A sluggish morning can always use a delicious and refreshing toke. And while indica strains can help you unwind, sometimes all you need is to get that energy kick to boost throughout your day or finish that creative project that you’ve been stalling for months.
Well, if this is the case for you, meet sativa strains. This classification or family of buds is associated with feeling energized and creative, while other buds have been helpful in treating discomfort and even aid with pain management
If you are interested in knowing more, we have a few insights to share. Down below, you’ll find what sativa strains are, the difference between indica and sativa, and our top pick for the most popular sativa strains. So if you are ready to change your view on sativa buds, we’ve got a lot to unpack.
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Key Takeaways
- Sativa strains boost energy and inspire creativity, ideal for daytime use and mental stimulation tasks.
- Cannabis strains are categorized as indica, sativa, or hybrid, based on effects and shared characteristics, including terpenes, flavors, and more.
- Cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in sativa strains determine their specific benefits and impacts on users.
- Popular sativa strains like Durban Poison and Sour Diesel offer unique experiences and flavor profiles.
- Classifying cannabis strains as indica or sativa helps users anticipate potential effects and flavors. Some iconic families like Haze, Diesel, or Jack Herer are all sativa-dominant flowers.
What Is a Sativa Strain?
Sativa strains of marijuana have been known to provide users with a wide range of positive effects. These strains are often associated with feelings of energy, creativity, and an overall boost in mood.
Many Sativa flowers are categorized together due to their similar effects, tastes, or aromas. However, some strains are classified as Sativa due to their genetic lineage, with many sharing common ancestors or parents.
There are even entire families of Sativa strains, such as the popular Haze or Durban nugs. If you’re looking for a strain of weed that will make you feel uplifted and energized, Sativa strains are definitely worth exploring. However, let’s take a quick look at the difference between all of these buds.
back to menu ↑What’s the Difference Between a Sativa Strain and an Indica Strain?
Now, all hemp and cannabis strains regularly fall into three main categories: indica, hybrid, or sativa. Each of these has different reported effects and general characteristics similar to one another. This categorization was started by breeders, as the “base” strains at the time were Cannabis Sativa and Afghani Indica.
Crossbreeding has changed this with time, but some characteristics, like the shape of the leaf, height, terpene combination, or flavors, still give indica or sativa strains different properties.
In general, indica strains are considered “lazy,” as they usually have terpenes and effects that make you feel sleepy, get strong waves of relaxation, or even get the “couch-locked” feeling.
Sativa strains, on the other hand, are known for getting you an energy boost, feeling creative, and even aiding with sex performance or feeling more aroused. These are usually smoked during the day and give more of a “day-smoking” feeling.
Hybrids give the best of both worlds. They can have typical indica flavors, like diesel or sweet notes, mixed in with typical citrus or spicey notes of sativa strains. Now, most nugs nowadays have some sort of percentage of either family, leaning mostly to one side or another.
There are very few pure sativas hanging around, like Durban Poison. But in general, the indica or sativa categorization is more of a way to identify properties and lineage rather than a black-and-white way of looking at herbs.
back to menu ↑What Are the Benefits of Sativa Strains?
Before we delve into some potential benefits of some of the most popular sativa strains, it is important to reiterate that the benefits mostly rely on several factors, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Most sativa strains have similar compositions due to their lineage, which is why the effects are similar.
Because of this, some hybrid strains might share some of these benefits if their lineage has sativa somewhere down the line. But generally speaking, the determining factors usually consist of these compounds rather than the indica vs. sativa debate.
With that out of the way, let’s take a quick look at some of the reported potential benefits of sativa strains.
- It Can Make You Feel Clear-Headed: Some users report getting a clear-headed feeling when smoking sativa nugs.
- It Might Give You an Energy Boost: Sativa strains can also help you get an energy boost, especially if the strain has CBD in low quantities.
