As we discover more about cannabis and terpenes, we’re learning more about the connection between weed flavors and weed feels. Soon the consumer shopping experience will revolve around “What does it smell and taste like?”, not “Well, is it an indica or sativa?”
For that reason, it’s becoming imperative for people who consume cannabis to be able to differentiate between certain smells and tastes. Some flavors, like earth and gas, are so distinctly different that it’s easy. However, other flavors, like sweet and fruity, are not so easy to separate.
Two of my favorite flavors of cannabis (because I love when my weed tastes like food), I often have weed that tastes sweet and/or fruity to share with friends. And every time we smoke, they always compare the current session’s flavor to last session’s, then ask if we’re smoking the same thing or something different.
That’s why I’m here to break down the difference between sweet and fruity cannabis strains.
What Is Sweet Cannabis? Fruity Cannabis?
By definition, sweet means having the pleasant taste characteristic of sugar or honey; not salty, sour, or bitter. Strains that fall under the sweet category are Durban Poison, with its sweet and gassy nature, and Ice Cream Cake, with its sweet vanilla-icing-like flavor.
Fruity means resembling or containing fruit. Strains that fall under this umbrella would be Blackberry Kush, with its tart and berry-dominant flavor, and Strawberry Cough, with its strawberry and earth notes.
While most fruity cannabis strains, like Blue Dream, also hold onto a certain sweetness, many sweet flavored strains, like Wedding Cake with its sweet earthiness, produce no fruity flavors whatsoever.
Do They Differ in Appearance?
When it comes to the color of nugs, sweet and fruity flavors spread so far across the strain-o-sphere that it’d be tough to differentiate these strains strictly by appearance.
On average though, you could say that sweet strains usually have an almost sweaty-looking texture due to being so crystal-coated with trichomes, while many fruit flavored strains feature red wine or purple hues accompanied by an almost fuzzy-feeling texture.
GSC is a perfect example of a sweet and sticky strain. Its buds might stick to the wall if you throw them hard enough, which is why Cookies strains make for such incredible concentrates.
Do They Differ in Effects?
The effects we feel from certain types of cannabis strains can vary widely due to genetics, phenotypes, curing methods, etc.
Generally, I have found that many sweet flavored cannabis strains provide that uplifted and euphoric feeling that pairs great with daytime activities and social interactions. These are the Durban Poisons, the Ice Cream Cakes, the GSCs of the world.
Fruity strains on the other hand, tend to put your boy straight into the couch with bed soon to follow. Blackberry Kush, Blueberry, and Granddaddy Purple are all strains that hold very distinct flavor and terpene profiles that produces relaxing and sedating effects.
So all in all, sweet and fruity strains may share some slim similarities, but overall, they will probably differ vastly when it comes to the effects you’ll feel after consuming them.
For that reason, it’s important to learn which of these flavor profiles appeals to your body, so when the near future of terpene-based discussions with your budtenders comes to fruition (see what I did there?), you’ll know exactly how to ask for what you want to smell, taste, and feel.
