Best Strains to Pair with Hot Cocoa

As the colder months of the year rapidly approach, it's only natural for folks to go back to their typical winter month staples when it comes to comfort food. And when it comes to comfort food, there are few options better than a delicious, tasty bit of chocolate. That's where hot cocoa comes in!

A hot, tasty, and ultra-portable form of chocolatey goodness that's perfect for the fall and winter months, a big mug or portable cup of hot cocoa is an excellent option for satisfying your sweet tooth with a bit of chocolatey goodness while warming you up in the process! And, of course, few things pair better with the sweet kick of chocolate than some top-shelf cannabis flower.

That's why we here at Where's Weed wanted to highlight some of the best strains to pair with your toasty, steaming mug of hot cocoa to warm up from the biting cold in the coming winter months, breaking down the flavor profiles, effects, and science behind how and why chocolate pairs perfectly with some cannabis of your own!

The Science of Cannabis and Chocolate

Before deep diving into exactly which cannabis strains pair best with your toasty mug of hot cocoa, we first wanted to touch on exactly how and why cannabis and chocolate pair together so perfectly! The secret lies deeper than just our taste buds buzzing at the presence of some creamy, melty, tasty chocolate; it actually breaks down to the chemical level!

The key to understanding the chemical links to the pairing lies in anandamide, an organic fatty acid naturally present in chocolate. Anandamide is a known neurotransmitter that's often referred to as "the bliss molecule" due to its euphoria-inducing impacts! Basically, it's a happiness producer in our brains that pairs perfectly with the psychoactive effects of THC. Some say it even boosts the effects of cannabinoids, taking your high up a notch and satisfying your sweet tooth in the process!

On top of the presence of anandamide, chocolate can also pair well with cannabis for a variety of other different reasons. For example, chocolatey flavors can mask the potential harshness of the cannabis strain you're ingesting, are often regarded as a potent aphrodisiac, and make for top-notch and accessible edibles!

The Basics of Cannabis Pairing

So now that we know exactly why cannabis and chocolate pair so effectively together, let's go over the bare basics for how to find the best cannabis strain pairings to go along with it while scanning dispensary menus for options.

Let's start with the terpenes, for example. Depending on the type of hot cocoa you're dealing with, whether it's milk, white, or dark chocolate, each cannabis strain has different distinct flavors after it's lit up and smoked. These terpenes impact both the flavors and overall effects of cannabis itself, so starting with high-terpene strains to go along with your chocolate is the best way to see which ones pair best!

A good rule of thumb to see which ones go best together is to take a sip of your hot cocoa or a bite of chocolate, let that sit on your tongue for a few seconds to retain the flavors, then take a pull of cannabis and see how the flavors blend with one another.

Make sure to check in and chat with your budtender at your local dispensary to learn more about the terpene profile of the strains you're picking up to go along with your delicious, tasty hot cocoa!

Best Strains to Pair with Hot Cocoa

Now that we've touched on the chemical compounds and terpene profiles that play a huge role in breaking down which strains pair best with your hot cocoa, let's get into some of those strains by name!

Super Lemon Haze

With a strain name that already sounds like a delicious dessert, Super Lemon Haze is a top-notch offering to accompany your pipping hot mug of hot cocoa! This Sativa-dominant hybrid is an award-winning strain that's zesty, citrusy, and a little bit sweet to round it all out. With around 19 percent THC, this strain has more than enough cannabinoids to get the job done and leaves users feeling energized with its lemon candy-like flavor profile! If you have a sweet tooth, then Super Lemon Haze is a great option to pair with your hot cocoa!

Elektra

This cross between Early Resin Berry and ACDC is unique because of its cannabinoid profile, a light THC, and heavy CBD offering to shake things up a bit! After all, having a ton of THC isn't the end-all-be-all when it comes to cannabis strains. There's more to cannabinoids than just THC. With flavor notes of red wine, hints of biting citrus, and decadent, creamy chocolate, Elektra has a ton to offer as a pairing for your hot cocoa! For all the inflammation-reducing, anxiety-killing impacts of cannabis without the psychoactive properties, then Elektra is a great option when it comes to pairings.

Blueberry Kush

For an indica strain with a complex flavor profile that's peppery, herbal, and packed with flavor and scent notes of citrus, Blueberry Kush is a top-notch option! This relaxing and potent cross between Blueberry and OG Kush gives users a heavy body sensation, easing stress for consumers and helping them relax with your hot cocoa mug! Great for medical patients dealing with issues like stress and insomnia and recreational users looking to take the edge off and relax, there are few better options you'll find on dispensary menus when it comes to chocolate pairs than Blueberry Kush!

Sour Diesel

A potent cross between Chemdawg and Super Skunk, two OG cannabis strains from the West Coast, Sour Diesel provides a dreamy, cerebral, and fast-acting strain that's as tasty as it is energizing in its effects! Great for those dealing with issues like depression, all-cause chronic pain, and stress-related conditions, this pungent and potent strain is known for its scent and flavor notes of diesel and skunky cannabis! No matter how you slice it, Sour Diesel is a perfect pairing for a hot mug of cocoa!

Tangie

If you're on the hunt for a strain that delivers a potent high to go along with its flavorful cannabinoid and terpene profile, then Tangie should be your go-to pairing with your next hot mug of cocoa! Known for leaving users energized and creative, this award-winning Sativa-dominant strain is a potent cross between a Skunk strain and California Orange that carries notes of citrus and fruity flavors, along with notes of lemons and grapes. Whether you're looking for a strain that's great for reducing insomnia and anxiety or just looking for a cannabis strain to pair well with your hot cocoa, then Tangie should be a go-to option!