Pink Kush Strain Info

At a Glance

Aroma and Taste: Gassy, Citrusy, Floral, Earthy, Sweet
Common Dominant Terpenes: Limonene, Linalool, Caryophyllene
Average THC: High     Average CBD: Low

What is Pink Kush?

To answer this question and more, we turned to a few experts: Pure Sunfarms, Top Leaf and San Rafael ’71.

A relative of OG Kush, this high-THC strain gets its name from the pinkish-purple hue of its dense buds. Those same buds produce a multi-faceted aroma that’s gassy, citrusy, floral, earthy and sweet. Pink Kush is an indica-dominant strain that requires special care in the grow room, where it thrives with lots of light and low temperatures.

History

Like many strains, it’s tough to precisely trace Pink Kush’s lineage. However, it’s widely believed to be an offspring or relative of OG Kush. Popular folklore tells us that the strain was originally bred in Amsterdam before making its way to North America, where it took root and quickly became a staple on the west coast.

Pure Sunfarms shared the history of its cultivar: “Pink Kush was the very first strain cultivated at Pure Sunfarms, back in 2018! We couldn’t pass up the chance to work with a legendary BC phenotype that inspired not only growers but also cannabis lovers, wherever it went. It’s a beloved strain across BC and the rest of Canada, and its acclaim has only increased. Pink Kush is a plant that requires a gentle touch and a watchful eye, so we made the commitment to only release our special cut when we were pleased with the results.”

Characteristics

If Pink Kush had a motto, it would be “variety is the spice of life.” From aroma to colour to bud shape, the strain’s traits vary from brand to brand. Pure Sunfarms’s Pink Kush has round, dense buds, while Top Leaf’s buds resemble tiny pine trees. Pure Sunfarms’s cultivar is more gas-forward in aroma, while San Rafael ’71’s strain leads with a strong lemon scent.

Aurora Cannabis spoke to us more about the strain’s distinctive qualities: “Our unique San Rafael Pink Kush was selected from seed through our breeding and selection programs because of its attractive chemical profile that delivers a superior and consistent sensory experience. Our strain of Pink Kush, specifically, boasts dense dark green buds with deep purple hues and an intense aroma of lemon and spice with sweet and floral notes.”

Growing

Long before its buds are trimmed, packaged and delivered to consumers, Pink Kush can be identified in the grow room by its thick stalks and broad dark green fan leaves. At times, the plant can be tricky to grow; it thrives with plenty of light exposure and precise temperatures.

The team at Top Leaf (grown by Sundial) shed some light on how they’ve helped their plants thrive: “The main challenge with growing Pink Kush is heat stress. The strain is indica-dominant and likes lots of light and lower room temperatures, which can be a challenging combination [when growing]. We utilize a hydroponic growing method using rockwool as our growing media and high-pressure sodium lights. This [approach] helps our plants get a good feed and nutrient uptake without overwatering, while also getting the perfect light saturation that won’t overheat the plant.”

What is a strain?

To help you understand what a cannabis strain is, you can think of it like a breed of dog. While all dogs share similar traits, there are definitely differences among breeds (you wouldn’t confuse a Great Dane with a dachshund, for example). When it comes to different cannabis strains, this means one may have a sweet, lemony aroma, while another may boast a pungent, sour diesel-like scent. These differences have been fine-tuned by cannabis growers over many generations. Growers will choose two plants with desirable traits (for example, a strong diesel scent) and cross (or breed) those plants together, creating an offspring with a stronger expression of those desirable traits. When breeding cannabis plants, growers are often focused on the unique aroma, and taste, and potential THC and CBD content of a strain. And just like no two Great Danes are the same, strains can vary from lot to lot and grower to grower.

Will I like Pink Kush?

If you like nuanced, complex flavours and exploring different growers’ takes on the same strain, Pink Kush might be a good choice for you. If your go-to strains include the likes of OG Kush, Headband or GSC, Pink Kush might just fit in well with your West Coast tastes.