Where did Runtz strains come from? (2024)

Since making a splash in Southern California in 2018, love for the Runtz strain has spread far and wide. Today you can find it everywhere from Seattle to Tel Aviv. It's one of the most searched strains of all time, mentioned in well over 100 rap songs, and its popularity continues to grow.

White, pink, purple, and even banana — the OG Runtz strain has morphed and multiplied, but where did this strain come from? How did it become so popular? And how many Runtz strains are there today?

Find Runtz strains

Runtz origin story

Runtz is what happened when Ray Bama and his partner Nick decided to cross Cookies' Gelato genetics with Dying Breed Seeds' Zkittlez. When it came time to sample two phenotypes, #3 and #7, they knew within minutes they were on to something big.

“To make a legendary strain, it has to be something new. You have to have innovation. You have to dial it in. You have to check all the boxes," Bama told Leaf Nation. “I feel like Runtz took it to a whole other level of candy."

The new strain creation had a trifecta they knew would set it apart: look, smell, and flavor. When naming the new strain, the two decided to play off the unmistakable fruity aroma, the bud size, and its Zkittlez parentage and quickly landed on the popular '80s-era fruit-shaped candy by Nestle.

Rounding out their team with LA-based rapper Yung LB, the trio soon came to be known as the “Runtz Crew." After a soft premier of the strain at the December 2017 Santa Rosa Emerald Cup — which included three pounds of Runtz, 1,000 t-shirts, and five models — Runtz started to get noticed.

If you trace the level of interest on Google, it seemed that Runtz really hit the public scene in March 2018, and by utilizing a tried-and-tested marketing approach, the strain's popularity soon blew up.

Marketing Runtz through rap

When it comes to marketing cannabis, celebrity association and rap lyric references are two of the most effective ways to get a new strain out there.

The Runtz crew already had ties to the Cookies fam, a widely known international cannabis and lifestyle brand with rapper Berner at the helm, and took a page from his book when it came to introducing Runtz to California. Cookies can perhaps be credited as the brand that refined cannabis marketing through music, and harnessing the power of rap has solidified a long line of Cookies strains: Khalifa Kush, Girl Scout Cookies (now GSC), and Sherbet among some of the earliest.

Rapper Yung LB, who is now almost synonymous with the strain and coined the catchphrase “Runtz yo life up," got the word out through his lyrics and social influence. Rapper Nero — credited for the White Runtz phenotype — soon started offering lyrical support to the Runtz crew. Between the two of them, there are over a dozen songs featuring the strain. And outside of the official crew, there are over 50 songs named after the strain and well over 100 featuring Runtz in the lyrics.

When Runtz's boutique growers could not keep up with demand, the strain was officially added to the Cookies lineup in 2018, allowing them to make use of the company's infrastructure to ramp up cultivation. Runtz might have been hard to find outside of SoCal for a minute, but as part of the rapidly expanding Cookies franchise, the strain is making its way across the US with international stores in Israel and soon Canada.

What are Runtz's effects and how does it smoke?

With a slew of awards under its belt, the OG Runtz strain owes a lot to its solid genetic parentage. A cross between Gelato and Zkittlez, Runtz has managed to capture the subtleties that make its parents great.

“I didn't breed Runtz, but my genetics created the unique and powerful strain," Jai Chang (also known as Jigga), Cookies co-founder and Gelato breeder, told Weedmaps. “It's the Gelato strain that is responsible for its distinctive look and flavor with its unmistakable creamy, gassy taste."

Zkittlez is known for offering an eruption of fruitiness both on the nose and on the palate. It's a cross of Grape Ape and Grapefruit and has passed its fruit-forward identity on to Runtz.

The culmination of Gelato and Zkittlez genetics produces a flower that is sweet as candy and overtly fruity but unmistakably complex with undertones of creaminess and gas. Runtz's small-medium frosty buds are also a visual treat, ranging in color from bright greens to pinks and purples to nearly black depending on when and how it's grown.

It's typically a pretty balanced hybrid and offers effects ranging from euphoria and relaxation to cerebral stimulation.

Where did Runtz strains come from? (1)

The Runtz family

Since 2018, the Runtz strain has grown quite the family tree, and the OG strain has parented dozens of unique and popular strains.

Runtz offerings made by Cookies have been kept fairly minimal with a few phenotypes falling under its official umbrella:

  • Runtz OG
  • White Runtz
  • Pink Runtz
  • Devine Runtz

While the genetics of another official Cookies offering, Azul Runtz, is shrouded in mystery, it's believed to be a cross between OG Runtz and Blueberry Muffin.

And, now that other breeders outside of Cookies are working with Runtz genetics, there are dozens of crosses to choose from:

  • Tropical Runtz
  • Watermelon Runtz
  • Space Runtz
  • Black Runtz
  • Runtz Cake
  • Rainbow Runtz
  • Blue Runtz
  • Banana Runtz
  • Gruntz
  • Hawaiian Runtz
  • Runtz Muffin
  • Terdz

In 2020, we also saw the viral sensation of Obama Runtz, but whether or not its genetics actually had anything to do with Runtz remains unclear.

Counterfeits, copyrights, and kids

It's not all fun and games when it comes to this hugely popular strain. Counterfeit cannabis is a thing, and Runtz has seen its fair share. Slap some Cookies-like branding on a product and call it Runtz — sadly, it happens when strains become so monstrously sought after.

