By Luke Sumpter


Created by accident, Gorilla Glue turned out to be one of the stickiest, most potent strains around, changing the face of the cannabis market forever. Once the most sought-after strain on the market, Gorilla Glue has continued to dominate dispensary shelves, and has birthed many descendants, including our own Royal Gorilla.

Below is an explanation of the genetic lineage, appearance, aroma, flavor, effects, and growing characteristics of the iconic GG4, covering all the reasons you need this multi-cup-winning cultivar in your grow room.

What Is the Gorilla Glue Strain?

What Is the Gorilla Glue Strain?

Whether you know it as Gorilla Glue or by its other monikers, GG4 and Original Glue, this indica-dominant strain brings a whole new level of resin production and potency to the growing game. As its name suggests, its buds are so sticky that they easily “glue” the fingers together, which is a clear sign of massive trichome production.

In additon to its stickiness, the Gorilla Glue strain and its variants are respected for being very productive in the grow room.

Genetics & Origin of Gorilla Glue Strain

A mix of Chem's Sister, Sour Dubb, and Chocolate Diesel genetics gave rise to Gorilla Glue, endowing it with next-level potency, dynamic flavors, and balanced growing characteristics.

Chem's Sister is an old-school strain that dates back to 1996. This sativa-dominant phenotype of Chemdawg gifted Gorilla Glue with a pungent skunky aroma with hints of citrus.

Sour Dubb, developed by B.O.G. Seeds, is also sativa dominant and packed with chemical-fuel flavors with hints of sweet fruits. It also contains THC levels testing as high as 23–26%, which contributes to Gorilla Glue’s insane potency.

Breeders completed the Gorilla Glue puzzle with Chocolate Diesel: a standout plant with coffee, cocoa, chocolate, and fuel flavors and a euphoric high.

The Accidental Creation of a Cannabis Icon

Breeder Joesy Whales unintentionally created the Gorilla Glue strain in 2009 through accidental pollination. Dissatisfied with the results, he got rid of the plants, but his friend Mardogg decided to keep some seeds anyway. When the two decided to grow the seeds out, they discovered some incredible phenotypes, and the Gorilla Glue line was born.

These phenotypes became known as GG1, GG2, and GG4. The latter proved the most commercially viable, thanks to its massive yields, fat, chunky buds, and off-the-charts resin production.

Our Take: Breeding Royal Gorilla

In creating our Royal Gorilla strain, our goal was to retain all of the original sought-after traits of the flagship GG4 pheno. In the process, we enhanced yield capability, bud density, resin production, and THC levels.

Royal Gorilla impresses beginners with its ease, and experts with its potential to thrive when trained. Regardless of grower skill level, everyone is sure to be satisfied by the exceptionally resinous buds this plant produces.

What Royal Gorilla Looks Like

What Royal Gorilla Looks Like

Royal Gorilla seeds produce bushy, medium-tall plants with an abundance of thick side branches that grow as long as the main cola. When it comes to the resin covering her fist-sized colas, it truly needs to be seen to be believed.

You will only need to grow her out once to really understand the intensity of her “glue”. On top of this, you can expect her buds to take on signature green hues, potentially with flecks of purple, wrapped in bright orange pistils.

Aroma & Flavor Profile

The Gorilla Glue strain is in a league of its own when it comes to aroma and flavor. Below is a breakdown of what you can expect, and why this strain is one of the biggest head-turners you can add to your garden.

Aroma & Terpenes

You will need to ensure your carbon filters are working effectively when growing Royal Gorilla, as she’s not afraid to stink. Combining earthy, sour, fuel, and pine notes with hints of chocolate, Royal Gorilla’s aroma is savoury and unique.

This complex profile is the result of terpenes, esters, and VSC compounds. In particular, Royal Gorilla features an abundance of caryophyllene, myrcene, and limonene. These three terpenes contribute spicy, musky, and zesty influences, respectively.

Flavor Notes

When lighting a joint of Royal Gorilla, you will experience an earthy, sweet, spicy, and sour flavor. Upon exhaling, notes of mocha and diesel round out the experience. Saying this strain is complex is an understatement; it’s definitely not one of today's typical dessert strains.

Effects of the Royal Gorilla Strain

The Gorilla Glue experience can be summed up in one word: intense. Here’s what you can expect when smoking or vaping Royal Gorilla.

Immediate & Enduring Effects

Soon after taking your first couple hits of Royal Gorilla, you will experience a soaring, euphoric, and creative effect. Gradually, or at higher doses, the effect shifts into a heavy, stoned, and couch-locking experience: one that many users actually seek out.

It will only take one joint to put your mind and body into a relaxed, sleepy, and narcotic state, so if you want to minimise these effects, less is more.

Recreational Uses

If you’re a fan of chilling when smoking weed, Royal Gorilla is your strain. While you can engage in some light activities or socialising when enjoying these buds, they’re best suited for diving into a box set of your favorite shows or spending the evening glued to the couch with the movie channel on.

Royal Gorilla THC Level & Potency

Royal Gorilla is capable of developing up to 27% THC, with some specimens reportedly producing more when grown in optimal conditions. For this reason, inexperienced smokers should approach consumption of the Gorilla Glue strain with caution.

Is Royal Gorilla Indica or Sativa?

