By Steven Voser

Maybe you got your curing jars mixed up before labelling them, or maybe you're growing a mystery bag seed that you wish to identify. Unfortunately, there`s no surefire way to identify cannabis strains based solely on their aromas, flavours, looks, or effects. Nonetheless, in this article, we’ll teach you how to draw some general conclusions about your weed based on these simple parameters.


How To Tell What Strain of Weed I'm Growing

Let's make this clear from the get-go; there are only 2 ways to be certain of a cannabis plant's genetic origins. The first is by buying seeds from a trusted seed bank, and the second is by testing a plant's DNA—something that few home growers are able to do. There are, however, some ways to draw general conclusions about the genetics of a plant by analysing its growth traits and morphology.

The first distinction most growers make when they try to work out a plant's origins/genetics is to see whether the plant is indica or sativa dominant. Indicas are typically shorter than sativas, with short internodal spacing and thick, dark-green foliage. Sativas, on the other hand, typically grow taller and have bright green foliage as well as larger internodal spacing.

Sativa strains also tend to stretch considerably as they prepare to flower and produce longer, airier buds that are more adapted to growing in warm, humid conditions. Indicas, meanwhile, produce smaller, yet tightly packed flowers with swollen calyxes adapted to cooler, drier regions.

Note that with hybrids, sativa/indica genetics can be a bit harder to spot, though a trained eye should still be able to spot dominant sativa or indica genes, even if they're subtle.

For a more comprehensive comparison of indica vs sativa cannabis, click here.

Identify Cannabis Strains

Check out these strains from our catalogue with tell-tale indica or sativa traits for a clearer picture of how sativa and indica strains may differ in terms of morphology:

Besides the physical growth traits of a plant, another trait that can tell us something about its genetics/origins is its flowering time. By counting the number of weeks it takes your plants to finish flowering, you may be able to get an idea of whether the plant is more indica or sativa dominant.

Indicas typically take less time (approximately 8 weeks) to flower than sativas, which can take 12 weeks or more to mature. This is likely due to the fact that indicas have evolved to grow in cooler areas with shorter summers, whereas sativas adapted to grow in warmer, tropical regions.

Some examples of short-flowering strains include:

Meanwhile, some long-flowering cannabis strains include:

Again, as we mentioned earlier, none of this information is enough to hone in on the exact origins of a strain, especially when growing unlabelled seeds or bag seed. If, however, you bought your seeds from Royal Queen Seeds and either got them confused or forgot to label your pots after planting, comparing the physical traits and flowering times of your plants may be enough to help you tell them apart.

How to Tell What Strain Of Weed I'm Smoking

Besides looking at the physical traits of a plant, cannabis growers and smokers often try to distinguish strains by analysing the visual traits, smell, flavour, and effects of a particular kind of bud. Again, this is by no means a surefire way to distinguish cannabis varieties. However, below we'll walk you through what some common visual traits, aromas, flavours, and effects might tell you about your bud.

1. Visual Traits

Before you send your buds up in smoke, it's always a good idea to inspect them visually. This way you can both bask in their beauty and simultaneously check them for mould, contaminants, or other impurities (such as dirt, dust, hair from pets, etc).

If the buds you're smoking are elongated, light, and fluffy, chances are that you are smoking a sativa or sativa-dominant variety such as Amnesia Haze, Shining Silver Haze, or Chocolate Haze. Meanwhile, small yet tight flowers are usually a sign of a more indica strain, such as Northern Lights or Gelato.

If the buds you're smoking are purple, this may help narrow them down to one of the many beloved purple varieties out there, such as Purple Queen or Mimosa. Note, however, that temperature can have a big influence on the colour of a cannabis plant, and colder temperatures can bring out purple hues in many different cannabis varieties.

Identify Cannabis Strains

2. Aromatic Traits

After inspecting your buds visually, give them a whiff (both before and after grinding) and take note of their unique aromatic profile. It can help to try and write down the aromas you detect, as well as use a cannabis flavour/scent wheel to try and hone in on their smell even more. The aromas you detect in this process may help give you a general idea of your bud’s terpenes and therefore liken it to other strains with similar aromas. For example:

  • Pine and earthy aromas are typically caused by a combination of pinene, humulene, and myrcene. You may find these or similar aromas in strains like OG Kush, Royal Jack Auto, El Patron, or Hyperion F1.
  • Diesel aromas are usually caused by a combination of myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, and humulene. Think of the dank fuel aromas of strains like Triple G, Kali Dog, and Hulkberry.
  • Fruity aromas may suggest a strain’s dominant terpenes are likely limonene, linalool, humulene, and geraniol. Some strains with bold, lively fruit aromas include Somango XL, Haze Berry, and Fruity Spirit.
  • Skunk/cheese aromas are typically caused by caryophyllene, myrcene, and borneol. Think of the pungent, sour aromas of Blue Cheese, Skunk XL, and Milky Way F1.
  • Citrus aromas are a clear sign of high levels of limonene and terpineol. You may find these aromas in strains like Green Crack Punch, Purple Queen Auto, and Sweet ZZ.

