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UK Cheese cannabis flower from the Strains archive
Lead archive photograph

Cultivar record / cheese

UK Cheese

Then there is the pungent aroma when you put your nose to this sample directly, and that is the smelliest smell of them all.

Type
hybrid
THC
17-20%
CBD
<1%
Breeder
Sensi Seeds
Also known as UK CheeseExodus CheeseExodus

Archive descriptors

Record notes

Only descriptors supported by both the archive record and supplementary cultivar data are listed here.

Reported feelings

Flavour notes

Aroma notes

  • Cheese
  • Pungent
  • Earthy

Terpenes

Genetics

Reported negatives

  • Dry mouth
  • Dry eyes
  • Paranoid

Reported sensory and character descriptors vary by phenotype, batch and individual experience. They are not medical guidance.

Overview

Cheese is a indica-dominant hybrid cannabis cultivar. Cheese achieved widespread popularity in the UK for its distinctive sharply sour aroma and consistent potency. The original clone-only cut from the Exodus collective is the genetic foundation for most Cheese seed lines available today.

Genetics and lineage

The original UK Cheese is a clone-only Skunk #1 phenotype — it was not bred as a deliberate cross but was discovered, preserved and distributed as a cutting. The seeded version, Big Buddha Cheese, was later created by Big Buddha Seeds (Milo) by crossing the original Cheese clone with an Afghani indica to produce stable seed stock. The clone-only version is sometimes distinguished as Exodus Cheese, while Big Buddha Cheese refers specifically to the seed line. Both are represented in the UK archive.

Cultivation

Cheese handles the often-unforgiving UK outdoor conditions well, reliably producing a decent harvest before autumn sets in. It's a resilient choice for British growers working with unpredictable weather — one of the few cultivars that can thrive in cooler, wetter climates without requiring greenhouse protection.

Cultivation information is educational. Growing cannabis is permitted only in certain markets — check your local laws.

Background

Cheese emerged from a bag of Skunk No.1 seeds in South East England before the cut reached the Luton-based Exodus Collective. This is where the name "Exodus Cheese" comes from.

This strain is synonymous with the UK among cannabis consumers worldwide, and it is often requested in Amsterdam coffeeshops, Barcelona cannabis clubs and US dispensaries.

Perhaps due to its overwhelming popularity, some people in the UK are not the biggest fans of cheese, and it is commonly regarded as "mid-grade" across the land, with ounces often being priced accordingly.

Regardless of its marmite relationship with UK cannabis consumers, cheese has a special place in my heart. I was extremely pleased to have a top-grade sample of Cheese (Exodus cut, also known as Exodus Cheese) for the review today.

To set the scene: As I write this, I was smoking a pure joint of this sample and listening to the Shire Theme, wishing I'd invested in a Gandalf-style pipe!

Appearance

The sample has less colour variation than a lot of strains I had covered previously, with the buds looking almost a solid nuclear-green upon first glance.

Looking more closely at the nugs, I can see the pistils are light and orange in colour and very spindly, not apparent or wild. The sample consists of tight buds that have been trimmed wonderfully, leaving little but a few bases of leaves dotted about.

The buds glisten a reasonable amount, especially when you consider the fact that cheese never tests above 16%, generally sitting between 10-15% THC. This means cheese has only just over half the THC content of some cannabis strains on the market.

It is worth noting that there are some very strong cheese crosses that contain more THC; however, cheese is generally regarded as a mild to moderate-strength strain, and one which can be enjoyed during the daytime as well as for an evening smoke.

This sample of cheese is presented particularly well. I cannot say the same for all the cheese I had smoked in my life. In fact, it is rare to see it looking this good.

Aroma

If dankness was a currency, cheese would be rich like a king. This strain smells so strongly that it is advised to use a carbon filter if growing this, as it can begin to smell quite strongly before the flowering phase.

