Best Marijuana Strains for the Holidays
October 02, 2023
The holidays can be one of the most stressful times of the year, but there’s one thing you don’t need to stress about—finding the perfect holiday strains for all your celebrations. Whether you’re snuggling down on a cold winter night or looking to liven up the festivities for eight fun-filled nights, we’ve got a strain for you to make this a merry marijuana Christmas and holiday season.
Winter Cannabis Terpenes
Terpenes are an often-overlooked crucial part of the things we love about cannabis strains of all varieties. They give flower its flavors and aromas, and they may also contribute to the entourage effect—the idea that all compounds in the marijuana plant come together to create the high you feel when you consume cannabis. Of course, certain terpenes are more popular than others during different seasons, so these are just a few of our favorite winter terpenes:
Pine: Candle companies are just one of the many industries that capitalize on the pine scent during the holidays. That winter forest aroma comes from pinene, a terpene found in rosemary, dill, pine trees, and yes, marijuana.1
Mint: The minty flavor is everywhere in the holiday season. Where some scents are because of a single terpene, mint is a combination of minor terpenes, like thymol and methyl chavicol.2 Though they’re only found in small amounts in certain marijuana strains, there’s enough in there to ensure you get a minty puff with every inhale.
Cinnamon and cloves: If it has a spicy taste or aroma to it, chances are good that caryophyllene is in there somewhere. Caryophyllene is the terpene that gives black pepper and basil its tongue-tingling taste.3 It’s also what gives strains like Girl Scout Cookies and Sour Diesel their peppery spark.
12 Strains for the Holidays
Forget the five golden rings and partridges in pear trees. It's time to update that classic gift list with something a little more green—these 12 strains. In no particular order, here are just some of our favorite strains that are sure to put the fa-la-la into your holiday.
Christmas Tree
For many cannabis enthusiasts, it just doesn’t feel like Christmas until you’ve got your Christmas tree up and decorated. The indica-dominant Christmas Tree strain might be our favorite take on that old tradition. It brings the sweet pine scent we love about fresh-cut trees, and it has a woodsy flavor with just a little bit of a punch to remind you this is a canna-Christmas treat. Best of all, just like Christmas is on the 25th of December, Christmas Tree packs 25% THC.4
Candy Cane
Whether you’re hanging them on your tree’s boughs or munching on them after a big family dinner, candy canes are undeniably the most well-known holiday candy out there. The Candy Cane strain comes from a few of the most well-known cannabis cultivars out there: AK-47, Mango, and White Widow. Once you spark this bud, there’s no question why it’s earned its name. The flavors are sweet and minty with just a hint of berry on the back end, and the aroma smells just like you’d expect a marijuana nug named Candy Cane should. This indica-dominant strain offers THC levels ranging from 15-20%.5
Snowball
An indica-dominant strain, Snowball gets its name for its frosty-looking buds that are coated with glistening trichomes. Those trichomes should be a pretty good indication of the punch Snowball packs, so you won’t be surprised when we tell you it has a THC range of 26-30%. The flavor and aroma are also high impact—a mix of sour-meets-sweet citrus with a diesel and orange aroma that leans more sour than anything.6
Sugar Cookie
There’s something classic about sugar cookies that makes them a must-have for the holidays. Whether you’re decorating them with frosting and sprinkles, or sticking to a traditional recipe, they’re an uncomplicated addition to any holiday spread. The Sugar Cookie strain brings that same energy. It’s a balanced hybrid—50% sativa and 50% indica—with exactly the flavors and aromas you’d expect. Warm, syrupy vanilla and coffee-swirled with sweet cream. Where this Sugar Cookie hits a little harder is its THC levels, ranging from 20-22%.7
Blue Frost
This indica-leaning strain is the product of another popular winter strain—Jack Frost—being crossed with Blue Monster. Though it's a little harder to find than others, if you see it, you’ll likely know it by the slightly blue hue of its glittery trichomes. In addition to its ornamental appearance, Blue Frost has a charcuterie flavor—cheese meets fruit with a hint of mint—and a pungent, slightly skunky aroma. Even though Blue Frost nugs are usually fairly small in size, they offer a THC level of 22%.8
Permafrost
Though it has “frost” in the name, this sativa-dominant strain has nothing to do with Jack Frost or Blue Frost. Rather, Permafrost comes to us from two wildly popular and potent strains: White Widow and Trainwreck. So if the name doesn’t come from its parents, you can deduce that it’s likely the appearance of the bud that gives the impression of permafrost, and you’d be right. It is covered in crystalline trichomes that have the look of freshly rolled snowballs. Those trichomes are also responsible for the 20-23% THC levels.9
Snow Cap
This balanced hybrid will make you climb to snow-covered peaks with its delightful palette and THC levels ranging from 21-24%. It also has about 4% CBD, making it a little friendlier for first-time winter strain smokers than some of the other bud on our list.10 Snow Cap tickles the senses with holiday-inspired sweet pine and citrus flavors and aromas that encourage you to settle in and enjoy the experience.
