1. Lemon Cherry Gelato
A national feed favorite that keeps topping city lists for its candy-citrus nose, dense color, and reliably euphoric, relaxing finish. It continues to sit at or near #1 in major markets like New York, reflecting both search interest and store-shelf pull.
2. Blue Dream
The classic remains a bestseller because it threads the needle: bright blueberry aromatics, smooth uplift, and low anxiety reports. Seasonal lists and summer features still call it out as a go-to daytime choice, underscoring its enduring mass appeal.
3. Permanent Marker
A terp rocket for modern palates: floral candy with a soapy twist and powerful, balanced intensity. It keeps appearing in 2025 seasonal “best of” lineups and “strongest strains” recaps, showing that potency plus flavor still wins baskets.
4. RS-11 (aka RS11, Rainbow Sherb 11)
Resinous, sherbet-sweet, and visually loud, RS-11 remains a connoisseur magnet. Its recurring placement on 2025 spring roundups signals broad demand beyond hype cycles.
5. Gelonade
A limonene-leaning crowd-pleaser with zesty lemonade notes and a clean, upbeat effect profile. Spring 2025 features spotlighted it for flavor clarity and daytime versatility—ideal for shoppers who want “happy without heavy.”
6. Super Runtz
Runtz genetics are a fixture, but this cross rose specifically in 2025 thanks to sugary aromatics and showpiece bag appeal. It headlined 4/20 editorial picks, reflecting what consumers actually clicked and bought for the holiday.
7. Zoap
The candy-gas family keeps evolving, and Zoap leads the wave with dessert-leaning terps over a potent engine. Early-year “hot strains of 2025” lists predicted its breakout—and shelf talkers across multiple states have borne that out.
8. Super Boof
Mushroom-orange zest and creamy gas make this a flavor-first sleeper that turned mainstream. It entered multiple top-10 market rundowns this year, buoyed by word-of-mouth on smooth but strong evening effects.
9. Apple Fritter
A comfort-food cultivar that refuses to fade, Apple Fritter kept posting strong sales and search traction into 2025 thanks to bakery-sweet terps and a heavy-happy finish. Mid-year best-seller analyses still place it among national favorites.
10. XJ-13
A nostalgia pick roaring back. Citrus-pine brightness, social clarity, and consistent lab profiles made it a surprise headliner in 2025 4/20 coverage—proof that “legacy plus quality” can out-trend the newest hype.
What’s powering the 2025 heat?
Two big drivers: flavor families (candy/gas/citrus) and reliability of effect. Editorial curations around 4/20 and seasonal lists heavily correlate with observed consumer behavior—when outlets spotlight strains, sales spikes follow, especially on promotion-heavy days like April 20. Industry receipt data from 2025’s 4/20 confirms extraordinary volume and unit velocity, reinforcing that strains featured in those guides are the ones people actually check out with.
How to shop it: Look for recent harvest dates, terpene totals above ~2% when available, and growers with repeat appearances in trusted editorial roundups. Cross-reference local menus with national lists to find the freshest lots—then read recent customer reviews to match mood, not just name.
Learn More: What Cannabis Buyers Really Want in Strains: Price, Effects, and Flavor