My last Denver review was quite vicious (but fair, IMO) so it's important that we balance that out with a glowing review. In this case, the excellent Cataract Kush your Gentleman plucked for a tremendous value at Advanced Medical Alternatives on Elati St. This Denver fan favorite strain is an Indica-dominant hybrid cross between LA Confidential and OG Kush.
In this article, I share my experience smoking the Cataract Kush strain and talk about the overall entourage effect, aromas, taste, terpenes, and the overall feel of the strain. Let’s get right into it.
Key Takeaways on Cataract Kush
- Cataract Kush will give you a deep body high which is perfect for relaxation and sleep, with a low level of head high.
- The primary terpene found in Cataract Kush is Caryophyllene which helps activate the endocannboid system to bind CB2 receptors to promote pain relief.
- The second primary terpene found in Cataract Kush is Myrcene which promotes sedative properties such as the “couch-lock” syndrome.
- Cataract Kush is the perfect medicinal cannabis strain for consumption at night for total body relief and deep rest.
How does Cataract Kush feel?
Cataract Kush has a delay before it hits you, but when it hits, it hits hard. The buzz is mostly in the body. I did find that this strain made me fairly lazy, so it’s the perfect indica for before bed or to have while relaxing at home with friends. If you want to avoid intense mental anxiety-inducing highs, and just focus on the body high this is the strain for you.
The overall feel of Cataract Kush is lazy, sleepy, hungry, and total body relaxation. If you are looking to avoid the laziness feeling I recommend checking out the Purple Punch strain or Blue Cookies strain, both heavy in the body high but with enough mental clarity and energy to be productive if needed.
Cataract Kush terpene profile
Cannabis terpenes can help you understand your strain's overall entourage effect. Each cannabis strain’s terpenes, cannabinoids, and phenotype together determine the overall entourage effect, which is what gives Cataract Kush its “signature feel”. In this section, we go over the two primary terpenes and the secondary terpenes most prevalent in Cataract Kush.
Disclaimer: The terpene profile may vary depending on what medical dispensary you purchased your Cataract Kush from. This section is meant to help you understand how the terpenes influence the effects of this strain.
Carene 0.07%
Pinene 0.07%
Myrcene 0.08%
Ocimene 0.01%
Humulene 0.07%
Limonene 0.14%
Linalool 0.09%
Sabinene 0.26%
Terpinolene 0.01%
Caryophyllene 0.22%
The Cataract Kush entourage effect
The two most notable terpenes found in Cataract Kush are Sabinene and Caryophyllene. The sabinene terpene is known to give strains its spicy and citrusy flavor. While more research is needed to find the therapeutic benefits of Sabinene it has been found to have antioxidant properties.
The Caryophyllene terpene is unique because it helps activate your endocannabinoid system in binding with CB2 receptors. This activation promotes pain relief and better sleep, which is why the Cataract strain has such an amazing body high and helps promote deep rest, but further research is required as to how much of an effect this terpene has on the human body through cannabis.
Why Cataract Kush is a “couch-lock” strain
Cataract strain's other most notable terpenes are Linalool and Myrcene. Linalool is commonly found in Lavender and Basil and is widely known for its efficacy in relaxation and anxiety control. Linalool is one of the terpenes I look for when shopping for cannabis strains because it’s an amazing mood booster.
The last most notable terpene found in Cataract Kush is myrcene. Cannabis strains with a higher count of myrcene, are likely to induce sedative qualities such as the “couch-lock effect”. While I don’t recommend Cataract Kush for social or productive activities, it’s the perfect strain for unwinding at the end of the day for deep relaxation, primarily because of the abundant myrcene terpene.
Cataract Kush’s cannabinoid profile
Cataract Kush is abundant in THC (20-23%) but also high in CBD, which counteracts the psychoactive effects. This makes Cataract Kush an amazing medical marijuana strain. The most abundant cannabinoids found in Cataract Kush are CBD and CBG.
Disclaimer: The cannabinoids in your Cataract Kush strain can vary depending on what medical dispensary you purchased your strain from. I purchased this strain from Advanced Medical Alternatives. This section was meant to help you understand the effects of the cannabinoids in your strain.
- THC 20 - 23%
- CBD 0.44 - 0.79%
- CBC 0.2 - 0.37%
- CBG 0.31 - 0.96%
- CBN 0.08 - 0.12%
- THCV 0.16 - 0.54%
The other most notable cannabinoid in Cataract Kush is CBG. CBG is known as “the mother of all cannabinoids”, that’s because CBDa, THCa, and CBCa all come from CBG. Because CBG is so versatile it shares many of the same benefits of CBD, CBC, and THC without any of the psychoactive effects.
CBG increases GABA, the chemical in your nervous system that slows things down which helps to elevate moods by decreasing anxiety and improving sleep. This is what makes Cataract Kush amazing for deep sleep and calming the mind and body.
Cataract Kush flavor
The flavor profile of Cataract Kush is influenced by the specific terpenes that give the strain its flavor and aromas. Below are the different terpenes found in Cataract Kush and the flavors and smells you can expect.
Carene (sweet, pine, herbal)
Pinene (citrusy, zesty, earthy)
Myrcene (spicy, peppery, hoppy)
Ocimene (sweet, fruity, earthy)
Humulene (earthy, woody, spicy)
Limonene (fruity, citrusy, bitter)
Linalool (sweet, floral, spicy)
Sabinene (spicy, minty, peppery)
Terpinolene (woody, herbal, citrusy)
Caryophyllene (spicy, earthy, sweet)
Cataract Kush has the classic indica-earthy and dank note, but you can taste a strong mix of sweet, citrus, and spicy. The smoke is thick and sweet, but it has a nice citrus grape flavor that rolls off your taste buds.
What does Cataract Kush look like?
How your Cataract Kush strain looks will depend heavily upon how it was cultivated. In the Denver area, Cataract Kush will be heavy in trichomes like a sugary coat, with bright green foliage and a subtle undertone of gray-black. In the photo above you can see the Cataract Kush I purchased had abundant orange pistils. I also purchased the Harmony Katarct Sky Kush shatter which is pictured below.
Final Thoughts
Harmony's Cataract Sky Kush was easily one of the best strains I found during my trip and a bargain at only $32/gram. My frosty nug of Cataract Kush smelled of tropical fruits, and I recognized some floral notes as well. These profiles come through a bit muted but still clearly present when smoked and hit smoother than Jeff Sessions' bald head. While it improved my mood, this strain's main attraction is how well it helps you relax with a slight touch of couch-lock syndrome, but nothing you can’t snap out of. If I had to get something done during the daytime, I could have, but it was far easier to kick back and watch terrible cable at the hotel.