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Strain Spotlight: White Widow

There aren’t many strains that even a newcomer to the cannabis world can spot walking into a dispensary, but White Widow is one of them. This trichome-coated strain may be at its most impressive when it's a full, lush bud, but White Widow also makes for popular, potent concentrates. In this strain spotlight, we’re going to give White Widow its due and share everything we know about this legendary strain.


What is White Widow?

White Widow is an exotic sativa-leaning hybrid strain of cannabis named because of the stunning blanket of trichomes that coat each bud. While this may seem like a happy coincidence, White Widow was actually bred for its trichomes, making it a premium choice for hash makers.

Its trichomes, however, aren’t the only thing that make it unique. The White Widow strain is created from the cross of two parent landrace strains—marijuana plants that grow naturally in a certain region of the world. This combination of winning genetics has made White Widow a prized strain since it was first created.

Where Did White Widow Come From?

In the 90s, a popular Dutch grower named Green House Seeds crossed Brazilian with South Indian—an indica landrace strain and a sativa landrace strain, respectively. The strain they created, as the legend goes, was named Arnhem’s Wonder, but the name didn’t stick and soon enough, it was given its current moniker—White Widow.

By 1995, it was already winning awards at the High Times Cannabis Cup, and it continued to grow in popularity from there. Though it hails from the Netherlands, it quickly made it across the pond to the United States to both growers and consumers. Because of its popularity, White Widow can be found in most dispensaries today.

What Does White Widow Smell Like?

White Widow’s aromatic profile is an interesting one. At first spark, it tends to be a bit sweet, but then that sweetness shifts to a spicy citrus, like kumquat, and ends on a flavor similar to lemon bars, likely thanks to its limonene terpene content. Just approach this strain with caution—it has been known to make even the most seasoned of cannabis connoisseurs cough if they aren’t careful.

What Does White Widow Taste Like?

Sweet and earthy tends to be the best description of what White Widow tastes like. Its notes lean toward natural with just a hint of spice, though some people say that this strain has undertones of blueberry to it. If that’s a flavor you enjoy, you should definitely check out some of our favorite strains that come from White Widow.

What Other Types of White Widow Strains Are There?

Because of its popularity, White Widow has parented a number of strains. Three of our favorites include:

Berry White

Indica-Dominant Hybrid

This strain, also called White Berry, is a delicious cross between the flavorful Blueberry and the infamous White Widow strains. While the Berry White strain is balanced like White Widow, it tips its scales more toward indica than sativa (65% indica, 35% sativa). That’s not the only way it distinguishes itself from White Widow. Thanks to Blueberry, Berry White has a sweet aroma of that bulbous blueberry and a taste described like a birthday cake decorated in blueberries. Just don’t get lost in the flavor, this strain can have up to 23% THC.

Blue Widow

Hybrid

50% sativa, 50% indica, Blue Widow is a balanced hybrid that also comes from a cross of Blueberry and White Widow, but the genetics are just a little bit different, making it a unique strain. Unlike Berry White, the Blue Widow strain has a low to moderate THC potency of 12%-17%, but like its sibling strain, it tastes like a delicious bowl of berries. The scent, however, is slightly different—a mixture of sour citrus candy and woodsy undertones. This strain may be popular on the recreational market, but it’s also a sought-after strain for medical marijuana patients.

White Russian

Hybrid

Not to be confused with the adult beverage, the White Russian strain is aptly named after a pairing of White Widow and AK-47, a strain that gives a nod to the Russian-made rifle. While the White Russian strain is said to have a sweet aroma, the flavor tends to lean more toward an earthy cannabis smell rather than sweet, making it much more complex for the senses than the previous two strains in this list. White Russian is also the most potent strain on this list, with THC levels ranging from 19-25%.


Want even more blueberry flavor? Check out the strain Blue Dream.


Answering White Widow FAQs

When a strain gets as popular as White Widow has, we get a lot of questions. Here’s a few of the most common ones we’re answering:

Is White Widow an indica or sativa?
White Widow is a sativa-leaning hybrid at 60% sativa and 40% indica.

Is White Widow a strong strain?
White Widow can be a strong strain. Its THC potency tends to fall in a range of 16%, which is relatively moderate, to 25%, which is quite strong.

Is the White Widow strain exotic?
White Widow is an exotic strain thanks to its parents—both of which are landrace strains. These original Brazilian and South Indian genetics make White Widow a unique hybrid that’s been enjoyed since the 90s.

Purchasing White Widow

White Widow may be an exotic strain, but thanks to its popularity, it’s not hard to find—especially if you’re shopping for premium flower. White Widow will be easy to spot on the top shelves thanks to its crystal-white blanket of trichomes decorating each beautiful bud. If you can’t find White Widow at your dispensary, just talk to your budtender. They’ll point out anything in stock or direct you to something similar to enjoy.


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.