Like other industries, the cannabis sector has recognition and awards that appreciate industry players’ efforts. The High Times Cannabis Cup is the most prestigious award every cannabis breeder wants to win. While the last two decades have seen other awards rising, the HTCC remains the industry’s gold standard.
The HTCC uses different factors to pick winners across various categories. For instance, they measure a product’s award suitability using its cannabinoid content, terpene profile, effects, and looks. Cannabis seeds and products that win these trophies enjoy legendary status.
Keep reading to learn more about some of the best cup winners you should try as a consumer and grower.
What Is the Cannabis Cup?
Let’s find out what the Cannabis Cup is before getting more details on the renounced cup holders. The High Times Cannabis Cup is a cannabis industry festival the High Times magazine sponsors. The annual event features judges worldwide who vote for different products and seeds. These adjudicators award overall winners in various categories.
The High Times editor Steven Hager founded this competition in 1988. Initially, it was held every November in Amsterdam. However, it has shifted hosting to include other locations like the United States. Since 2010, HTCC has been hosted in Seattle, Michigan, Portland, Denver, and California. This Cup also recognizes medical cannabis in states that have legalized it.
During the festival, attendees are treated to live music, educational seminars, and expos for various cannabis products and businesses.
Categories
The HTCC has different categories, including the best new product, booth, seeds, etc. For instance, the judges decide on the best seed bank of the year that produces the best hybrid, Indica, or Sativa seeds. Regarding products, they can vote on the best edible, products with the highest CBD or THC, and the best concentrates.
Top Cannabis Cup-Winning Seeds
Seeds that win this coveted cup enjoy high prestige and even prices among growers. Below are some of them.
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- Super Silver Haze. This strain has won the largest number of cups in this festival. This classic strain was awarded the HTCC trophy thrice in a row between 1997 and 1999. Growers consider it one of the best Sativa-rich hybrid seeds.
- Ringo’s Gift. Users who try Ringo’s Gift autoflower seeds report pronounced therapeutic effects due to 0-10% THC and 10% CBD in the buds’ content. It bears the name of Lawrence Ringo, one of the first cannabis pioneers and advocates of therapeutic CBD use.
- Acapulco Gold. You should try growing acapulco gold feminized seeds if you want potent effects and a magnifying aroma of beautiful, gold-covered buds. This Central American Sativa landrace possesses unique genetics and a long history and culture behind it.
- Amnesia Haze. This Dutch-bred class is another cup-winning strain you might want to consider for your next cultivation period. It blends old-school genetics and the pseudo-psychedelic high, making it one of the most respected varieties on the market.
- Crystal. The Indica-dominant strain is another cup winner worth considering. It’s 60% Indica and 40% Sativa. The strain has a medium THC level of 19% and can yield up to 500 g/m after a short 8- to 10-week flowering time. The highly medicinal strain has award-winning parents, the White Widow and Northern Lights. The seeds produce medium-height plants that suit indoor and outdoor cultivation.
- Royal Gorilla. The Royal Gorilla is another cup winner with high THC levels. This hybrid strain is great for relaxation.
- Ice. This strain has a medium THC level of up to 19% and can produce up to 500g of buds per plant. It’s balanced with a 1:1 Indica and Sativa genetic composition. It has a short flowering time of 8 to 10 weeks. The strain blends an original landrace, Northern Lights, and Skunk. It won the Cannabis Cup in 1998. This strain is named after its shiny white crystals coating and dense buds.
- Northern Lights. This Indica-heavy strain won the Cannabis Cup in 1988, 1989, and 1990. It has so far scooped six awards. The strain’s genetics are suitable for indoor growth because of its small size and leaves. Additionally, it blooms quickly and has high resin production. The award-winning strain blends Afghan and Thai weed varieties. It is 95% Indica and 5% Sativa, so it has calming effects on users. Northern Lights seeds are ideal for outdoor growing.
- White Widow. The cultivar was first presented in 1994. Since then, it has scooped many awards worldwide, including the coveted HTCC in 1995. The strain is famous for its resinous exterior. Breeders have used its genetics to create many new hybrids.
- Royal Cookies. This cup winner is another strain to pay attention to. It’s popular for its high yields and creamy buds.
- Skunk. Skunk has won many accolades in the cannabis sector. It won the AMEC Cup in 2009 as the overall best strain. In 1998, it scooped the THCC cultivator’s choice and became the Soft Secrets Strain of the Year in 2013. Breeders have used its genetics to create other hybrid strains like Lemon Skunk and Fools Gold. Its creators mixed Afghani, Colombian, and Mexican landrace strains to produce it.
- Medical Mass. This cup winner is another strain with highly aromatic flowers. It has an equal THC:CBD ratio that offers users much-needed relief for many medical conditions.
- Mango. This strain has a moderate THC level of 19% and can produce up to 500g of buds per plant. The strain is 65% Indica and 35% Sativa. Its flowering period is 8 to 10 weeks. It has an exotic flavor combining citrusy and berry notes. Mango weed produces highly relaxing effects and also helps with muscle easing.
- Royal Haze Automatic. This cup winner is another strain you can bank on to excel in different environments. It grows well and produces abundant terpene-rich buds.
- Gushers Feminized. This cup winner has a high THC level of up to 24%. When grown in the best environment, it can yield up to 500g per plant. The perfectly balanced strain contains 50% Indica and 50% Sativa genes. You can expect it to flower in 8 to 10 weeks. It has highly relaxing effects. The strain has won several awards, including the coveted HTCC.
- Jack Herer. This strain has an award-winning profile, with over 11 awards under its belt. The Sativa-rich cultivar got its name from its creator, who had an outstanding career in weed cultivation between 1994 and 2006. Jack Herer is a famous cannabis advocate that has received many honors for his work. His original breeding is associated with Sensi Seeds, but many other seed banks currently stock the strain. This variety has scooped many prizes, including the 7th HTCC. It has a moderate THC level of 19% and can produce up to 600g per plant under optimal conditions. The strain is 55% Sativa and 45% Indica, with a flowering period of 10 to 12 weeks.
- Bubblegum. This award winner has a medium THC level of 19% and can yield up to 500g per plant when grown in optimal conditions. Moreover, it’s balanced to contain equal Sativa and Indica ratios. You can expect it to start blooming after 8 to 10 weeks. This Amsterdam classic has scooped several prizes at the HTCC and the Spannabis ceremonies. The strain is popular for its deeply calming effects on users. It also has a compact and low profile, shiny look, and sweet smell.
Closing Remarks
Every cannabis market player covets winning prestigious HTCC awards to boost their industry image and profile. This post shared some cannabis varieties that have scooped this honorable award, meaning they possess outstanding properties and are really worth trying out. Go on and use this information to select your next favorite for consumption or cultivation.
The author of this article is Denys Svirepchuk, a fan of cannabis and an avid advocate of award-winning strain cultivation in every home. Denys shares his knowledge and experience in the weed-growing sphere to help interested enthusiasts join the niche with little effort. He writes about popular strains and contributes to consumer education for safe use and high-yield growing.
