Gelato

Where does Gelato come from?

Gelato is a cross of Sunset Sherbet and Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies, a selected cut of the famous GSC. Most accounts credit it to the Cookies breeding crew working with Sherbinskis, the Bay Area grower behind Sunset Sherbet. It appeared a few years after Sherbet, and by the late 2010s it was one of the best-known names in American cannabis.

Growers kept and numbered several plants from the original seeds. One of the best known is Gelato #33, nicknamed Larry Bird after the basketball player's jersey number, and Gelato 41 became a strain in its own right. Some seed companies also sell a Gelato made from slightly different parents, so the name covers more than one plant.

What does Gelato smell and taste like?

Gelato smells like dessert: sweet berry and citrus with a soft, creamy, sherbet-like side. Underneath there's an earthy, peppery base, and some people pick up a light diesel note.

Caryophyllene usually leads its terpene results, bringing the pepper, with limonene adding citrus. Humulene or myrcene sometimes rounds out the top three. The flavour tends to follow the smell: sweet and fruity on the inhale, with a little spice on the finish.

Gelato effects: what people report

People most often describe Gelato as relaxed and happy, with an uplifted, euphoric mood. Many say it starts in the head and then settles into the body, which is why it's often called balanced rather than heavy.

These are experiences people report, not promises. How it feels depends on the product, how much you have and your own tolerance. Dry mouth and dry eyes are the common complaints, and some people mention feeling anxious at higher amounts.

How strong is Gelato?

Gelato is a high-THC strain. Most listings put it somewhere around 18% to 26% THC with almost no CBD, and some products sold under the name test higher still.

That's a lot for a beginner. If you're new to it, start small and give it time before having more. Edibles can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to kick in, so waiting matters even more there. The THC and CBD numbers for your batch are printed on the label, and they matter more than the strain name.

Buying Gelato in Canada

Gelato is a popular name, and you may see it on its own or as a numbered cut like Gelato #33 or Gelato 41. Labels vary by producer, so two Gelato products can smell and test quite differently.

Check the THC and CBD numbers and the packaging date on the label, since fresher flower keeps more of that sweet smell. You might find it as dried flower, pre-rolls or vape cartridges.

Gelato vs Sunset Sherbet

These two are family, so they share a sweet, fruity smell. Sunset Sherbet is one of Gelato's parents. It leans more indica in most descriptions and smells more like candy and citrus. Gelato adds a creamier sweetness and more earthy depth, and people tend to call it more balanced. Gelato also usually tests a little higher for THC. If you want the fruit with a laid-back, relaxed feel, try Sunset Sherbet. If you want something sweet but more rounded, Gelato is the pick.

Strains like Gelato

If you like Gelato, try these next:

• Sunset Sherbet: its parent, fruitier and more relaxed.
• Runtz: its child with Zkittlez, with a candy-sweet smell.
• Ice Cream Cake: Gelato #33 crossed with Wedding Cake, creamier and heavier.
• Girl Scout Cookies: the family behind its Thin Mint side, sweet and earthy.