- People Report Feeling Creative: Thanks to the clear-headed feeling, some users report feeling more creative, which is why some musicians and artists indulge in sativa strains at times.
- It Can Help Support Pain Management: Some sativa strains have Beta-Caryophyllene and other terpenes that can boost cannabinoid effects.
- It Might Improve Concentration: Due to the general focused and energy-inducing feeling, users have also reported that they could get more things done when smoking sativa or even dashing through their to-do lists and keeping themselves productive.
What Are the Most Popular Sativa Strains of All Time?
Within the world of cannabis strains, there are a few strains that are stronger than others or that simply shine because they are very delicious. Other sativa strains are simply iconic in their own right and deserve a quick shoutout. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular sativa strains.
Durban Poison
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If you want one of the most iconic pure sativas out there, you need to try Durban Poison. This strain gained its name due to its place of origin, Durban, in South Africa. The strain is generally very strong, with some varieties reaching 20% of THC levels.
Flavor-wise, this strain has delicious grapefruit, kushy, and berry-like notes. These buds usually grow well indoors and outdoors, usually giving a yield of around 14 ounces per plant. This strain is the perfect option if you want to get energized, feel creative, or simply get a feel of grapefruit and kushy taste.
Sour Diesel
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Now, here’s a fairly popular strain: Sour Diesel. This strain has moderate to high THC and cannabinoid levels, with some plants getting up to 19% of THC content. With those levels, you are probably getting a fast-acting chill with a head high.
One of the key characteristics of this strain is its strong kush notes and citrus-like aromatics. It is quite popular with beginners thanks to its taste and potency. Sour Diesel is a 60% sativa, meaning it has 40% of mixed terpenes and flavonoids from the indica-side of the family. Still, it is a fairly delicious sativa hybrid that is loved by veterans and beginners alike.
Green Crack
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Now, here’s a strain whose effects are not necessarily derived from its cannabinoid content. Green Crack, known as Mango Crack as well, is a very potent sativa-hybrid strain that has very strong energizing effects.
But don’t be fooled, its name is only a demonstration of its powerful mental buzz and energizing onset. Most varieties have 17% of THC, with delicious mango, fruity, and citrusy notes. Users that want to fight fatigue, stress, and even help get better rest.
Jack Herer
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Meet one of the strongest hybrid sativa strains in this list, Jack Herer. With a really high 23% THC content, this sativa is known for its delicious flavors and really heavy onset. The bud originated in the Netherlands around the 90s and has won awards thanks to its potency and tasty aromas.
People often associate this sativa strain with cerebral highs that mix together with a relaxing body feeling. Now, growing this bud is relatively easy as it doesn’t smell that much, but the flowers can get very tall, with 16-ounce yields per plant.
Purple Haze
Meet an iconic strain that’s both eye candy and pretty sweet to have some tokes with. This 70% sativa bud has a very intense high, all coming from its lineage of Haze strains and Purple Thai. Purple Haze also has 20% THC levels, and users even report having day-long lasting effects, which explains why it is considered a classic by veterans.
Expect effects like relaxation, mood boost, and slight psychedelic effects. So if you want a pretty different strain from other sativas, you’ll want to try this purple-looking bud.
Now the taste profile and aromas on this sativa leaning-hybrid include sweet, earthy, blueberry, and even some slight spice notes. If you are planning on putting your green thumb to work, this nug is fairly easy to grow, as the plant can get very tall and yield up to 19 ounces per plant.
Super Lemon Haze
Also known as SLH, this strain is another heir of the iconic sativa Haze legacy. This family has very delicious nugs, and the Super Lemon Haze has incredible potency of 19% of THC levels that match their strong, energetic, uplifted, and creative effects.
This sativa-dominant hybrid strain is the offspring of Lemon Skunk and Super Silver Haze, and it has won two times the Cannabis Cup. Now, expect zesty, citrus, and a tasty sweet taste. Think of it as a kushy lemon drop candy with creative and energetic effects.
