Strawberry Cough Strain

Strawberry Cough Strain: Sweet Strawberry, Soaring Sativa

The Strawberry Cough strain is the sativa that made "it actually smells like strawberries" a selling point. Usually listed as Strawberry Fields × Haze, it came out of a basement garden in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and spread across the country after grower and writer Kyle Kushman got hold of a clone in 1999. It's named for two things you'll notice fast: a ripe, juicy strawberry nose — and a thick, expanding smoke that tends to make people cough.

The high is the reason it has stayed on menus for 25 years: quick, happy, uplifted and talkative, with energy and a clear head rather than couch-lock. On Leafly alone it carries nearly 3,000 ratings. For bright, fruit-forward daytime flower, start with our THCA flower collection.

It's also a strain wrapped in myth. Kushman says he didn't breed it. Sources disagree on whether it's 16% or 26% THC, whether it won a Cannabis Cup, and whether it was ever grown next to real strawberry fields. Below: what the sources actually say about its origin, genetics, potency and terpenes, how the high unfolds, why it makes you cough, how to grow it, and how to judge a bag.

Strawberry Cough Genetics & Lineage

• Type: Sativa-dominant. AllBud lists it at about 80% sativa / 20% indica; Leafly labels it a sativa; Weedmaps calls it a hybrid. Cannigma notes the 80/20 split is a common estimate, not a measured number.
• Parents: Strawberry Fields × Haze is the listing on Leafly, AllBud, Weedmaps and Pax. Leafly calls its origins "mysterious," and Weedmaps says the original breeder and exact pedigree "remain disputed."
• Who made it: a hobby grower in Bridgeport, Connecticut, by accident — according to Kyle Kushman himself. Kushman popularized it; he says he didn't breed it.
• Aliases: KKSC (Kyle Kushman's Strawberry Cough), and sometimes just "Strawberry."
• Seed versions: Dutch Passion sells a feminized Strawberry Cough®, describing its genetics only as "partly North American and partly European" without naming parents.
• Offspring: Leafly lists Strawberry Lemonade and Nerds as descendants; Verilife lists Strawberry Diesel (× NYC Diesel) and Strawberry Kush (× OG Kush).

The Strawberry Cough origin story

Kushman has told the story the same way for years, including in a first-person account published by High Times. Back in 1999, through a Connecticut friend, he visited a fan with a basic home garden in Bridgeport and gave the grower some tips. On the way out, he was handed a small clone in a rockwool cube in a paper bag. He didn't open it until he was back in Brooklyn — and the bag smelled like strawberries. He's said he nearly threw the clone away before that smell convinced him to keep it; Cannigma quotes him saying it "smelled like a pint of strawberries."

The strain became a New York favorite. In 2004 Kushman moved to California, and per both Cannigma and High Times he carried clones west — a rented Buick's trunk full of them — and handed them out in cities along the way. That's how his initials got attached. Kushman credits Jason King's book The Cannabible with spreading the idea that he'd bred it.

Strawberry Fields, Haze and the "strawberry patch" legend

In the High Times account, Kushman describes Strawberry Fields as an indica from upstate New York, grown beside a strawberry patch. Some guides go further and claim the flavor came from that patch, or that growers hid plants in strawberry fields to mask the smell. Cannigma and GreenState both call that lore — a plant doesn't pick up flavor from neighboring fruit, and there's no evidence for it. The strawberry is in the plant's own chemistry.

Haze is the other half: the classic, long-flowering sativa behind Super Lemon Haze and Amnesia Haze. It explains the energetic, heady side of the high and the herbal, spicy back note. One more wrinkle: Cannigma points out that Leafly lists Strawberry Fields as a descendant of Strawberry Cough — the reverse of the usual pedigree. The family tree is genuinely muddy.

Why there are so many "Strawberry Coughs"

Per Cannigma, when Dutch Passion's Henk van Dalen asked for the genetics, he insisted on seeds rather than a clone, so Kushman made seeds by crossing his KKSC — possibly with Sweet Tooth. That seed line, plus decades of clone-only cuts, reproductions and autoflower versions, is why two bags labeled Strawberry Cough can smell and feel quite different. Leafly reviewers say the same: many attribute mixed experiences to batch-to-batch variation.

