What makes a cannabis strain the best? Bag appeal, nose, flavor, potency, and cannabinoid and terpenes profiles are foundational criteria we can all agree on. But there are variables. Cannabis works its magic by interacting with the human endocannabinoid system, and this system is like a fingerprint. That means what works for her might not work for him.
Moreover, the breeder that created the strain, and the cultivator that grew it, can make a massive difference in quality. So, we considered all these factors when we made this list. Meet the best strains of 2022, a mix of award-winning cultivars from some of the best breeders and farms in California cannabis.
1) Jealousy – Bred by Seed Junky – Cultivated by 7 Leaves
This fantastic hybrid is Leafly’s 2022 Strain of the Year. We can talk about how fire Jealousy is for days, but the facts speak for themselves.
In just two years, Jealousy became a top 100 strain on Leafly out of over 6,000 stains. In 2021 you could only find Jealousy in 90 stores. By the end of 2022, Jealousy was available in over 1500 dispensaries from coast to coast. It was also a second-place winner in the 2022 California High Times Cannabis Cup. The bottom line is that Jealousy ain’t no boof. She’s here to stay.
Get to Know Jealousy
Seed Junky Genetics is one of the premier breeders in California, and they hit it out of the park with Jealousy. A cross of Cookies’ Gelato 41 and a Sherbet BX1, this cultivar tests as high as 30% THC. The dominant terpenes are caryophyllene, limonene, and myrcene.
Jealousy has impressive bag appeal with dense, frosty nugs of dark purple and green with electric orange hairs. It smells like Gelato,, only more so. Its nose is all creamy sweet berries, dank plums, fruit loops, citrus, and diesel. It will instantly chill you out. Tension releases as you relax, giggling and euphoric.
Seven Leaves cultivates the Jealousy strain to the highest standards. They are a premier California cultivator, and its state-of-the-art facilities in Sacramento total over 115,000 square feet. Environmentally conscious, they use 100% renewable energy.
The Seven Leaves team has been growing California Cannabis since 2008. They are committed to consistent quality through responsible cultivation practices. Seven leaves spent years perfecting the cultivation techniques that ensure their cannabis is always top-shelf, pesticide-free, and herbicide-free. They live on the cutting edge of cannabis cultivation.
2) Animal Face – Bred by Seed Junky – Cultivated by Fig Farms
Animal Face, also known as “Animal Face #10,” is a Sativa-dominant hybrid that’s a cross of Face Off OG and Animal Mints. Its effects are elevating, melting away aches, pains, and the unwanted stress of the day. THC levels may reach 30%, and its dominant terpenes are caryophyllene, humulene, and limonene.
Get to Know Animal Face
While Seed Junky bred Animal Face, the phenotype that took first place for indoor flower at the 2022 Emerald Cup, was hunted down by the cultivation team at Fig Farms. The win just further solidifies their reputation for finding the best phenotypes and making the best of them.
Fig Farms is dedicated to breeding, phenohunting, and elite-level cultivation in pursuit of the perfect flower. Founded by Keith and Chloe Healy, Fig Farms has been called an “exotic factory.” While so many cultivators just mass-produce already popular strains, Fig develops and creates its own potent strains with unique structures and terpene profiles unlike anything else in the marketplace.
They are a true family-run business. Operating out of a warehouse in Northern California, their strategy is to cultivate small-batch runs that are so much better than top shelf that they deserve their own shelf. Their goal is to create true exotics that have never been tried before to provide new and exciting experiences for their cannabis industry. Fig Farms never follows the herd.
Growing great weed is not enough for Fig Farms. They won’t put it in their jar if it doesn’t break the mold.
3) Georgia Pie – Bred by Seed Junky – Cultivated by Ember Valley
Georgia Pie is yet another award-winning cultivar from Seed Junky, taking Gold in the mixed light category at the Oregon Leaf Bowl (they’re killing it!). This fantastic strain is an Indica-dominant Hybrid of Gellati x Kush Mints. Fire it up, and it’s like smoking freshly baked peach cobbler with heavy kush notes. Mmm… where’s the ice cream cake to go with this?
Get to Know Georgia Pie
Georgia Pie is a high THC strain that hits hard with an intense body and head high. If you don’t have a high THC tolerance, you might want to pass on this one. That said, if you have the tolerance, it can be relaxing and help you unwind from the stress of the day. Medical marijuana patients love it to relieve chronic pain, anxiety, and depression. The dominant terpenes in Georgia Peach are limonene, caryophyllene, and humulene.
Ember Valley cultivates Georgia Peach (and all their incredible strains) with the
understanding that a legacy isn’t given it’s earned. Passionate about cannabis, they never play it safe. Ember Valley is always willing to roll the dice and take risks on new strains. They are constantly innovating for the benefit of their cannabis community.
