Gelato
Hybrid
Cookie Fam Genetics (San Francisco Bay Area, California)
San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA, circa 2015
15 reviews
Gelato was created by the Cookie Fam Genetics collective in the San Francisco Bay Area around 2015, crossing Sunset Sherbet with Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies. Like its parent GSC, it rapidly exploded in popularity and is now considered one of the defining strains of modern cannabis culture. Multiple phenotypes were released — Gelato #33 (Larry Bird) and Gelato #41 (Bacio) being the most celebrated. Its stunning appearance, incredible flavor, and potent balanced effects made it an instant classic, spawning dozens of Gelato crosses including Runtz, Biscotti, and Lemon Tree.
💊 Cannabinoids
THC22.5%
CBD0.2%
✨ Effect Profile
🌡️ Terpenes
👃 Aroma & Flavor
Aroma: Sweet, fruity and creamy — blueberry and orange citrus with a lavender-floral note, dessert-like sweetness throughout
BerrySweetCitrusVanillaLavenderCream
⚕️ Medical & Side Effects
May help with
Depression
Stress
Anxiety
Chronic pain
Fatigue
Muscle tension
Nausea
Insomnia (higher doses)
Possible side effects
Dry mouth
Dry eyes
Dizziness
Paranoia (high doses, novice users)
Headache
🧬 Genetics
BreederCookie Fam Genetics (San Francisco Bay Area, California)
OriginSan Francisco Bay Area, California, USA, circa 2015
Parent strains
Sunset Sherbet
Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies
💡 Fun Facts
- Gelato #33 is called 'Larry Bird' after the basketball player's jersey number — it's considered the most desirable phenotype.
- Gelato's stunning purple color is temperature-dependent: growing in cooler conditions triggers the purple anthocyanin expression.
- Its offspring Runtz (Gelato x Zkittlez) won the 2020 Leafly Strain of the Year and sold out instantly on release.
- Gelato has become one of the most-cloned strains in the world — practically every dispensary in the US carries at least one Gelato variety.
- The strain helped launch the 'dessert strain' era of cannabis breeding, where sweet, creamy, candy-like flavors became the dominant trend.
🏆 Awards
2018
High Times Cannabis Cup (California)
Best Hybrid — 1st Place
2019
Emerald Cup
Hybrid Flower — Top 5
🔗 Similar Strains
Runtz
Hybrid
Gelato x Zkittlez
Gelato offspring — even sweeter candy flavor, similarly euphoric and colorful.
Sunset Sherbet
Hybrid
Girl Scout Cookies x Pink Panties
Gelato parent — sweet fruity dessert profile with relaxing indica body effect.
Biscotti
Indica-dominant Hybrid
Gelato 25 x Sour Florida OG
Gelato offspring — creamy cookie flavor with deep relaxing body stone.
🌱 Growing Info
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Flowering | 8-9 weeks (indoor) |
| Outdoor harvest | Early October |
| Indoor yield | 14 oz/m² (397 g/m²) |
| Outdoor yield | Up to 17 oz (482 g) per plant |
| Height | 3-4 ft (compact bushy structure) |
| Climate | Mediterranean; cooler nights recommended to bring out purple phenotype expression |
| Seed price | ±€30 / 5 seeds (€€€) |
| Price note | Trendy dessert strain |
Dense, compact buds with striking purple and deep green coloring, vivid orange pistils, and a heavy coat of silvery trichomes. One of the most visually striking strains available.
