Making your own edibles isn’t always an easy task: you can’t simply add flowers to your flour and call it a day. Often, it takes patience and know-how (but, hey, that’s why Al Gore invented the internet in the first place). Still, whether you’re interested in making brownies or biscuits or a zesty Italian cream sauce with a little more zing, you need your main ingredient: so, which strains do you use? Some may be better than others.

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Sativa Strains versus Indica Strains

Anyone who’s compared and contrasted ingesting an edible versus smoking a bowl knows that the high is very different: nine out of ten stoners agree that oral ingestion is a more powerful experience. It lasts longer too and is often described as fuller-bodied.Fork in a cup of weed This may or may not be super awesome, depending on whether you’re preparing a formal dinner for your in-laws later that evening. It might also not be accurate: just like some people find that tequila makes their clothes fall off, pot affects everyone differently. Even though ingestion is a bit of a gamble in terms of potency (whether you choose sativa or indica), there are a few things that help determine how the high hits: your tolerance, your metabolism, your weight, and whether your most recent meal was a T-bone steak or a Tic-Tac. Your choice in strain also results in different types of highs.

The proverbial joint task force on marijuana consumerism reveals that most users find sativa strains uplifting and creative while indicas are relaxing and sedating.

Some people don’t agree with these conclusions, particularly when it comes to ingesting over inhaling. This makes sativa dominant strains versus indica dominant strains a bit of a crapshoot: you may definitely prefer one over the other or you might not be able to tell much of a difference at all.

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The Homogeneous Factor of Homemade Edibles

Banana Bread One discrepancy worth noting is that homemade edibles aren’t typically uniform in their potency: one piece of banana bread may be strong while another, from the same loaf, may get you about as high as a baby aspirin. There are ways to help make your bake with a bit more homogeneity, but using strains with lower THC, at least when you’re a novice, is a smart idea.

Try strains with THC levels around 10% (or lower) and stay away from the ones approaching 20%.

You may also have some things on hand to bring you down in case you get a little too high: a jar of pine nuts, a few balls of black pepper, and the movie Beaches might help.

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Strains Worth Trying in Your Edibles

Soliciting advice from the budtender at your local pot shop is always a good idea before getting out the mixing bowl and measuring cup. Tell them the specifics you’re seeking. Stains that allow you to mellow out on your couch and veg for 1 to 8 hours or strains that’ll help get you through your term paper on the Industrial Revolution are very different. Any worker worth their salt, and their shake, should be able to help direct you towards the right flowers. Choosing the right strain is also important it could change the flavor and aroma of your finished product. Some strains have a citrus aroma, while others, like Gorilla Glue #4, are known for coffee and chocolate aromas.  There are so many strains, it can be overwhelming to choose the one that's right for you. We offer a few strains worthy of inviting into your kitchen: Skywalker Dominated by indica, this strain is very relaxing and, often, sleep inducing: it’s probably not something you want to use if you’re headed out for a night on the town. But, if you have a date with your futon, it’s a wonderful third wheel. It does contain some sativa, so you won’t be too hazed and confused. Trainwreck A very popular strain for recreational users, this train ride is very high in sativa. It elicits euphoria and satisfaction. It’s also a potent painkiller for things like arthritis. The high hits hard, leaving happiness and laughter in its tracks. Blue dream NugBlue Dream Yep, sativa dominant once more, this strain originated in the 90210 (actually, it just originated in California but 90210 is funnier). It’s very popular on the West Coast and offers a full-body relaxation. The euphoria it elicits is subtle: you’ll be happy and you’ll know it but your face might not surely show it. Purple Power Sativa, sativa, all around: this strain offers a high that comes on strong and fast. Some people trip on visual effects (and then, possibly, on the real-life tennis shoes they left in the middle of the living room). It’s also deeply relaxing, but, like Orange Crush, something you might not want to try until you’ve got a little experience under your belt. Super Lemon Haze Zesty and citrusy, this strain is conducive to energy and vivacity. It’s a good strain for anyone truly looking to kick back and have fun. If you’re in the mood for a quiet night in, it might offer a little too much get-up-and-go. But, if you’re ready to rock and roll, try some Super Lemon Haze in your lemon meringue. White Widow It’s hard to talk about popular strains without a shout out to the White Widow: What’s up, WW? Uh, sorry about your husband?? A favorite among marijuana users, it’s been around for a while (since the olden days of the 1990s). It’s quite potent, with euphoric and peppy properties, and an apt choice to try before engaging in anything creative or conversational in nature. Orange CrushMarijuana Flower  Another sativa dominant strain, it gets its name from its sweet flavor (and, also, it’s a Denver Bronco fan). The effect is very cerebral and certain flowers are quite high in THC. If you’re new to edibles, beware of this and maybe put it on your wish list, rather than in your cake dish. The above is a good place to start if you’re baking and cooking edibles for the first time. If you’re new to edibles (or pot) entirely, the lower the THC, the better. A bad experience might deter you from future use, which isn’t something you want. If you know what you’re doing, marijuana is a wonderful dinner guest.