The aroma delivered by this cannabis strain is best described as a rich and sickly sweet pungency. This is the sort of smell you can detect coming from somebody's pocket across a room - or on a packed bus.

I like to describe the smell of cheese as "offensive" e.g. if you did not like the smell of cannabis, you would hate this smell.

There's the pocket - or in the jar - smell, which somehow still manages to creep across the room. Then there is the pungent aroma when you put your nose to this sample directly, and that is the smelliest smell of them all.

Taste

In contrast to the incredibly-strong pungent smell of this cannabis strain is its smoothness when smoked. Cheese delivers a wonderfully skunky and sweet taste while delivering a great smoking experience.

Smoking this through my bong wasn't too harsh or expansive; I was able to finish the bowl in a single hit and to detect the cheese flavour on the exhale.

Dabbing the rosin extract, I was treated to an even more intense flavour that stayed in my mouth even after finishing the dab. The concentrate was actually one of my favourite presses to date, as it seemed to completely capture the rich aroma and flavour - and then some. This flavour experience was second-to-none when sampling the cheese, and a consumption method I would recommend. However, the yield when extracting from cheese is very low, making this unsuitable compared to some other strains which can produce more than twice the amount of rosin from a press.

And smoking a joint delivers a rich, skunky flavour that I was savouring as I write this review, with the flavour growing in intensity as the pure joint burns and more resin soaks down towards the rolls filter tip.

Effects

The effects of cheese come in the form of a hybrid, 2-phase high. It begins with a cheery uplift, leaving you chipper. This fades into more of a body-led stone that leaves the body feeling as good as the mind did 15 minutes ago.

The strength of this (Average 14%) means this isn't going to get you as high as some other cannabis strains, but I still found one or two bowls of this delivered a good stone which left me feeling good for a couple of hours.

Conclusion

I personally love cheese, and today I was fortunate enough to sample a very good quality example of the original cut of this cannabis strain. I think I could happily smoke this most of the time if that was what was available.

For a strain which was discovered in the late 80's/early 90's, the cheese genetics still hold their own, and the uniqueness of this strain, even among the multitude of strains that exist today, should not be understated. Perhaps that is why this classic strain of cannabis has remained a relatively stable commercial cash crop in the UK.

Uncertainty and variation

UK Cheese appears under several names in the archive. Cultivar characteristics vary between growers and batches. The archive records a specific reviewed sample — it is not a current product specification.

UK Cheese appears under several names in the archive. Cultivar characteristics vary between growers and batches. The archive records a specific reviewed sample — it is not a current product specification.

Reported Effects of UK Cheese

Users most commonly report feeling relaxed, happy and uplifted after consuming UK Cheese. These subjective effects are drawn from user-reported data and individual experiences vary considerably. The effects profile is influenced by the strain's dominant terpenes — Myrcene (aroma and mood), Caryophyllene (comfort and ease), and Pinene (freshness and energy) — as well as individual tolerance, consumption method and dosage.

As one of the most recognisable strains in British cannabis culture, the Cheese experience is defined by a mellow, sociable high that has endured since the Exodus collective popularised the original cutting in the 1990s. It is a daytime-friendly cultivar for many consumers, offering functional relaxation without overwhelming sedation.

Terpene Profile

The dominant terpenes recorded for UK Cheese are Myrcene (an earthy, musky profile commonly associated with relaxation and the classic sedative sensation), Caryophyllene (a spicy, peppery character associated with comfort and ease) and Pinene (a sharp pine aroma linked to alertness and mental clarity). Terpene profiles can vary between phenotypes, growing conditions and curing methods.

For more on how terpenes influence the cannabis experience, see our guide to cannabis terpenes and browse the terpene directory.

Flowering Time and Cultivation

UK Cheese has a typical indoor flowering time of approximately 8 to 9 weeks. Outdoor growers in the Northern Hemisphere can expect harvest around late September to early October. The cultivar is known for resilience in cooler climates, moderate to high yields, and a pungent odour that demands carbon filtration.