Vanilla Kush
You can’t have a list of holiday strains and not include Vanilla Kush. It’s the perfect complement of creamy, sweet French vanilla flavors with the addition of floral notes in its aroma. While it does have a range of 19-20% THC (and 1% CBD),11 cannabis enthusiasts who enjoy this strain insist on its hard-hitting nature, so if you’re new to Vanilla Kush, start slow and with a lower dose than you may otherwise have enjoyed. Like with holiday treats, it's easy to overindulge in this holiday strain if you aren’t paying attention.
Kush Mints
Bring on the after-dinner Kush Mints, the perfect post-holiday celebration strain to indulge in. This balanced hybrid strain combines mint and coffee flavors with a sweet dash of spice in its aroma to make it as enjoyable while consuming it as after consuming it. Just make sure you indulge responsibly with Kush Mints, as it offers 22-24% THC in its fat buds.12
Gingerbread Cookies aka Gingerbread, Ginger Cookies, or Ginger Cookies CBD
While we know Girl Scout Cookies had a hand in making this delicious balanced hybrid strain, that’s about all we know about its history. What we do know is that Gingerbread Cookies has that classic, gingerbread house flavor and aroma. Spicy, nutty, and sweet. We also know that it has a unique THC range of 10-16% and a CBD percentage of 16%.13 This combination likely makes it one of the most friendly beginner strains on this list that we can almost guarantee you’re going to love.
Jack Herer aka Platinum Jack, Premium Jack, The Jack, or JH
Arguably one of the most popular sativa-dominant strains in the world, Jack Herer needs no introduction. It gets its place on this particular list thanks to its citrus pine aroma, like walking through a wintery forest. Its flavor, however, is similar to a Lemonhead—sour, sweet, and lemony that leaves a candy-like impression on the tongue. Jack Herer has a unique THC range, stretching from a moderate 15% all the way up to a super high 24%. It also has a splash of CBN at 1%.14
Stock Up for the Holidays
The best strains for the holidays are the ones you like the most—so pick a few from this list or choose from your own favorite strains. No matter what, your budtender will be able to help you stock up and treat yourself for the holiday season. You may also want to pick up a few gifts for some cannabis-loving friends.
Sources:
1. “What is pinene and what does this cannabis terpene do?” Leafly, December 7, 2023, https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/what-is-pinene-and-what-are-the-benefits-of-this-cannabis-terpene
2. “The 8 best mint strains,” Weedmaps, June 5, 2023, https://weedmaps.com/news/2023/06/mint-strains/
3. “What is caryophyllene and what does this cannabis terpene do?” Leafly, January 17, 2024, https://www.leafly.com/news/science-tech/caryophyllene-terpene
4. “Christmas Tree Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/indica-dominant-hybrid/christmas-tree
5. “Candy Cane Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/indica-dominant-hybrid/candy-cane
6. “Snowball Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/indica-dominant-hybrid/snowball
7. “Sugar Cookie Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/hybrid/sugar-cookies
8. “Blue Frost Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/indica-dominant-hybrid/blue-frost
9. “Permafrost Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/sativa-dominant-hybrid/permafrost
10. “Snowcap Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/hybrid/snowcap
11. “Vanilla Kush Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/indica-dominant-hybrid/vanilla-kush
12. “Kush Mint Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/hybrid/kush-mint
13. “Gingerbread Cookies Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/hybrid/gingerbread-cookies
14. “Jack Herer Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/sativa-dominant-hybrid/jack-herer
Please consume responsibly. This product may cause impairment and may be habit forming. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. State laws impact what dispensaries can and can’t sell to recreational customers and medical marijuana patients. Not every type of product, consumption method, dosage form, or potency mentioned on this blog will be permitted in all locations.
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