Cali, branded and the jar on the shelf

Two words have taken over the top of Amsterdam menus: Cali and branded. They are not the same thing, and neither is a guarantee of quality.

Cali means genetics bred in California. The names will be familiar from the dessert-strain wave of the last decade: Gelato, Runtz, Zkittlez, Wedding Cake, Girl Scout Cookies and their many children. They are mostly hybrids and known for sweet, candy- or dessert-like flavours and a strong, rounded high. The label describes the plant's family, not where the flower you are holding was grown: it can be grown anywhere, and shops use the word loosely. If it matters to you, ask.

Branded means sold under a brand name, usually as a sealed jar with a logo, in a fixed amount such as 3.5 grams (an eighth). It is the same idea as a labelled bottle on a wine list: you get the story and the packaging, and you pay for both. A brand tells you what it wants you to think about the product. It does not, by itself, tell you the flower is better than the unbranded jar next to it.

Both labels come with a price premium, often a clear one, so it is worth comparing per gram. The strains described as “top shelf” or “premium” sit in the same space. The most useful thing you can do is smell it, if the shop lets you, and ask for the budtender's honest opinion on which one is worth the extra.