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As Michigan’s recreational cannabis industry begins its seventh year this year, cannabis customers have more choices than ever. 

More than 1,000 growers and processors are producing flower, concentrates, and other cannabis products across the state. With new cultivators, genetics, and extraction techniques, the market continues to evolve and set higher standards. 

But abundance has its downsides. With so many choices, finding the right cannabis can be exhausting and expensive. Some flower and concentrates are exceptional, grown and processed by brands that care about the craft and prioritize quality. But much of the market is dominated by companies that churn out cheap, poorly grown weed. 

If you’re looking for something better than the McDonald’s version of cannabis, Metro Times can help point the way. Over the past few months, I set out in search of the best flower and live rosin (a solventless concentrate known for its flavor and potency) that will be available in 2026. 

Great cannabis is about more than THC percentages or flashy packaging. It’s craftsmanship and passion for the plant. It’s taking the time to hunt for the right genetics, growing for quality over yield, and properly cure the harvest.  

After months of smoking, dabbing, and taking notes, these are the flower and live rosin strains that stood out from the rest. They are flavorful, visually striking, smooth, consistent, and deliver a memorable high.

Ten best flower strains:

Lantz by Hytek is one of the most unique strains I tried in 2025, and I couldn’t get enough of it. The Detroit-based cultivator won best tasting and best overall flower at the Zalympix last year for Lantz, a hard-hitting and flavorful hybrid cross of Ridgeline Runtz and Green Lantern. The flavor profile features cream and tart lime followed by a floral sweetness and forest pine. It’s hard to go wrong with Hytek, which grows some of the best flower in Michigan. 

Honey Banana by Growing Pains is the most flavorful flower I’ve had in 2025, and the Paw Paw brand is continuing to grow it this year. A cross between Strawnana and Honey Boo Boo, the flower smells and tastes like banana bread stuffed with strawberries and honey and a dash of tea. While the buds are lighter and wispy, they are coated in sticky trichomes and deliver a relaxing, happy high. Not surprisingly, Honey Banana won three Zalympix awards in 2025. Can’t find Honey Banana? Growing Pains has plenty of other high-quality strains. 

Mandarin Z by Information Entropy is an energizing strain made by crossing Mandarin Sunset and California Black Rose. The Ann Arbor-based cultivator produces big, plump, trichome-heavy buds, and this is my favorite strain from them. It has a sweet orange flavor, with delicious notes of spice and herbs. Other great strains from Information Entropy are Project Z, Sherb Cream Pie, Motorbreath #15, Apple & Bananas, and Limon Mandarina. If you can’t make it to Information Entropy’s dispensaries in Ann Arbor or New Buffalo, Bowdega in Utica also carries their flower. 

Headstash #1 by the Hive in Hazel Park is an energizing strain with a citrus and funky aroma. A cross between Lime #1 and Headband, this strain is potent and uplifting, making it a perfect daytime choice. The Hive, a woman-owned dispensary and small-batch cultivator, brings the heat with all of its flower, making this a tough choice. Other great hybrid and sativa-leaning strains by the Hive are Superboof, Candy Sherb, Dolce de Fresa, Permanent Marker, and Party Runtz. 

Ice Cream Mintz is another incredible new strain by the Hive. Unlike Headstash #1, this strain is calming and perfect for a late evening at home. A combination of Ice Cream Cake and Kush Mints, this strain tastes like sweet, creamy vanilla and crisp mint. Other good indica-dominant strains from the Hive are Rainbow Beltz, Motorbreath #15, Ice Creature, Pink Zoap, Hash Bee OG, and Sherb Cream Pie. 

Sunset Animal is one of Mi Loud’s newest strains, and the Jackson brand has proven it’s still one of the most premium cultivators in Michigan. Known for its funky, fuel-soaked strains, Mi Loud is beginning to mix it up with sweeter and fruity flavors. Sunset Animal is a sweet, creamy strain that smells like tropical fruit, with subtle notes of nuts and floral spice. A cross between Sunset Sherbet and Animal Cookies, this strain is euphoric, uplifting, and relaxing. One of my favorite cultivators in Michigan, you can’t go wrong with any of Mi Loud’s strains. 

Another standout by Mi Loud, Speaker Knockerz is a bold, flavorful strain with a sweet, fruity aroma with notes of earth, herbs, and citrus. The buds are covered in thick trichomes and produce a well-balanced high. Speaker Knockerz is a cross between Runtz and Animal Mintz. Other top-tier Mi Loud strains are OGKB2.1, Dunestar, Jar Jar Stinks #21, Guava Juice, Garlic Cocktail, and Pierene.  

Maize & Blue Belts by Premier Cannabis Farms is one of the most relaxing and flavorful strains on the market. A fruity cross of Oregon Blueberry and Rainbow Belts, this strain is a tribute to the University of Michigan’s football team. The flavor profile is gassy and doughy with ripe berries. It’s a perfect choice for chilling out and letting go of stress. 

Cherry Zest by 710 Labs may be expensive — up to $50 for an eighth — but it’s delicious and produces a tranquil high. A cross of Z and Animal West, Cherry Zest is a refreshing mix of fresh cherries and ginger ale, with a sweetness that lingers in the mouth. The high is calm and body-heavy, making it perfect for listening to music or winding down at the end of the night. It’s easily one of the most flavorful strains I’ve tried. For a closer look at other 710 Labs flower, check out my column from November. 

Tazmanian Tantrum by Michigrown is a unique, relaxing, and potent strain with a menthol, earthy, and spicy aroma. A cross between Dizco Fever and Diablo OG x TK Stardawg, this strain produces large, sticky buds sold in jars and prerolls. The Muskegon cultivator has an enormous library of strains, so if you can’t find Tazmanian Tantrum, there are still plenty of choices.  

