Vanilla Kush

Second place overall at the 2009 High Times Cannabis Cup went to Vanilla Kush, a Barney’s Farm strain from Amsterdam, according to Leafly. This flower is labelled sativa; its weights start at 1 g, step up to 3.5 g and 7 g, then 14 g, and top out at 28 g.

Afghan power and Kashmir seeds

Barney’s Farm says it paired a fast-flowering Afghan strain with Kashmir seeds that Barney’s collected in the mid-1980s, combining Afghani indica power with the mountain scents of Kashmir. Leafly’s text also names Afghan and Kashmir strains, with Afghani and South Asian Indica on its genetics chart, and AllBud gives the parents as a Kashmiri Hash Plant and an Afghani Kush. AllBud calls it an aptly named Dutch strain, best known in Colorado and Oregon though it turns up elsewhere too.

Light green buds and red-gold calyxes

Leafly describes big, soft flowers in light green with orange hints, and AllBud says that light green shade also calls vanilla to mind. Barney’s Farm describes medium-height plants with bushy side branches that produce dense colas covered in red and gold calyxes, ready after 55 to 60 days of flowering indoors.

Vanilla and lavender, with molasses and pine

Leafly describes vanilla and lavender notes with a touch of citrus, and its reviewers’ top flavours are vanilla, lavender and honey. In AllBud’s account, both flavour and aroma lean on vanilla, with sweet lavender in the background. Barney’s Farm adds sweet molasses and earthy notes to its flavour list and says cured buds carry a scent of wild vanilla and pine. On Leafly’s lab-derived terpene chart for Vanilla Kush, myrcene outranks caryophyllene, and limonene follows those two.

Relaxed, tingly and above average for THC, by Leafly’s account

Vanilla Kush reviewers on Leafly most often say they felt relaxed and tingly, and Leafly scores the effects as mostly calming. AllBud says euphoria and happiness are commonly reported and describes a relaxed body high that may be too strong for some new users, though experienced smokers can usually stay active. Barney’s Farm describes a strong, long-lasting, relaxing high. Ratings average 4.2 from 561 on Leafly and 4.8 from 28 votes on AllBud.

Leafly’s Vanilla Kush entry shows 19% THC and 1% CBG and places its potency above average; AllBud gives 19% to 20%, with 1% CBD, and says THC can climb past 20%; Barney’s Farm’s figure is 22%. As for type, Vanilla Kush is an indica on Leafly, a 70% indica on AllBud and an 80% indica, 20% sativa plant by Barney’s Farm’s count; the three labels are untangled in our indica vs sativa vs hybrid article.