Zkittlez Strain

Zkittlez Strain: The Candy-Sweet Indica Hybrid That Tastes the Rainbow

The Zkittlez strain is the grape-and-berry candy indica that launched a whole generation of fruit strains. Bred in Northern California from Grape Ape, Grapefruit and a third parent nobody has ever named, it took first at the 2016 Emerald Cup, became a parent of Runtz, and smells so much like a bag of fruit candy that the candy company sued. Since a 2023 settlement, the original cut is sold as The Original Z, or just "Z."

The high matches the flavor — happy, calm and clear-headed rather than knockout heavy, with a relaxed body that builds slowly. For candy-fruit flower you can order today, start with our THCA flower collection.

It's also a strain the internet gets confused about. Published THC numbers run from about 14% to 26%, sources disagree on the dominant terpene, and at least three breeding outfits get credit. Below: what the databases and lab averages actually say, the award record, the lawsuit, how the high unfolds, the Z family tree, how to grow it, and how to judge a bag.

Zkittlez Strain Genetics & Lineage

• Type: Indica-dominant hybrid. AllBud lists a 70/30 indica ratio and notes it "varies based on breeder practices"; Leafly files it as an indica hybrid that's "mostly calming"; Weedmaps just says hybrid.
• Ancestry: Grape Ape × Grapefruit, crossed with an undisclosed third strain. Leafly calls the lineage "alleged."
• Breeders: Leafly says Z was popularized by Terp Hogz (Fields and Tony Mendo) with 3rd Gen Family's Brandon Parker. The Cannigma credits 3rd Gen Family and Terp Hogz, and also Shiloh Massive of Dying Breed Seeds in Mendocino.
• THC: roughly 14–26% depending on the source — see the potency section below.
• CBD: negligible. The Cannigma's lab average is 0.04% CBD and 0.54% CBG; Leafly lists 1% CBG.
• Aliases: The Original Z, Z, Zlz (Leafly); Zkittles, Zkittles OG, Skittles and Skittlez (Weedmaps, Cannigma).

What each parent brings

• Grape Ape — Mendocino Purps × Skunk × Afghani from Apothecary Genetics, per Leafly. A mostly-indica, myrcene-forward grape strain. It's the likely source of the grape candy, the relaxed body and the occasional purple flecks.
• Grapefruit — Cinderella 99 × an unknown landrace sativa, per Leafly. Energetic, uplifted and focused, with a grapefruit-citrus nose. That's where the tart citrus finish and the clear head come from.
• The mystery parent — never named. The Cannigma quotes Brandon Parker saying the mother was pollinated while growing indoors with no male present. Leafly's origin story credits a grower known only as "Gas Station Bob." Neither detail has been confirmed beyond those interviews.

The award record

• 2014 Emerald Cup: 5th place, per The Cannigma.
• 2015 High Times Cannabis Cups (San Francisco and Michigan): 1st place Best Indica, per AllBud and Weedmaps. Leafly says only that it "placed."
• 2016 Emerald Cup: 1st place. AllBud's 2016 roundup says the winning entry was grown by the Dookie Brothers from 3rd Gen Family genetics.
• 2023 King of Z Hill: 1st place, per Leafly.
• 2023 Emerald Cup, Rosin: a Fullymelted × Alien Labs Zkittlez live rosin took 1st in Solventless Rosin on Weedmaps' published winners list — proof the cultivar still washes at the top level.

Phenotypes and cuts

Weedmaps notes that Phylos Bioscience analyzed a Wonderland Nursery cut in 2016 and found moderate genetic variation — which helps explain why one jar of "Zkittlez" tastes like grape soda and the next like grapefruit and pepper. Seed versions from many seed banks are often re-creations, not the clone-only Terp Hogz cut, so expect more spread from seed.

Zkittlez Strain Terpene Profile

This is where most guides get it wrong. The best data we found — The Cannigma's lab average across multiple sources — puts caryophyllene on top at 0.46%, then myrcene at 0.38%, humulene at 0.19% and pinene at 0.16%. Leafly also names caryophyllene as dominant, with linalool and humulene behind it. Caryophyllene is the one with real research interest: a 2008 PNAS study identified beta-caryophyllene as a "dietary cannabinoid" that binds CB2 receptors.

