Pairing #1:
Aloha Apothecary Riptide Rush Hash Rosin, Cold Cure 73-159u x Gatorade Cool Blue
Aloha Apothecary’s Riptide Rush Hash Rosin and Gatorade’s Cool Blue drink create a dynamic blue raspberry flavor bomb.
Tannins
Cool Blue Gatorade coats your tongue with a strangely unmistakable, slightly tart essence that is almost like the ghost of blueberry, taking it toward a candy-like sweetness more than natural fruit. This blue raspberry-esque flavor is bold yet never overwhelming because of the watered-down flavor intensity. However, it lingers pleasantly on the tongue and does its job of quenching your thirst. For many of us, it’s a classic, straightforward taste that brings back summer memories and maybe the reminder of your dad yelling at you at Little League practice.
Terpenes
This version of Riptide Rush from Aloha Apothecary is a bucket I keep coming back to, as it checks all the boxes for me. The grapey blue raspberry with a touch of candy provides unbeatable flavor without majorly sacrificing potency. I continually try to keep a jar or two in my head stash because I know it’s right in my personal flavor profile wheelhouse (real, not artificial, fruit candy terps). The smooth smoke, nice melt and good vibes experience from this one make it a jar not to miss.
Pairing
The rosin’s candy-like, grapey blue raspberry terps find a perfect partner in the Gatorade’s strangely sweet and slightly tart blueberry-esque flavor. Where the rosin provides depth and a potent experience, the Gatorade offers a refreshing, nostalgic counterpoint, ensuring a balanced palate and restorative electrolytes to keep you vibing. Together, this pair works well to amplify the vibrant fruit candy profile, leaving a lingering, satisfying taste that’s both complex and comfortingly nostalgic. –ADHDDEAD
aloha207.com | gatorade.com | @gatorade
Pairing #2:
Third Shift Resin Pink Zugar #7 Hash Rosin, Cold Cure, 90-120u x Maine Root Fair Trade Slightly Sparkling Lemonade
For a great daytime combination, try Third Shift Resin’s Pink Zugar #7 Hash Rosin alongside Maine Root’s Fair Trade Slightly Sparkling Lemonade. This pairing is perfect for a picnic, a hike or hanging with friends without that couch-locked feeling.
Tannins
As a lemonade lover, one of the things that is absolutely critical to get right is the balance of sweet and sour citrus. Many cheap lemonades can be overfilled with sugar as a replacement for real fruit flavors. Maine Root’s lemonade is a drink that you can not only feel good about enjoying, but it also delivers its own twist on the classic. Clearly made with quality ingredients, what makes this one really pop is its slight effervescence. While not quite the level of bubbles you’d get in a glass of Champagne, this one felt like an elevated, balanced offering that could be enjoyed in a nice glass with a “high”-class crowd.
Terpenes
Another really beautiful entry from Third Shift Resin, this hash sparkles pearlescent white and emits a soft and sweet candy Z note that immediately appealed to my endocannabinoid system. Great for a midday dab, this one is distinctly sweet without being saccharine. It tastes like you’re blowing clouds of pink cotton candy, leaving a candy coating on your tongue that will make you lick your lips. It looks, tastes, melts and feels great. Like a kid in a candy store, you might be rushing back to grab more of this one.
Pairing
The combination of Pink Zugar and Maine Root lemonade was almost surprisingly well done. These two really complemented each other as well as filled in the flavor gaps. For example, where one might want a hint of more sweetness from the lemonade, the hash provides a candy-coated layer on your tongue that enhances the effect and balances things out even more. –ADHDDEAD
thirdshiftresin.com | @thirdshiftresin | maineroot.com | @maineroot
Pairing #3:
The Lone Tree Super Lungs Flower x Loaded Question Brewing Friends Weekend Hoppy Kolsch
Get ready for a beer and Cannabis pairing that is both invigorating and relaxing. The flower’s heavy, earthy and gassy profile gets brightened by the crisp, hoppy snap of the beer, pulling out piney edges that feel sharp but refreshing.
Tannins
A must-try hidden gem in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Loaded Question Brewing boasts a wide array of options for any beer aficionado. When we went in, we were pointed in the direction of their Friends Weekend cans. This hoppy Kolsch is supposedly inspired by a yearly retreat in the Berkshires. Loaded Question’s rendition of this Kolsch style includes American hops, creating an enjoyable profile and tasting experience. It leans on the hoppier side, but it’s a smooth-drinking and delicious option that is sure to enhance any weekend getaway.
Terpenes
Super Lungs from The Lone Tree in Auburn, Maine, is a powerhouse cross of Bomb Sauce and Hashburger that delivers on both flavor and potency. The strain opens with a rich, earthy aroma layered with gassy notes, followed by a smooth inhale that coats the palate. Its effects are heavy yet balanced, offering a cerebral lift that quickly melts into a deep body relaxation. Ideal for unwinding after a long day, Super Lungs lives up to its name, expanding the lungs and easing the mind with every pull.
Pairing
Super Lungs and Friends Weekend ended up being a surprisingly natural fit. Where the flower brings weight and depth, the beer lifts with clean carbonation and a grassy citrus kick, landing you in that cozy zone where time slows down but conversation flows easily. Together, they make for a classic late afternoon pairing: grounded, buzzy, and just hazy enough to take the edge off without knocking you flat. –ADHDDEAD
loadedquestionbrewing.com | @loadedquestionbrewing | @thelonetree_
Pairing #4:
New Roots Gardens Bread Winner 73-149µ Cold Cure Live Rosin x So Lah Tea Caramelized Brown Sugar Yerba Mate Hot Milk Tea
This pairing highlights a rosin that tastes exactly how it smells and a tea that helps balance out the cannasulfur compounds and dominant terpenes from that rosin. The after effects left me feeling balanced and focused.
Tannins
For the beverage portion of the pairing, I collaborated with So Lah Tea, New York City’s finest purveyor of artisanal, handcrafted teas. We landed on a Caramelized Brown Sugar Yerba Mate Hot Milk Tea. Yerba mate contains up to 16% tannins, making it a perfect contender. It had a robust flavor that was sweet, nutty, creamy and caramelly. The typical astringency and bitterness associated with yerba mate were present but balanced by these elements.
Terpenes
The Bread Winner 73-149µ Cold Cure Live Rosin from New Roots Gardens in Voorheesville, New York, came in at 5.78% terpenes. According to the lab report, Bread Winner’s top three terpenes are limonene, beta-caryophyllene and beta-mycene. The nose on this jar was nasty in the best way possible. Outside, I opened it 5 feet away from my friend without saying anything, and it caught her attention. Top notes of garlic and menthol overwhelmed the senses. New Roots Gardens hunted and selected this pheno of Bread Winner F3 from a single pack of seeds from Staefli Farms. This strain’s lineage includes power hitters like Garlic Breath, Wedding Cake and Peanut Butter Breath. Cultivated in greenhouse light deps, this rosin captures the undeniable power of the sun, bringing a distinct edge to terpene expression.
Pairing
I dabbed the rosin on a Toro slurper at 525 degrees Fahrenheit. The Bread Winner had a staining effect on my palate and in my sinuses. The onset was immediate and went straight to my third eye and the front of my face. The tea as a chaser was hot, comforting and delicious. While drinking it, I experienced a very dry sensation in my mouth. I didn’t quite have cotton mouth, but all of the moisture was definitely drawn out. Yerba mate gives me laser vision, and Garlic-leaning strains make me nice and relaxed. The high was very cerebral but also made my body feel like it was floating. –Crystal Hoffman