Identify Cannabis Strains

3. Flavour Traits

After visually inspecting your buds and smelling them, it's time to give them a taste test. Where possible, we recommend using a vaporizer to preserve more terpenes and cannabinoids and thereby explore the flavours of your bud more profoundly. Here's what different flavours may tell you about your weed:

  • Herbal flavours are usually a sign of high amounts of terpinolene and caryophyllene. You may find these flavours in strains like Sherbet Queen, Royal Haze Auto, and Royal CBDV.
  • Peppery flavours are a tell-tale sign of high concentrations of caryophyllene. Some strains with a standout peppery bite include White Widow, Tatanka, and Ice.
  • Pineapple flavours are typically caused by a high concentration of limonene, geraniol, and linalool, which may also produce other tropical fruit aromas reminiscent of mangoes, bananas, and melons. Strains with bold tropical fruit aromas include Pineapple Kush and Purplematic.
  • Blueberry and other berry flavours are usually derived from cineole, linalool, cymene, and limonene. You may find these flavours in Royal Skywalker, Bluematic, and Haze Berry Auto.
  • Vanilla flavours may come from pinene, limonene, and caryophyllene. You may detect these flavours in Royal CBG Auto, Wedding Crasher, and Apollo F1.
  • Chocolate flavours are typically caused by a combination of linalool, myrcene, and ocimene. Strains with chocolate aromas/flavours include Chocolate Haze, Triple G, Royal Gorilla, and Milky Way F1.
  • Cookie and other pastry-like aromas usually come from terpenes like limonene, bisabolol, linalool, and geraniol. You may find these flavours in strains Royal Cookies and Cosmos F1.

To learn more about the unique flavours and aromas of cannabis, make sure to check out this article on cannabis tasting.

Identify Cannabis Strains

4. Effects traits

Last but not least, the effects of a cannabis strain can also provide you with some clues about what you're smoking. Again, while it's impossible to properly identify a strain just based on its effects, taking the time to analise a strain and its effects on your body may help you make some very general assumptions about what's in your joint/bowl.

The first thing you might try to gather when smoking a strain is a sense of its cannabinoid concentration. High THC cannabis strains have notorious intoxicating effects, while strains containing CBD may be physically relaxing but not intoxicating. Meanwhile, strains with more balanced cannabis profiles will be somewhere in the middle, producing a more balanced effect.

Taking things a step further, you may try to differentiate between whether a strain produces more of a cerebral or physical effect. Cerebral effects, as the name suggests, typically target the brain and may leave you feeling:

  • Physically active or motivated
  • Talkative and social
  • Focused
  • Creative

These effects are typically attributed to strains such as Shining Silver Haze and Triple G, or sativas in general.

Meanwhile, physical strains such as White Widow and Watermelon typically target the body and may leave you feeling:

  • Physically relaxed
  • Calm
  • Sleepy
  • Hungry

Identify Cannabis Strains

Note that there is still a lot we don’t know about what contributes to the effects of a particular cannabis strain, but there is some research to suggest that whether a strain’s effects are uplifting or relaxing may come down to its terpenes. Myrcene, for example, has been shown to have sedative effects and may therefore contribute to the physically relaxing effects of some cannabis strains. Meanwhile, terpenes such as limonene, caryophyllene, and pinene are thought to have energizing effects, though more research is needed to constitute these claims.

For a more general guide to the various effects, flavours, and aromas of cannabis, click here.

Can You Really Distinguish Strains With Your Senses?

Cannabis is a complex plant. While breeders are able to create cannabis strains with certain concentrations of cannabinoids/terpenes and physical traits, how these traits manifest in your garden or grow tent may vary from one plant phenotype to another, as well as based on growing conditions. While we’ve shared some tips to help you draw general conclusions about cannabis based on its looks, aromas,flavours and effects, the easiest way to be 100% certain of what you're smoking is to buy your seeds from reputable seed banks.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: