Does the weight of a new year make you a bit nervous or bummed out?

Big cannabis flavor chasers should hit the weed shop for a trending star of dispensaries this January. All across the US, the three-year-old hype strain Rainbow Sherbert #11 (RS-11) is surging onto hundreds more menus.

Available as top-shelf flower, bargain ounces, dabs, vapes and even tinctures, RS-11 delivers big, tropical Kerns nectar juice flavors and versatile fun effects. RS-11 has gotten so big it’s become our Leafly HighLight strain for January 2025.

Reviewers say RS-11 gives off notes of apricot, peach, and citrus. It makes them focused, giggly, and relaxed—which sounds pretty perfect for gaming or hobby time.

A sibling to Zoap, RS-11 is ranked No. 30 in traffic on Leafly Strains. It’s now a top 300 strain nationally in stores, with hundreds of stores adding it this year. 

Leafly reviewers give RS-11 a 4.4 out of 5 after 140 ratings, and 6,966 have bookmarked it as a favorite.

About a fifth of Leafly reviewers say RS-11 helps calm them, treat pain, or lift their blues.

RS-11’s parents include this cross of OG Kush and Z dubbed “Pink Guava” after the juice of the same name. Oakland, CA breeder DEO Farms crossed his Pink Guava to a Sunset Sherbert, and all those flavors can be found in the offspring.

Leafly “reviewers rave: “The candy guava sour citrus flavor profile is one of the best for flavor I’ve had in 30 years puffin bud.”

RS-11 has versatile effects that lie near the center between calming and energetic. If you’re getting creative, RS11 might quiet your inner critic.

A “reviewer writes: “If you create art, try this strain. Mentally energetic but without any tension or anxiety. RS11 has a place in art heaven.”

Where is the best RS-11 in the US?

Growers and extractors have blanketed the US in RS-11 flower, vapes, dabs, and even edibles. Over 1,600 stores in the country with menus on Leafly sell the cultivar.

In Los Angeles, go for the Mountain Man Melts Tropical RS-11 live rosin. Or the Friendly Brand RS-11 tincture, or Cold Fire’s cartridge.

Manhattan, New York’s nascent market has Electraleaf flower that runs $18 per gram.

By contrast, Portland, OR grams of RS-11 flower have hit just $3, while rosin is $23 per gram.

In Seattle, WA, your best bet is the Torus pre-roll, Mama J’s rosin, or Freddy’s Fuego flower.

Phoenix, AZ is for stoners—with RS-11 live rosin by 22Red, and RS-11 flower by Connected.

Detroiters in Michigan have 74 RS-11 options nearby, including live rosin all-in-ones for $40.

Where to buy RS-11 seeds

Deo Farms made RS-11 by crossing the OZ Kush project “Pink Guava” with a Sunset Sherbert. That led to the strain Zoap. The LA brand Wizard Trees took on two siblings to Zoap, the Rainbow Sherbert child numbers 11 and 54; hence RS-11 and RS-54.

Wizard Trees is heavily working this line, with a slew of RS-11 crosses like 11:11, which is RS-11 crossed back to itself to try and improve it.

Meanwhile, Barney’s Farm and DOJA Exclusive have released RS11x Banana OG. 

Unofficial RS-11 seeds abound from seed-makers and seed banks worldwide, but their quality or authenticity will vary widely.

What awards has RS-11 won?

RS-11 has a lot of winners in her from the OG Kush, Z, and Sherbert parentage. RS-11 is a Leafly Strain of the Year runner-up in 2023. Her niece, Zoap, is a Budtender’s Choice strain of 2024 across the US. An RS-11 cross Magic Marker took the strongest strain in the Zalympix contest in Michigan in 2024.

What terpenes are in RS-11?

Weed’s smell comes from flavor molecules including terpenes. If you average out the lab tests of flowers labeled ‘RS-11’ they test relatively high in caryophyllene, limonene, and humulene. These terpenes and other lesser ones as well as other flavor molecules combine to give RS-11 its loud, tree fruit juice, citrus, and fuel nose.

Other highlights this January

If you can’t find RS-11 near you, look for strains in the wheelhouse—including:

Zoap

The niece to RS-11. Zoap comes from crossing two RS plants and selecting an offspring that has a distinctly detergent or ‘soapy’ terp.

