Cannabis strains can be separated into two major families, the Indica family and the Sativa family. Indica strains will leave you feeling relaxed, sleepy, hungry and downright chilled out. Sativa on the other hand is known for its ability to stimulate the mind, the creative process and productivity.
Personally I’m a big fan of the cannabis indica strains, they’re my go-to for late night tokes to relieve stress and relax. If I’m going to be smoking during the day and don’t want my energy levels to suffer (too much), I’ll opt for a sativa or sativa dominant hybrid.
Now that we’ve covered the very basics of Indica vs Sativa, let’s take a look at some of the most popular cannabis indica strains in the world.
32 Popular Cannabis Indica Strains
Here’s a brief breakdown of 32 of the most popular indica strains for you to make an informed decision during your next dispensary visit.
Northern Lights
One of the most famous cannabis strains, period. Northern Lights is a purely Indica strain that’s renowned for its ability to flower quickly and produce loads of resin.
Descended from Afghani and Thai landrace cannabis strains, Northern Lights has lent its genetic profile to countless strains on the market today. Enjoy its sweet & spicy aroma with hints of pine while you gently slide into a state of deep relaxation.
Big Bud
This indica strain is well known among cannabis cultivators because of its extremely high yields; hence the name, Big Bud. If you haven’t come across Big Bud directly, chances are you’ve had a strain with some Big Bud genetics in it.
So much more than big beautiful yields, Big Bud’s full body relaxation and earthy aroma will melt away stress and put you on cloud nine.
Hash Plant
Genetics lent from Afghani and Northern Lights gave rise to one of the most popular indica strains to date, Hash Plant. Known for its highly resinous, compact buds that hit hard and immediately.
Hash Plant is often used to create cannabis extracts (including hash) because of its high level of resin. Expect a pungent, often spicy aroma from this potent cannabis strain.
Purple OG Kush
Not only is this indica strain jam packed with cannabis ‘buzzwords’, Purple OG Kush also packs a punch! OG Kush and Purple Kush give Purple OG Kush a grape / berry flavor paired with a piney earthiness.
Save the Purple OG Kush for nighttime tokes as it will leave you feeling sleepy, relaxed and for lack of a better term, hazey.
God Bud
This isn’t a purely indica strain, rather an indica dominant hybrid born from Hawaiian and Purple Skunk strains. God Bud has a wonderful sweet, berry / lavender aroma that emanates from the dense, often purple buds.
Users have reported having a near hallucinogenic high from God Bud, this strain is not for the feint of heart.
Sensi Star
Having been around for quite a while, and appearing in multiple High Times Cannabis Cups, Sensi Star has more than earned a spot on the list of most popular cannabis indica strains.
A light flowery / citrusy aroma make Sensi Star a very appetizing strain that appeals to virtually all cannabis smokers. Capable of quelling feelings of anxiety and stress, Sensi Star will transport you to a crisp, trouble free spring day.
Hindu Kush
A purely indica strain named after the area it originated from, Hindu Kush is a highly resinous strain of cannabis prized by hash makers. Sweet earthy notes give you a sense of how pure and healthful the Hindu Kush strain is. A perfect strain for pain sufferers, relieving stress and offering full body relaxation.
Blueberry
This strain is a legend, pure and simple. Since winning the High Times Cannabis Cup for Best Indica in 2000, Blueberry has become a household name for cannabis connoisseurs. There are multiple factors at work that make Blueberry such a popular indica strain. Blueberry buds develop beautiful purple hues as they grow, it also gives off a robust ‘blueberry-ee’ aroma that will have your mouth watering as soon as you open the bag.
Grape Ape
Here’s a strain for the tokers with a sweet tooth. Grape Ape has a profoundly sweet / grape aroma and taste, don’t let it fool you though, these buds pack a punch!
Prestigious genes from Mendocino Purps, Afghani and Skunk strains give you an idea of what to expect from Grape Ape. It’s no wonder that Grape Ape is one of the most popular indica strains available today.
Purple Urkle
Genetically speaking, Purple Urkle is thought to be very similar to Grape Ape. The grape-like aroma gives you a sense of how closely related these two strains are, sharing genetics with Mendocini Purps and some undisclosed skunky / berry strains.
Purple Urkle’s effects are virtually instantaneous, making it a favorite for before-bed tokes to quell insomnia and anxiety.
Blue Cheese
Berries and Blue Cheese might sound like an odd combo, but these are the unmistakeable aromas emanating from the Blue Cheese indica strain. Blueberry and U.K. Cheese gave birth to the Blue Cheese strain, and it’s as fantastic as it is unique.
Blue Cheese is a heavy hitting indica strain that is perfect for end of the day tokes, relieving pain, stress and anxiety in a flash.
Afgoo
Some might call Afgoo a hybrid strain because one of its parents is Maui Haze, a well known sativa strain. However the other half of the equation is a purely indica Afghani that will leave you locked on the couch and feeling the deeply relaxing effects associated with indica strains.
Enjoy the earthy flavors of Afgoo and some mildly uplifting cerebral effects as the full body high rolls over you.
Purple Kush
Hindu Kush and Purple Afghani came together to give the world one of the most popular indica strains, Purple Kush. This strain has a wonderful earthiness with notes of sweet grape, pretty much exactly what you’d expect from a Purple Kush.
When smoking Purple Kush expect an immediate feeling of relaxation and possible sleepiness.