Blue Dream
Meet one of the Valley girls on this list, the Blue Dream. This 70% sativa strain is one of the classic Cali buds that is a fan favorite to get a mood boost with your favorite song playlist or binge-watch your favorite series.
The THC levels of Blue Dream are quite high, with some buds getting up to 20% of THC levels. Blue Dream also has a quite tasty profile with berry and wine notes with a slight lemon aftertaste. It is also a grower’s favorite due to its massive 30-ounce yield and super easy and quick growing process, with some outdoor plants getting fully ready to yield in less than 70 days.
Strawberry Cough
Now here’s a flower with delicious strawberry notes, the Strawberry Cough. As an iconic sativa-dominant strain, it has around 19% of THC levels, which makes it pretty strong. Most users associate it with being energetic, uplifted, and even feeling very talkative.
This bud’s lineage is pretty iconic, as the offspring of the Haze family and the Strawberry Fields flower. With that, Strawberry Cough gets a very tasty and energizing taste profile with lots of skunky and berry notes that translate into a cerebral and euphoric-like onset.
Amnesia
Meet a strain with delicious flavors that users refer to as the “giggle-inducing” strain. As the child of Jack Herer and Cinderella 99, it is pretty strong while also providing energetic and relaxing effects.
Most varieties have 19% of THC levels, depending on the parent strains. Now flavor-wise, this sativa is pretty interesting. It has tobacco and ammonia-like notes that might be a little off-putting at first, but it eventually turns into a chemical and kushy-like goodness. Some people even like the spicy and herbal aftertaste, which makes this sativa-leaning hybrid a must-try.
Super Silver Haze
Lastly, we have a classic sativa strain hybrid that is beloved by many. While the THC content is generally low (15% THC), it is known as the sativa, perfect for getting you socializing and relaxing. This strain has an iconic lineage of Northern Lights, Haze strains, and Skunk #1, getting the best of its parents.
Users report getting a creativity and mood boost, with some people even reporting generally feeling calmed and having deep thought while trying this flower. And flavor-wise, this bud has a slightly cheesy and kushy taste, but its general onset is worth the smell.
If you plan on growing this plant, know that things can get smelly, but each plan can yield up to 16 ounces, and it is generally easy to take care of.
back to menu ↑Final Thoughts
Sativa strains offer specific benefits and impacts on users, depending on the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids present in them. Some of the most popular Sativa strains include Durban Poison and Sour Diesel, which have unique flavor profiles and offer different experiences. Other examples include the iconic Purple Haze or the strong Jack Herer.
Classifying cannabis strains as Indica or Sativa. and the differences between Indica, Sativa & Hybrid cannabis can help users anticipate their potential effects and flavors, but choose whichever suits best your favorite taste, onset, or simply based on the cannabinoid levels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is the Strongest Sativa Strain?
As of now, Cafe Racer is considered one of the strongest sativa strains with up to 35% of THC content. There are other strains like Jack Herer, Durban Poison, and Sour Diesel that are also considered pretty strong.
Are Kush Strains Indica or Sativa?
Most kush strains are considered to be indica or hybrid strains. That said, some sativa hybrids can have kushy undertones thanks to their lineage or terpene combination.
Are All Haze Strains Sativa?
No, but most Haze strains are associated with sativa or sativa-dominant hybrid flowers. It is somewhat like the counterpart of the Kush family.
Is Lady Madonna Strain Indica or Sativa?
Lady Madonna is considered to be a sativa-leaning hybrid with relaxing, uplifting, and generally happy effects. So technically speaking, it is a sativa, but it is not a pure sativa like Durban Poison.
Is Gorilla Glue a Sativa or Indica Strain?
Gorilla Glue is an indica-dominant hybrid, with most varieties having 60% indica and 40% sativa combinations. It has strong mental effects that are paired up with waves of body relaxation and a pungent smell.