Additionally, strains that choose to give fairly direct hat tips to existing brands can run into copyright issues. It's why strains like Girl Scout Cookies have changed to GSC and it could be an issue for Runtz down the road.

Some cultivators and sellers are already making pre-emptive changes to the Runtz name. California's Glass House Farms has gone from Runtz to R*ntz, to avoid possible copyright infringement actions and simultaneously tackle the issues around how using popular candy names might appeal to the underaged.

What's next for Runtz?

In addition to launching a full clothing line, Bama has big plans for Runtz. “We're doing collabs with clothing lines, record labels, artists — anything you can think of, really," he told Leaf Nation.

“We're probably looking at another five to ten years of the market being dominated by Runtz and Runtz crosses, Runtz sisters, and stepchildren."

Where did Runtz strains come from? (2024)

FAQs

Where did Runtz strains come from? ›

Runtz origin story

Where does the runtz strain come from? ›

Runtz was created by crossing Zkittlez with Gelato strains in California's Bay Area and gained popularity in 2018 due to its distinctive flavor profile, potency, and appealing visual characteristics.

What are the parents of runtz? ›

Runtz is a hybrid strain that is a result of crossing the parent strains Zkittlez and Gelato. Zkittlez, known for its indica-dominant traits, provides relaxing and calming effects. Gelato, on the other hand, leans more towards the sativa side, offering uplifting and euphoric sensations.

Who came out with runtz? ›

Five years ago, Runts was still just a candy spelled with an “s” – until Ray Bama and his partners sprouted an epiphany that sparked the kind of hype marketing managers only dream of. And from that time on, Bama's partners Yung LB and Nick would be called the Runtz Crew.

What is the strongest runtz strain? ›

What is the Strongest Runtz Strain?
  • Strawberry Runtz – 32% THC.
  • Coochie Runtz – 29% THC.
  • Runtz Muffin – 29% THC.
  • Greasy Runtz – 28% THC.
  • Gruntz – 27% THC.
Dec 30, 2023

Who bred the runtz strain? ›

Runtz is what happened when Ray Bama and his partner Nick decided to cross Cookies' Gelato genetics with Dying Breed Seeds' Zkittlez.

What is the mother of the runtz strain? ›

Runtz Strain is a hybrid cannabis strain created by crossing the popular Gelato and Zkittlez strains.

What lineage is runtz? ›

The evenly balanced hybrid known as Runtz (50/50) is one of cannabis' most famous monarchs. Its phenotypes are numerous and its flavors are practically synonymous with Los Angeles. It comes from a handsome lineage that includes Zkittlez and Gelato strains and is currently taking the Colorado bud market by storm.

Is Runtz an OG strain? ›

Runtz, also called The Runtz OG, is a rare hybrid strain. Cookies Fam created Runtz by crossing Zkittlez and Gelato. Runtz is a sweet strain well known for its fruity, candy-like flavor profile that smells like a bag of candy. Runtz has been described as having uplifting, energetic effects.

Why is Runtz so strong? ›

Runtz weed is known for its potency due to its high THC content, which can range from 20% to 29%. The combination of strong genetics, careful breeding, and high-quality cultivation techniques contribute to the overall strength and effectiveness of Runtz.

What is the dominant strain in runtz? ›

Grape Runtz is an indica-dominant hybrid made by crossing various strains, including OG Kush, Gelato, Grape Ape, and others. This is a fairly powerful strain, as it can contain up to 23% THC. Because it's an indica-dominant strain, its effects will lean towards the calming and body high side of things.

What is pure runtz? ›

Pure Runtz is a heady phenotype of the popular Runtz family. These frosty buds have beautiful purple tones, and a fruity diesel aroma that expands into grape notes when broken down.

Why is it called Pink Runtz? ›

Pink Runtz is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain with an incredibly unique lineage. Depending on the source, it is either a phenotype of Runtz (a cross between Zkittlez and Gelato) or a cross of Pink Panties and Rainbow Sherbet. Pink Runtz doesn't have any awards to its name yet.

How many different runtz are there? ›

Dozens of iterations and crosses of Runtz have since entered the market; the Leafly strain database currently hosts 36 Runtz varieties, and it's only up from here.

How potent is black runtz? ›

Black Runtz has a high THC content, ranging from 19% to 29%, making it a potent strain. Its CBD content is relatively low, at >1%.

Is Obama Runtz potent? ›

Obama Runtz Strain: Potent and Consistent

A high THC content is essential for cannabis strains to produce the desired effects, and Obama Runtz boasts an impressive range of 26% to 30%. The high THC level in Obama Runtz can produce intense psychoactive effects, including euphoria and heightened sensory perception.

Why is Runtz so potent? ›

Runtz weed is known for its potency due to its high THC content, which can range from 20% to 29%. The combination of strong genetics, careful breeding, and high-quality cultivation techniques contribute to the overall strength and effectiveness of Runtz.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Tyson Zemlak

Last Updated:

Views: 6239

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tyson Zemlak

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Apt. 662 96191 Quigley Dam, Kubview, MA 42013

Phone: +441678032891

Job: Community-Services Orchestrator

Hobby: Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Metalworking, Fashion, Vehicle restoration, Shopping, Photography

Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.