Hey, bro! Today, I’ll tell you about one of the most popular, refreshing, and delicious cannabis strains, which you’ve probably already tried or at least heard of. Yes, we’re talking about Gelato. But before we dive into the deep waters of cultivation, let’s talk a little about where it came from and the story behind that aromatic name.
The coming of the messiah: the backstory
First, as tradition demands, let’s meet the creator. Mario Guzman, whom many of us know as Mr. Sherbinski, founder of the Sherbinskis brand, began his cannabis journey fairly early. Mario was born and spent his childhood in Sacramento, California.
During his school years, Mario was a real athlete. He managed to excel at practically everything, whether baseball, rugby, or soccer. So much so that he even played on the same team as Tedy Bruschi, who later became an NFL star and won several Super Bowls. But despite his athletic potential, Mario was becoming increasingly interested in cannabis.
Although he dreamed of playing for the University of California, Berkeley, when he was young, life intervened, and Mario decided to take a spiritual journey. At 19, he decided to move to Pensacola, Florida, to train as a pastor at a Bible college. Just a year later, during a service, he heard a sermon that touched his soul. The pastor spoke about lost sheep and how each one matters to God. He said there were people in the room who could become a light in the darkness, in places even the pastor couldn’t enter.
Those words deeply affected Mario. He realized he could be a “light” outside the church walls, and that his mission was to preach, but not necessarily in the usual sense of the word.
Next came a move to the Bay Area, which introduced him to real cannabis culture. Meeting people who grew cannabis under protocols 215 and SB 420, Mario began connecting producers with dispensaries. After moving to San Francisco, where he worked as a real estate agent, Mario discovered his passion for cannabis. The start of his growing career was more of a practical way to pay the bills, but over time it became his true calling.
Gelato’s journey
Around 2007, Mario Guzman, a.k.a. Mr. Sherbinski, met Jigga and the Cookie family. They were introduced by Dog Boy, himself a popular figure in San Francisco’s cannabis scene and, incidentally, Sherbinski’s kickboxing student. The guys then began working together on joint projects.
First, Jigga got hold of Burmese Kush pollen, while Sherbinski had a good OG Kush The observable traits of a plant, such as its height, leaf shape or colour. phenotype ↗ and some Afghan landrace. Sherbinski knew what he wanted: to grow something exotic. That’s how the guys got Pink Panties.
Then, during one cycle, Mario brought Pink Panties into the room with Girl Scout Cookies. The guys encountered a problem that actually brought nothing but success: the pink panties turned out to be male, and uncontrolled pollination gave them the much-talked-about Sunset Sherbet.
Now Sherbinski and Jigga had exclusive, high-quality ingredients in their hands: Sunset Sherbet and GSC Thin Mint. They began actively pollinating, letting Sunset Sherbet pollinate GSC Thin Mint and vice versa. The result of that work was the seeds of the legendary Gelato.
“Gelato is probably the best genetics I’ve worked with,” Sherbinski says. “Usually, when crossing, you keep one or two phenotypes to figure out which is best. But when we sowed these seeds, every pheno was outstanding.”
Each phenotype had a unique aroma and growth characteristics. Sherbinski says Gelato seeds expanded his understanding of different aspects of plant selection, whether terpenes, flowering period, or growth characteristics.
An interesting detail: every plant in the Gelato crossing project was numbered. This practice also appeared in the strain names. “People know them as 25, 33, and 41,” Mario laughs. “They’re just numbers on the pots, not real names. Like calling children by their numbers.” The project included 25 phenotypes, with 75 already eliminated.
“I wasn’t expecting such diversity. We put on a real feast for the eyes with all the phenotypes,” he says in one interview. “When you germinate 200 plants, the ones that germinate slowly are rejected immediately, as are those whose leaf structure develops slowly.”
Gelato’s characteristics
As you’ve gathered, the guys kept several worthy phenotypes for breeding after their work, and the best went out into the world of large-scale growing. Let’s try to figure out their differences.
Gelato #25
A rare 100% indica variety of Gelato, Gelato #25, also known as Barry Bonds, produces potent buds containing around 20–25% THC. It is known for being rich in the terpenes myrcene (0.42%), pulegone (0.33%), and caryophyllene (0.25%). These give the plants a floral aroma and a sweet flavor that many compare to strawberries and mango. Thanks to its shorter flowering period, this strain can be a good choice for people growing Gelato with a shorter open-air season.
Gelato #33
Although “Larry Bird” is a synonym commonly applied to all Gelato strains, #33 is the actual phenotype named for the legendary NBA player’s jersey number. It is a well-balanced hybrid with dense, THC-rich flowers. Thirty-three is also visually beautiful, with buds that can range from rich green to deep purple, purple shades appearing more often in this strain than in many others. Incidentally, Gelato #33 is a parent of Ice Cream Cake. High Times magazine named #33 the best. No surprise, since it has been crossed with more other strains than any other member of the Gelato lineup. That’s why it has the greatest stability and breeding purity.
Gelato #41
Gelato #41, also known as Bacio Gelato, became popular after taking first place in the Indica category at the High Times California Cannabis Cup. For all THC fans, Gelato #41 tested at an incredible 29% THC in the laboratory. That is one of the highest THC figures of any strain ever entered in the competition. In laboratory testing, beta-caryophyllene (0.81%) was the most common of the 16 dominant terpenes; limonene (0.44%) and alpha-humulene (0.23%) were also present.
Gelato #42
Gelato #42, also known as Dolce Gelato, is a balanced hybrid leaning slightly toward indica. This strain produces 20–25% THC. It contains the greatest amounts of beta-caryophyllene and limonene, but has a very broad terpene profile.
Gelato #45
Also known as Michael Jordan, this is a real slam dunk! An indica-dominant hybrid with a 60:40 ratio that is very easy to grow, Gelato #45 is an excellent choice for people who still have little growing experience.
Crosses with Gelato
Each phenotype is impressive in its own way. Gelato has also been crossed with various strains, producing a new legendary strain each time. Examples include Runtz, Biscotti, and Ice Cream Cake, three strains that are arguably among the most sought after at dispensaries and seed banks around the world.
Runtz
Runtz, also known as Runtz OG, is a rare hybrid strain created by Cookies Fam by crossing Zkittlez with Gelato. People love it for its incredibly fruity flavor profile and smell reminiscent of sweet candy. No surprise that Runtz was named Leafly Strain of the Year in 2020. Purple Caper Seeds released the same strain under the name Gelato Zkittlez.
Biscotti
Biscotti is a potent indica-dominant hybrid produced by crossing Gelato 25 with Sour Florida OG. It tastes like sweet cookies with diesel notes. The strain’s abundant trichome coating gives it special appeal. Biscotti was originally bred by Cookies Fam.
Ice Cream Cake
Ice Cream Cake is an indica-dominant strain created by crossing Wedding Cake with Gelato #33. Ice Cream Cake has a creamy flavor with sweet notes of vanilla and sugary pastries.
In the cannabis world, where a passion for discovery and innovation comes first, Sherbinski’s story is a vivid example of how careful experiments and dedication to your craft, with a little chance mixed in, can produce outstanding results. It’s another reminder that with true passion and hard work, you can reach incredible heights and contribute to the industry’s culture and development.
Sources: publicly available publications about the company and the strain.
