Enjoying seasonal produce can be a joyous sensory overload. Not only do we nourish ourselves with every bite, we’re offered a cerebral indulgence at the same time: we taste the abundant flavor, we touch each item as we hand-pick what’s in season, we smell what’s ripe, and we spot the perfect selections by their vibrant colors. Each selection ends with the sound of satisfaction as we consume the produce, so what better way to heighten the entire sensory and cerebral experience than through cannabis strain pairings?
We invite you to take your dining to the next level and savor what’s in season with the following pairing suggestions, which match seasonally fresh fruits and veggies with the perfect strains to complement them. The terpenes that give these strains their unique aroma and flavor profiles accentuate flavor nuances in late spring and early summer produce, while cannabinoids augment your enjoyment of flavors and textures. Suddenly, getting the recommended daily servings of fruits and veggies doesn’t seem like such a chore, does it?
Mangoes
Strain Pairing:
Terpene Profile: Myrcene, Limonene
Strain Flavors: citrus, earthy, sweet
Whether you enjoy your mangoes fresh, in a salsa poured over fish, or stirred into your gelato, the flavor will almost certainly meet your lips at some point this season. This exotic fruit needs something that can keep up, so we’ve paired it with Green Crack. The sativa keeps you alert and the citrus notes of the strain coincide beautifully with the sweet notes of the mango.
Tomatoes
Strain Pairing:
Terpene Profile: Caryophyllene
Strain Flavors: sweet, earthy, pungent
Juicy plump tomatoes are in abundance this season, and we can’t get enough of them. Girl Scout Cookies fits right in with tomato dishes: the acid from the tomatoes cuts those potent notes of pepper, wood, and spice in the strain.
Blueberries
Strain Pairing:
Terpene Profile: Myrcene
Strain Flavors: grape, sweet, berry
Blueberries are bountiful during this time of year. The purple-black pigment always stains your hands in a satisfying moment of tasty tart deliciousness. Enjoy them fresh, or nestled inside a decadent pastry, and consume with Grape Ape for the ultimate cerebral experience.
Peaches
Strain Pairing:
Terpene Profile: Linalool, Limonene
Strain Flavors: mango, tropical, sweet
Peaches are one of the best stone fruits on the market, and we can’t get enough of these furry, succulent gems. Whether you eat them fresh or incorporate them into a recipe, they’re best enjoyed with summer just around the corner. Connect those sweet flavors with a tropical finish characteristic of Mango Kush.
Lemons
Strain Pairing:
Terpene Profile: Limonene, Linalool
Strain Flavors: earthy, sweet, honey
Lemons are bright and bursting with acidity. They’re tart to the taste and begging to be paired with something sweet. As such, they’re best enjoyed by making fresh-squeezed lemonade. Pair your beverage with Willy’s Wonder: this indica strain offers a sweet, honeyed flavor to balance everything out.
Avocados
Strain Pairing:
Terpene Profile: Linalool, Pinene
Strain Flavors: butter, flowery, sweet
Bumpy creamy avocados pair perfectly with Liquid Butter (or anything else, for that matter). You can taste the sweet buttery notes in the cannabis right alongside the healthy fats in this rich green fruit. The strain’s indica effects keep you mellow, but its pinene-laden terpene profile ensures continued alertness as you savor this moment.
Cherries
Strain Pairing:
Terpene Profile: Limonene, Pinene
Strain Flavors: citrus, lemon, sweet
Pairing cherries with the Cherry Pie strain was too easy, so we thought outside the box. Naturally, Lemon Pie brings a sweet lemon taste to the table, playing in the cherries’ juicy sweetness. This pairing offers a strong limonene terpene presence, relieving your stress and naturally making you happy. And really, who wouldn’t be happy consuming cannabis with fresh seasonal cherries?
Cucumbers
Strain Pairing:
Terpene Profile: Limonene
Strain Flavors: lemon, citrus, sweet
Cucumbers are invariably refreshing: you can slice them up and infuse your water, sneak them into a salad, or use them to accent fresh ceviche dishes. My favorite way to take advantage of this seasonal favorite is to place chilled slices over my eyelids and spark up a joint loaded with Super Lemon Haze. As the citrus notes of the strain burst into a sweet lemon taste and mingle with the cucumber aromas, your mood is guaranteed to be elevated.
Oranges
Strain Pairing:
Terpene Profile: Limonene
Strain Flavors: diesel, pungent, earthy
We’re sure this isn’t the first time you’ve been told to eat an orange while consuming cannabis. One moment with this pairing and you’ll understand why. The sweetness of the orange balances out the Sour Diesel as the pungent, earthy flavors of this strain work in sync with the citrus.
Beet Greens
Strain Pairing:
Terpene Profile: Caryophyllene, Myrcene
Strain Flavors: earthy, diesel, pungent
Beet greens plus roasted beets, goat cheese, and candied walnuts make for a delicious summer-ready salad, and the hybrid strain Chemdawg is the perfect companion to these greens. The earthiness of the bud plays into the peppery notes of the greens, and it all finishes with a little spice. The combo creates a pungent, woodsy aroma that is simply intoxicating.
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