Cannabis goes by many names: weed, bud, dank, dope, ganja, plus many more. And if you spend enough time tooting a reefer in the Amsterdam Coffeeshops, you might hear them all. A trip to Amsterdam to prowl the cannabis landscape is the nearest thing a stoner has to a rite of passage. It's like the first rip on a bong or the first time you tried an edible. Some of your stoner firsts might have occurred in a Dam coffee shop. But what type of stoner are you? Some note down every strain they've ever tried from a coffee shop menu; others don't care if it looks green and smells nice and tasty. However, we all could pick a favourite classic coffeeshop strain.
Amsterdam Coffeeshops
Amsterdam coffee shops have been dishing out deals since the 70s' and are synonymous with cannabis culture. They have more than played their part in building the legend of these classic coffeeshop cannabis strains, but these days, the menus are ever-changing, and there is no way we could fit all the old/new classics onto one list, so we will make do with The ASC Top Ten Classic Coffee Shop Strains. Strap on! Strap in! Watch out for bicycles and some of the tallest people in the world because we're going on a tour of Amsterdam.
What better strain to begin with than Amnesia Haze? It is probably the most famous classic coffee shop strain and is still the go-to for many tourists. This mostly sativa will take over ten weeks to flower, but this citrus beauty is well worth the wait. With up to 25% THC and golden green yields of some of the best cannabis, you'll never doubt why Amnesia Haze is one of the best-selling strains of all time.
It's funny that one of Amsterdam's best-known strains has its roots firmly planted in New York City. Once known as New Amsterdam until those pesky Brits turned up, the Big Apple has played a big part in one of Amsterdam's most loved strains on menus. Variations of this sativa hybrid have flooded the market, but Soma's is the best. It tastes like ripe red grapefruits and will flower in 10-12 weeks.
There are plenty of Jack Herer varieties, though if you've tried it in Amsterdam, there's a good chance you were in a Green House Seeds coffee shop. The GHS version is the multi-award winning fast flowering indica hybrid that is strong on body and mind and is an effective treatment for various medical conditions. Jack Herer by Green House Seeds is a Haze x Red Skunk with>20% THC content. A fun fact about this classic coffee shop strain: It has won 7 first prizes in cannabis cups.
First bred by sister company Sensi Seeds, Super Skunk by White Label Seeds can still be found on the menus of coffeeshops. Super Skunk was groundbreaking and one of the best-selling strains of all time, and it is the foundation for hundreds of Skunk hybrids. You can check out 5 of the best here. However, this potent powerhouse will flower in 6-7 weeks and smell sweet enough that you want to eat it.
OG Kush was one of the first, if not the first, US strains to break through to Europe, and it was long before the US legalised it in certain states. OG Kush changed everything and brought new flavours never tasted in these parts of the world. There are many versions of OG Kush, but DNA Genetics work with some of the rarest genetics, and their OG Kush is the ideal coffee shop strain.
White Widow is still stable on menus, and there is a good reason. When growers get this strain right, it is one of the best. Beautiful light greens form that border on white due to being covered in glistening trichomes. White Widow often flies under the radar, but growers who know about the IBL by Paradise Seeds will testify to its greatness.
Fromage Blue is more of a modern classic: a cross from the clone of a cheese from the UK and a Blue Cheese male. The result is a super cheesy flower with the looks and taste of the UK Bluesz with undertones of fruit and berry. Fromage Blue is easy to grow and a good producer; it is also great with SCROG.
You know how the saying goes: one classic strain leads to another. NYC Diesel led to Sour Diesel, which is just as popular. It is perfect for users looking for a turbo charge but wants something to twist their tongues around. It has a potent blend of earthy, fuel and citrus terpenes with chemical and jet fuel overtones. To get that coffee shop taste will take ten weeks - this one is worth waiting for.
There are few better spots in Amsterdam to pick up a classic strain than Barneys. G13 Haze is almost as famous as the coffeeshops, and its legend continues to grow. Barneys crossed a G13 with a potent Hawaiian Sativa, and we got plants that grow dense resin-covered flowers with high potency.
Big Buddha Cheese - Big Buddha Seeds
It makes sense that Cheese is on the list - it is the all-time favourite strain of the UK, and Amsterdam coffeeshops are the all-time favourite place of most of the UK's stoners. This Cheese is 100% indica, 100% Cheese and will flower in 7-8 weeks with 15-20% THC. Check out the history of the Cheese Strain here.
