The Best Cannabis Strains of 2020 – PureSativa’s Picks of the Year

I think it’s fair to say that there hasn’t been much good to come out of 2020. The year will go down as perhaps one of the most depressing and difficult years in recent history – and we still have 2 months to go! But it hasn’t been *all* doom and gloom.

It was during an office discussion here at Sativa Towers late on a Friday afternoon that we all decided to cheer ourselves up by each naming one positive thing that we will take from 2020. Now, far be it from me to suggest that TeamSativa are a tad obsessed with cannabis seeds and genetics, but four of the team all named different seed drops as their standout moments of the year. This led to further passionate exchanges about our favourite strains of 2020 and we thought we’d share our thoughts with you to prove that things haven’t been so bad after all.

The cancellation of the Spannabis festival in Barcelona which traditionally kicks off the trade-show season in early March was, unfortunately, a sign of things to come. Show after show fell to the shockwave from Coronavirus and the lack of exhibition space threatened to delay the usual glut of new cannabis seed drops that accompany the annual shows and competitions.
Seed companies traditionally launch their new varieties at these shows as it gives them a captive audience to play to. Launches at shows are usually accompanied with introductory discount offers, free seed deals, and a raft of goodie bags, promotional merchandise and suchlike – it’s a special time of the year for the industry and those that love it and the total loss of all the 2020 shows was a major spanner in the works for the 420 community.
Not to be defeated, the industry rallied with a raft of online seed drops from scores of seed companies in the Spring. Here at PureSativa our family of seedbanks flooded us with their new cannabis strains, which we launched with ever-more generous giveaway offers and free seed deals. Our ever-loyal customer base have continued to support us and the new drops were even more popular than ever. 

We tried to keep this list to just 5 elite strains, but we just could not agree on which one to leave out. Here then, are our top 6 strains of this year based on a combination of factors such as potency, exclusivity, popularity, genetic pedigree and of course, customer feedback. Despite the aforementioned lack of industry events and trade shows this year, we strongly suspect that all these strains would have been cup-winners had the events gone ahead. Here’s hoping they can achieve the recognition they deserve in 2021 and beyond.

Berry Melon-O by TerpHogz Geneticz

 

Berry Melon-O from TerpHogz is a 70% Indica strain derived from a cross of (Melon Bred x Melon Bred #2) x Blueberry Bred. Like most of TerpHogz’ strains, Berry Melon-O has a pronounced and exaggerated terpene profile. Flavours and aromas of fruity melon punch with blueberries and summer fruits make this an excellent choice for legal extraction artists producing oils and sticky concentrates.

Perhaps the most surprising characteristic of Berry Melon-O is the monstrous potency. It simply smells and tastes too sweet and innocent to pack such ferocious power. A deep, heavy indica with a relaxing, sedative effect – perfect for stimulating appetites and aiding restful sleep in insomnia sufferers.

Berry Melon-O landed with us during early springtime as part of a larger TerpHogz seed drop, and has comfortably become our best-selling TerpHogz strain of 2020. For its popularity with customers, terpene profile and creepy, surprising potency Berry Melon-O is well worthy of its place on this list. With the meteoric rise of TerpHogz looking set to continue, we see this becoming an iconic, nay legendary strain in future months and years.

Power Ztone by Dark Horse Genetics

Power Ztone from Dark Horse Genetics is a beautifully-bred hybrid cannabis variety that packs a mind-melting potency derived from the powerhouse strains that make up the immediate genetic lineage. Symbiote x (Zkittlez x Bitch Slap) is a mouth-watering combination, and look a little further back in Power Ztone’s family tree and you’ll see a genetic contribution from Dark Horse Genetics’ flagship strain, Bruce Banner BX2.

The fruity, creamy flavours from the Zkittlez shine through here followed by a gassy, diesel fuel flavour that lingers on the exhale. Power Ztone produces a thick layer of sparkling trichomes during late bloom that hint at the soaring power of the strain. We’d be amazed if this one doesn’t reach 30% THC in a lab test when the trade shows resume.

Due to the genuine, over-the-top potency of Power Ztone, she divided opinion in the Puresativa offices. In the end, we decided she warranted a place on this list due to customer feedback and the fact that she is our best-selling Dark Horse Genetics strain of the year, despite only being released during the summer.