Strawberry Cough Terpene Profile

Strawberry Cough is a myrcene-led strain. Leafly lists myrcene as dominant, then pinene and caryophyllene. Cannigma's lab-data averages line up: about 0.8% myrcene, 0.3% pinene, 0.2% caryophyllene and 0.1% humulene. Verilife instead lists terpinolene, myrcene and pinene — a reminder that some Haze-leaning cuts run fresher and more herbal. Caryophyllene has real research behind it: a 2008 PNAS study identified beta-caryophyllene as a "dietary cannabinoid" that binds CB2 receptors.

• Myrcene: The biggest terpene by far — herbal and earthy, and part of the ripe, musky fruit underneath the strawberry.
• Pinene: Fresh pine and a sharp edge. It's often associated with the alert, clear feel of sativas.
• Caryophyllene: The pepper and spice that Dutch Passion says dominates some phenotypes, and the source of the "fresh-meets-spicy" aftertaste Verilife describes.
• Humulene and terpinolene: Earthy-woody humulene shows up in small amounts; terpinolene, the Haze-family terpene, leads some cuts and adds a fresh, herbal brightness.

Like most "fruit" strains, no single terpene is the strawberry. It comes from the whole blend — terpenes plus minor aroma compounds — which is why a well-cured jar can smell like real fruit and a stale one smells like hay.

Appearance

AllBud describes dense, conical, bright neon-green buds with thick reddish-orange hairs and a frosty coat of white trichomes. GreenState calls them almost lime green with orange pistils — some big nugs, but mostly small, resin-heavy buds. Here's where sources split: Pax describes an open, elongated sativa structure, while Weedmaps says the buds tend toward an indica-like density despite the sativa genetics. Both show up in the wild, which fits a strain with so many versions.

Aroma and Flavor

Open a good jar and the strawberry is unmistakable — fresh, ripe berries, sometimes with a candy-like sweetness. Underneath sit herbs, earth and a skunky, spicy base. Weedmaps users tag strawberry (58%), sweet and flowery; AllBud's aroma list reads berry, earthy, fruity, herbal, skunky, spicy and strawberry. GreenState adds a sharp, marigold-like note that's almost cheesy.

The taste follows the smell: juicy berry on the inhale, then a herbal, slightly peppery exhale with a sharper Haze-like spice. Dutch Passion notes that some phenotypes are peppery and spicy with a milder strawberry scent — if your bag leans pepper, that's probably why.

Why does Strawberry Cough make you cough?

The name is literal. The smoke is dense and expands in your lungs, and AllBud and Leafly reviewers repeatedly mention harsh, coughing hits. Pax suggests small inhalations from a vaporizer at a low temperature to cut the irritation. A proper cure helps too — under-dried, harsh flower makes it worse.

Recreational Effects

Strawberry Cough is a mood-and-motivation strain. On Leafly, where it holds a 4.3 rating from nearly 3,000 reviews, the top effects are uplifted, energetic and happy. Weedmaps users report happy (38%), relaxed (32%) and uplifted (30%).

• Uplifted and euphoric: a quick lift in mood is the headline effect.
• Energetic and motivated: Pax describes users feeling invigorated and motivated.
• Talkative and social: one of the classic "hang out and talk" strains; GreenState mentions giggles and silly thoughts.
• Creative and focused: Cannigma suggests conversation, reading and problem-solving work.
• A light body: GreenState notes neck and shoulder tension may ease, with a mildly heavy stone after the peak.

How the high unfolds: onset, peak and duration

• First few minutes: a fast, cerebral lift — some people feel a tingle around the eyes first, per GreenState.
• 15–60 minutes: the peak — energetic, happy and chatty. GreenState warns the stimulation can feel overwhelming before it mellows.
• 1–3 hours: a gradual settle. Dutch Passion says the high lasts several hours; some users feel tired or lethargic as it fades.

Leafly reviewers aren't unanimous — a minority describe relaxation or even sedation, and many blame batch differences. Best timing is daytime or early evening.

→ Experience it yourself — shop Diesel Hemp's THCA Flower

How Strong Is Strawberry Cough?