While Original Glue is indica dominant, Royal Gorilla features an even split of indica and sativa genetics, resulting in exceptionally balanced growth traits and dense, potent buds.

Growing Royal Gorilla: Indoors & Outdoors

Growing Royal Gorilla: Indoors & Outdoors

Below are growing tips for both indoor and outdoor cultivation to help you achieve the best results possible.

Indoor Growing Tips

Royal Gorilla is a robust, fast-growing plant that reaches heights of 90–130 cm and responds well to training. We recommend using LST or the ScrOG method. As far as flowering time and yield are concerned, Royal Gorilla races to harvest in 8–9 weeks and produces up to 550 g/m².

Outdoor Cultivation

Outdoors, Royal Gorilla prefers a warm, dry climate and is capable of reaching 170 cm. By mid-October, plants can produce up to 600 grams each.

Which Gorilla Glue Strain Is the Strongest?

As mentioned, the original Gorilla Glue family featured three main phenotypes, each offering something different. Interestingly, GG5 was created by crossing GG4 with GG1. Let's compare three of the most popular Glue phenos.

GG4 is widely believed to be the strongest of the three, delivering a strong mind-body effect that categorises it as a heavy hitter. It also has a very dank, fuel-forward flavor profile that makes it stand out.

On the other hand, GG1 features a terpene profile with more emphasis on earthy, pine, and citrus notes. As far as effects go, it’s typically described as less potent than GG4, but still very relaxing.

Finally, GG5 is often reserved for daytime use, as it produces a prolonged euphoria that allows users to get creative without becoming too sleepy to engage.

Other Strains with Royal Gorilla Genetics

If you love the sound of Royal Gorilla, then why not try some Gorilla Glue hybrids? Below is a selection of other top-performing GG#4 hybrids that you may want to add to your cannabis seed shopping list.

Royal Gorilla Automatic

Royal Gorilla Automatic is an autoflowering version of our beloved Royal Gorilla strain, which takes just 10–12 weeks from germination to harvest, boasts THC levels of up to 20%, and yields impressive hauls of 500 g/m².

Royal Gorilla Auto
23_genetic background_1 Gorilla x Cookies x Ruderalis
33_Yield indoors_1 11 to 14 oz/m²
31_plant height outdoor_1 2 to 3 feet
25_flowering time_1 6 - 8 weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 20%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 30% Indica 50% Ruderalis 20%
34_yield outdoor_1 4 to 6 oz/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 3 to 5 feet
27_harvest period_1 10 - 12 weeks after sprouting
22_Effect_1 Heavy, Physically Relaxing, Stoned

Buy Royal Gorilla Auto

Mother Gorilla

Formerly known as Royal Madre, this strain is a cross of Jack the Ripper and GG4. Mother Gorilla produces up to 500 g/m² of buds boasting up to 30% THC, in just 9–10 weeks of flowering time.

Mother Gorilla (Formerly Royal Madre)
23_genetic background_1 Gorilla Glue 4 x Reina Madre
33_Yield indoors_1 16 to 19 oz/m²
31_plant height outdoor_1 2 to 3 feet
25_flowering time_1 9 - 10 weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 23%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 70% Indica 30%
34_yield outdoor_1 18 to 19 oz/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 5 to 6 feet
27_harvest period_1 Early October
22_Effect_1 Calming, Euphoric

Buy Mother Gorilla (Formerly Royal Madre)

Triple G

A cross of Green Gelato and Royal Gorilla, this indica-dominant hybrid produces large buds packing up to 26% THC. After 8–9 weeks of flowering, you can expect to harvest up to 575 g/m².

Triple G
23_genetic background_1 Gorilla Glue 4 x Gelato 33
33_Yield indoors_1 18 to 20 oz/m²
31_plant height outdoor_1 3 to 4 feet
25_flowering time_1 8 - 9 weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 26%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 15% Indica 85%
34_yield outdoor_1 21 to 23 oz/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 5 to 6 feet
27_harvest period_1 Middle of October
22_Effect_1 Clear, Euphoric, Fast Thinking, Motivating

Buy Triple G

Why Choose Royal Gorilla?

Royal Gorilla represents the pinnacle of the Gorilla Glue experience. Our breeding team meticulously developed this strain to meet and exceed the finest characteristics of the original strain, while making it easy to grow for cultivators of different experience levels. Our focus on transparency and quality control means you can plant these seeds knowing you’re growing authentic GG4 weed.

Royal Gorilla
23_genetic background_1 Sour Dubb x Chem Sis x Chocolate Diesel
33_Yield indoors_1 18 to 19 oz/m²
31_plant height outdoor_1 3 to 5 feet
25_flowering time_1 8 - 10 weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 27%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 50% Indica 50%
34_yield outdoor_1 19 to 21 oz/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 4 to 6 feet
27_harvest period_1 Middle of October
22_Effect_1 Calming, Clear

Buy Royal Gorilla

FAQ About the Royal Gorilla Strain

Is Royal Gorilla the same as Gorilla Glue?
Yes, it's our version of GG4.
What effects can I expect?
Royal Gorilla's effects are uplifting, relaxing, euphoric, and body-heavy.
Is Royal Gorilla beginner-friendly?
It’s potent, but manageable in small doses.
Is Royal Gorilla better than other GG4 strains?
It has comparable potency with refined breeding practices.

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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: