You may have tasted the rainbow, but have you smoked the rainbow? The aromatic Original Z strain has achieved many awards over the years, even receiving the first place title at the 2016 Emerald World Cup. Additionally, it has ranked highly in multiple other cannabis cups throughout San Francisco and Michigan for its appetizing flavor and potent effects.
The legendary strain that is credited for starting the candy wave has been in numerous legal battles and renamed to Z, The Original Z, and other names.
Smell and aroma is other worldly, so much fruit and sweetness going on you would think it’s a bag of Skittles…Heavy and euphoric, easily one of my top 10 favs of all time.
Leafly Reviewer
Continue reading to learn more about the Original Z strain’s effects, appearance, smell, taste, lineage, and genetics.
Image via Cannabis Now
The Original Z Strain
Lineage
The Original Z strain, aka “Z”, is a cross between the succulent Grape Ape and Grapefruit strains. The sativa Grapefruit parent strain, a cross of Cinderella 99, adds a tropical fruit flavor profile and its stress, anxiety, and migraine relief properties to Original Z. Additionally, Grape Ape, crossed from Mendocino Purps, Skunk, and Afghani strains, also lends its fruity flavor, dense structure, and potentially relaxing qualities. With these desirable parental influences, you know it’s going to be an A+ strain to smoke.
Photo by JOSHUA COLEMAN via Unsplash
Taste, Smell, & Appearance
When grown, the Original Z strain produces quite large and dense nugs that are chunky in form. The dark green-colored nugs are also covered in bursts of light green hues throughout. Additionally, the strain has a very frosty appearance due to its thick blanket of crystal trichomes. You may also notice the bright amber hairs that appear throughout the flower.
Certainly, the taste of Original Z matches the aroma. Whether you open the packaging or smoke the flower, you may sense the similarity to the candy it’s named after. With the dominant terpene being caryophyllene, you get a sweet, tropical fruit aroma with an earthy quality to it. Consumers may detect a berry flavor on the inhale with an after-taste of crisp citrus as they exhale.
Original Z
Original Z Effects
Caryophyllene also has tons of potential medicinal benefits such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. This terpene may potentially help consumers relieve anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain, reduce cholesterol, prevent Osteoporosis, and treat seizures.
Furthermore, the Original Z strain has a high THC level of around 20% or more, making for an enjoyable smoke for experienced consumers. Users may experience an uplifting cerebral high followed by a calm sense of relaxation, making it a great option for nighttime use. For recreational users, Original Z may be a great option for getting creative, late-night movie watching, or relaxing at home.
Photo by a Leafly Reviewer
Genetics
Because this indica-leaning hybrid is botanically beautiful and tastes delightfully fruity, the strain is in many cross-breeds. Popular offspring include sweet strains like Runtz and White Runtz and relaxing strains like Original Z Cake, and Dream Machine. However, all of these strains retain the Original Z forest green color and potency.

Disclaimer:
We do NOT sell or profit off the sale of cannabis products. This page is purely informational.
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