Cultivation information is provided for reference. Growing conditions, phenotype selection and cultivation skill materially affect outcomes.

UK Cheese Questions

What did the UK Cheese review say about its background?

Perhaps due to its overwhelming popularity, some people in the UK are not the biggest fans of cheese, and it is commonly regarded as "mid-grade" across the land, with ounces often being priced accordingly.

What did the reviewed UK Cheese flower look like?

It is worth noting that there are some very strong cheese crosses that contain more THC; however, cheese is generally regarded as a mild to moderate-strength strain, and one which can be enjoyed during the daytime as well as for an evening smoke.

What aroma did the UK Cheese review describe?

Then there is the pungent aroma when you put your nose to this sample directly, and that is the smelliest smell of them all.

How did UK Cheese taste in the review?

And smoking a joint delivers a rich, skunky flavour that I was savouring as I write this review, with the flavour growing in intensity as the pure joint burns and more resin soaks down towards the rolls filter tip.

What effects did the UK Cheese review describe?

The strength of this (Average 14%) means this isn't going to get you as high as some other cannabis strains, but I still found one or two bowls of this delivered a good stone which left me feeling good for a couple of hours.

What was the review's verdict on UK Cheese?

For a strain which was discovered in the late 80's/early 90's, the cheese genetics still hold their own, and the uniqueness of this strain, even among the multitude of strains that exist today, should not be understated.

How strong is UK Cheese?

The archive record notes THC 17-20% and CBD <1% for UK Cheese. Actual potency varies between batches, growers and phenotypes.

Is UK Cheese suitable for beginners?

Some consumers report feeling paranoid or anxious with UK Cheese, so beginners should start with a very small amount and give it time before consuming more. Individual tolerance varies considerably.

Is UK Cheese indica or sativa?

UK Cheese is recorded as hybrid. Most modern cultivars are hybrids with both indica and sativa ancestry, so individual experiences can vary.

What terpenes are found in UK Cheese?

The archive records myrcene, caryophyllene and pinene as terpenes associated with UK Cheese.

What are the potential downsides of UK Cheese?

Commonly reported side effects include dry mouth, dry eyes and paranoid. These are self-reported and vary widely between consumers.

Is every UK Cheese sample identical?

No. Phenotype, cultivation methods, storage conditions and batch differences can materially change appearance, aroma, flavour and reported character. The archive records what was observed in specific samples — your experience may differ.

What is UK Cheese and where did it come from?

UK Cheese, also known as Exodus Cheese, is the most famous cannabis cultivar to originate from the United Kingdom. It was discovered as a distinctive phenotype in a bag of Skunk #1 seeds by a grower in South East England in the late 1980s. The cutting was gifted to the Exodus Crew, a collective based in Luton, who popularised it throughout the 1990s — hence the alternative name Exodus Cheese.

Why does UK Cheese smell so strong?

Cheese is famous for its extraordinarily pungent, savoury aroma that genuinely resembles mature cheese — a rich, sickly-sweet, offensive funk detectable across a room or even from someone's pocket. The smell is so distinctive that it can be identified before the bud is seen. Growers are strongly advised to use carbon filters, as the odour is potent even before flowering.

What is the difference between Cheese and Blue Cheese?

Blue Cheese is a cross of the original UK Cheese with a Blueberry male, combining Cheese's pungent funk with sweet berry notes. The original UK Cheese (Exodus cut) is a pure Skunk #1 phenotype with a singularly cheesy expression. Blue Cheese tones down the savoury punch and adds a fruity dimension that some consumers find more approachable.

Is UK Cheese a Skunk strain?

Yes. UK Cheese is a phenotype of Skunk #1, the legendary hybrid that combines Afghani, Mexican, and Colombian genetics. Skunk #1 was developed in the late 1970s and became the genetic backbone of UK cannabis cultivation. Cheese is simply the most famous — and pungent — expression of those Skunk #1 genetics.