Origins and Backstory: The now-famous Blackberry Kush clone hails from the Pacific Northwest. It is a stout broadleaf indica that tends to turn purple and universally produces buds with exceptional bag appeal. I have heard different stories about her ancestry, but the most plausible include Purple Indica (another old school indica from the PNW), DJ Short’s Blueberry, and/or Afghani. She has since found her way to Colorado, and this was grown by a mountain hermit friend of mine.
Appearance: One of the highest points of this flower, Blackberry Kush consistently looks amazing. BK plants produce rounded and dense golf-ball shaped buds, always glistening in resin with bright orange pistils. It really is gorgeous herb, an even mixture of purple and green pigments. The buds are always thick and “juicy” appearing, really drawing the eye (and potential buyer). It is pretty uncommon to get purely green Blackberry Kush, and the appearance contributes to the novelty of the cultivar just as much as the aroma. The ball-like purpleish buds usually look something like crystal-crusted alien black berries when they’re in a bag or jar. This is a dime of a plant.
Aroma: True to its name, these flowers smell distinctly of blackberries. There are also very strong blueberry scents, and less pronounced notes of fruits and other ambiguous berries—nectarine, bilberry, raspberry, black currants to name the ones I can detect. Strong scents of honey and apple blossom are notable as well, really adding to a complex and deliciously-fruity bouquet. Overall, this bud smells almost like a bowl of berries generously topped with honey, or maybe a mixed-berry mead. It is sweet, fruity, and dessert-like. The smell is soft and velvety, smooth in a way that I would describe as an olfactory suede. There is a very mild earth-like compost aroma, and some hints of the classic middle eastern spice and must that I associate with the “Kush” moniker. The bouquet is the high point of Blackberry Kush, thoroughly enticing lovers of sweet but complex varieties.
Flavor: Blackberry Kush tastes like the aroma, but the emphasis shifts from fruit more to the Kush side of things. There is blackberry, but it is only a background note, while the sensation of prominence is a skunky, dank, spicy Kush flavor that coats the mouth in the classic “dank” flavor. Blueberry follows close behind. It is really satisfying to get a green hit of this herb out of clean glass. One’s mouth is left just sopping with a skunky-botanical-berry flavor, and I am often licking the insides of my cheeks and palate after smoking this one.
Effects: Unfortunately, this is the singular dimension that Blackberry Kush is lackluster. The effects set in relatively quickly—Blackberry Kush is always laid back, relaxed, and mellow. It is almost impossible to smoke too much, and I have heavily binged on this flower with no couchlock or paranoia. Blackberry Kush is anxiolytic, and might be perfect for someone with high anxiety and a low tolerance. I on the other hand, am rarely satisfied by the effect of Blackberry Kush. I have never had a sample from any grower that I would describe as potent. It is a mellow and generic pick-me-up, but I almost always find myself smoking something stronger an hour or less later.
Overall: Blackberry Kush has been a popular producer for many reasons—the plant flowers relatively quickly, and produces stunningly-beautiful floral clusters covered in resin, and always accented by royal purple hues. A bag stinks from a room away, but up close smells enticingly of fresh fruit and exotic spice. Her buds are dense grenades of purple-tinted trichomes that smell ambrosial. It is a real shame that this variety was not bred with much potency in mind. Or, maybe I need to lower my tolerance—in any case, the effects don’t quite do it for me. I always smoke something stronger after enjoying some Blackberry Kush. She is the premature ejaculator of cannabis—so get your fun in at the beginning of the experience with foreplay! Really savor the bag appeal, the aroma, and the flavor of this smoke. Breaking up buds by hand is extremely enjoyable, and I’d recommend paying close attention. If you’re an OG head—make sure to keep some tucked close by, because your receptors may be found wanting.