• Caryophyllene: The pepper under the candy. Leafly's most memorable reviewer line nails it: "Good Z will literally taste like a bag of Skittles with some pepper sprinkled in."
• Myrcene: Ripe fruit and earth — likely inherited from the myrcene-forward Grape Ape — and part of why the body relaxes as the high goes on.
• Linalool: A floral, lavender-sweet note Leafly lists as secondary. Our previous version of this page called it dominant; the lab averages don't support that, so we've corrected it.
• Humulene and pinene: Woody, hoppy and piney background notes that keep the sweetness from turning syrupy.

Notice what's missing: no single "grape" or "candy" terpene. The fruit-candy effect comes from the whole blend — plus esters and other minor aroma compounds — which is also why the flavor is loudest in fresh flower and live rosin and fades fast in a badly cured jar. One JointCommerce guide lists myrcene, caryophyllene and limonene instead; it cites no lab data.

Appearance

Zkittlez isn't the prettiest strain on the shelf, and that's okay. AllBud describes large, lumpy, pepper-shaped nugs in dark olive green, with sparse amber hairs and a frosty coat of tiny white trichomes. Weedmaps calls the buds dense and round with dark orange-to-amber pistils. Some phenotypes show purple flecks — The Cannigma mentions purple, orange and light green — likely from the Grape Ape side. Westword's reviewer found big, loose buds that are hard to trim and look plain next to newer strains, then added: "Don't let the average looks turn you away, though."

Aroma and Flavor

Open a jar of good Z and it smells like a bag of fruit candy — grape, mixed berry and tropical citrus first, with earthy and herbal notes underneath and very little pine or diesel. AllBud's tasters describe a sweet berry taste with a crisp tropical citrus aftertaste that lingers. Leafly's flavor tags are grapefruit, grape and berry; Weedmaps' users report berry (43%), sweet (33%) and earthy (24%).

On the smoke it usually goes like this:

• Inhale: grape and berry candy.
• Middle: sour grapefruit citrus, with a pinch of black pepper.
• Finish: tropical — Westword's reviewer picked out papaya, others mention pineapple and mango — with an earthy, almost hash-like base and a hint of leather.

Good Zkittlez smokes smooth and easy on the throat. Several AllBud reviewers say weaker cuts taste faint or "generic," and that's the clearest sign of a tired phenotype or a poor cure.

Recreational Effects

Zkittlez is a calm-and-happy strain, not a couch-lock one. On Leafly, where it holds a 4.5 rating from more than 1,000 reviews, the top-reported effects are relaxed, sleepy and hungry. Weedmaps' users report relaxed (46%), happy (32%) and sleepy (22%). The arc most people describe:

• Happy and euphoric: AllBud describes an uplifting head buzz that's "euphoric and creatively inspiring," without anxiety.
• Clear-headed: one Leafly reviewer calls it "a totally clean high with incredible clarity, focus." Westword's reviewer felt euphoric and curious with wit and critical thinking intact.
• Relaxed body: a calming body buzz that, per AllBud, doesn't limit movement — you can still cook dinner or hold a conversation.
• Hungry: a light case of the munchies is common.
• Sleepy, eventually: mild drowsiness on the comedown, heavier at higher doses.

How the high unfolds: onset, peak and duration

• First 10–15 minutes: a cheerful mood lift and a quieter mind.
• 15–45 minutes: the peak — happy, social, lightly euphoric — while body relaxation builds over about half an hour.
• 1–3 hours: a slow settle into calm and, for many people, drowsiness. A few AllBud reviewers call it mild or short-lived, so stronger cuts matter.

It has a nighttime reputation, but Westword's reviewer uses it during the day for stress. Treat it as a late-afternoon or evening strain unless you know your tolerance.

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

How Strong Is Zkittlez?

