Hybrid50/50 Indica/Sativa18–25% THC

Burmese Kush

Also known as: BuKu, Burma

Breeder: T.H. Seeds

Burmese Kush is a balanced hybrid bred by T.H. Seeds in Amsterdam, crossing a rare Southeast Asian Burmese landrace with the legendary clone-only OG Kush from Los Angeles. Known for its old-school hash-forward flavor, dense resin production, and slow-onset tranquil effects, it became one of the most celebrated cultivars in Dutch coffeeshop culture. High Times senior cultivation editor Danny Danko named it to his Top 10 Kush Strains list in 2007. Burmese Kush occupies a significant position in modern cannabis breeding history beyond its own merits as a cultivar. The strain serves as a foundational parent in the lineage of Pink Panties (Burmese Kush × Florida Kush), which in turn gave rise to Sunset Sherbet and subsequently the entire Gelato family — one of the most commercially dominant genetic lines of the 2020s. This makes BuKu a quiet architect of the modern dessert-strain era, contributing exotic berry and fruit terpene expression, floral complexity, and hardy growth genetics to some of the most sought-after cultivars on dispensary shelves today. T.H. Seeds developed BuKu in Amsterdam after receiving the clone-only OG Kush genetics from contacts in Los Angeles, crossing it with an authentic Burmese landrace to create what they envisioned as a fast-flowering, resin-heavy Kush hybrid suitable for the small, productive Dutch-style grow rooms of the era. The strain found immediate commercial success in Amsterdam coffeeshops where it remains available today, valued for its distinctive citrus-pine flavor, manageable size, and reliable potency in the 18–25% THC range.

Lineage

Burmese Landrace × OG Kush

THC Range

18–25%

Flower Time

50-63 days

Difficulty

Beginner to Intermediate

Lineage & Genetics

Cross: Burmese Landrace × OG Kush

The Burmese parent is a rare indigenous sativa from Myanmar's Shan Highlands in the Golden Triangle, adapted to high altitudes with natural mold resistance and a fast flowering time. It contributes calm euphoria, short stature, and faster flowering. The OG Kush father traces to a 1991 accidental pollination in South Florida from Chemdawg 91, Hindu Kush, and Lemon Thai stock. Matt 'Bubba' Berger flew cuttings to LA in 1996, and Josh D entered it in a Bay Area competition where it received perfect scores. OG Kush contributes fuel-forward lemon-pine aroma, extreme potency, dense bud structure, and heavy resin production.

Terpene Profile

DOMINANT

Myrcene — Earthy, musky base supporting sedative and relaxing qualities

DOMINANT

Limonene — Brighter citrus edge over the kush profile with subtle mood elevation

DOMINANT

Caryophyllene — Peppery, warm spice notes assisting with inflammation and physical relaxation

SECONDARY

Terpinolene — Supports clarity and pine-forward lift; some batches produce peachy top notes

SECONDARY

Humulene — Woody depth and grounded balance in Burmese-leaning phenotypes

Aroma: Sharp, refreshing pine with deep earthy notes, aged cedar, damp earth, roasted nuts, sweet licorice, and pungent kush. Incense-like top notes from the Burmese parent blend with heavier earth and pine from OG Kush, plus a distinct citric edge.

Flavor: Robust pine and cedar on the inhale, followed by spiced earth, woodsy pine, sweet hash, and citrus zest. The finish delivers peppery herbal notes, smooth floral sweetness, and a lingering tea-like spice. Aftertaste is hashy pine with a faint sweet-spice echo.

Effects & Experience

Onset: Slow-building onset that gradually intensifies over several minutes

Peaceful headspace without racing thoughts, happy euphoria inherited from the Burmese landrace, initial cerebral clarity transitioning into heavy body relaxation and notable appetite stimulation

Duration: Long-lasting once effects fully develop; best suited for evening use

Commonly Reported Uses

Stress reliefAnxiety reductionPain managementDepressionInsomniaAppetite stimulationMuscle spasms

Grower's Notes

Flower

50-63 days

Indoor Yield

400-550 g/m²

Outdoor Yield

400-800 g/plant

Difficulty

Beginner to Intermediate

Height / Stretch

70-120 cm

Environment

Indoor, Outdoor, Greenhouse

Burmese Kush — known affectionately as BuKu in Amsterdam coffeeshops and breeder catalogs — is T.H. Seeds' celebrated marriage of a Southeast Asian Burmese landrace with the legendary clone-only OG Kush from Los Angeles. The result is a compact, fast-finishing hybrid that punches well above its modest stature in both resin output and bag appeal.

