multitudes that can be seen throughout the amazing diversity found within the cannabis plant. Whether your aim is a sweet and uplifting experience, a deep and earthy relaxation, or a peppery and sedative journey, these are the strains for you. So, the next time you are at your local dispensary, look out for some of these flavorful favorites, as your taste buds will thank you.