Strawberry Cough is moderate-to-strong, and the published numbers are all over the place:

• Cannigma (lab-data average): 16.5% THC, 0.07% CBD, and 0.2–0.5% CBG (the page gives both figures).
• Leafly: 19% THC and 1% CBG.
• Dutch Passion (seed version): 15–20% for most phenotypes, with a 2019 Spannabis lab result around 20%.
• Weedmaps: 18–26%.
• AllBud and Verilife: 22–26%.

Why the spread? The averaged lab numbers (Cannigma, Leafly, Dutch Passion) land in the high teens, while the 22–26% figures look like best-case ranges. Add the many different cuts and seed lines, and a realistic expectation for a classic cut is somewhere around 16–22%. Verilife doesn't recommend it for beginners anyway — the energetic sativa high can feel like more than the number suggests.

THCA flower is labeled differently from dispensary flower: the lab reports THCA, which converts to THC when heated, plus a small amount of delta-9 THC. When you compare a batch of Strawberry Cough against the 15–26% range above, compare total THC on the COA, not the headline number — our guide on how to read a THCA flower COA walks through the math.

Awards and Pop Culture

Strawberry Cough is famous enough that its trophy case has grown in the retelling. Here's what's claimed — and how solid each one is:

• 2013 High Times Cannabis Cup: Weedmaps credits it with 1st place for best flower. Weedmaps doesn't say which Cup event, and we couldn't confirm the placing from an official winners list.
• 2015 Cannabis Cup: Verilife says Kyle Kushman "won a spot" in Best Sativa Flower at the 2015 High Times U.S. Cannabis Cup in Denver — but it doesn't say with which strain or what place.
• Children of Men (2006): Cannigma says the strain has a role alongside Michael Caine, whose character Jasper grows weed in the film. We couldn't confirm it from the film's credits or reviews.
• A sneaker: Cannigma says it nearly got a Nike shoe named after it — and in another section says it did. Treat it as trivia.

Bottom line: its fame is real; the specific awards are reported inconsistently, so treat them as unofficial.

Strawberry Cough vs Similar Strains

• vs Strawberry Fields: the reported parent, described by Kushman as an indica. It's the likely source of the strawberry; Strawberry Cough gets its lift from the Haze side.
• vs Haze and Super Lemon Haze: the sativa side of the family. Haze strains are spicier, more herbal and more cerebral; Strawberry Cough swaps the lemon and incense for sweet berry.
• vs Strawberry Diesel: Strawberry Cough × NYC Diesel, per Verilife — the same berry with a sour, fuel-tinged edge.
• vs Strawberry Kush: Strawberry Cough × OG Kush — musky strawberry and a more relaxed, tingly body.
• vs Strawberry Banana and Strawberry Cheesecake: dessert-side strawberries that lean heavier and sleepier. Strawberry Cough is the daytime one.
• vs Durban Poison and Green Crack: other energetic day sativas. GreenState calls Strawberry Cough more whimsical and Durban Poison more straightforward; Green Crack is the racier option.
• vs Blue Dream: a softer, blueberry-sweet daytime classic with more body.
• vs Strawberry 2.1: our featured in-stock pick, and honestly not a twin. Both are sweet, strawberry-forward, sativa-leaning and social, but Strawberry 2.1 is a modern Strawberry Guava × OG Kush Breath cross with a faint gas finish rather than Haze spice. Want strawberry with a cool mint edge instead? Try Straw Gua Mintz.

Who Strawberry Cough Is (and Isn't) For

Good fit: daytime smokers who want a mood lift and energy, social plans, creative work, sativa fans, and anyone chasing a true fruit nose.

Poor fit: people prone to THC anxiety or racing thoughts, anyone who wants a sleep strain, and people who hate harsh hits. For a sweet, upbeat daytime flower on our shelf, Strawberry 2.1 is the pick, from $22.

How to Use Strawberry Cough THCA Flower — and How Much

THCA has to be heated to do anything. Raw, it isn't intoxicating; heat converts it to THC (decarboxylation), which is why the method matters as much as the strain.

• Smoking (joint, pipe, bong): the fastest onset. Take one or two small hits, then wait 10–15 minutes before deciding on more.
• Dry-herb vaporizer: the easiest way around the cough. Lower temperatures, around 340–375°F, keep the strawberry bright and the vapor gentle; 390–410°F brings out the pepper and herbs but hits harder.
• Pre-rolls: the no-prep option — see our THCA pre-rolls.
• Homemade edibles: decarb the flower first. Edibles take 30–120 minutes to kick in and last far longer, so start low and wait the full two hours.