Stretch and Structure

Plants exhibit a modest flowering stretch, typically gaining 1.2x to 1.5x their pre-flip height during the first two to three weeks of 12/12. The architecture is squat and bushy — expect a final indoor height around 100 cm with tight-to-moderate internodal spacing. The Kush parentage delivers thick main stems and sturdy lateral branching, while the Burmese side contributes just enough sativa vigor to push side branches outward during early bloom. One documented grow report noted slight phenotypic variation: two of three plants ran classic indica structure while the third expressed a longer, more sativa-influenced cola shape. The high calyx-to-leaf ratio is a consistent trait across phenotypes, making trim day efficient.

Training and Canopy

BuKu responds enthusiastically to topping, LST, and SCROG. Sea of Green is the most frequently cited commercial method given the strain's natural single-cola dominance and short stature. For home growers running fewer plants, a SCROG net at 25–35 cm above the medium with 70–80% fill before flip maximizes light penetration into an otherwise dense canopy. Lollipop the lower third aggressively — the tight bud structure means airflow is your primary defense against problems deeper in the canopy.

Flower Time and Yield

This is where BuKu earns its reputation. T.H. Seeds lists 9 weeks, but documented grows consistently finish in 50–55 days, with some OG-leaning phenotypes wanting 60 days for full trichome maturity. The Weed World strain report logged harvest at day 52–55. Indoor yields range from 400 to 550 g/m² under optimized lighting (700–1,000 µmol/m²/s PPFD with CO2 supplementation), with the breeder claiming 500 g/m² as achievable for experienced growers. Outdoors in warm, dry climates, expect 400–800 g per plant with harvest by late September to early October in the Northern Hemisphere.

Nutrients and Media

Kush genetics are notoriously sensitive to overfeeding, and BuKu is no exception. The documented Green Born Identity grow used Plagron Standard Mix soil at pH 6.0–6.3 with a maximum EC of 2.0 mS, adding PK 13/14 only during week 6 of flower alongside Rhizotonic, CannaZym, and Bcuzz bloom stimulator. Herbies recommends Advanced Nutrients pH Perfect Connoisseur Bloom with EC capped at 1.4 in veg and 1.8 in flower. In coco, maintain pH 5.8–6.0 with daily fertigation to runoff and Cal-Mag supplementation. Start nutrients at 50% strength after the third node, ramp conservatively, and flush with plain pH-adjusted water for the final 10–14 days to improve flavor and combustion quality.

Environment and Light

In veg, target 24–28°C daytime with 60–70% RH. Transition to 22–26°C daytime in flower, dropping RH to 45–55% through weeks 1–4, then 40–45% for weeks 5–8. The documented grow maintained 40–55% humidity throughout flowering. Keep nighttime temperatures 2–4°C below daytime for terpene development. For lighting, 300W COB LED is the minimum recommendation; 600W HPS (as used in the Weed World report with 3x 600W Osram units) or equivalent modern LED delivering 700–900 µmol/m²/s PPFD at canopy level provides the DLI of 35–45 mol/m²/day that drives maximum resin production.

Color and Bud Structure

Mature flowers display lime-to-forest green hues with dark green leaves characteristic of the Kush family. Stigmas ripen to amber and copper tones. Some phenotypes exhibit faint lavender flecks when nighttime temperatures drop 3–5°C, though BuKu is not primarily a "purple" strain. Bud structure runs golf-ball to torpedo-shaped with exceptional density — the trichomes are notably small but extremely abundant, forming sticky, continuous resin layers over rock-hard flower nuggets. The favorable calyx-to-leaf ratio minimizes sugar leaf coverage and maximizes trimmed bag appeal.

Pest and Disease

BuKu's dense bud structure creates its primary vulnerability: susceptibility to Botrytis (bud rot) and powdery mildew under warm, humid conditions. Multiple sources flag this as the strain's chief weakness. Prevention requires maintaining high-velocity airflow directly through the canopy, aggressive humidity management below 45% in late flower, and regular inspection of interior bud sites. Outdoor growers should shelter plants from rain and consider defoliating interior fan leaves during peak flower development. Despite this mold sensitivity, the plant shows good general stress tolerance and structural resilience to training techniques.

Wash Data and Extraction

The extremely resinous nature of BuKu makes it a strong candidate for solventless processing. The small, dense trichome heads break cleanly from plant material in ice water extraction. Fresh-frozen material processed through bubble bags (25–220 micron) should yield quality full-melt hash in the 73–120 micron range. The high trichome density despite small head size means yields-per-gram of input may exceed visual expectations. Freeze-dry or air-dry collected hash at 4°C and 50% RH for 48–72 hours to preserve the terp profile. For rosin pressers, the dense bud structure presses efficiently with minimal bag blowouts.

