Spicy
Sweet
Nerve pain
Sleep
Happy
Relaxation
Of all the different marijuana strains out there, there are varying levels of complexity. There are complex, intricate strains that somehow taste of a dozen different things at once, and there are simple, one-note strains that only taste of one thing.
It is an easy enough assumption to make that the intricate strains, the ones with a considerable depth of flavor and multiple different notes, are the superior ones. However, some of the very first strains that began rising in popularity in the western world were these simple strains, and they remain popular today because of two simple reasons – they work magnificently and, despite their simplicity, they taste amazing.
Blueberry is one of these strains. With a long and storied history that culminates in winning the High Times’ 2000 Cannabis Cup for Best Indica, Blueberry is world renowned for both its clean, elegant flavor and for its empowering, relaxing effects.
Let’s take a look at this great strain, both its history and its flavors, as well as what you can expect after trying some.
What Is the Blueberry Cannabis Strain?
Blueberry is generally thought of as an especially common strain – it lacks an interesting and memorable name and has a pretty obvious flavor profile. However, the fact that it is a pretty simplistic strain doesn’t stop it from being one of the best.
Blueberry was created as early as the 1970s, when American breeder DJ Short was crossbreeding landrace strains – strains that developed and evolved in the wild without human interference. His eventual finished strain was dubbed Blueberry for its clear and consistent flavor of fresh blueberries.
Due to the fact that Blueberry is a strain with ancient lineage, there is a vast disparity between individual plants. Breeders have been meddling and tampering with DJ Short’s original recipe for so long that it is entirely possible that you might get yourself some Blueberry bud only for it to be very different from the ones you have smoked before.
This tends to happen with crossbred landrace strains, especially ones as popular as Blueberry. As long as it tastes firmly of blueberries, you can be reasonably sure of what you have, even if it is slightly different.
Though Blueberry is commonly referred to as an indica, it is actually a hybrid with lineage in Afghani and Thai landrace strains. It is 80% leaning towards indica, however, so the majority of its effects are entirely indica related. However, that small percentage of sativa helps give this strain an excellent undertone of cerebral energy, steering Blueberry away from being an entirely couch-locking strain.
Blueberry Strain Effects
The initial effects of Blueberry are an overwhelming sense of relaxation that will hit you exceptionally quickly. Known for the immediacy of its first hit, Blueberry will create a powerful sensation of weight on your body that might make you feel the need to sit down before you fall over yourself.
As a heavy indica-leaning hybrid, Blueberry can make its users experience some mild disorientation which, if used in a comfortable setting, can transcend into a very soothing calmness, as well as a general sense of serenity.
You can expect to feel happy and a little bit sleepy with this strain, but it is not so soporific in its effects that you run the risk of completely passing out. Keep in mind that the munchies also hit pretty hard with this strain, so make sure you have food prepared in advance so that you have something ready when it strikes.
Blueberry is a strain best used to relax after a hard day at work, providing just the right amount of relaxation and inherent calmness that helps take away any troubles you might be facing. Though not as good as helping you get to sleep as many other indicas, this is still a great strain to have on hand.
What about how it tastes, however? Is there anything else more interesting than just the basic flavor of Blueberries?
Blueberry Cannabis Strain Aroma
Upon first smelling Blueberry, you will predictably be hit with the intense smell of tart, pungent berries of the blue variety. Oddly enough, as the smell continues, it may begin to remind you of the common Purple Thai strain.
There is a continuing complexity in the aroma that doesn’t have anything to do with blueberries, but instead a strangely musky, spicy quality that is quite similar to many other landrace indica strains.
Alongside this initial flavor of blueberries, spice, and muskiness, there exists a subtle amount of skunk and petrol, far more than you would expect from an indica strain.
The aroma of Blueberry is extremely separate from what you would expect, carrying with it inherent complexities far beyond the taste of pure berries.
The flavor, however, is far more straightforward.
Blueberry Cannabis Flavor
As might be expected from Blueberry, the overwhelming taste sensation is one of freshly picked blueberries. But there is a bit more subtlety to the taste of blueberries than you first might think – for instance, blueberries taste different depending on their ripeness, as well as their season.
The taste of Blueberry cannabis is one of the slightly overripe Blueberries, only recently picked. There is an inherent sweetness that is almost cloying, similar in a way to when you taste sugar straight from a spoon.
Though the sugary quality of the first taste might seem a bit overwhelming on the palate, the rich, juicy quality of the blueberries immediately outweighs any problems.
Despite the fact that you are obviously smoking the bud itself, there is an extremely potent feeling of fresh blueberry juice exploding in your mouth. Despite how impossible it might seem, the taste of Blueberry isn’t just pure blueberries, but some of the very best blueberries you have ever tasted.