How much? New or occasional users: one small puff, then wait 10–15 minutes — energetic sativas can tip into jittery fast. Regular users usually find two or three hits gives the full arc. You can always add more; you can't take it back.

Medicinal Benefits

These are uses consumers report on Leafly, AllBud and Cannigma, not established clinical outcomes. Individual response varies with dose, tolerance and chemotype.

• Stress: the most-cited reason on Leafly, at about 35% of reviewers.
• Anxiety: about 33% on Leafly — but "anxious" is also one of its top negatives, so dose matters.
• Low mood: about 28% of Leafly reviewers mention depression; AllBud also lists PTSD.
• Fatigue and focus: Cannigma notes reports of better focus, which is why it comes up in ADD/ADHD discussions.
• Appetite and nausea: Cannigma lists low appetite and nausea among reported uses.

For a plain-language primer on how terpenes are thought to shape these effects, see Project CBD on terpenes. Nothing here is medical advice, and nothing on this page is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you take prescription medication or have a health condition, talk to your doctor before using any cannabis product.

Side Effects and Cautions

• Dry mouth and dry eyes — the two most common complaints on Leafly.
• Anxiety or paranoia — Leafly lists "anxious," and Cannigma mentions mild paranoia, especially at higher doses.
• Coughing — the namesake. Smaller hits or a vaporizer help.
• Dizziness and headaches — less common, per Cannigma.
• A crash — some users feel lethargic as it wears off.

Does Strawberry Cough make you sleepy? Usually not during the high. Don't drive after using it, and talk to your doctor first if you take prescription medication, are pregnant or nursing, or have a heart condition.

Is Strawberry Cough Top Shelf? How to Judge a Good Bag

• The strawberry test. A real Strawberry Cough smells like fresh berries the moment you open it. Flat, earthy or hay-like flower is old, rushed or mislabeled.
• A current third-party COA naming the lab, with THCA, delta-9 and total THC. Given the 16–26% spread, treat 30%+ claims without paperwork as marketing. Ours are on the lab results page.
• Bright green and orange. Lime-to-spring-green buds with plenty of reddish-orange pistils and visible frost. Brown or dull flower is past its prime.
• A proper cure. Strawberry Cough is harsh even when it's done right; bad drying makes it worse. Cannigma notes it needs a meticulous cure.
• Ask which cut. Clone-only East Coast cut, Dutch Passion seeds or an autoflower? Expect different results from each.

Growing Strawberry Cough

Growers rate Strawberry Cough easy to moderate: forgiving outdoors, a bit fussier indoors.

• Flowering: 63–70 days per Weedmaps; 9–10 weeks indoors per Dutch Passion and Cannigma. Dutch Passion suggests 5–6 weeks of veg, or 14–16 weeks from seed to harvest.
• Yield: 450–550 g/m² on Leafly; about 400 g/m² on average per Dutch Passion; Cannigma says about 1.5 oz per square foot indoors and about 14 oz (around 400 g) per plant outdoors.
• Height and structure: Cannigma says up to about 78 inches (roughly 2 m). Dutch Passion's seed version is shorter, bushier and less stretchy than most sativas. Leafly says it responds well to topping.
• Feeding: medium to heavy feeder per Leafly; Pax says it grows tall with heavy buds when given enough fertilizer.
• Climate: likes warmth — Cannigma says it thrives in humid, tropical conditions, and Pax warns it's sensitive to cold. Watch for caterpillars late in the season outdoors.
• Harvest outdoors: late September to mid-October in the Northern Hemisphere, per Cannigma.
• Curing: take your time. Cannigma says the cure is what trips up indoor beginners, and a slow cure is the best defense against a harsh smoke.

Is Strawberry Cough THCA Flower Legal?

Under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is federally legal when it contains no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis — see the USDA hemp program. THCA flower is sold under that rule. State laws differ and are changing, so check your state before you order. And whatever the label says, THCA flower will show up on a drug test — heated, it is THC.