Ember Valley is a small, agile team whose bedrock principle is an unwavering commitment to perfection. The strength of the Ember Valley Team comes from a desire to learn, grow, and adapt to the ever-changing climate of cannabis cultivation and the community. This enables them to consistently deliver the best cultivars on earth to the California cannabis scene.
4) Garlic Cocktail – Breeder Unknown – Cultivated by Up North
Garlic Cocktail is an Indica-dominant hybrid cross of GMO from Mamiko seeds and Mimosa by Symbiotic Genetics. Its flavor is earthy with notes of clove and anise, a spicy dank bite, and a citrus finish. Garlic Cocktail tests between 30 and 35% THC. The dominant terpenes are caryophyllene, limonene, and myrcene.
Get to Know Garlic Cocktail
This indica dominant strain is relaxing without making you sleepy. Its chill euphoria is the perfect smoke for bingeing your favorite series on Netflix. In addition, medical patients appreciate its ability to relieve pain and inflammation without the sedation of the typical Indica dominant cultivar.
If you travel north up the rugged coast of California, you’ll find UpNorth tucked between the ocean and mountains in the last stronghold of California’s ancient redwoods — Humboldt County. For generations, cultivators and craftspeople have worked to make Humboldt County the source of the finest weed products anywhere on the planet.
UpNorth believes that this deep love and connection to the land gave root to a culture that made Humboldt a global center for high-quality cannabis. They are also a proud ambassador for this culture, its values, and its philosophy. They are committed to spreading the Humboldt ethos as far as they can reach.
Whether or not you’re able to make the journey Up North, you can still experience real Humboldt weed with UpNorth.
5) Agent X – Bred by Alien Labs – Cultivated by Alien Labs
Agent X was bred and cultivated by Alien Labs. This fantastic hybrid strain crosses Atomic Apple and Xeno #1. But that’s not even half the story. The parent genetics were bred from award-winning strains such as Apple Fritter, Triangle Mints, Kush Mints, and Zkittlez. The awesome lineage of Agent X is deep.
Get to Know Agent X
Agent X is bright green and glistens with trichomes. It tastes like tart grapefruit and creamy vanilla with an uplifting head high that dissolves into a chill body stone. Agent X can test as high as 30% THC, and the dominant terpenes are Limonene, Myrcene, and Caryophyllene.
Alien Labs is all about small-batch, Cali-grown, otherworldly goodness. They built their reputation in the traditional market for years until they partnered with Connected in 2017 and entered the licensed marijuana market. Today, Alien Labs is known for cultivating some of the best flower in the game and for creating unique, one-of-a-kind cultivars.
6) Face on Fire – Bred by Archive Seed Bank – Cultivated by SOG Army
Bred by Archive Seed Bank, Face on Fire gets its name from its lineage. It’s a cross between White Fire 43 and Face Off OG. Face on Fire has a heavy pine aroma with hints of lime citrus and an earthy and skunky undertone. The flowers almost look like they’re on fire with pistols that range from yellow to burnt orange.
Get to Know Face on Fire
A balanced Indica and Sativa Hybrid, Face on Fire relaxes the body and calms the mind. It typically tests around 30% THC, and the dominant terpenes are limonene, caryophyllene, myrcene, and linalool.
This strain is cultivated by SOG Army. SOG is an acronym for Sea of Green, a Dutch growing technique with the highest yields per square foot and quickest crop rotations. SOG Army are legacy growers with deep roots in the Santa Rosa cannabis community. Their team is passionate about the plant and committed to cultivating only the most exclusive genetics at the highest level. To find those exclusive genetics, they phenohunt with breeders such as Wyeast Farms, Crane City, Clear Water Genetics, Grounded Genetics, and Mosca Negra.
SOG Army is proud of its origins in the traditional market but is driven to implement groundbreaking methods for cannabis cultivation from the frontier of precision agriculture. They cure and hand trim everything with care, and their flower is always packed in airtight jars, so it’s always fresh when it reaches you.
7) Space Cake – Bred by Bodhi Seeds – Cultivated by Henry’s Originals
Are you ready for the ride of a lifetime? Then try Space Cake, a Hybrid cross of Girl Scout Cookies and Snow Lotus. Developed by Bodhi Seeds, the strain’s effects are relaxed and can help you chill out at the end of a challenging day. Space Cake is also excellent for medical patients to treat stress and anxiety.
Get to Know Space Cake
Space Cake’s nugs are forest green with deep purple undertones and burnt orange hairs. Its nose is complex, with herbal spice, pungent and dank overtones, and accents of nuts, sweet berries, and sour fuel. Space Cake tests between 19 and 25% THC. Its primary terpenes are myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, linalool, and humulene.