Zkittlez is moderate to strong — and the published numbers are all over the map:

• The Cannigma (lab average from multiple sources): 14.18% THC.
• AllBud: 13–15% listed, though reviewers report phenotypes testing over 20%.
• Leafly: 20% THC, "higher THC than average."
• Cheef Botanicals: 18–24%.
• JointCommerce: 17–25% on flower labels at nine dispensaries.
• Weedmaps: 17–26%.

The low lab average likely reflects older and seed-grown versions; modern clone-only cuts on dispensary shelves usually label in the high teens to mid 20s. Either way, Z built its name on flavor, not raw THC. If you're new, that moderate reputation makes it more forgiving than most dessert strains — but a strong cut is still a strong cut.

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 Zkittlez against the 14–26% 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.

Zkittlez vs The Original Z: Why the Name Changed

Strain names borrowed from brands tend to attract lawyers — Girl Scout Cookies became GSC for the same reason. In May 2021, Mars Wrigley, the maker of Skittles, sued Terphogz, the Mendocino County company behind Zkittlez, for trademark infringement in federal court in Chicago. Wrigley sought $250,000 and demanded that the company never use the letter Z on its own.

Per Ganjapreneur's report on the settlement, the case settled in July 2023 with no damages paid. Terphogz agreed to stop using the "Zkittlez" name and its circle-Z branding, renamed the strain The Original Z, and kept its Z logo. Its statement noted it had used the mark "for over 10 years with no complaints from the candy maker." That's why Leafly's page now reads "The Original Z," why you'll see "Z" on menus, and why some growers still sell the same genetics under the old name. When you see Original Z, Z or Zkittlez, it's the same cultivar family.

The brand also had commercial weight: The Cannigma cites a 2020 joint-venture announcement with Halo Labs claiming Zkittlez commanded a price premium of 20% or more over other strains.

The Zkittlez Family Tree: Runtz and Beyond

Z may be more important as a parent than as a strain. A partial list of its descendants:

• Runtz — Zkittlez × Gelato, from Cookies Fam per Leafly. The most famous child, and the parent of White Runtz, Pink Runtz and the rest of the Runtz family.
• Gruntz — also Zkittlez × Gelato, per Cheef Botanicals.
• Moonbow — The Original Z × Do-Si-Dos from Archive, per SeedFinder. Moonbow in turn led to Oishii and, crossed back to Z, Rainbow Beltz.
• Zushi — Z × Kush Mints, a mintier, gassier take.
• Watermelon Zkittlez — a melon-candy spin, and a parent of Melonade (× Lemon Tree).
• Candy Fumez — Z × Sherbanger, candy with a gassy edge.
• Blue Nerds and White Runtz — both listed as Original Z offspring on Leafly.
• Rozé — bred from Zkittlez for a rose-water aroma, 2nd at the 2017 Emerald Cup, per The Cannigma.
• Blue, Orange and Gorilla Zkittlez — crosses with Blue Diamond, Agent Orange and Gorilla Glue, per The Cannigma. Westword adds Banana, Bubblegum, GMO, Mango, Platinum and Sour Zkittlez to the list of offshoots.

Rule of thumb: if a modern strain smells like fruit candy, there's a decent chance Z is somewhere in its pedigree.

Zkittlez vs Similar Strains

• vs Runtz: the child. Runtz adds Gelato's cream and a stronger, more balanced high; Zkittlez is fruitier, more grape-forward and calmer.
• vs Grape Ape: the parent. Grape Ape is all grape and body; Zkittlez adds citrus brightness and a clearer head.
• vs Gushers: another fruit-candy favorite, with a tropical-punch nose and a heavier, gassier backbone from its Triangle Kush side.
• vs Purple Urkle: grape and purple, but an older, heavier, sleepier indica.
• vs Lemon Cherry Gelato: candy-fruit too, but cherry-citrus and creamier, with more gas. It's on our shelf — Lemon Cherry Gelato THCA Flower.
• vs Strawberry 2.1 and Straw Gua Mintz: our in-stock fruit picks, and honestly not twins. Straw Gua Mintz shares the candy-sweet fruit-first nose but runs strawberry-guava with a cool mint finish and a brighter, sativa-leaning high. Want something sweeter and more dessert? Dayglow Mousse is the call.