Blueberry Appearance
Like many other indica-dominant varieties, Blueberry tends to have quite dense nugs. Due to its high quantity of anthocyanins (a pigment that develops as a result of prolonged sun exposure and unique indica genetics), the bud will typically turn an interesting swirl of purple and red. This will only really develop if allowed to dry properly, as well as growing them well enough to reach their full potential.
So, what do you need to know if you want to try and grow your own Blueberry? Are there any advanced growing techniques that you need to get that beautiful color?
Blueberry Cannabis Strain Grow Info
Blueberry is one of those rare strains that actually does very well outdoors; this is likely due to its genetics being so closely related to indigenous landrace strains in the Afghani mountains, giving it a great deal of resilience for both cold temperatures and humidity.
As you can plant Blueberry outdoors, try and pack the soil you are going to use with nutrients before you even plant your seeds, as this makes it easier for both of you; your plant can begin using those nutrients right away, and you don’t have to feed it as much.
As with many indicas, Blueberry benefits from some early topping, which is when you prune the plant by snipping off the very top of the new growth in an effort to encourage the plant to grow horizontally and produce more bud.
If you do this, make sure you are also occasionally pruning off the very interior stems and branches as, due to the increased bushiness caused by lateral growth, the inside branches can develop powdery mildew and damage the plant.
With a pretty standard flowering time and a high tolerance for temperature changes, Blueberry is one of the easier strains to try and grow yourself. As long as you take time to occasionally prune it and make sure to top up the soil with worm castings and bat guano once it starts flowering, your Blueberry plant will excel.
So how much THC can you expect to get from your Blueberry harvest?
THC Content – Highest Test
Blueberry is not just famous for its great effects and its unique flavor, but it also well known for its sheer intensity.
You can expect anywhere from 16% THC all the way up to 23.5% THC, making this strain potentially one of the most powerful indica strains out there. You can typically expect around 12.5% for an average indica, so at the very highest range, Blueberry can have almost double the average indica’s THC levels.
CBD Content – Highest Test
As ever with indica strains, you will obviously have a lot less CBD than you will THC.
In general, you can expect about 0.26% CBD in your Blueberry, with the upper limit being around 0.5%. This is generally due to a distillation through generations of breeding landrace strains, all to try and create the most robust final result possible.
Medical Benefits of Blueberry Cannabis Strain
As with any powerful strain, it is essential to know just what kind of medical conditions it could help to treat. After all, not every single user of cannabis is looking for the most potent high – some are actually looking for helpful medicinal treatments.
Like many indicas with a powerful effect, Blueberry is most useful to try and treat stress and pain, as well as feelings of depression or anxiety.
Due to the way in which the high quantity of THC interacts with the endocannabinoid system, Blueberry is a great strain to combat mental disorders or general issues of unhappiness. If you are feeling the pressure of day to day life, Blueberry helps remove this pressure by encouraging a happy and healthy mood and outlook on life.
Additionally, Blueberry is excellent to help treat insomnia. This isn’t necessarily because it forces you to go to sleep, as some other strong indicas do, but merely because it helps suppress those negative or stressful thoughts that often stop people from falling asleep.
Instead of knocking you out, Blueberry makes it easier to fall asleep naturally, albeit with a fantastic mood and a general feeling of relaxation and calm.
One other condition that can be treated is general feelings of pain, especially neuropathic pain. Due to the slightly soporific and overall relaxing effects of Blueberry, it is effortless to help get rid of any kind of unpleasant pains that are disrupting your day.
With all these positive medical effects there comes a certain expectation of side effects – after all, every medicine has side effects, right? What kind of side effects can you expect from your Blueberry strain?
Possible Side Effects of Blueberry Cannabis Strain
In many ways, Blueberry is a surprisingly complex strain; it possesses powerful effects that defy its traditional classification as an indica, and its taste profile is far more sophisticated than simple blueberries.
However, when it comes to its side effects, Blueberry is woefully banal – it is precisely what you might expect.
Users of Blueberry can expect the ever-present dry mouth and dry eyes that have plagued marijuana users for years. Keep a wet towel on hand if you frequently suffer dry eyes, as well as a glass of water nearby to help quench the throat.
Other than that, some few users have reported instances of dizziness or other feelings of head disorientation; just make sure you are relaxed and in a safe place and you will most certainly be fine.
Final Thoughts on Blueberry Cannabis Strain
Blueberry is an old school strain, one that your father and even possibly his father before him smoked in their youth. This strain is one that has earned its name in the history books, but not just as a strain that helped lay the groundwork for marijuana popularity in the USA.
It is famous for its simple taste, yet elegantly complex aroma, its powerful relaxing effects, and its overall funkiness.
While many people might describe Blueberry as “an old man’s strain,” the fact remains that there are three simple reasons that it is still so popular to this day – it is delicious, it is relaxing, and it is strong.
Keep an eye out for Blueberry at your next dispensary trip and see if you can participate in the history of marijuana with this legendary strain.
