SPECIAL: Champions League of Cannabis Strains

First Published for Amsterdam Seed Center

Cannabis strains and football teams are not so different. A football coach brings out the best attributes of their players to make something new, and the cannabis breeders do the same, Only with plants.

In celebration of the Champions League final, Amsterdam Seed Center compares the 12 teams that remain post-COVID break to cannabis strains.

Have you ever wondered: if your football team was a cannabis strain, what would it be? Wonder no more, we got it all figured out.

JUVENTUS: Amnesia (Super Strains)

The titans of Turin will want to forget their recent Champions league past. Despite dominating domestically by winning nine consecutive Italian titles and adding Cristiano Ronaldo to the team, Juve supporters have been left dazed, confused, and yearning for the short-term memory loss associated with the classic award-winning strain, Amnesia. Following two finals and no wins in 5 years, even CR7 might be germinating some of these Super Strains seeds this summer.

ATALANTA – Jacky White (Paradise Seeds)

Atalanta has been every football fan’s second favourite Champions League team this year, so we used an Instagram poll to ask the Amsterdam Seed Center faithful what their second favourite strain to grow was. The answer was the cross of Jack Herer and White Widow by breeders Paradise Seeds, Jacky White. And like its footballing equivalent, Jacky White is never expected to win but has all the characteristics to string together a good cup run.

LYON – OG Kush (Reserva Privada)

Much like Lyon, OG Kush won most of its awards in the mid-’90s. Present-day and both still have huge fan bases. Lyon is supported by 11% of French football fans, and OG Kush remains one of the best-selling strains at the Amsterdam Seed Center. OG Kush still pops up at Cannabis Cups, and next season will be the first in a generation that Lyon will not be playing European Cup football.

P.S.G – Gelato 33 – Advanced Seeds

Gelato 33 is the offspring of two of the most sought-after strains of all time – Sunset Sherbet and GSC Thin Mints – blended with exquisite artistry to make a super strain of cannabis. And you can describe P.S.G in similar terms. The perennial champions of French football have done their best to build a super strain of football team by acquiring the two most expensive footballers in history, in the shape of Neymar and Mbappe.

Barcelona – L.S.D (Barney’s farm)

Barcelona is one of the most decorated football teams in the world, and the same can be said for Barney’s Farm in the Cannabis world. Before the 2019/2020 season, Barca was playing heavy-hitting psychedelic football, and the likes of Messi and Suarez left their opponents tripping. But following an 8 -2 mauling at the hands of German giants Bayern Munich in this years champions league, Barca fans might be forgiven for thinking they were high on Barneys Farms LSD and hallucinating.

Athletico Madrid – AK47 (Serious Seeds)

Athletico has often held a special place in the hearts of many supporters of the Champions League. Not dissimilar to the relationship that growers have with AK47. Both are incredibly solid and consistent performers, and like Madrid’s style of play, AK47 is direct with an added potent aroma and short flowering time.

Manchester City – Lots of Zkittlez (The Plug)

The Plug calls this the best-tasting weed in the world, and on their day, Man City can play the best football in the world. Manchester City is always one of the favourites for the Champions League but always falls short in the knockout stages. To our knowledge, Lots of Zkittlez has yet to be entered into any cannabis cups. But like its footballing equivalent, this tasty hybrid will be a heavy favourite when it enters the competition.

Bayern Munich – The Purps (BC bud depot)

Both the strain and the football team are the stuff of legend. The Purps has a reputation for some of the most colourful and best-tasting cannabis on the planet, and Bayern is currently enjoying a purple patch and is playing some tasty football. The Purps has been picking awards for several years, and Munich are consistent winners of a one-horse race in Germany. But when it comes to the holy grail of football, the Champions League, Bayern have fallen sort in recent years, last winning it in 2013.

RB Leipzig – HeadBanger OG (Karma Genetics)

We have picked these two to go together because Headbanger OG is great for terpy extracts. And Red Bull have just had their best player extracted by Chelsea, leaving R.B. supporters with a sour taste in their mouths that is synonymous with smoking HeadBanger OG.

Real Madrid – Wedding Cake AUTO (Barneys Farm)

Winners of the Champions League in three of the past four years, Real Madrid are the ultimate auto-flowering cannabis strain. No matter what the season brings, you can expect your auto’s to flower and Real Madrid to be in the Champions League knockout stages. Similar to the Real Madrid trophy cabinet, the Wedding Cake auto is decorated white and draped in crystals.

Napoli – Charlottes Angel CBD (Dutch Passion)

In recent years, Napoli has come close to countering the threat of their domestic rivals but has ultimately lacked the potency to make a big impact on the big boys. Winning this year’s Coppa Italia will go some way to cure the high fever caused by not winning a league title for three decades. Napoli fans may still need Charlottes Angels CBD medicinal proprieties to calm the anxiety of a Champions League exit.

Chelsea – Fromage Blue (Pheno Finders)

Blue is the colour in West London, and this bluesy cross, Fromage Blue, is the result of a U.K. Cheese and a Blue Cheese male. It has satisfied supporters over the last decade or so with its easy growth and good scrog action. This super cheesy strain is highly popular with U.K. growers, and thanks to the success of the last two decades, Chelsea is a highly popular football club. Claiming their only Champions League victory to date in 2012.

What teams would you like to see become cannabis strains next?

First Published for Amsterdam Seed Center