Sweet Tea is a popular hybrid cannabis strain that is believed to be a cross between Green Crack sativa and OG Kush indica. However, there has been some debate among cannabis consumers and experts about whether Sweet Tea leans more sativa or indica in its effects. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the origins, genetics, and reported effects of Sweet Tea to try to determine whether it is more accurately categorized as a sativa- or indica-dominant hybrid strain.
What are sativa and indica cannabis strains?
Cannabis strains are generally categorized into three types: sativas, indicas, and hybrids.
Sativas are known for providing uplifting, energizing effects that promote creativity and productivity. They grow tall with narrow leaves and tend to have higher levels of THC compared to CBD. Some popular sativa strains include Sour Diesel, Durban Poison, and Jack Herer.
Indicas provide relaxing, sedative effects that help relieve stress and insomnia. They grow short and bushy with wide leaves and typically have higher CBD levels than sativas. Some top indica strains include Granddaddy Purple, Northern Lights, and Bubba Kush.
Hybrid strains are crosses between indicas and sativas, combining effects from both parent plants. They can be either sativa-dominant, indica-dominant, or balanced in their effects.
Genetics of Sweet Tea
Sweet Tea is believed to be a cross between the following two strains:
Green Crack Sativa
Green Crack is a potent sativa originally bred in Athens, Georgia in the 1970s. It has an energizing, focus-enhancing high with sweet mango and citrus flavors.
OG Kush Indica
OG Kush is a popular indica from Florida that provides heavy relaxation. It has an earthy pine scent and is helpful for reducing stress and insomnia.
With one sativa parent strain and one indica parent strain, Sweet Tea is considered a sativa-leaning hybrid or a balanced hybrid depending on the phenotype.
Reported Effects of Sweet Tea
So does Sweet Tea produce more sativa-like or indica-like effects? Here’s what cannabis consumers say about the high of this strain:
Cerebral, Uplifting Head High
Many users describe Sweet Tea as having an energetic, euphoric head high that boosts creativity and focus – typical sativa effects. The elevated mood and buzzy stimulation help combat stress and depression.
Relaxed Body Effect
While Sweet Tea provides a cerebral head high, it also produces a relaxing body effect that relieves aches and pains. The physical sensation is more indica-like.
Not Overly Sedating
Some indica-dominant strains cause couchlock and sleepiness, but Sweet Tea doesn’t seem to produce overwhelmingly sedative effects. Users don’t feel weighed down or sleepy after enjoying this strain.
Good for Daytime Use
The energetic sativa buzz makes Sweet Tea better suited for daytime use compared to heavy indica strains. Consumers say it pairs well with creative activities like making art or music.
May Help Relieve Pain
In addition to mental effects, Sweet Tea also appears to provide physical relief from chronic aches and pains. The warm body buzz makes it suitable for managing symptoms associated with conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia.
Relieves Stress
By lifting mood and melting away worries, Sweet Tea can quickly reduce feelings of stress and anxiety after a long day.
Enhances Social Interaction
Some indicas have a reputation for causing introversion, but Sweet Tea seems to enhance social interaction with its happy, talkative high.
THC and CBD Levels
The THC and CBD levels can also provide clues into the sativa or indica effects of a strain. Here’s a look at the cannabinoid content of Sweet Tea based on lab testing:
THC Range
Sweet Tea has been measured to contain between 13% to 25% THC. This is a moderate to high amount of the psychoactive compound. Sativas tend to have higher THC than indicas.
CBD Range
The CBD level of Sweet Tea comes in around 0.1% to 0.2% which is very low. Indica strains typically have higher CBD content compared to sativas.
Given its high THC and low CBD ranges, the cannabinoid profile of Sweet Tea is more characteristic of a sativa than an indica.
THC:CBD Ratio
The THC:CBD ratio also points to Sweet Tea being more sativa-like. With a high THC level and minimal CBD, Sweet Tea naturally has a very high THC:CBD ratio that is associated with energizing, cerebral effects.
Appearance, Aroma, and Flavor
In addition to effects and cannabinoid content, we can look at the appearance, smell, and taste of Sweet Tea to gather more clues into its sativa or indica nature:
Appearance
Sweet Tea plants grow relatively tall with lots of space between branches, exhibiting a lanky, loose structure that is characteristic of sativa strains. The buds are fluffy and bright green.
Aroma
Sweet Tea has a fruity aroma blending smells of berries, citrus, sugar, and tea leaves. The fruit-forward scent aligns more with energizing sativa strains.
Flavor
The flavor delivers on the sweet tea name, providing a delicious berry and lemonade-like taste with undertones of earthy tea upon exhale. The predominance of sweet, fruity notes points to sativa lineage.
Smoke
When combusted, Sweet Tea produces a smooth smoke that is easy on the lungs and throat. Sativas typically have a smoother smoke compared to indicas.
Reviews of Personal Experiences
Examining consumer reviews of Sweet Tea’s effects can provide further context into whether it feels more like a sativa or indica experience:
“Sweet Tea gives me the perfect pick-me-up boost if I’m feeling groggy or having a low energy day. Love the happy, clear-headed buzz it provides.”
This review indicates the strain has an energizing, mood-lifting effect typical of a sativa.
“Sweet Tea helps relax my body and unwind my mind after work. It eases away aches and pains and gets rid of racing thoughts before bed.”
