Gelato | Get to Know Your Favorite Strain

Discover the aromatic compounds that help create the sweet, berry-forward side of the Gelato family.

It all started when the now-legendary cultivation group Cookies crossed gassy OG Kush with Durban Poison to create Girl Scout Cookies (GSC). Cookies crew member Mario Guzman (aka Mr. Sherbinski) then bred the sweet and herbal Sunset Sherbert, which he THEN crossed with a GSC phenotype, Thin Mint Cookies. This led to cultivating the Gelato family with its four distinct phenotypes. 

He couldn’t have known it at the time, but this cross would completely transform modern exotic cannabis. Bacio Gelato brought ultra gassy and floral, Mochi Gelato had that delicious dough, Acai Berry Gelato delivered on its berry namesake, and Gello Gelato brought a playful, fruit-forward aroma with heavy-hitting effects.

Curious about the sweeter side of Gelato? Read on and discover some of the aromatic compounds that contribute to the sweet, floral flavor side of the Gelato family!

Gelato Phenotypes: Acai Berry, Gello, Mochi, and Bacio

In a single phenohunt, Guzman accomplished four times over what many breeders are lucky to achieve once in their entire career. Normally, phenohunting is an incredibly time-intensive and often expensive process. Breeders can grow thousands of plants to emphasize one specific trait, and their efforts may or may not pay off. 

Guzman humbly attributes his success to being “in the right place at the right time with the right genetics,” but it’s hard to ignore his damn near supernatural sense of smell. Indeed, his decision to preserve the four distinct Gelato phenotypes was made after detecting the unique aromatic quality of each cut.

Today, we know that cannabis progeny grown under the same conditions can still display aromatic variations due to differences in flavorant compounds. No, we’re not talking about terpenes. 

Terpene profiles will often be nearly identical among progeny, but things like flavorants can make a huge difference even when they’re present in parts per billion or even parts per trillion. That was the case with the four Gelato phenotypes.

Why is this important? Mainly because it’s freaking amazing that Guzman was able to use his senses to pick up on aromatic differences that might otherwise require advanced analytical testing to detect. So, what did his famous nose detect?

Bacio Gelato, sometimes referred to simply as Gelato or Gelato #41, is the standout variety that has become legendary. It’s funky and fuel-forward with heavy-hitting effects. Think of it as a velvet hammer that knocks you flat but leaves no bruise. Saying it’s gassy is a major understatement. It’s not just gassy; it’s dank. It’s not overwhelmingly sweet; it’s delicately floral. 

This gassy cultivar is so unique that we knew we couldn’t do it justice unless we worked with the original cultivator. So, that’s what we did. Want to experience the authentic profile of this iconic cultivar? Our Signature Series Bacio Gelato profile has the approval of Mr. Sherbinski himself, and no other blend can adequately match the complexity captured within.

Want more details on this gas giant? Get all the details in Bacio Gelato: The Gas Giant of Exotic Cannabis.

Ok, so Bacio is a VERY big deal… but what about the sweeter side of the Gelato family? 

The Sweeter Side of Gelato: Terpene Profile

If you want to experience the sweeter side of the Gelato family without the gassy Prenylated Cannasulfur Compounds found in Bacio Gelato, you’ll love our Premium Strain Gelato and Berry Gelato Profiles.

The former is closer to Gello Gelato, and when someone says it tastes like a dessert, they’re not joking. Our Premium Gelato Profile has a delicate berry aroma that blends perfectly with floral notes, creating an almost creamy texture. 

If you’re looking for something closer to Acai Berry Gelato, you’ll want to try our Premium Berry Gelato Profile. Yes, it’s tantalizingly sweet, it has palpable berry notes, and it’s also delicately floral. This profile, however, has a tanginess that’s more akin to the tartness of exotic acai berries. 

Both profiles are dominant in d-Limonene, β-Myrcene, and β-Caryophyllene. Actually, ALL four of the Gelato phenotypes are dominant in the same terpenes. If you’re wondering how that’s possible, considering they have noticeably different aromas, you’re not alone. Questions like that are why we conducted our Science of Exotic Cannabis and Chemohunting research. 

Want details on the research that uncovered cannabis flavorants and revolutionized modern cultivation? Read all about it in our White Papers!

The terpene isolate d-Limonene is often associated with citrus-forward aromas since it’s commonly found in fruits like lemons, limes, grapefruits, oranges, etc. Found in a wide variety of plants (mangoes, lemongrass, basil, hops, etc.), Myrcene provides a dose of sweet herbaceousness. It smells profoundly earthy and woody, but it also has distinct notes of cardamom, fruit, and musk. 

While Gello Gelato and Acai Gelato are more known for their sweetness, refined palates might notice subtle earthy notes. This is thanks, in part, to the terpene isolate beta-Caryophyllene. Spicy beta-Caryophyllene is found in plants like black pepper, cloves, hops, and cinnamon.