Drying and Curing

Given the terpene profile (caryophyllene, limonene, myrcene), a slow dry is essential. Warmer, quicker dries mute limonene and emphasize fuel and pepper, while a controlled slow dry (60°F / 55% RH for 10–14 days) followed by jar curing stabilizes the citrus against the gas backbone, enhancing complexity over weeks one to four. The spiced earth and pine resin notes develop fully only after 3–4 weeks of cure. Target trichomes at 80–90% cloudy with 10–20% amber for peak THC expression with the strain's characteristic creeper onset.

History & Origin

Burmese Kush was created in Amsterdam by T.H. Seeds, founded in 1993 by Adam Dunn. The company began at the Cannabis In Amsterdam (C.I.A.) storefront and became one of the oldest cannabis seed companies globally. In 1999, Dunn traveled to the U.S. and brought OG Kush cuts from Los Angeles connections, combining them with Burmese landrace genetics smuggled from Myanmar's Shan State during a brief period of border opening. The strain became one of the most resinous offerings in Dutch coffeeshops, commonly known as 'BuKu.' In 2007, High Times' Danny Danko selected it for his Top 10 Kush Strains editorial list. T.H. Seeds' OG-based lineup also produced award winners including Kushage (3rd prize, 2005 Cannabis Cup) and Cold Creek Kush (2nd place, 2010 Cannabis Cup Indica). Original genetics remain available through T.H. Seeds and major international seed banks.

Awards & Recognition

●High Times Top 10 Kush Strains — Danny Danko's editorial selection (2007)

Notable Crosses

Strains bred using Burmese Kush as a parent:

Burma Glue— Burmese Kush × Sour Glue

Burmese Headband— Burmese Kush × Loompas Headband

Desert Python— Burmese Kush × Mesa Cookies

Poison Kush— Durban Poison × Burmese Kush

Frequently Asked Questions

7 common questions about Burmese Kush

What is Burmese Kush and what are its genetics?

Burmese Kush is a hybrid cannabis strain (50/50 Indica/Sativa) bred by T.H. Seeds. It is a cross of Burmese Landrace × OG Kush, testing at 18–25% THC. Burmese Kush is a balanced hybrid bred by T.H. Seeds in Amsterdam, crossing a rare Southeast Asian Burmese landrace with the legendary clone-only OG Kush from Los Angeles.

What does Burmese Kush smell and taste like?

Burmese Kush's dominant terpenes are Myrcene, Limonene, Caryophyllene. The aroma is described as sharp, refreshing pine with deep earthy notes, aged cedar, damp earth, roasted nuts, sweet licorice, and pungent kush. incense-like top notes from the burmese parent blend with heavier earth and pine from og kush, plus a distinct citric edge.. The flavor profile features robust pine and cedar on the inhale, followed by spiced earth, woodsy pine, sweet hash, and citrus zest. the finish delivers peppery herbal notes, smooth floral sweetness, and a lingering tea-like spice. aftertaste is hashy pine with a faint sweet-spice echo..

What are the effects of Burmese Kush?

Slow-building onset that gradually intensifies over several minutes Peaceful headspace without racing thoughts, happy euphoria inherited from the Burmese landrace, initial cerebral clarity transitioning into heavy body relaxation and notable appetite stimulation. Duration is typically long-lasting once effects fully develop; best suited for evening use. Commonly reported uses include Stress relief, Anxiety reduction, Pain management, Depression.

How hard is Burmese Kush to grow?

Burmese Kush is rated beginner to intermediate difficulty. It flowers in 50-63 days, reaches 70-120 cm in height, and yields 400-550 g/m² indoors. Best suited for indoor, outdoor, greenhouse environments.

Does Burmese Kush turn purple?

Yes. Burmese Kush is known to express purple coloration, with reported colors including Deep dark green, Purple hints in cool temps. Cooler nighttime temperatures during late flowering typically intensify anthocyanin expression.

What strains were bred from Burmese Kush?

Burmese Kush has been used as a parent in several notable crosses, including Burma Glue, Burmese Headband, Desert Python, Poison Kush. Its genetics contribute to a wide range of modern cultivars.

Has Burmese Kush won any cannabis awards?

Yes. Burmese Kush has received recognition including High Times Top 10 Kush Strains — Danny Danko's editorial selection (2007).

Sources & References (44)

Want to Grow Burmese Kush?

Check our genetics menu for available clones or call us to discuss your growing needs.

View Genetics Menu Call (707) 841-7663