Who Zkittlez Is (and Isn't) For

Good fit: fruit and candy flavor fans, evening smokers who want to unwind without being glued to the couch, social sessions, and newer users looking for a moderate, friendly strain.

Poor fit: anyone who wants a racing, energetic daytime sativa, and heavy-tolerance smokers chasing raw potency — Z is about flavor first. For a candy-fruit flower on our shelf, Straw Gua Mintz is the pick, from $29.

How to Use Zkittlez 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 best way to taste the grape and berry. Keep it around 350–380°F to preserve the fruit and linalool; 390–410°F brings out the caryophyllene pepper and a heavier body.
• 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 or two small puffs, then wait 15 minutes. Regular users usually find two or three hits gives the full happy-then-calm arc. With rosin, start with a rice-grain-sized dab. You can always add more; you can't take it back.

Medicinal Benefits

These are uses consumers report on Leafly and AllBud, not established clinical outcomes. Cannabis is not an FDA-approved medicine, and individual response varies with dose, tolerance and chemotype.

• Anxiety and stress: the top reasons on Leafly — about 25% of reviewers cite anxiety and 24% stress. AllBud's description notes an uplift "without anxiety."
• Low mood: about 20% of Leafly reviewers mention depression.
• Mild pain and tension: AllBud lists chronic pain, headaches and inflammation; the relaxed body is the usual reason.
• Sleep: AllBud lists insomnia, and "sleepy" is a top Leafly effect — mostly at higher doses.
• Appetite: "hungry" is one of Leafly's top three reported effects.

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 most common complaints on Leafly and The Cannigma. Westword's reviewer mentions red, sunken eyes.
• Headache — a top-three negative on Leafly.
• Dizziness — listed by The Cannigma, more likely at high doses.
• Drowsiness — fine at night, not great before a long drive or a work call.

Is Zkittlez good for sleep? It can help at a higher dose, but it's more "relaxed and happy" than sedating. 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 Zkittlez Top Shelf? How to Judge a Good Bag

• Ask for the cut. The Terp Hogz / Original Z clone is the documented one. Seed versions vary a lot, and many "Zkittlez" seeds are re-creations.
• A current third-party COA naming the lab, with THCA, delta-9 and total THC. Treat 30%+ claims without paperwork as marketing. Ours are on the lab results page.
• Candy and pepper. Real Z smells like grape and berry candy with a peppery edge. Flat, earthy or hay-like flower is old, mislabeled or badly cured.
• Frost over flash. Dark olive buds with amber hairs and a white trichome coat are normal; Z doesn't need to be purple to be good.
• A proper cure — the fruit fades fast. If the jar smells like grass, it was rushed.

Growing Zkittlez

Sources disagree on difficulty — The Cannigma calls it easy, Leafly medium to difficult, Cheef Botanicals medium — so plan for a moderate grow.

• Flowering: 56–63 days per Weedmaps; 7–10 weeks per The Cannigma; 8–10 weeks per Leafly; 9–10 weeks per Cheef Botanicals.
• Height and structure: compact — short to medium, especially in soil, per Leafly and Weedmaps.
• Yield: medium per Leafly. The Cannigma lists about 1.2 oz per square foot indoors and 16–17 oz or more per plant outdoors; Cheef Botanicals says 16–21 oz/m² indoors and 21–28 oz per plant outdoors.
• Climate: warm, sunny and dry, per The Cannigma; Cheef Botanicals recommends 70–80°F. Outdoors in the Northern Hemisphere, harvest is around October.
• Training: low-stress training and a screen (SCROG) keep the compact canopy even. Expect to spend time trimming — Westword's reviewer calls the loose buds hard to trim.
• Seeds: regular, feminized and autoflower versions are sold by many seed banks; the original Terp Hogz cut is clone-only.

Is Zkittlez 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

• Straw Gua Mintz THCA Flower — our featured pick — candy-sweet strawberry-guava with a cool mint finish, from $29.
• 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 Zkittlez indica or sativa?

Zkittlez is an indica-dominant hybrid. AllBud lists it as 70% indica and 30% sativa, and Leafly calls its effects mostly calming. Most people use it in the late afternoon or evening.