RS-54

Wizard Trees has also popularized this similar sister to RS-11. When you need a rainbow inside your skull, RS-54 offers similar results.

Rainbow Belts

Archive Seeds took the tropical candy taffy grandparent of RS-11, known as The Original Z, and improved on it immensely to create the Rainbow Belts line.

OK, that’s your Leafly Highlight for January 2025. Good luck with your fitness goals and New Year’s resolutions. The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is ever out of reach, but you can enjoy the heck out of the journey with RS-11.

The shortest days of the year have arrived, with them more time for eating, drinking, and hopefully some action under the mistletoe.

We got the perfect strain for that: Donny Burger—a top 200-ranked indica hybrid cross of GMO Cookies and Han Solo Burger bred by Skunkhouse Genetics. Yes, it’s funky and savory like a special holiday dish. And it’s our Leafly HighLight strain for December 2024.

Donny Burger has 133 ratings, and 8,105 likes since we added it to Leafly in 2021. Its average review score of 4.6 out of 5 testifies to its success. Donny Burger sits on the ‘chill’ side of the spectrum, with top effects of arousal, relaxation, and some giggles. Perfect for a cozy holiday snog in front of a roaring fire. 

“We just celebrated our 11-year anniversary and the last few weeks it’s been like the honeymoon era,” said one fan.

Donny Burger is an olfactory adventure. Reviewers note smells of ammonia, cheese, and pepper. 

“Super-gassy almost greasy smell to it—reminiscent of its parent GMO,” said one reviewer.

Let’s be clear: Donny Burger is also very high in THC, which helps drive those feel-good effects.

“You will leave your keys or phone in the fridge and coffee in the closet. 😉 I forgot everything I went to the store for.” 

Reviewers report it can help with their stress, anxiety, and depression.

“Definitely helps relieve fibromyalgia pain and depression.”

Who’s got great Donny Burger?

Donny Burger ranks in the top 200 nationally for presence on dispensary menus—so you should be able to find it coast to coast.

San Francisco has vape cartridges from ABX for $32, and $5 joints. Los Angeles has hyper-flavorful 710 Labs Donny Burger extract as persy sauce.

Baltimore, MD has Donny Burger in disposable vape format from Select at dispensaries Culta, ReLeaf Shop, Health for Life, and Blair Wellness.

The elite weed scene of Portland, OR sports Donny Burger at Archive Portland and Paradise Found.

Seattle has pounds of Donny Burger at Have a Heart Belltown, A Greener Today, Ocean Greens, NiMBiN, Seattle Tonic, and Kush Kirkland.

Denver, CO, and Phoenix, AZ also offer plenty of options for the strain.

Get Donny Burger seeds

Skunkhouse Genetics of Michigan made a name for themselves with an entire ‘Burger’ line from GMO Cookies including Han Solo Burger, Double Burger, and Donny Burger. Nowadays, Skunkhouse has fresh Burger work like Champagne Patties and Drip Burger.

We also see others selling Donny Burger seeds, including Seed Supreme, Elev8, and Crop King.

Donny Burger awards

In a scene dominated by candy-tasting strains, the more mature, savory Donny Burger is still making its way in the contest circuit. It won a 2023 Emerald Cup, and has been featured in Leafly Buzz. It also comes from a long line of winners including, GMO Cookies, and GSC. It’s especially a contender as hash.

Donny Burger terpenes

Donny Burger’s top aroma molecules include the gasoline-pepper combo of caryophyllene, with limonene, plus some myrcene to add even more body. You see that same trio of terpenes in the parent GMO Cookies; as well as Gastro Pop. 

Other highlights this December

We got relatives and complimentary flavors for your holiday break below.

Chemdog

The roots of savory, acrid, ‘chemmy’ strains mostly trace back to this classic from the Grateful Dead scene in the ‘90s. The good news is that Chemdog is as popular as ever—it’s the 77th most popular strain on US dispensary shelves in December, out of more than 9,000 in our database.

Apple Fritter

Make room for some dessert strains this holiday season with the super-popular Apple Fritter—a scrumptious cross of Sour Apple x Animal Cookies. The Sour Apple lends a sour, tart, note to the cookie smell and taste.

