What makes a dab great? Flavor. Dabs are delicious, and that’s why we love them.
And it’s terpenes that make a cannabis strain tasty. Terpene-rich strains are the ones that make dabbing a truly mind-blowing experience.
Sure, we all love tetrahydrocannabinol—that THC that gets us high. It’s at higher levels in dabs, no pun intended, so they’re all that much more fun.
But it’s the terpenes that make a dab smell and taste mouth-watering. If you love a sweet, candy-like strain, or a fruity, tart, juicy cultivar, or a peppery, hashy flavor is more your thing—we’ve got you covered.
In this post, we’ll cover the 10 terpiest, tastiest strains for dabbing out there right now.
- Banana Kush
- Blue Dream
- Bruce Banner
- Dutch Treat
- Monster Cheese
- Purple Punch
- Strawberry Cough
- Super Lemon Haze
- Tangie
- Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies
Terpene Breakdown
Before we start, keep in mind that terpenes basically have these scent and flavor profiles:
Beta-caryophyllene: spicy, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, woody
Humulene: hops, earthy, woody, basil, coriander
Limonene: citrus, fruit rinds, juniper, rosemary
Linalool: lavender, floral
Myrcene: herbal, earthy, musky, cardamom, cloves, lemongrass, thyme
Ocimene: sweet, minty, basil, parsley, kumquats, mangoes, orchids
Pinene: pine, basil, dill, rosemary, parsley
Terpinolene: floral, piney, herbal, apples, conifers, cumin, lilacs, nutmeg, tea tree
Banana Kush
Dominant terpenes: Myrcene; beta-caryophyllene; pinene
For those in search of flavor, Banana Kush is a fan favorite. This terpene-rich strain is the balanced hybrid result of breeding Ghost OG and Skunk Haze.
This strain is relaxing, uplifting, and euphoric, making it perfect for fun conversation and social interactions without stress. Named for its intense taste and smell, Banana Kush delivers a tropical vibe through a strong, notable flavor and aroma of fresh, ripe bananas from start to finish. This smooth strain is sweet and earthy, so easy to dab.
Runner up: Lemon Skunk
Blue Dream
Dominant terpenes: Myrcene; pinene; beta-caryophyllene
Sometimes things are popular for a reason. Blue Dream is a tasty, easy to use strain that is flavorful thanks to being a big producer of terpenes. The “blue” in Blue Dream comes from parent strain Blueberry, and Blue Dream produces the same fragrance and taste of fresh, wild blueberries as its mother.
But there’s more to this dabbing experience, in the form of pungent, earthy notes from its Haze ancestry, plus just a touch of sweet vanilla flavor.
This slightly sativa dominant hybrid is perfect for all day use, waking and baking—or dabbing!—or just when you need a quick shot of focus or chronic pain relief.
Runner up: Pie Face OG
Bruce Banner
Dominant terpenes: Myrcene; beta-caryophyllene; limonene
When you feel like smashing something, break open a dab of Bruce Banner instead. This strain is an energizing, sativa-dominant hybrid of OG Kush and Strawberry Diesel. Known for high THC levels, Bruce Banner is also celebrated for rich terpene production and a buzz that will supercharge you for hours.
The taste of Bruce Banner is a strong citrus, but not as lemony and sweet it smells, actually. On the palate when dabbing, Bruce Banner is still citrusy, but also earthier with elements of diesel in there for complexity. Users love Bruce Banner for treating chronic pain, depression, headaches, and stress, not to mention sparking creativity and feeling happier.
Runner up: Sundae Driver
Dutch Treat
Dominant terpenes: Terpinolene; myrcene; ocimene
Dabbing Dutch Treat opens up a truly unique flavor profile to many users. But for those of us who love and seek out terpinolene dominant strains, it’s a home run. Dutch Treat provides a delightful, sweet taste and distinctive pine aroma that is the direct result of being a heavy terpinolene strain.
Of the most common terpenes found in cannabis, terpinolene is the least frequently expressed, and can be hard to find in a dominant way. Usually terpinolene is secondary or tertiary in strains where it occurs, which is why few strains dab like Dutch Treat does. Adding to the rarity of the Dutch Treat experience is the presence of ocimene, another rare terpene—and one that we love and think is amazing in combination with terpinolene.
Together, these flavors of tangy pine, tart but sweet lemon candy, and uplifting herbs like pepper, mint, and sage generate a complex fragrance that makes Dutch Treat an irresistible dab.
