You’re in for a special treat! We will be presenting the ten most popular Sativa strains of all time. With strains created all over the world, we’ll be taking a worldwide tour of the best sativas ever made. Each of these strains can still be found today, either in their original form or as parents of newer strains.
The World of Sativa Cannabis Strains
For those who are new to sativa strains, you can expect a high characterized as uplifting and energizing. Cannabis consumers consider sativa strains to be more suitable for a daytime high than indica varieties. That said, some of the strains discussed below take advantage of indica genetics to add a more potent body punch. We’ll mention which strains are more suited for those new to sativa strains than those perfectly suited for longtime consumers.
Let’s get started!
Here are the top ten Sativas of all time!
1. Super Silver Haze
This well-known strain is perfect for getting up and going. Super Silver Haze produces an energetic rush that lasts. It can even make you feel restless if you don’t have something good to do.
You can expect a citrus and earthy flavour profile. When it comes to Super Silver Haze, ee can thank the breeders along with the genetics from Northern Lights #5, Haze, and Shiva Skunk.
2. Strawberry Cough
This fan favourite strain comes with the scent of fresh strawberries. The genetics are roughly 80% sativa hybrid (20% Indica). We know the sativa side came from Erdbeer Sativa genetics, but the indica parent is unknown.
Strawberry Cough comes with a range of 18-26% THC. The smoke can make you cough (hence the name), but not everyone reacts this strongly. Either way, you can expect a modest high with just a bit of relaxation. The strain is perfect for a subtle but consistent daytime high.
3. Sour Diesel
Sour Diesel is one of the top strains worldwide. There’s a good chance you’ve already tried this one before. It was made on accident by crossing Super Skunk and Chemdog 91 genetics. Sour D continues to be used to create many offspring strains.
The strain produces a relaxed and hazy effect but without sedation. You can expect a robust and pungent gas aroma with hints of sour. The THC content is around 18-26%, with upwards of 2% CBD. When you smoke it, expect some diesel scent with earthy hints. Many medical cannabis patients turn to this strain to help with chronic pain.
4. Jack Herer
Jack Herer was a legendary cannabis advocate, and his namesake strain carries on the tradition. Some would argue that it is the best sativa ever grown, but that is up for debate. The strain was named after Jack Herer thanks for his tireless efforts to propel the cannabis movement forward. You may have read his book, ‘The Emperor Wears No Clothes.’
You’ll undoubtedly notice the spicy pine and forest aroma. The strain produces a bubbly and energetic high that many find perfect for a wake and bake. That said, it is also an excellent beginner sativa for those new to it all. It doesn’t have the highest THC content out of the strains here, ranging from 16-24% THC. Along with around 1-2% CBD, however, it produces a blissful state. It was developed in California using genetics from Shiva Skunk and Northern Lights #5.
5. Blue Dream
Blue dream is a beautiful sativa-dominant hybrid that lives up to its name. The genetics come from haze and blueberry strains. The soothing body high, combined with a stimulating sativa alertness, almost feels like being in a dream. Expect THC content to range from 16-20%.
The first thing you’ll notice, however, is sweet berry notes. Then comes the beautiful effects. Blue Dream has both sides of the coin, relaxation, and stimulation in perfect harmony. It is also an incredibly stable and unique cannabis strain, so you know what you’ll be getting every time (Schwabe & McGlaughlin, 2019).
6. Durban Poison
Landrace strain traced back to South Africa. The term landrace means that this strain developed over many generations inside a geographically isolated area (Punja, Rodriquez, & Chen, 2017). This heavy hitter can put you on the couch in ways we usually ascribe to indica strains. Overall, It isn’t the ideal strain for beginners, as the head high is quite heavy.
Durban Poison has an intense punch that is followed by uplifting euphoria. This is no surprise when you discover that the THC content is around 20-24% with 1% CBD. The flavour profile is best described as spicy, sweet, and savory all in one. Has a longtime following who insist Durban Poison is the only strain for them. It is probably better reserved for evening usage unless one has a high tolerance or medical needs met by using it.
7. Green Crack
While not the best name as far as associations go, don’t let it put you off. Green Crack has been around since before the name became a bad idea. The lineage goes far enough back that we are not sure about genetics. We think there is some Afghani Landrace strain inside but do not know for sure. The strain is roughly 65% sativa and 35% indica.
This popular sativa strain has a tropical aroma, highlighted by hints of orange and mango. Consumers enjoy the lively high it produces, punctuated by a potent cerebral kick. Green Crack comes in at around 15-25% THC with a solid indica influence. Medical cannabis patients describe an uplifting effect on their mood that helps with depression and anxiety.
8. Acapulco Gold (or Mexican Sativa)
One of the few true landrace strains of North America, Acapulco Gold often goes by Mexican Sativa nowadays. The genetics inside this incredible strain has been used to make some of the best strains in the world. Many of the strains listed here were created using later variations of this strain, such as Blueberry, Haze, and Skunk.
The practice of sinsemilla involves avoiding the pollination of female cannabis plants by removing all male plants. This way, the plants focus their energy on producing large buds instead of creating seeds. Sinsemilla was a practice developed in Southern Mexico, likely practicing on Acapulco Gold. Thanks to these efforts and others, we now see high THC content on every strain listed here.
9. White Widow
Moving over to Europe, White Widow has been winning awards since it was first bred in the Netherlands in the 1980s. If you’ve ever walked into a Dutch coffee shop in Amsterdam, they almost certainly had this strain on the menu. And for a good reason, the buds are as beautiful as the effects they produce.
White Widow is a well-balanced sativa strain, with Brazilian sativa and South Indian indica genetic parents. The thick white layering of trichomes found on around buds of this strain makes it obvious how it got its name. Even with a THC content under 20%, this strain can surprise many regular consumers. Enjoy the burst of euphoria along with some good conversation for a beautiful time.
10. Amnesia Haze
Another strain from Europe, Amnesia Haze, was bred in the Netherlands. It quickly became a prominent strain on the North American cannabis scene. Along the way, it won numerous awards and accolades. The ancestry involves Afghani, Hawaiian, Laos, and Jamaican strain genetics. Making it a truly international cannabis strain.
Amnesia Haze has an incredible aroma, combining spicy and sweet. You’ll likely notice a solid cerebral high after enjoying these fantastic genetics. Growers love it as well. The strain goes great outside, even reaching 20% THC growing under the sun (Angular & Rocha, 2021).
Conclusion
There you have it! You are now that much wiser and knowledgeable in the world of sativa strains. We discovered the ten most popular sativa strains and learned all about them. You can now go out and find these strains, or at least those made using these incredible genetics. Whenever you get to enjoy a piece of cannabis history, we hope you get to savor the experience.
Citations
Aguiar, A., & Rocha, E. (2021). Facing the Forensic Challenge of Cannabis Regulation: A Methodology for the Differentiation between Hemp and Marijuana Samples. Braz. J. Anal. Chem, 8. doi: 10.30744/brjac.2179-3425.AR-42-2021
Punja Z.K., Rodriguez G., Chen S. (2017) Assessing Genetic Diversity in Cannabis sativa Using Molecular Approaches. In: Chandra S., Lata H., ElSohly M. (eds) Cannabis sativa L. – Botany and Biotechnology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54564-6_19.
Schwabe, A.L., McGlaughlin, M.E. Genetic tools weed out misconceptions of strain reliability in Cannabis sativa: implications for a budding industry. J Cannabis Res 1, 3 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-019-0001-1.