The 10 best live rosin strains:

HY-Z by Hytek is my favorite z-terp (think sweet candy) strain on the market. A cross between Zkittlez and Gelato 41, the bold flavor of tropical fruit and candy sticks to the tongue and throat long after the exhale. The effects are balanced and uplifting, making it a good choice for anytime of day. With a smooth, creamy texture and a pearl-like color, this is the sexiest rosin I’ve come across in Michigan. Hytek raised the bar for rosin after snagging a real pro to make the solventless extract in late 2025. This is going to be an exciting year for Hytek.  

Hardcore OG is another gem by Hytek. With an unknown OG lineage, this strain has the classic OG flavor, but with a sweet herbal taste. Great for relaxing, the strain has sedate and euphoric effects that are ideal for winding down. Like HY-Z, the rosin is smooth and creamy with a pearl color. Other good Hytek rosin strains are Strawguava, Lantz, Los Muertos, and Dolato. 

Orange Yuzu by Exotic Matter is my go-to daytime strain. A cross of Superboof and Gelonade, this one boasts a bold citrus aroma with some funk on the backend. The rosin has a smooth, creamy texture that is incredibly easy to work with. The high is energizing and euphoric, making it a great choice for any time you need a lift up. Another bonus is that Exotic Matter is nearly half the price of many top rosin makers, despite its high quality. Other Exotic Matter recommendations are Papaya (one of the best in the state), Purple Drank, Pineapple Whips, Banana Candy, Tropical Strawberry, Tropical Zlushee, and Galactic Warheads. 

D-Lish is one of the newest strains by Eastside Alchemy, a small, tight-knit operation based in Lansing that focuses solely on live rosin. A combination of Zkittlez and Sweet Retreat, D-Lish lives up to its name with a flavor profile of grapes, sweet candy, and tropical fruit. What really makes this strain special is its effects — it’s soothing, euphoric, and heightens the senses. Other top-tier Eastside Alchemy strains on the shelves this year are Rainbow Guava, the Hive, Swamp Water Fumez, Papaya Juice, Maple Bacon, Z-Hive, Too Much Grape #5, and Rose Fuzz #11. 

Pomelo Punch #5 by Eastside Alchemy is a delicious and potent hybrid made by crossing Orange Mints and Papaya. The rosin smells tangy and citrusy and tastes like tart grapefruit on the frontend and a sweet fruit punch on the backend. The dynamic, complementary flavors are what I love most about rosin, and this strain nails it. 

Rainbow Push Pop by Local Grove is truly a special treat. An indica-leaning cross of Orange Mintz and TMZ, this strain smells like a lemon lime push pop with orange and notes of sherbet that linger in the mouth. The rosin is moist and soft with a light-yellow color. Local Grove has been releasing some of the best rosin in the state. Other great strains are Gogurtz, Brain Stew, Garlic Drip, Spritzer, Swamp Water Fumez, and Spritzer. 

Tallymon is another flavor bomb by Local Grove, which has become one of the best rosin producers in Michigan. A cross between Banana OG x Dosidos and Papaya, Tallymon is an evenly balanced hybrid that produces one of my favorite uplifting, euphoric highs. The flavor is delicious, with a mouthwatering taste of tropical fruit and creamy banana, and the badder is moist and soft like warm butter. 

Banana Boat by Wojo recently hit the shelves, and it’s impressive. A cross of Dubble Motorboat/ICC and Honey Banana, this energizing strain tastes like a banana soaked in fuel. The rosin is creamy and light yellow. One of the most reputable producers of rosin, Wojo has an impressive library of strains, and many of them are back in 2026. My favorites on the shelves now are Honey Combz, Malibu Marsha, Berry Blackout, Strawberry Candy, DOW, Oishii, Sundae Driver, and Tangerine Limousine.   

Rambutan #11 by 710 Labs is an upbeat strain that bursts with flavor. A combination of Papaya and Guavaz #74, this strain is sweet and fruity with a funky backend. The first-press Persy rosin is glassy and translucent, but it’s not easy to work with if you’re new to rosin. A longtime leader in top-tier rosin, 710 Labs has an impressive array of strains. My favorites available this year are Mango Banana #9, Sundae Driver, Cereal Star #5, Strawberry Guava #9, Gak Smoovie #5, and Lemon Heads #4. 

Triple Burger by Ice Kream Hash Co. is a sedate, pungent strain that brings on the funk. A cross between GMO and Double Burger, this strain has an aroma of garlic, butter, and diesel, in the best possible way. Like many funky strains, this one is tranquil, so it’s best suited for the evening. I also found this is good for pain relief. The rosin has a golden tone and a wet shine. 

The best way to find these strains near you is to use High Spy, a nifty site that keeps track of products available at each dispensary. 

Don’t let this list limit you. The recreational market has a lot of incredible flower and live rosin, and the easiest way to find it is to search for reputable cultivators. Some of the top cultivators for flower are Exotic Matter, Freshy Fine, Ghostbudsters, Growing Pains, the Hive, Hytek, Information Entropy, Mi Loud, Michigrown, Peninsula Gardens, Premier Cannabis Farms, Ripe Herb, and Tip Top Crop. All of them have high-quality strains that are usually fresh, flavorful, and potent.  

For live rosin, my favorites are 710 Labs, Eastside Alchemy, Exotic Matter, Growing Pains, Hytek, Ice Kream Hash Co., Local Grove, Mi Loud, Superior Solventless, and Wojo. And if you like prerolls, check out our list of the best joints in the Michigan market.

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