In one line
Zushi and Blue Zushi are both credited to The Ten Co and both listed as Zkittlez (The Original Z) x Kush Mints. Directories treat them as separate entries: Blue Zushi is described with blue and purple tones and a sweet, tropical, minty nose, Zushi with chemical, cheese and diesel tags. The cut is held by the breeder, so the lineage is reported, not documented. As of October 3, 2026, either one is federal hemp only until December 11, 2026.
In this note
Zushi and Blue Zushi are both credited to The Ten Co of Los Angeles and both listed as Zkittlez x Kush Mints. The directories keep them as two entries: Blue Zushi is described with blue and purple tones and a sweet, tropical, minty nose, Zushi with chemical, cheese and diesel tags.
The two files side by side
| Field | Zushi | Blue Zushi |
|---|---|---|
| Breeder | The Ten Co (Leafly, Weedmaps) | The Ten Co (Leafly, Weedmaps) |
| Parents listed | Original Z x Kush Mints (Leafly); Zkittlez x Kush Mints (Weedmaps) | Zkittlez x Kush Mints (both) |
| Type listed | Indica-dominant hybrid (Leafly); hybrid (Weedmaps) | Indica-dominant (Leafly); indica-leaning hybrid (Weedmaps) |
| Lead terpenes | Not published by Leafly | Limonene, caryophyllene (Leafly) |
| Flavor tags | Chemical, blue cheese, diesel (Leafly); earthy, sweet, chemical (Weedmaps) | Flowery, cheese, berry (Weedmaps); mint, floral, berry (Leafly reviews) |
| Look | Deep green and purple bud, “ghostly blue trichomes” (Weedmaps) | Dark green with near-blue accents, platinum trichomes (Leafly) |
| Award on record | None listed | Best Overall, 2023 California Zalympix (Weedmaps) |
| Listed THC (licensed market) | 24% (Leafly) | 20 to 25% (Leafly); 25 to 30% (Weedmaps) |
Leafly’s own Blue Zushi page gives two THC numbers, 20% in the text and 25% in the header. We print both rather than pick one.
What is Zushi a cross of?
The parents on record are Zkittlez and Kush Mints. The listings look different only because of a name change: Leafly now files Zkittlez as The Original Z. Per Leafly, Terp Hogz announced in 2023 that it would use that name as part of a settlement with a candy company over alleged trademark infringement. So “Original Z x Kush Mints” and “Zkittlez x Kush Mints” describe the same pairing.
What is not on record is how Zushi and Blue Zushi relate. Three readings circulate:
| Reading | Status |
|---|---|
| Two phenotypes from the same Ten Co cross, kept and named separately | Commonly reported; no breeder document found |
| One cut sold under two names, “Blue” added for the color | Commonly reported; no breeder document found |
| Blue Zushi is an offspring of Zushi | Weedmaps’ Zushi page; its Blue Zushi page lists the same Zkittlez x Kush Mints parents instead |
The cut is brand-held, and The Ten Co has not published a breeding record we could check. Treat the lineage as reported and attributed to the directories above.
The parents, briefly
- The Original Z (Zkittlez): Leafly describes it as “an alleged mix of Grape Ape and Grapefruit” crossed with an undisclosed strain, with caryophyllene, linalool and humulene leading. Leafly credits its popularization to Terp Hogz and 3rd Gen Family.
- Kush Mints: Animal Mints x Bubba Kush, with limonene, caryophyllene and linalool leading, according to Leafly.
Blue Zushi’s published lead terpenes, limonene then caryophyllene, sit right between the two parents’ profiles.
What do Zushi and Blue Zushi smell like?
Blue Zushi reads sweeter. Weedmaps describes a nose that “starts sweet and fruity, piling berry, tropical candy, and citrus over mint, earth, spice, and a gassy finish”. Zushi reviews lean savory: chemical, blue cheese and diesel on Leafly, with one reviewer reporting orange rind and citrus. The mint in both most likely comes from the Kush Mints side.
What effects do people report?
For Zushi, Leafly reviewers tag aroused, focused and energetic, while Weedmaps users report relaxed, happy and euphoric. For Blue Zushi, Weedmaps users describe “a euphoric, tingly lift that gradually settles into a calmer full-body buzz”. The samples are small and the tags contradict each other, so read them as anecdotes. None of this is medical advice.
Grow and phenotype notes
- Flowering time: not published on any of the four directory pages. We will not invent one.
- Color: blue and purple tones come from plant pigments that show more with genetics and cool night temperatures. They are not a potency signal.
- Cut provenance: with a brand-held strain, “Zushi” from an unknown grower may not be The Ten Co cut. Ask for the source.
Zushi as THCA flower: what to check on the COA
- Which name is on the COA. The lab sample name should match the label: Zushi or Blue Zushi, not one swapped for the other.
- Delta-9 THC at or below 0.3% dry weight, the federal hemp test until December 11, 2026.
- Total THC = delta-9 + (THCA x 0.877). Example: 30.0% THCA with 0.22% delta-9 gives 26.53% total THC.
- Terpenes. For Blue Zushi, limonene and caryophyllene near the top fit the published profile.
- Test date and lab accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025), with a sample ID you can verify.
Log 2026-10-03
As of October 3, 2026, Zushi and Blue Zushi THCA flower count as federal hemp only on the delta-9 test, and only until December 11, 2026. H.R. 6500 set that date for the total-THC hemp definition from Section 781 of P.L. 119-37, which counts THCA. State rules can already be stricter. From December 11, both names belong to licensed state cannabis markets.
Similar files
- Runtz: shares the Zkittlez parent.
- Gary Payton: another brand-held exotic with a savory, peppery side.
- GMO: for buyers who want the cheese and chemical end of the range.
Sources
- Leafly: Zushi, Blue Zushi, The Original Z, Kush Mints
- Weedmaps: Zushi, Blue Zushi
- 7 U.S.C. 1639o; P.L. 119-37; H.R. 6500
Not legal advice. Last reviewed October 3, 2026.
Asked at the desk
What is the difference between Zushi and Blue Zushi?
Both are credited to The Ten Co and listed with the same parents, though Weedmaps' Zushi page calls Blue Zushi an offspring. Directories describe Blue Zushi with blue and purple tones and a sweet, tropical, minty nose, and Zushi with chemical, cheese and diesel flavor tags. No public breeder document explains how the two cuts relate.
What is Zushi a cross of?
Leafly lists Original Z x Kush Mints; Weedmaps lists Zkittlez x Kush Mints. Original Z is the name Leafly now uses for the strain formerly listed as Zkittlez, so the two listings name the same parents.
Who bred Zushi?
The Ten Co, a Los Angeles brand, according to Leafly and Weedmaps.
Why is it called Blue Zushi?
Leafly describes dark green buds with nearly blue accents, and Weedmaps reports deep blue and purple undertones. Color is genetic and environmental, and it says nothing about potency.
Log 2026-10-04 Last checked and updated on October 4, 2026.