The Gelato Effect

While cannabinoids like THC are responsible for psychoactivity, aromatic compounds help promote specific effects. That’s why two cultivars with the exact same cannabinoid levels may promote different experiences. One might be more stimulating and make you want to tackle your to-do list, while the other may be more relaxing and keep you in couch-potato mode for the rest of the day.

Bottom line? If you love how a cultivar makes you feel, you can thank the unique combination of cannabinoids, terpenes, and various aromatic compounds.

The Gelato phenotypes are indica-leaning hybrids, which might not mean what you think it does. Previously, terms like Indica and Sativa helped denote effect-types, but after decades of cultivation efforts, they really only refer to plant biology and don’t have anything to do with effects.

Terminology aside, both Gello Gelato and Acai Berry Gelato are known for euphoric effects that are both mentally uplifting and physically relaxing. Imagine a fun summer afternoon with the perfect balance of joyful motivation and relaxation. 

Bacio Gelato, on the other hand, takes relaxation to the next level. While the former phenos may inspire you to build sand castles during a beach day, Bacio will have you napping on a beach chair. 

How Can YOU Use Gelato Terpenes

Considering the sensorial effects of these cultivars, certain products can strategically use them to provide desirable experiences for consumers. Plus, our botanically sourced terpene profiles are perfect for both cannabis and non-cannabis products. 

Combining them with cannabinoids will pump up the effects, but non-cannabis products aiming to promote a euphoric state with a hefty dose of relaxation will greatly benefit as well.

Distillate and Other Cannabis Extracts

Infusing distillate or other cannabis extracts with terpenes is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to add aroma, flavor, and effects to various products. Plus, some of these extracts can be used immediately, or they can be incorporated into other products.

Beverages

Consumers already reach for specific beverages when they want to relax and unwind, so infusing products like functional beverages or tea with Gelato terpene profiles is practical. Plus, any of these cultivar-specific flavors would make phenomenal additions to teas, kombuchas, sparkling waters, etc. 

Edibles

Edibles are the perfect solution for consumers who want the effects of a cultivar without having to smoke flower, vapes, pre-rolls, etc. Plus, these aromas and flavors could make for some delicious gummies, hard candies, suckers, etc. 

Personal Care Products

In addition to the desirable aroma, the sensorial effects of Gelato would be a welcome addition to products like lotions, soaps, or even room sprays.

Abstrax Tech | True-to-Type Gelato Terpene Profiles

Whether you want the sweeter, less gassy side of Gelato in our Premium Strain Profiles or the ultra gassy, floral quality of our Bacio Gelato Signature Series Profile, we’ve got you covered. 

Our in-house team of flavor chemists craft each profile from scratch based upon our own plant analytics — something no other terpene company does. The best part? They’re not limited by supply, they don’t cost your firstborn child, and they’re legal worldwide.

Want to put your unique spin on Gelato? Combine it with other terpene profiles and blends for something consumers won’t find anywhere else. 

Turn the flavor volume to maximum with a blend from our Cloudburst Series, add earthy bass notes with the profiles in our hemp-derived Terplandia Series, or combine it with a Native Series profile for some cannasulfur goodness. 

Contact us and let’s get started today. 

1. Oswald, I. W. H., Paryani, T. R., Sosa, M. E., Ojeda, M. A., Altenbernd, M. R., Grandy, J. J., Shafer, N. S., Ngo, K., Peat, J. R., 3rd, Melshenker, B. G., Skelly, I., Koby, K. A., Page, M. F. Z., & Martin, T. J. (2023). Minor, Nonterpenoid Volatile Compounds Drive the Aroma Differences of Exotic Cannabis. ACS omega, 8(42), 39203–39216. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c04496

2. Twinkle R. Paryani, Manuel E. Sosa, Michael F. Z. Page, Thomas J. Martin, Melissa V. Hearvy, Marcos A. Ojeda, Kevin A. Koby, Jonathan J. Grandy, Bradley G. Melshenker, Ian Skelly, and Iain W. H. Oswald. (2024). Nonterpenoid Chemical Diversity of Cannabis Phenotypes Predicts Differentiated Aroma Characteristics. ACS omega, 9(26), 27755-29071 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acsomega.4c03225

Experience Gelato!

SHOP Bacio Gelato

Out of the tens of thousands of cultivars we’ve analyzed, Bacio Gelato reigns supreme as the gassiest strain ever measured. Created in partnership with Mario Guzman of Sherbinskis, this is the world’s only authentic and official Gelato terpene profile.

SHOP Berry Gelato

Tantalizingly sweet, berry notes are the first thing one notices when enjoying this blend. The initial, palpable berry taste is nicely rounded by nuanced floral tinges. Slightly more robust and a bit tangier than conventional Gelato.

SHOP Gelato

Sometimes, you just want something a little smoother. Berry tangs are notable, intertwining with floral notes, resulting in this blend's gentle intentions. Our Gelato caters to the person seeking the path of least resistance.