Best Cheese Cannabis Strains: From Sweet & Creamy to Funky & Sour
How Do Strains Get Their Cheese Flavor?
Cannabis strains can largely attribute their unique flavors and smells to terpenes, chemical compounds found in the trichomes of the cannabis flower. The cheese-like terpenes are not as well-known as some of classics; instead of limonene or myrcene, these strains may feature octanoic acid, (methyl thio) butyrate, ethylmethyl acetic acid, hexanoic acid, isovaleric acid, and methyl mercaptan.1
Despite the hard-to-pronounce chemical makeup, cheese-flavored strains were actually discovered by accident! As you probably guessed, the original landrace strains did not present cheesy flavors and aromas. Rather, this epicurean adventure began when Skunk #1 cultivator Sam “The Skunkman” brought his seeds to Europe in the 1980s. The exact path to creation is unclear, but most agree that the original Cheese strain is a UK-created phenotype of Skunk #1.2
Top 5 Cheese-Flavored Cannabis Strains
Cheese strains present just as many flavors as their dairy-based counterparts. Here are a few of our favorites to add to your list.
Cheese
Indica-Dominant Hybrid
You can’t have a list of cheese strains without including the most famous: Cheese. This bud has quite an impressive lineage, descending from a rare phenotype of Skunk #1, which in itself comes from such famous landrace strains as Afghani and Acapulco Gold. Cheese has a distinctly strong cheddar aroma with sharp and earthy notes. This lip-smacking cultivar also offers an approachable 17% THC to go with its unique palate.3
Blue Cheese
Indica-Dominant Hybrid
Blue Cheese is a unique cultivar that can be described with just its name: it tastes and smells like blue cheese. A cross between the famous Cheese and Blueberry strains, expect a creamy, slightly spicy tang on the tongue that fades into a more mellow, berry sweetness. This indica-dominant hybrid offers anywhere from 18% - 20% THC and a possible CBG content of up to 2%.4
MAC ‘n Cheese
Indica-Dominant Hybrid
A creamy, skunky cannabis strain, MAC ‘n Cheese may inspire memories of your favorite noodle treats (minus the blue box!). Bred from the classic MAC and Alien Cheese cultivars, MAC ‘n Cheese is buttery, yet sour, finishing with a soft sweetness that rolls across your tastebuds. Nostalgia aside–this strain is not for beginners. THC percentages have been reported anywhere from 21% to 29%, so remember to start low and go slow with this bud.5
Lemon Cheese
Sativa-Dominant Hybrid
If you like the flavors of lemon and cheese, then Lemon Cheese is for you! A cross between Exodus Cheese and Super Lemon Haze, a Lemon Cheese bud combines sweet and sour flavors of pungent cheese and tangy lemons. The aroma is similar, and the THC percentage is a bit on the strong side: 21% - 23%.6
Cheesecake
Indica-Dominant Hybrid
Little is known about the lineage of this strain, but its flavor is enough to make it a dispensary favorite. Cheesecake–sometimes known as Cheese Cake–puts a sweet spin on the classic cheddar taste, ending in a dank earthiness that swirls through the senses. An indica-dominant hybrid, Cheesecake presents a THC percentage ranging from 15% to 23%.7
FAQs About Cheese Strains
Cannabis is such a versatile plant, and the different options available can become overwhelming! Here are a few questions we often get at our dispensaries.
Is Cheese an indica or sativa?
The strain called Cheese is an indica-dominant hybrid. However, there are plenty of cheese-like sativa-dominant and 50/50 hybrid strains.
What terpenes make cannabis smell and taste like cheese?
There are a variety of terpenes that can produce a variety of cheesy tastes and aromas, including octanoic acid, (methyl thio) butyrate, ethylmethyl acetic acid, hexanoic acid, isovaleric acid, and methyl mercaptan.
Which cheese strain is the best?
We recommend starting with the classic Cheese as it is flavorful and not too strong, making it an option for all cannabis consumers.
Cannabis & Cheese
It’s hard to believe cannabis can offer so many different flavors and aromas. If you want to find out more about cheese strains, or any other flavored cultivars available at your local dispensary, be sure to ask a budtender for recommendations.
Sources:
1. “Why Do Some Cannabis Strains Smell Like Cheese?,” Leafly, June 4, 2016, https://www.leafly.com/news/strains-products/why-do-some-cannabis-strains-smell-like-cheese
2. “The History of Cheese Marijuana Strains,” Royal Queen Seeds, https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/us/content/182-the-history-of-cheese-marijuana-strains
3. “Cheese,” CannaConnection, https://www.cannaconnection.com/strains/cheese
4. “Blue Cheese,” Leafwell, https://leafwell.com/cannabis-strains/blue-cheese
5. “Mac ‘n Cheese Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/indica-dominant-hybrid/mac-n-cheese
6. “Lemon Cheese Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/sativa-dominant-hybrid/lemon-cheese
7. “Cheesecake Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/indica-dominant-hybrid/cheese-cake
Recreational cannabis is not available in all states. Cannabis is for medical use only and may only be used by certified patients in Pennsylvania. State laws impact what dispensaries can and can’t sell to recreational customers and certified patients. Not every type of product, consumption method, dosage form, or potency mentioned on this blog will be permitted in all locations.