OZ Kush: The Candy Gas King
OZ Kush: The Candy Gas King
Strain Overview
Type: Indica-Dominant Hybrid (70% Indica / 30% Sativa)
Breeder: Dying Breed Seeds / 3rd Gen Family (Original Creator)
Market Status: The "Candy Gas Blueprint"; OZ Kush (often stylized as O.Z. Kush) is arguably one of the most important hybrids of the modern era. It is the strain that popularized the "Candy Gas" flavor profile—a term now ubiquitous in the industry. By taking the weak-stemmed but delicious Zkittlez and crossing it with the structural tank that is Eddy OG, Dying Breed created a plant that offers the mouth-watering tropical candy flavor of Zkittlez with the potency, yield, and woody backbone of an OG. It is the genetic parent of the famous Peach Ringz.
THC Content: High (21% – 25%)
Dominant Terpenes: Caryophyllene, Linalool, Limonene, Humulene
Key Effects: Euphoric Relaxation, Creative "Zone," Mood Elevation, Physical Comfort
OZ Kush is the best of both worlds.
For years, smokers had to choose: did they want the sugary, tropical flavor of Zkittlez (which often lacked potency) or the heavy, reliable stone of an OG? OZ Kush said "why not both?" It smells like a bag of tropical fruit candy spilled onto a pine forest floor. It is sweet, sharp, and gassy all at once, offering a smoking experience that satisfies the sweet tooth and the tolerance.
History and Lineage: The Structural Fix
This strain was a breeding necessity. Zkittlez is famous for having amazing terpenes but terrible growth structure (weak stems, low yield). OZ Kush was the solution.
The Mother (Zkittlez): The flavor. The original Zkittlez (Grape Ape x Grapefruit) is legendary for its rainbow candy terpene profile. However, as a plant, it is often spindly and difficult to grow.
The Father (Eddy OG): The fix. As detailed in the previous review, Eddy OG (OG Eddy Lepp) is a woody, vigorous, outdoor beast. It was used to inject stalk strength, yield, and a spicy gas backbone into the Zkittlez line.
The Synthesis: OZ Kush retains the dominant Zkittlez flavor (about 70-80% of the profile) but presents it on a plant that can actually hold its own weight. It adds a layer of "Kush" funk that makes the smoke expansive and heavy, rather than light and airy.
Terpene Profile: Tropical Skittles and Pine
The aroma of OZ Kush is widely considered a top-tier "Exotic" profile. It is complex, loud, and distinct.
Dominant Terpenes
Caryophyllene (The Gas): The dominant terpene. It bridges the gap between the candy and the earth. It provides a spicy, black pepper kick that hits the back of the nose.
Linalool (The Floral): Inherited from the Zkittlez, this adds the soapy, floral, and lavender sweetness that mimics the flavor of purple candy.
Limonene (The Citrus): Adds a bright grapefruit and tangerine note.
Humulene (The Wood): Derived from the Eddy OG, adding a dry wood and hops finish that grounds the sweetness.
Flavor Notes:
The Aroma: It is intoxicating. It smells of sugary fruit candy (Skittles), pine-sol, gasoline, and floral perfume.
The Smoke: Thick and coating. It tastes of tropical fruit syrup on the inhale, with a spicy, woody pine finish on the exhale.
Strain Effects: The Creative Zone
OZ Kush offers a sophisticated high. It is potent enough to satisfy heavy smokers but euphoric enough to remain functional.
The Experience
The Head: The high hits with a happy, spacey euphoria. It is very mood-lifting. You feel a "halo" effect around the head.
The Creativity: It is known for inducing a creative flow state. It is excellent for listening to music, painting, or gaming. You are "in the zone."
The Body: A warm physical relaxation creeps in, loosening the shoulders and back. It is relaxing but rarely debilitating.
The Munchies: It creates a moderate to strong appetite stimulation.
Best For: Afternoon chilling, creative hobbies, stress relief, mild depression, and socializing.
Growing OZ Kush: The Zkittlez Upgrade
Growers love this strain because it allows them to harvest "Z" terpenes without the headache of growing pure Zkittlez.
Growth Structure
The Vigor: Moderate to High. It grows much stronger than Zkittlez. It has thick stems and strong lateral branching.
The Yield: Moderate. It produces rock-hard, golf-ball-sized nuggets. It isn't a massive commercial cropper, but the price per pound is usually higher due to the exotic quality.
The Colors: Stunning. In late flower, the buds turn lime green and pink, often fading to purple. The resin coverage is elite.
The Time: It finishes flowering in 9 weeks.
Grower’s Tip: OZ Kush is a calcium hog. Ensure you are supplementing Cal-Mag, especially in weeks 3-5 of flower. It prefers a cooler environment in late flower to preserve the volatile candy terpenes. If grown too hot, it loses the "Z" note and smells just like generic gas.
Similar Strains / Lineage Relations
If you enjoy the profile or growth of OZ Kush, you might also appreciate these three genetically related or similar strains:
Zkittlez: The Mother.
Why: If you want the purest, unadulterated candy flavor and don't care about yield or growth difficulty, go to the source. It is sweeter and less gassy than OZ Kush, but much harder to grow.
Eddy OG: The Father.
Why: If you prefer the woody, piney, and earthy side of the OZ Kush profile and find the candy sweetness too cloying, the father offers a more traditional, "Old School" smoke.
Peach Ringz: The Sibling.
Why: This is essentially a "sister" strain (Marionberry x Eddy OG vs Zkittlez x Eddy OG). They share the same father and similar structure. Choose Peach Ringz if you prefer stone fruit/peach flavors over the tropical/citrus flavors of OZ Kush.
Final Verdict: The Candy Gas King
OZ Kush is a modern classic. It defined a genre. It proved that you could breed for "Hype" flavors (like Zkittlez) without sacrificing the structural integrity of the plant. It offers a smoking experience that is undeniably delicious—bursting with fruit and gas—and a high that is perfectly balanced between happy and stoned. If you want to know what "Exotic" weed smells like in the 2020s, OZ Kush is the reference point.
You should choose OZ Kush if:
You love Candy + Gas flavors.
You want a Creative, Happy High.
You struggle growing pure Zkittlez.
You appreciate Boutique Terpenes.
Score: 9.6/10 (The Flavor Blueprint)