These more relaxing, unwinding effects point more towards indica qualities.
“I don’t end up couch-locked from Sweet Tea, but it’s also not super speedy or jittery feeling either. It’s a nice balance of head and body effects.”
Here the user describes a balance of sativa and indica effects from Sweet Tea.
Growing and Yield
Examining how Sweet Tea cannabis plants grow can also provide sativa versus indica clues:
Flowering Period
Sweet Tea flowers within 8 to 10 weeks. The longer flowering time indicates it leans more sativa in growth patterns.
Outdoor Yield
When grown outdoors, Sweet Tea typically yields around 14 to 16 ounces per plant which is considered a moderate or above average yield. Sativas tend to produce higher yields than indicas.
Indoor Yield
Indoors under lights, Sweet Tea yields around 16 to 18 ounces per square meter. Again, the above average yield points to more sativa-like production.
Height
Sweet Tea grows to a medium height, reaching around 40 to 60 inches when fully mature. The more stretched out stature is characteristic of lanky sativa plants.
Resistance to Mold and Pests
Sweet Tea has above average resistance to common cannabis threats like mold, mildew, bacteria, bugs, and pests. Sativas tend to be more durable and resilient than the sensitive indicas.
Climate Preference
This strain prefers a warm, sunny, Mediterranean-like climate. Sativas thrive in warmer equatorial environments compared to the cooler mountainous regions indicas prefer.
Uses, Activities, and Pairings
Reviewing the popular uses, activities, and pairings associated with Sweet Tea also gives insights into its sativa vs indica classification:
Common Uses
Sweet Tea is frequently used to relieve symptoms of chronic stress, anxiety, and depression due to its mood-elevating effect. Its energetic sativa buzz also makes it popular for enhancing focus and creativity.
The relaxing body effects additionally help manage pain and insomnia in some users.
Activities
Sweet Tea is great for active daytime activities like hiking, exercise, social gatherings, and jamming out to music. Users note feeling more creative when making art and music. The clear-headed effects are also nice for completing tasks and errands.
Pairings
Sweet Tea combines well with morning cups of coffee or tea and gets along with most fruit flavors like berries or citrus. People enjoy this strain while listening to reggae, rock, or acoustic music.
Medical Uses
In the medical cannabis community, Sweet Tea is utilized to help the following health conditions:
Chronic Pain
The stimulating sativa effects combine with relaxing indica body effects to provide pain relief for conditions like arthritis, migraines, PMS cramps, and back pain.
Inflammation
Sweet Tea can reduce inflammation associated with chronic conditions thanks to its anti-inflammatory terpenes and cannabinoids.
Fatigue
The energizing head high fights tiredness and fatigue while the body buzz takes away achiness and heaviness.
Headaches
Sweet Tea provides relief for tension and migraine headaches by easing pain while lifting mood.
Stress
By melting away worries and tension, Sweet Tea rapidly relieves symptoms of chronic stress and anxiety.
Depression
The happy, euphoric mental state can temporarily relieve depressed feelings and improve enjoyment of daily activities.
ADHD
Some users with ADHD like Sweet Tea for improving focus and concentration while also calming hyperactivity and restlessness.
PTSD
The relaxing physical effects combined with the distracting mental high makes Sweet Tea a helpful PTSD strain for managing traumatic memories and anxiety.
Growing Sweet Tea
Sweet Tea can be moderately challenging to grow, but it produces rewarding yields of delicious buds when cared for properly. Here are some growing tips:
Flowering Time
Plants will be ready for harvest in 8 to 10 weeks when grown indoors. Take Sweet Tea seeds or clones outside by early May for Fall harvests.
Yield
Indoor yields average 16 to 18 oz per m2 and outdoor plants produce around 14 to 16 oz each. Experienced growers can optimize conditions for even higher yields.
Difficulty
Sweet Tea requires some growing experience and proper equipment. Factors like humidity, nutrients, lighting, and airflow must be monitored closely.
Climate
This strain prefers warm, dry, sunny climates similar to the Mediterranean region. Maintain temperatures around 70-85°F during flowering.
Flowering Method
Sweet Tea responds best to the Sea of Green method for indoor grows. Top plants as needed and provide 16-20 hours of daily light during the flowering stage.
Feeding
Use a high quality hydroponics nutrient blend with lower nitrogen and higher potassium levels. Flush plants with pure water at the end to enhance flavors.
Pruning/Training
Train plants through topping, low stress training, or screening to encourage more bud sites and light exposure. Remove large fan leaves as needed.
Is Sweet Tea More Sativa or Indica?
Sativa-Leaning Hybrid
After this comprehensive look, Sweet Tea exhibits strong sativa traits in its energizing head high, tall growing structure, high yields, and sweet flavors. It seems to lean slightly towards sativa in its effects.
Balanced Hybrid Also Possible
However, Sweet Tea also provides some relaxing indica-like body effects. Different phenotype expressions can alter the sativa/indica ratio and result in more balanced hybrid effects.
Conclusion
So is Sweet Tea a sativa or indica? While technically a hybrid of both, this strain seems to lean slightly more towards the uplifting, stimulating effects of a sativa while also producing some relaxing indica-like body effects. The head high promotes focus and creativity for daytime use, while the body buzz eases aches and pains. For these well-balanced combinations of effects, Sweet Tea remains a popular hybrid choice.