The Space Cake we’re smoking is cultivated by Henry’s Originals, cultivators that trace their lineage back to the 60s and 70s when hundreds of freedom seekers flocked to the Emerald Triangle to pursue a life of simplicity and harmony with nature. These were the Originals. Henry’s represents these pioneers who took the next generation under their wing and continue to inspire everything they do today.
Henry’s Originals are farmers descended from farmers who know the land and know their crop. They came of age in Mendocino County, the wild heartland of legacy cannabis. Today, Henry’s Original is proud to cultivate cannabis in small batches, using sustainable and organically based methods on seven farms in Mendocino County.
Henry’s is forever grateful to the Originals, the Mendocino community, and the sun and the land that allow them to bring the best cannabis under the sun direct to you.
8) Zlurpy – Bred by West Coast Sunrise – Cultivated by Moon Valley Cannabis
Zlurpy is a signature strain bred by West Coast Sunrise that crosses Granddaddy Purple, Bubba Kush, and Sherbert. With these legendary parents in the mix, Zlurpie has a delicious lime and earthy smell. The high is perfect for enjoying with friends after a long hike in nature or a day at the beach.
Get to Know Zlurpy
Zlurpy is cultivated by Moon Valley Cannabis, winners of the 2022 Emerald Cup “Environmentally Conscious Indoor Award.” Moon Valley’s state of the art led lighting and environmental controls use 100% renewable energy, and 3000 square feet of their canopy is grown using no-till and Korean natural farming principles.
This ensures an end product that is as kind to the planet as it is to you — completely free of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides. Moon Valley also uses biodegradable and recyclable packaging that minimizes waste while ensuring freshness.
Sustainably grown, hand-crafted indoor flower is the heart and soul of Moon Valley Cannabis.
9) Gushers – Bred by Cookie Fam Genetics – Cultivated by Pearl Pharma
Gushers is an Indica-leaning Hybrid of Gelato #41 crossed with Triangle Kush from the famed West Coast breeders Cookie Fam Genetics (they also created Gelato). Gushers tests between 25 and 30% THC, and the dominant terpenes are caryophyllene and limonene.
Get to Know Gushers
So why do they call it Gushers? Maybe it’s for that burst of sweet gummy candy that hits the palate on the first rip — just Gushers Candy. Gushers’ effects are relaxed and euphoric, and medical patients use it to treat pain, nausea, and insomnia.
Pearl Pharma pushes the boundaries of the cannabis experience. All their flowers are selected through tireless research and cultivated with attention to detail to ensure rich and decadent flavor profiles.
Founded in 1998, Pearl Pharma is a genuine legacy company. Their resilience is what sets them apart. Pearl Pharma has spent decades in research and development, phenohunting from exotic seed stock and developing optimal growing conditions for the best phenotypes that made the cut. Through trial and error, Pearl Pharma’s founders eventually refined the extraordinary menu they offer today, with cultivars of unmatched flavor, aroma, and high potency.
Pearl Pharma’s state-of-the-art indoor cannabis facility is committed to small-batch cultivation so that every unique cultivar gets the special attention it deserves. Beyond their proprietary in-house strains, Pearl Pharma also grows cultivars from a who’s who of world-class breeders such as Karma Genetics, Sin City Seeds, DNA Genetics, and Crockett Family Farms. They understand that there’s no such thing as overnight success. Instead, it takes resilience over many years to create the most beautiful pearls.
10) Banana Splitz – Bred by Crockett Farms – Cultivated by Elyon
Banana Split is a sativa-dominant cross of Tangie and Banana Sherbert bred by Crockett Farms.
Get to Know Banana Splitz
With a clean, level-headed high, it’s a perfect daytime smoke. Expect fat, frosty nugs with citrus aroma and sweet Banana Sherbet flavor.
Elyon Cannabis is a small team of local cultivators who combined their decades of knowledge and experience to bring cannabis consumers in California meticulously cultivated cannabis. Elyon recognizes that the adult-use cannabis market often prices the highest-quality cannabis beyond the reach of the average consumer. But Elyon believes in weed for the people and that everyone deserves to consume “top shelf” weed.
Elyon is an invitation for all to experience high-quality organic sun-grown cannabis and showcases what’s possible when you’re devoted to the craft of cultivation.
The Best Weed Strains in Santa Rosa
Now that we’ve covered some of the most awesome strains Phenotopia carries, all that’s left to do is get your hands on it. Shopping for weed in Santa Rosa has never been easier or more fun.
With Phenotopia, you can shop for your favorite strains, talk to experts about the effects, learn helpful tips on using cannabis responsibly, and even get recommendations on other products! So what are you waiting for? Get your hands on some of Santa Rosa’s best weed strains today, shop now!
