Welcome to another edition of our weekly stain review series. This week we have a strain straight from a top Canadian dispensary – this is the Zed strain.

The Zed strain is a mysterious strain – generally exhibiting 100% Indica qualities, it is rumoured to be made from hash plant crossed with an unknown strain, and the breeder is not known. Reports state that it delivers around 20% THC, although we haven’t seen any lab tests.

Strain Summary

Zed is a potent Indica strain, celebrated for its THC levels ranging from 20% to 24% and CBD content between 1.07% and 1.35%. It’s known for inducing a strong sense of hunger, making it a go-to for those looking to increase their appetite. However, it’s also associated with side effects like panic attacks and dry eyes, urging caution among users prone to anxiety or newcomers to cannabis.

The flavor profile of Zed is dominantly pungent, enriched with notes of pine, spice, sweetness, tobacco, flowers, and earthiness, thanks to a diverse terpene blend including camphene, myrcene, carene, humulene, phellandrene, pinene, and linalool. This complex array contributes to both its aromatic appeal and therapeutic potential.

In terms of effects, Zed offers a relaxing and energetic experience, making it suitable for alleviating stress, anxiety, and symptoms of arthritis. Its potent effects can, however, lead to more intense reactions such as slurred speech, thirst, increased hunger, tingling, headaches, paranoia, drowsiness, and dizziness in some users.

For those interested in cultivating Zed, it presents a moderate challenge with a flowering time between 54 to 61 days. The plant thrives in both indoor and outdoor settings, reaching heights of 30-60 inches indoors and 60-80 inches outdoors. It offers generous yields of 1 – 2 oz/ft² indoors and 10 – 15 oz/plant outdoors. The terpene profile of Zed not only influences its aromatic and flavor characteristics but also contributes to its overall therapeutic and recreational effects.

The Zed strain looks fantastic right off the bat. The three-gram-nug I have to sample is dense and very well-structured. This is an organically-grown strain, but is not airy, loose or in any way under-delivering – I’m very happy with the appearance of this one.

The trichomes are thick and layered on the bud, almost bleaching the colour into a lighter green/almost white in parts, with darker leaf bases.

Smell

The Zed strain smells good, leaving a fruity and distinct aroma in the pop jar. It becomes more pungent when the bud is broken open, releasing a more complex scent which sits somewhere along the lines of dank, pungent, fruity and earthy.

Grinding up the sample of Zed, I’m also treated to the organic-smelling woody/earthiness that seems to come from strains grown in this way.

Taste

Smoking a bowl of the Zed strain through my glass bong is a great experience, and rather moreish. I find that I want to go straight back for round 2, and indeed I do.

The smoking experience is smooth and enjoyable, delivering a good flavour that matches the aroma and can be experienced during the smoke exhale of the bong hit, much more than some other strains have delivered in the past.

The flavour itself is earthy, similar to kush strains and well-cured (characterised by the lack of any chlorophyll taste). In fact, this one tastes like an Indica strain!

Effects

Zed’s effects kick in quickly, easing me into a relaxed body-led high that wasn’t too overpowering to smoke in the morning.

Once bong 2 begins to kick in the high develops into a pain-relieving/body-feeling-good sort of experience.

I actually get a bit of dry mouth smoking this, and even find it more difficult to maintain the conversation while filming.

Both of these things factor in to tell me that this strain is a strong one!

Conclusion

This has been one of my favourite reviews so far this year – Zed delivers on everything – Appearance, Smell, Taste, Smoking Experience and the Effects are all top notch, making this strain stand head and shoulders above some of the others.

I can certainly see the value of Zed in the medicine cabinet – this strain is good for times where you need 100% Indica relief. If that’s the case, it might just be the perfect option.

Have you tried Zed? What’s your favourite Indica strain? Tweet us @ISMOKEMEDIA to have your say!