 

Killer Glue by Little Chief Collabs

 

We make absolutely no apology for including Killer Glue in the best 6 strains of 2020. It is here on its own merit and has been as popular with our customers as any other strain on the whole website. 

For the uninitiated, “Little Chief” is our playful nickname for the boss man here at PureSativa. Little Chief has a lifelong love of all things cannabis and is forever searching the globe for elite genetics to bring to the site. As a happy consequence of his hands-on approach to sourcing elite genetics, Little Chief managed to convince some of his favourite seed companies to collaborate and share their genetics with the aim of creating top-shelf hybrids like Killer Glue.

Using the infamous AK-47 from Serious Seeds x Original Glue (GG#4) from GG Strains, the Killer Glue was selected and bred into feminised seeds.
Sour, pungent and even floral, Killer Glue has a complex and layered terpene profile that seems to harness the best aromas from both parent strains. THC content is likely to comfortably reach the 25+% mark and the dense, resin covered flowers look pretty as a picture. A future classic that we’re currently giving away for free with every retail purchase of cannabis seeds from the website.

Sherb Biker by Karma Genetics

Sherb Biker is one of several new strains from Karma Genetics that could have made this list of top cannabis strains for 2020. Our customers love Karma’s reliable stability and uniformity of plants, as well as their trademark potency.

Sherb Biker is very, very well bred. The immediate genetics are Sherb IX x Biker Kush and Sherb XI itself is derived from Gelato #33 x Sunset Sherbet. This fusion of elite genetics has led Sherb Biker to develop a gorgeous purple colouration in some phenos that is really easy on the eye.
Flavours and aromas are a sophisticated mix of cream, summer berries and raw, kushy funk.

We strongly suspect that legally-operating extraction artists would have been troubling judges at industry competitions with this one all summer. Great resin production and those amazing flavours are a hash-maker’s dream.
Sherb Biker is deserving of the same veneration and respect as Karma Genetics’ other powerhouse cannabis strains like Headbanger and Sour Josh. This is a powerhouse of a hybrid that is sure to reach 26-28% THC in tests.

 

Birthday Cake S1 by Cannarado Genetics

 

Birthday Cake S1 from Cannarado Genetics is an Indica-dominant hybrid which is simply a selfed version of Birthday Cake – Birthday Cake x Birthday Cake.
Cannarado’s Birthday Cake has a great genetic pedigree to begin with – Cherry Pie x Girl Scout Cookies – and this beautifully selected S1 hybrid inherits the very best characteristics of her genetic contributors.

Legal growers will fall in love with Birthday Cake’s vigorous growth and abundant branching. She’s a big yielder too – Cannarado’s indoor test grows showed up to 500g per m2. Flowers are beautiful to look at; look forward to pale green nugs with hints of orange and purple and a thick layer of crystalline trichomes.
Flavours are creamy and fruity with a hint of sweet fuel and funk at the end. A really indulgent strain.

Unlike a lot of powerful Indica strains, Birthday Cake is a little more gentle in her approach. Effects, whilst very strong, are more relaxing and uplifting – ideal for medical patients with muscle pains or symptoms of anxiety.
This is an elite, easy-to-grow strain from one of America’s leading breeders. It ticks so many boxes that it was impossible to omit Birthday Cake S1 from this list. In fact, it could very easily have clinched the number one spot with a little more fortune in the voting.

PureSativa.com Best Strain of 2020: Rainbow Belts by Archive Seedbank

Rainbow Belts from Archive Seedbank is our favourite cannabis strain of 2020 – and what a strain she is.
Archive Seedbank’s master breeders selected a Moonbow #75 F1 female from a room of 200 plants. The chosen mother had perfect stability and structure and carried the Zkittlez characteristics of potency and beautiful colouration. This female was back-crossed (BX) to the ORIGINAL Zkittlez female mother to develop more Zkittlez-dominant phenotypes with added power. Rainbow Belts produces sticky resin like few plants we’ve ever come across – perhaps only Sleestack and strains like The White are even close to Rainbow Belts’ frostiness. This one is a no-brainer for legal extraction artists seeking bumper yields.

Flavours are complex and layered; sweet, sugary lime backed with a funky OG Kush pungency that let’s you know you’re dealing with a very special strain.

Like many of Archive Seedbank’s releases this year, Rainbow Belts sold out in a matter of hours, and we’ve struggled to keep her in stock ever since. Keep your eyes peeled for an imminent re-stock of PureSativa’s inaugural Strain of the Year.