Berry Strains: 6 Cannabis Strains With a Berry Flavour

Every strain page on Leafly notes that terpenes help determine a strain's flavour and aroma. The berry strains below do not share a single signature terpene, though: Leafly's lab data puts myrcene, which it describes as earthy and herbal, at the top for 5 of them, and peppery caryophyllene at the top for Blackberry Kush. Take a strain name as a hint and let the smell of the actual flower be the test. For more on how these compounds work, see this guide to cannabis terpenes.

Leafly lists Blueberry, also called Berry Blue, as an indica whose history goes back to the late 1970s, when American breeder DJ Short was working with landrace strains. It won Best Indica at the High Times Cannabis Cup in 2000. Leafly's own write-up calls it a cross of Purple Thai and Thai, while its genetics chart shows Afghani and Thai, so accounts of the exact parents differ. Reviewers tag its flavour as blueberry, berry and sweet, and the effects they report most are sleepy, relaxed and happy. More detail is in the Blueberry strain profile.

Blue Dream is a sativa-dominant hybrid made by crossing Blueberry with Haze, and Leafly says it originated in California. It is reported to smell and taste like sweet berries, and reviewers' top flavour tags are berry, blueberry and sweet. Leafly describes a balanced high that pairs cerebral stimulation with full-body relaxation; the most reported effects are creative, euphoric and happy. Leafly adds that it can test above 20% THC with low CBD, and batches vary. Read the Blue Dream strain profile for more.

Blackberry Kush, or BBK, crosses Afghani with Blackberry. Leafly files it under indica, although its description calls it an indica-dominant hybrid. The flavour is darker than Blueberry's: Leafly describes a hashy profile with a jet fuel taste and aroma balanced by sweet berries, and reviewers tag it berry, sweet and earthy. Reported effects lean sleepy, relaxed and hungry, and growers describe dense buds in shades of purple and orange. See the Blackberry Kush strain profile.

Strawberry Cough is the sativa of the group. Leafly calls its genetic origins mysterious, though it is thought to be a cross of Haze and Strawberry Fields. It is known for a sweet smell of fresh strawberries and an expanding sensation that can make even experienced smokers cough, which explains the name. Reviewers tag the flavour strawberry, sweet and berry, and report feeling uplifted, energetic and happy; the most common negatives are dry mouth, dry eyes and feeling anxious. The Strawberry Cough strain profile has more.

Shishkaberry, also called Kish, comes from crossing DJ Short Blueberry with an unknown Afghani. Leafly lists it as an indica (its description says indica-dominant hybrid) and describes buds with a fruit and berry aroma and shades of purple. Reviewers' flavour tags are berry, flowery and sweet. Leafly says the first head buzz is happy and social before it slips into a lazier high, and the effects reported most are relaxed, sleepy and happy. More in the Shishkaberry strain profile.

Plushberry, also known as Plush Berry or Plushberry Kush, is an indica originally bred by TGA Seeds from Black Cherry Soda and Space Queen. According to Leafly, Black Cherry Soda gives it an aromatic berry scent and Space Queen promotes heavy resin. Its flavour tags are berry, violet and flowery, and reviewers report feeling relaxed, sleepy and tingly. Leafly notes 2 main phenotypes: smaller, pink-tinted plants and bulkier, more indica-like ones. See the Plushberry strain profile.

The same berry note shows up in very different strains. Strawberry Cough is mostly described as energizing, Blue Dream as balanced, and Blueberry, Blackberry Kush, Shishkaberry and Plushberry as relaxing and sleepy. Pick by type and reported effects first, then by flavour. Whatever you choose, start with a small amount: Health Canada says smoked cannabis can take effect within seconds to minutes and effects can last up to 24 hours, and Canada's lower-risk cannabis use guidelines say not to drive for at least 6 hours after use.

Look for lab-tested flower with clear THC and CBD numbers, and buds that look and smell fresh; with berry strains, the nose is the quickest check. The GasDank menu carries lab-tested products, its flower comes from small-batch growers, every batch is checked before it goes on the menu, and flower is kept in UV-protected jars until it is packed. Menus change, so the flower menu shows what is on it right now. Delivery is same day across Toronto and the GTA, usually within 1 to 2 hours, with mail order across Canada. Customers must be 19 or older (21 in Quebec), and ID is checked.