Between Girl Scout Cookies and Lemon Haze, Bubble Gum and Northern Lights: the selection of cannabis strains today is enormous. And when we say enormous, we mean it. Countless strains, each with its own unique phenotypes, and it feels like new ones are added every day. The world is starting to legalize cannabis, and in many countries like Spain, the Netherlands, and some US states, there are highly ambitious breeders constantly creating new, potent hybrids. And then there are those delicious names… Who could resist Honey Cream, Blue Cheese, and Rainbow Sherbet? We certainly couldn't. Whether for home growing or as the basis for your next trip to Amsterdam, it doesn't hurt to know a little bit about the world's cannabis strains. So let's get started!
Cannabis subspecies: Indica, Sativa and Ruderalis
No matter the strain, it can always be classified as either Indica, Sativa, or Ruderalis. Most of you are probably already familiar with Indica and Sativa – Indica is known for its sleep-inducing properties, while Sativa is used for its stimulating effects – and may never have heard of Ruderalis. This is because Ruderalis genetics have only experienced a boom in recent years, as breeders discovered that they could cross these genetics with Sativa or Indica to create automatically flowering cannabis strains : the automatics, autoflowers, or simply "autos." While Ruderalis isn't as potent in terms of flavor or effects, when crossed with more potent Sativas and Indicas, fascinating new strains can be created that are ready to harvest within just a few weeks. As a result, many of the traditional and well-known Sativas and Indicas are now also available as automatics: White Widow Auto, Northern Lights Auto, Granddaddy Purple Auto, and so on.
By the way, did you know that …
... the popular belief that "sativas energize, indicas sedate" is just that - an opinion? This can be useful as a guideline for the effects of most cannabis strains, but it does not apply across the board. As an example, we can take Amnesia Haze (a relaxing sativa) or Trainwreck (a more energizing indica).
How many types of cannabis are there?
The simple answer is many. No one can answer this question with any certainty, as the list is growing faster than ever before, but it is safe to assume that there are currently around 7000-10000 different cannabis varieties. However, a precise calculation also raises the question: Do further developments of individual varieties count as a separate variety? Or not? And what about the phenotypes of a single variety? Depending on which mother plant you get seeds from, it is quite possible that different grows of the same cannabis variety will result in plants that are similar but also have significant differences. So you see, it is not that easy to determine the exact number of varieties. However, there are a few that definitely have to be mentioned in an article about the different strains. These include...
Cali Weed: Strains
Cali Weed isn't actually a single cannabis strain . It's a general term for many different varieties that originated in California or were bred there. The reason they've earned their own name and are almost considered a separate strain is that they're regarded as particularly potent and genetically superior. This is partly due to the ideal weather conditions there, which are simply perfect for growing weed. Plenty of sunshine, all the time. Famous and popular Cali Weed strains include:
- OG Kush: A sativa-indica hybrid that produces euphoric, refreshing and sometimes relaxing effects. Tastes of earth and citrus.
- Girl Scout Cookies (GSC): Mutti of many other varieties, tastes like cake and ensures a lot of relaxation on the sofa. But it is a hybrid!
- zkittlez: Tastes like its name and is known for its relaxing effect.
- Lemon Haze: Another classic, it spreads strong citrus aromas and its sativa dominance allows for a lot of creativity.
All these strains are known, popular, and sometimes even feared for their high THC content of at least 20%. If you're not yet very experienced, you should take it a little slower with these cannabis strains and start with three slow puffs to test the water. We recommend our vaporizers for these three slow puffs!
Old cannabis strains
Old cannabis strains are not really a class of their own. Rather, this term is used to make a distinction between the "newly" bred, modern strains and a handful of "old" strains that form the basis for all of today's strains. These include, for example, very classic, popular strains such as Haze and Afghani, but also those known as "Old Amsterdam": Skunk, Amnesia Haze, White Widow and a few more. If you look at the parents of various strains, you will often notice that strains such as GSC, NL (Northern Lights), Blueberry, Kush or Skunk form the basis and have been combined with other genetics to create new strains. Cookies Gelato, for example, combines two of the largest strains in the world: GSC and Gelato. Or Wedding Cake: a combination of GSC, crossed with Cherry Pie.
But if you're looking for a list of the oldest cannabis strains , here it is:
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Afghani |
Purely Indica, has its origins in Afghanistan. |
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Thai |
Pure sativa, comes from Thailand! |
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Hindu Kush |
Pure Indica, from the Himalayas. |
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Skunk #1 |
A hybrid that has its origins in California. |
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Northern Lights |
Very indica-dominant hybrid from the USA. |
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Acapulco Gold |
Pure sativa with its roots in Mexico. |
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Panama Red |
Pure sativa – naturally from Panama. |
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Maui Wowie |
Pure sativa, a classic, old strain from Hawaii. |
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Purple Haze |
Pure sativa that originated in the USA in the 1960s. |
Ooooh, is that purple? Cannabis strains with a kick of color
It's not uncommon to see cannabis strains that take on distinct purple or pink hues as they enter the flowering phase . This not only looks beautiful but also clearly indicates various factors. For one, it could be that your loved one got too cold.
Temperatures that are too low can cause the flowers and leaves of some varieties to take on a dark purple color. But that doesn't necessarily mean that there is something wrong with your plant - if it's a robust variety, it will cope well with the temperature. At the end of the day, cannabis is and will remain a weed - it will grow and thrive under any circumstances. But there are also types of cannabis that are always purple in color - most of them can be recognized by their name: Purple Haze, Granddaddy Purple, Pink Mist, Pink Runtz... you get it.
This purple color is due to a specific compound produced by the plant: anthocyanin. This plant substance is also found in other purple fruits and berries. It acts as an antioxidant and gives everything it grows in a deep purple hue. Additionally, cannabis strains capable of producing this compound always have a berry-like aroma. However, purple cannabis strains are not known for either a stimulating or relaxing effect, as anthocyanin production is completely independent of whether the strain is Sativa or Indica, or which other terpenes and cannabinoids are present in the plant.
And your favorite cannabis strain?
Over time, most people find a strain they prefer, either by chance or through targeted testing. Finding the right cannabis strain(s) for yourself is definitely an adventure filled with joy, but one that requires some time – and often, after a few months, your preference changes, and you suddenly have a new favorite. And that's perfectly fine; after all, you don't need the same thing at every stage of life… Which cannabis strain is right for you?