What is Zkittlez a cross of?

Grape Ape × Grapefruit, crossed with an undisclosed third strain. The breeders have never named the third parent, and Leafly calls the lineage 'alleged.'

Is Zkittlez the same as The Original Z?

Yes. After Skittles maker Mars Wrigley sued in 2021, Terphogz settled in July 2023 and renamed the strain The Original Z. Menus also call it Z, Zkittles or Skittlez.

Who bred Zkittlez?

Terp Hogz and 3rd Gen Family in Northern California are credited, with Dying Breed Seeds also named. Leafly's origin story credits a grower known as 'Gas Station Bob.'

How strong is Zkittlez?

Published THC runs from a 14.18% lab average (The Cannigma) to 20% on Leafly and up to 26% on Weedmaps. Modern clone-only cuts usually label in the high teens to mid 20s.

What does Zkittlez taste like?

Grape and berry candy on the inhale, sour grapefruit in the middle and a tropical, slightly peppery finish. One Leafly reviewer says good Z tastes like 'a bag of Skittles with some pepper sprinkled in.'

What are the effects of Zkittlez?

Leafly users report relaxed, sleepy and hungry; Weedmaps users report relaxed, happy and sleepy. Most describe a happy, clear-headed lift followed by a calm body that rarely turns into couch-lock.

What terpenes are in Zkittlez?

Caryophyllene leads, followed by myrcene, humulene and pinene in The Cannigma's lab average. Leafly also lists linalool.

Is Zkittlez the parent of Runtz?

Yes. Leafly lists Runtz as Zkittlez × Gelato, bred by Cookies Fam. Gruntz, Moonbow, Zushi and Candy Fumez also come from Z.

What awards has Zkittlez won?

1st place at the 2016 Emerald Cup, 1st Best Indica at the 2015 High Times Cannabis Cups in San Francisco and Michigan, 5th at the 2014 Emerald Cup, and 1st at the 2023 King of Z Hill.

Is Zkittlez good for sleep?

It can help at higher doses — 'sleepy' is a top Leafly effect — but it's more relaxed and happy than sedating at a normal dose.

Is Zkittlez good for anxiety?

About 25% of Leafly reviewers say it helps with anxiety and 24% with stress, and AllBud describes an uplift 'without anxiety.' Keep the dose low if you're sensitive to THC.

Is Zkittlez good for beginners?

Generally, yes. Its calm, happy effects are forgiving, though some modern cuts test in the mid 20s. Start with one small hit and wait 15 minutes.

How long does Zkittlez take to flower?

About 8–10 weeks. Weedmaps lists 56–63 days and The Cannigma 7–10 weeks. Plants stay short to medium and yield moderately.

Where can I buy Zkittlez THCA flower online?

Zkittlez isn't in the Diesel Hemp shop right now. Our closest candy-fruit pick is Straw Gua Mintz THCA Flower — strawberry-guava sweetness with a cool mint finish, from $29, third-party lab tested. It's brighter and more upbeat than Z, so for a calmer dessert-fruit option try Dayglow Mousse. Add a pre-roll to ship free over $75.

Related Strains

• GSC (Girl Scout Cookies)
• Fruity Pebbles OG
• Candy Punch
• Black Runtz
• Zoap
• Rainbow Runtz
• Bolo Runtz
• Candy Runtz
• Lantz
• Zerbert
• Grape Runtz
• Banana Runtz
• Scented Marker
• Watermelon Mimosa — Watermelon Zkittlez × Jesus OG.
• Runtz — Zkittlez × Gelato — Z's most famous child.
• Grape Ape — the grape-forward indica parent.
• Grapefruit — the citrus sativa parent.
• Moonbow — The Original Z × Do-Si-Dos from Archive.
• Gruntz — another Zkittlez × Gelato cross.
• Watermelon Zkittlez — the melon-candy spin on Z.
• Zushi — Z × Kush Mints — mint and gas over candy.
• Candy Fumez — Z × Sherbanger, candy with a gassy edge.
• White Runtz — a Leafly-listed Original Z descendant.
• Browse the Full Diesel Hemp Encyclopedia