Mountain Man Melts has put out a number of hits on the Cali market. Using fresh, organic material harvested from one of Gai Gardens’ two farms in Trinity County, this Emerald Triangle brand has been keeping up a rotating list of tasty flavors while keeping a focus on being accessible to the existing dab community. The approach makes them a go-to option among budtenders when newly hatched hash heads start asking for recommendations.
This month, we’re taking a look at their Z Fumez (also known as Candy Fumez), another example of the sweet gas movement that’s been slowly clawing away at the candy cage. Created by Boston Seed Co. and Bloom Seed Co., this strain builds on Zkittlez by crossing it with Sherbanger (Sunset Sherbert x Headbanger), adding layers of gassy exhaust and sweet fruit to the flavor. Especially at lower temps, you’ll pick up a whole range of tastes, and as the temperature increases, so does that Z influence.
Since coming out a few years back, Candy Fumez brought home awards including first place Virginia State Champion and second place in Terpenes at the 2024 National Cannabis Championship. Readers will also recognize this strain as our November ’23 Strain of the Month and the flower Greendawg used to win “Best of the Rest” at that year’s Transbay Challenge finals. More than just an award-winning flower strain, Z Fumez has also proven to be an absolute hit with the hash community, as you can see with this example from Mountain Man Melts. There’s a beautiful bright look to the rosin when you pop open the jar. The smell, while light on that straight Z factor, is a soft blend of candy up front and a fruity Z note along the top edge.
At 500 degrees, the flavor on the first exhale was a quick burst of sugar, while the second exploded into exhaust Fumez, which is to say thick and with that Z tingle. When the fuel had all run out, that third exhale let the sweetness creep back along the upper parts of the mouth. At 450, I had a very similar experience but with stronger candy, and by the end I could swear I was picking up notes from the Headbanger influence. Going up to 550 to 600 gave me my favorite dab. The candy, fruit and Z blend together into a single powerful stream. You still get that earthy, full exhaust blast on the second exhale, but each breath is a more full-bodied experience.
mountainmanmelts.com | @mountainmanmelts.ca
This article was originally published in the May 2025 issue of California Leaf.
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