Runner up: Green Dragon
Monster Cheese
Dominant terpenes: Myrcene; beta-caryophyllene; limonene; pinene
The love child of two seriously heavy hitting strains—Critical Mass and Cheese—Monster Cheese has a shockingly delicious flavor. It ranges from fruity and sweet to actually cheesy, in the most pleasant way. In fact, it is reminiscent of a nice fruit and cheese platter—no kidding.
This well-balanced hybrid leans just slightly to the indica side. Expect to taste lemon and other citrus flavors, tropical mango notes, and even hints of berry, all followed by cheesey, earthy tones. There is also a very old school, traditional skunk flavor here, not to mention some high THC levels. Very tasty dabbing.
Runner up: OG Kush
Purple Punch
Dominant terpenes: Beta-caryophyllene; limonene
No list of tasty dabs is complete without some kind of sweet candy strain—and this is ours. Purple Punch was developed by crossing Larry OG and Grandaddy Purple. Thanks to being so terpene-rich, Purple Punch is among the most aromatic strains, with a strong, sweet flavor of fruity, grape candy to match.
Reminiscent of fresh-baked blueberry muffins and grape Kool-Aid, Purple Punch delivers a sensory experience that is second to none, particularly if you have a sweet tooth. If you were a fan of that old grape soda back in the day, Purple Punch will hit you like an herbal version of your favorite old treat.
Dabbing this indica-dominant strain also means inviting sheer relaxation, so no matter how delicious it may be—and it is—save Purple Punch for times when you want profound relaxation and your daily responsibilities have already been covered. In fact, if you’re hoping to enjoy some flavor-packed dabbing before bed, Purple Punch’s deeply soothing effects are perfect.
Runner up: Gorilla Glue 1 or GG1, also called Sister Glue
Strawberry Cough
Dominant terpenes: Myrcene; pinene; beta-caryophyllene
This is a classic, sativa good mood jam, no question. But this creativity-boosting, uplifting strain is also among the world’s most famous in terms of flavor, and for good reason.
Originating from a lone clone that grew near a wild strawberry field, Strawberry Cough matured into an award-winning, famous winner. Its time near the fields imparted an unmistakable aroma of rich, earthy soil and fresh, ripe berries that makes for a high-quality dabbing experience every time.
Perfect for a slow morning that needs to speed up, or for mild depression, Strawberry Cough is a winner for dabbing.
Runner up: Bubble Gum
Super Lemon Haze
Dominant terpenes: Terpinolene; beta-caryophyllene; limonene; ocimene
Ahhh, we love the smell of Super Lemon Haze in the morning! Limonene and terpinolene are an unbeatable morning combination, and when you add in ocimene, you might as well be unstoppable in terms of flavor.
Yes, smells and tastes can be inspiring—ask anyone who loves their morning coffee. A strain packed with these terpenes delivers lemony, peppery, minty goodness times ten, and this flavor profile keeps Super Lemon Haze popular year after year.
Now that dabbing is more and more popular, we fully expect the strain to become a classic. Between the sharp, crisp pine of its Super Silver Haze ancestor and the sweet, skunky Lemon Skunk roots, Super Lemon Haze has a depth of flavor and scent that few strains can match.
Runner up: Grapefruit
Tangie
Dominant terpenes: Myrcene; pinene; beta-caryophyllene
Tangie is one of those strains that experienced cannabis breeders created to smell and taste good—and it worked, bigtime. Just in terms of flavor, there are few strains that reliably deliver like Tangie.
The Tangie dab will fill your nose with the delightful aroma of citrus zest and fresh fruit, elevating your mood and mindset. But Tangie isn’t just a sweet and pretty face, also packing in tart and refreshing notes along with the sweet smells so it doesn’t get cloying, ever—and there are even hints of Skunk adding more complexity thanks to this strain’s genetics.
Wake and dab with Tangie; highly recommended.
Runner up: Pineapple OG
Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies
Dominant terpenes: Beta-caryophyllene; limonene; pinene
Honestly, the madness over Cookies strains has mostly escaped us—except for this tasty baby. Thin Mint GSC is a great strain for flavor.
A cross of OG Kush and Durban Poison, this strain brings heavy hitting genetics to the table—but none of the stronger or harder to take elements in the taste of either strain, notably. The result is a sweet, satisfying minty flavor with a crisp, fresh pine aftertaste. Very nice dab!
Runner up: Kush Mint Cookies
Final Thoughts on the 10 Best Strains for Dabbing
There you have it: our 10 best strains for dabbing on the market right now. These are flavor powerhouses that smell as delicious as they taste, and they will keep you coming back for more from the first dab to the last.