The Cheese cannabis strain is best known for its pungent cheesy stench. It is a potent indica-dominant hybrid that started out in the UK back in the 1980s when an unknown breeder popped a few seeds from a Skunk #1 plant and kept this specific phenotype because of its unique odor and flavor. Technically speaking, Cheese is a phenotype of Skunk #1. However, the Cheese strain you can find at most dispensaries was probably crossed with Afghani in order to help the strain produce more trichomes and THC. While this strain is indica leaning, its effects are more on the sativa side and you’ll catch yourself in a more uplifted state of mind thanks to this strain’s generous helping of cerebral energy. It’s a great anytime smoke that promotes relaxation and a blissful mindstate, making it the perfect choice for those who suffer from chronic pain, depression and stress.
Let’s delve into this cheese strain review to learn more about this potent-smelling UK classic.
Cheese lineage and phenotypes
Cheese is a phenotype of Skunk #1 that first appeared in Europe in the 1980s. However, the Cheese you can find at most dispensaries is usually crossed with Afghani. All in all, its origins are pretty mysterious, though we do know that the Afghani cross was first propagated by Big Buddha Seeds. Exodus Cheese and Big Buddha Cheese are two named phenotypes of the Cheese strain. Exodus Cheese is more sativa-leaning by displaying more sativa-dominant cerebral effects and traits, while Big Buddha Cheese tends to be on the bushier side and offers more indica-leaning physical effects.
Cheese strain appearance
Cheese tends to lean more to the indica side when it comes to appearance. Its flowers are compact and dense and the plants prefer to grow out instead of up. Cheese is a pretty standard looking strain with medium green and yellow flowers. Its pistils tend to be on the lighter side displaying vibrant hues of mustard yellow and orange, and the flowers are all covered in glimmering silvery trichomes.
Growing the Cheese strain
Cheese is one of the least finicky strains available for DIY cultivation. It literally grows like a weed. While its appearance is indica-leaning and bushy, this strain still likes to grow tall, too. Be sure to take great care to bend and train the branches early on to prevent the plant from growing too tall and burning her colas near the lights. Light trimming will also be necessary about twice during the veg cycle and once right before flipping into the flowering stage. This encourages the plant to focus on flower production instead of foliage. You can expect the Cheese strain to produce a medium-sized harvest, ranging from 1-3 ounces per square foot of growing area in about 10-12 weeks. Last but not least, keep an eye on your humidity levels to reduce the risk of acquiring powdery mildew, as Cheese can be more susceptible to it than some other strains.
Cheese strain scent
As you can probably imagine, the Cheese marijuana strain has a terpene profile that makes it smell, well… cheesy! It’s not any old cheese though. True Cheese offers a pungent but rich and nutty creaminess, similar to sharp cheddar cheese. Well adjusted noses may be able to detect other hints of earth and warm oak wood. When crossed with Afghani, some people claim that Cheese takes on a sort of stinky feet aroma.
Cheese strain flavor
Much like the way this smell strains, Cheese is funky and cheese-flavored! On the nose, it’s a sharp cheddar, but on the inhale its more like smoked cheddar cheese. However, there are some strange subtle notes that linger after the exhale, including sour chutney, almonds, and char. If you get Cheese crossed with Afghani, there’s a good chance the strain will take on a dank, skunky aroma.
Effects of the Cheese strain
Cheese offers a great mix of physically relaxing effects and uplifting mental effects which make it a great choice for enjoying alone or with friends at just about any time of day. The cerebral effect promotes a generous euphoria and a pleasant uplifting sensation that can amplify happiness while also relaxing the body. The relaxing sensation helps soothe the body but also helps to prevent some of the unwanted side effects of THC, like anxiety and paranoia. Like most cannabis strains, Cheese is likely to dry out your eyes and mouth, so be sure to keep eye drops and a pack of gum handy.
Cheese for medical marijuana patients
Cheese and its additional phenotypes (Exodus Cheese and Big Buddha Cheese) are very popular among medical cannabis patients for its good balance of mental and physical effects. It offers a healthy dose of THC, ranging from 15-20%, so it’s a great choice when it comes to pain management and sleep-related conditions like insomnia. Cheese is also known for causing the munchies, which is great for patients who suffer from a lack of appetite due to certain medications or the side effects of chemotherapy. It’s uplifting mental effects are also great for managing stress, anxiety, and the symptoms of clinical depression when used alongside other medications.
Cheese: In summary
Cheese is an excellent strain all around. We rate it a 4.5, earning points for its simplicity in growing, balanced, whole-body effects, and unique cheesy flavor and aroma. The only department it loses points in is its lineage, since we don’t know the full genetic makeup. The next time you see it at your favorite dispensary, it’s worth a try.
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If you’ve tried Cheese weed or any of its phenotypes, let us know what you thought in the comments below.