Shop Premium Flower at Diesel Hemp

• Strawberry 2.1 THCA Flower — our featured pick — sweet strawberry and an upbeat, social high, from $22.
• THCA Flower — the full lineup, grown in Colorado by Diesel Hemp and partner farms.
• THCA Pre-Rolls — the same flower, pre-rolled.
• THCA Small Buds — same genetics, smaller nugs, better price per gram.
• What THCA flower actually is — the encyclopedia explainer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Strawberry Cough indica or sativa?

Strawberry Cough is a sativa-dominant strain. AllBud lists it at about 80% sativa / 20% indica, Leafly calls it a sativa, and Weedmaps a hybrid. It's widely used as a daytime strain.

What is Strawberry Cough a cross of?

The most common listing is Strawberry Fields × Haze. Leafly calls its origins mysterious and Weedmaps says the exact pedigree is disputed, and seed versions such as Dutch Passion's may differ.

Who created Strawberry Cough?

Kyle Kushman made it famous, but he says he didn't breed it. By his account, a hobby grower in Bridgeport, Connecticut made an accidental cross and gave him a clone in 1999. Kushman spread it from New York to California, which is why it's called KKSC.

Why is it called Strawberry Cough?

For its strong, ripe strawberry smell and taste — and for its dense, expanding smoke, which tends to make people cough.

How strong is Strawberry Cough?

Cannigma's lab average is 16.5% THC, Leafly lists 19% and Dutch Passion 15–20%, while Weedmaps says 18–26% and AllBud 22–26%. A classic cut usually lands around 16–22%.

What does Strawberry Cough taste like?

Sweet, ripe strawberry on the inhale, then a herbal, earthy, slightly peppery and skunky exhale. Some phenotypes are spicier with less strawberry.

What are the effects of Strawberry Cough?

Leafly reviewers report uplifted, energetic and happy effects. It's known as a talkative, social, creative daytime high with a light body.

Does Strawberry Cough make you sleepy?

Usually not. It's an energizing sativa, though some people feel tired or lethargic as it wears off.

Is Strawberry Cough good for anxiety?

It's mixed. About 33% of Leafly reviewers say it helps with anxiety, but 'anxious' is also one of its top negatives. Start with a very small dose.

Is Strawberry Cough good for beginners?

With care. Its average THC is moderate, but Verilife doesn't recommend it for beginners because the energetic high and harsh smoke can be a lot. One small hit, then wait.

Did Strawberry Cough win a Cannabis Cup?

Weedmaps credits it with 1st place for best flower at the 2013 High Times Cannabis Cup, and Verilife ties Kyle Kushman to a 2015 Best Sativa Flower placing. Neither is clearly confirmed by an official winners list, so treat them as unofficial.

What terpenes are in Strawberry Cough?

Myrcene leads, followed by pinene and caryophyllene, per Leafly. Cannigma's averages are about 0.8% myrcene, 0.3% pinene, 0.2% caryophyllene and 0.1% humulene. Some cuts test terpinolene-led.

How long does Strawberry Cough take to flower?

About 9–10 weeks (63–70 days) indoors. Outdoors it's usually ready from late September to mid-October.

Where can I buy Strawberry Cough THCA flower online?

Strawberry Cough isn't in the Diesel Hemp shop right now. Our closest everyday pick is Strawberry 2.1 THCA Flower — sweet strawberry, sativa-leaning and upbeat, from $22, third-party lab tested. For strawberry with a mint edge, try Straw Gua Mintz. Add a pre-roll to ship free over $75.

Related Strains

• Nerds — Strawberry Cough × Grape Ape.
• Strawberry Fields — the reported strawberry parent.
• Haze — the sativa parent behind the energetic high.
• Strawberry Diesel — Strawberry Cough × NYC Diesel.
• Strawberry Kush — Strawberry Cough × OG Kush, a more relaxed take.
• Strawberry Lemonade — a descendant Leafly lists.
• Super Lemon Haze — a Haze-family day sativa with a citrus twist.
• Durban Poison — the classic energetic sativa it's compared with.
• Green Crack — another fast, upbeat daytime sativa.
• Strawberry 2.1 — our strawberry-forward, upbeat in-stock pick.
• Browse the Full Diesel Hemp Encyclopedia