It shouldn’t be terribly surprising that stoners tend to prefer sativa strains over indicas. Sativas create an appealing pep that improves a day and helps with lots of medical conditions.
Indica strains, on the other hand, are sleepy, relaxing, best for late nights and rainy weekends in front of a flat-screen. They’re great for a lot of people, but more like a nightcap than a cup of coffee (note that the people of the world drink far more coffee than booze).
Still, a stellar indica is a thing of beauty. So here are the 10 best indicas of all time. You might not agree, but try them all if you can.
Granddaddy Purple
Granddaddy Purple is among the long-time favorites of indica aficionados. It’s also known as Grandaddy Purp, but by any name it packs a potent punch.
A cross of Purple Urkle and Big Bud, Granddady is a relatively new strain, just 13 years old. It first made a name for itself in California, but has since spread to almost everywhere weed is commonly found.
Northern Lights
If you’ve never tried or at least heard of Northern Lights, you can’t really call yourself a true pothead. This Amsterdam native is easily one of the best-known strains on any market, black or legal. It’s one of the all-time classics.
Northern Lights descends from original Thai and Afghani landraces (strains that develop in the wild). Layered in crystals, this powerful indica smells of spice and sugar. Effects are euphoric and deeply relaxing, ideal for sleepless nights.
Blueberry
A legend in its own time, Blueberry is a parent of numerous other favorites, including the massively popular hybrid Blue Dream. Blueberry traces its roots back to landraces first subjected to breeding in the 1970s.
And this lovely indica hasn’t lost any of its charm over the years. It took home the Cannabis Cup in 2000 and retains a huge following among both recreational and medical users. And of course, there’s the hunger-inducing smell of blueberries.
Pineapple Kush
Most part-timers and young potheads turn their thoughts to Pineapple Express when they hear the tropical fruit in the same sentence as “weed.” Express appeared after the movie, but Pineapple Kush is the real thing, a descendant of the indicas Pineapple and Master Kush.
The smell and flavor are tropical, with strong notes of pineapple and mint. While not known for its strength, this strain produces cerebral effects mixed with a bit of physical relaxation. The key is in the balance.
Purple Kush
This one is pure indica. It comes out of the Bay Area, a genetic blend of Hindu Kush and Purple Afghani, both popular indicas in their own right. Users say Purple Kush creates a powerful, long-lasting mental euphoria paired with physical stress relief.
Perfect for anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain, Purple Kush sometimes gets lost in the sea of Kush strains. “Kush” is a hot term in stoner and pop culture circles, but even most hardcore potheads would have a difficult time distinguishing the many strains that bear the name. Like all A-list kush strains, though, this is an unmistakable indica.
Ice
Ice is technically a sativa/indica hybrid, but the indica side usually wins out. This strain descends from Skunk #1, Afghani landraces, Northern Lights, and Shiva, and it produces a heavy physical high.
The aroma of Ice is similar to gasoline or diesel, and the bud is blanketed in a thick coat of THC crystals. Expect to get very high, and expect to feel a lot better after smoking this winning indica.
Blue Mystic
Little is known about the origins of Blue Mystic, though it could come from a mix of Blueberry and a Skunk strain or maybe Northern Lights. It smells a bit of blueberries, but less so than that strain.
Nugs are covered in snowy crystals that give the bud a grayish tint. The high can be powerful – or not. But its subtle smell and small plant size make it easier to grow and use in close quarters.
Bubba Kush
Bubba Kush has become one of the world’s favorite strains, best known for its sedative effects and physical relief. It tastes of hash with tones of chocolate and coffee. Euphoria mixes with a heavy, tranquil state that promotes couch-lock and deep sleep.
Bubba is a Kush, of course, but it isn’t nearly so old as the earliest Kush strains, hitting the market about 1996. The genetics are a cross of an OG Kush hybrid and an indica plant from New Orleans (no one seems to remember what that was called).
OG Kush
Few strain names carry such glory and notoriety as “OG Kush.” It’s near the top of almost any list of timeless indicas, maybe the best ever.
Potent and tasty, OG Kush is often categorized as a sativa, but its (unclear) heredity and the name “Kush” suggest it’s mostly indica. It is widely considered a California native, as it sells wildly there and appears frequently in West Coast hip-hop lyrics, but it actually came out of Florida in the early 1990s.
Papaya
The last on our list of best indicas is named after another popular tropic fruit. Papaya is undoubtedly an indica, at least in terms of its genes. But users report it often produces a more sativa-like experience, with pep and psychoactive effects.
Even so, the indica background of this papaya-scented strain gives many users a sense of mental calm and tranquility. In addition to the smell and taste of tropical fruit, Papaya includes spice notes and a peppery smell.
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How many from the list have you tried? Which is your favorite? Leave a comment and let us know.