Cherry Pie

Make sure to take some me-time this holiday season. In a world of meh pumpkin pie, splurge on a personal Cherry Pie and apologize to no one. The effects of this California classic go great with some caroling or gaming.

We did it! We made it to the end of another historic year. Knock out that Christmas shopping, get those ornaments hung, kick back, and rest up. The new year of 2025 beckons. 

We get the sense that America will be ordering more of the Modified Grapes strain this winter—the sleep-inducing, stress-mellowing cross of GMO Cookies x Purple Punch.

Yes—we’ve found the next top 200 strain you have to know about. Modified Grapes is our HighLight flavor for November 2024.

We get it—inflation ate all our paychecks. Well, meet a dirt-cheap, award-winning indica hybrid that smells and tastes like grape, honey, and berry. 

Disassociating for the night? Modified Grapes leaves reviewers sleepy, relaxed, and euphoric.

“Truly Dionysian, feels like you’ve just drank a pitcher of wine without the liver damage that comes with the real thing,” writes another.

It’s strong stuff, so you’re going to need water, and you’ll want to start at the lowest effective dose. Modified Grapes’ top negatives are dry mouth and anxiety.

Modified Grapes rates a 4.4 out of 5, after 146 reviews on Leafly. Bag quality can certainly vary by batch—it’s a cash crop. GMO and Purple Punch are two proven strains. So when it’s good you get:

 “Big dense purply flowers. Lush, jammy Vitis flavor with earthy pine resin notes,” said one Leafly reviewer.

Those aromas are powered by its top terpenes: limonene, caryophyllene, and pinene. Add in the high THC, and one reviewer said Modified Grapes:

“Will have you feeling like you have been shot with elephant tranquilizers, and been hit with a 2pc from Mike Tyson. Leaving you devastated, and glued to the couch unable to even lift your eyelids.”

Some people need that this winter. And fresh studies conclude cannabis substitutes for more toxic sedatives including alcohol.

Who’s got great Modified Grapes?

All praise be to the cash crop. GMO x Purple Punch has that agronomy—it’s efficient to farm. Put some savings on those wallet wounds with a $4.50 gram of Modified Grapes in Portland, OR. 

Maine has $30 ounces of Modified Grapes shake like it’s 1970.

Seattle has half-ounces of flower for $35. There’s a high-end, too.

A Modified Grapes live rosin cart sells in Denver for $33 and live rosin gummies go for $16.50.

Arizona has rosin disposable vape pens of it for $50.

Modified Grapes seeds

You can tend to your garden and get a lot of joy out of growing this chonky bud. GMO is a beast. The yield of Purple Punch is also legendary.

Klone Colorado and Highline Nursery offer little cuttings of the cultivar. 

We see Modified Grapes seeds from Horror Seeds, Blimburn, Trilogene, and a new cross from Bloom Seeds.

Modified Grapes awards

GMO and Purple Punch have both powered their fair share of Cup-winners. The California brand LitHouse took first in mixed light with Modified Grapes in 2022. The strain also has wins in 2021 and 2020.

Modified Grapes terpenes

Modified Grapes can have this funky, dank grape smell that’s great. GMO adds loudness to any strain. Many shoppers pick based on the essential oils in herb—the terpenes. Batches labeled Modified Grapes tested highest for limonene, caryophyllene, pinene, which can relate to citrus, pepper/fuel/gas, and pine. 

Other highlights this November

Can’t buy our HighLight? Don’t cry, dry your eyes—with three related or seasonal picks.

Papaya Punch

Swap out the stanky GMO for the more floral papaya in this equally sleepy and fruity half-sibling of Modified Grapes.

GMO Cookies

Get more aggressive with your sedative—crack that Modified Grape parent GMO Cookies. For fans of savory, stanky, and strong. Not actually genetically modified, for the record.

Purple Punch

The other parent in Modified Grapes is for the thriftiest of us. Purple Punch is an easy-going, grape-flavored sleep aid.

Ok, that’s HighLight for November 2024. Go stock up. Winter is coming. The wine leaves have all turned red and yellow in the fields. The grapes are being smashed. The weed barns are full of a bumper crop that’ll ripen into the new year. One thing dies. Another is born. The only constant—change.