Afghan Kush
With roots tracing back centuries, Afghan Kush is one of the oldest purely indica strains on the planet. Revered for its densely resinous buds, Afghan Kush is a favorite among hash makers and indica fans alike.
Expect a deeply relaxing and sedative high, a great strain to unwind after a stressful day.
Critical Mass
As the name suggests, the buds on Critical Mass are large and dense. So massive that the branches actually snap from the weight of the buds quite regularly. Born from Afghani and Skunk #1 strains, critical mass is a potent indica with a sweet earthy aroma.
G13
This popular indica strain has a long-lasting relaxing high combined with some sativa-esque cerebral effects. While G13 is quite potent, it won’t leave you totally burnt out after the high is gone, making it a great strain for relaxing day-time tokes.
Afghani
As you might have guessed, this strain was named after the area it originated from. Afghani is a supremely classic cannabis strain that has been used to breed countless other strains we know and love today. Well-known for its high resin content and deeply sedating effects, Afghani is a true indica with plenty of potency.
Rockstar
This strain will rock you to your very core. Born from Rockbud and Sensi Star indica strains, Rockstar is a hard-hitting indica dominant strain that has a powerful yet manageable high. With notes of pine and a spicy earthiness, you get a sense of how powerful Rockstar is before your first puff.
Chocolate Chunk
The sweet earthy aroma is reminiscent of delicious dark chocolate, hence the name Chocolate Chunk. True to its indica roots, expect a deep feeling of relaxation and heavy dose of couch lock when enjoying Chocolate Chunk. Be sure to have some munchies on hand.
Death Star OG
While Death Star OG is an indica strain, its sativa roots give users a more manageable high than one might expect. Expect to feel relaxed and blissful without an overwhelming couch-lock effect.
Godfather OG
Winner of the 2013 High Times Cannabis Cup for Best Indica, Godfather OG lives up to its name. Like other OG strains, expect a powerful sedative high and pain relieving properties.
There’s an earthy-sweetness to Godfather OG, with some subtle pine notes similar to a kush strain. Born from XXX OG and Alpha OG, Godfather OG is not a strain to be taken lightly.
Jr
Named for the popular herbal alcoholic beverage Jagermeister, Jr has a subtle black licorice aroma under the pungent earthiness. The effects of Jr are both relaxing and sedating while offering full body pain relief.
Super Skunk
The parents of Super Skunk are the well-known Afghani and Skunk #1 cannabis strains. This indica dominant strain delivers thicks, dense buds with a shockingly sweet aroma. Like the name suggests, you should expect a very pungent skunky aroma coupled with the sweet earthiness.
Granddaddy Purple
A couple of the most popular indica strains, Purple Urkle and Big Bud gave the world a third extremely popular indica, Granddaddy Purple (GDP). The robust grape / berry aroma coupled with the vibrantly colored buds make Granddaddy Purple a fan favorite.
Expect a feeling of deep physical relaxation coupled with a blissful cerebral high. The tell tale signs of cannabis indica are clearly evident, GDP can bring about a serious case of couch lock.
LA Confidential
An extraordinarily well-known indica strain that offers a smooth piney / skunky flavor profile that isn’t overwhelming whatsoever. LA Confidential can be pretty powerful, but the well-rounded effects and mild flavor make it a great choice for new MMJ patients.
Master Kush
Pairing two landrace indica strains from the Hindu Kush area produced one of the best indica strains on the planet. Master Kush offers the full body relaxation that most indicas are known for, however it won’t leave you feeling foggy and tired like most other indicas. In fact, many users report feeling a sense of mental acuity / sharpness after enjoying some Master Kush.
White Rhino
Known for its high THC levels, White Rhino has its parents to thank for its heavy hitting properties. White Widow is a popular hybrid strain that usually tops the charts when it comes to THC, pair that with an undisclosed North American Indica strain and we have ourselves a White Rhino. It’s a favorite among medical marijuana patients because of the high levels cannabinoids and deeply relaxing effects.
Romulan
We covered White Rhino, now it’s time we discuss its o-so popular offspring, Romulan. Its potent parents gave Romulan the unique ability to offer a complete full-body calm coupled with a powerful cerebral high. Named after the alien race in Star Trek, Romulan is a heavy hitting indica beloved by medical patients.
Yoda OG
While we’re on the subject of sci-fi strains we couldn’t help but mention Yoda OG, a descendant of OG Kush. Expect a feeling of sedation and happiness perfect for dealing with insomnia or anxiety. The powerful high will have less seasoned tokers feeling burnt out if you are partaking in daytime tokes.
Pennywise
High THC strains often hog the spotlight, but it’s good to know that there are some high CBD strains topping the charts as well. Pennywise is a high CBD indica strain with a 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC. Unlike some other high CBD strains that have virtually no THC, Pennywise is a great choice for individuals looking for mild cerebral effects coupled with the healing effects of CBD.
God’s Gift
It wasn’t so much God as it was Granddaddy Purple and OG Kush that gave the world this potent / flavorful indica. God’s Gift has vibrant notes of grape, citrus and hash that makes it an absolute delight to the senses. The high THC content makes it a heavyweight contender in the cannabis indica ring, great for medical users.
Mango
The current Mango strain we know and love started back in 1991, but Mango has been around in some form of another since the 1960’s. It’s prized for its enormous buds and vibrantly colored foliage. The unmistakable aroma of fresh mango made naming this strain a breeze and smoking it one of the most pleasurable activities you could think of. Transport yourself to a tropical beach and relax with this tantalizing indica.
What’s your favorite indica strain?
