Gelato Strain Review: The Family and Variants, Ranked for NYC

Gelato is the strain that made dessert names a whole genre. It’s sweet and creamy with a little gas, and it’s balanced enough for a Tuesday. The family tree is huge now, though, and not every variant earns its scoop. This Gelato strain review covers the lineage, the flavor, what people say the effects feel like, and the Gelato variants MetroBud has in stock today, ranked for NYC.

Gelato Strain Lineage: Where the Scoop Started

Gelato came out of the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid 2010s. The cross is Sunset Sherbet with Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies. That’s two dessert strains, and the result tastes like both of them.

Breeders grew out a lot of seeds and kept the best plants as numbered cuts. That’s why you see names like Gelato #33, #41 and #45. Each one is the same cross, just a different expression of it. Some lean sweeter and some lean gassier. Some grow denser buds with more purple.

Gelato then became a parent strain for half the modern menu. If a strain name has “Gelato,” “Cake,” or “Ice Cream” in it, Gelato is probably somewhere in the family.

✅ Did you know? Gelato #33 got the nickname “Larry Bird” after the basketball legend’s jersey number. When people say plain “Gelato,” that’s usually the cut they mean.

Gelato Strain Effects and Flavor: What to Expect

Gelato is usually sold as a balanced hybrid. It has a slight indica lean in most cuts. Here’s what our customers and staff keep telling us about it:

Flavor: Sweet berry and sherbet up front, then creamy, then a little earthy gas on the exhale.
Aroma: Fruity and doughy. Loud in a jar, louder once you break it up.
Feel: People often describe a happy, chatty lift that settles into calm. It’s a good pick for dinner with friends or a movie night.
Potency: It usually runs strong. If you’re newer, go slow and give it time.

Everyone reacts differently. Your tolerance, your sleep, and what you ate all play a part, so start small and adjust from there.

The Gelato Family Tree: Variants Worth Knowing

The family is big. A few branches you’ll keep seeing:

Lemon Cherry Gelato: Bright citrus and sour cherry over the classic cream. It’s one of the most hyped names around.
Bacio Gelato: Usually linked to the #41 cut. It’s richer and gassier, with a heavier finish.
Guava Gelato: Tropical and juicy, sweeter than the original.
Acai Berry Gelato: Dark berry notes. It plays up the Sunset Sherbet side.
Gelato Ice: A cooler, icier take on the profile, mostly found in vape form.

Our menu rotates, so not every branch is in stock at once. Below is what’s live right now.

Gelato Variants Ranked for NYC: In Stock at MetroBud Today

We ranked these on value, flavor, and how well they fit real city life. Think small apartments, thin walls, long commutes and shared rooftops.

Guava Gelato (flower), $15 eighth or $85 ounce. This is the best value in the family right now. It sits in our $15 outdoor and greenhouse eighth tier, and the ounce is part of our $85 ounce deals. It’s tropical, sweet and easy to roll. If you want to try Gelato in classic flower form without spending much, start here.
Lemon Cherry Gelato 1g All In One Live Resin Disposable by APE, $35. This is the NYC crowd favorite. Live resin keeps the citrus and cherry flavor bright. The device is small, it doesn’t smell much, and nothing needs charging out of the box. It’s great for anyone with a roommate who hates the smell of flower.
Acai Berry Gelato 2g Live Resin Disposable by APE, $45. You get twice the oil of the Lemon Cherry pen for $10 more. It’s deep berry with a creamy finish. It’s the smart buy if you vape daily and hate reordering.
Gelato Ice 2g Ultra Potent Live Resin Disposable by Home Grown, $60. It’s cool and smooth, and the brand bills it as ultra potent. Experienced folks only. Take one pull, wait, and then decide if you need a second.
Bacio Gelato Hash x Diamond Infused Half Ounce by Stone Road, $80. This is pre-ground flower infused with hash and diamonds, so it’s ready to roll. It’s very strong. It ranks last only because it’s niche. For high tolerance smokers who want Bacio’s gassy depth, it could easily be number one.

Want the whole range? Browse our cannabis flower menu for every strain and eighth tier we carry today. If you’re new to pens, our guide on how to turn on a disposable vape and use preheat and temperature settings takes about two minutes to read.

How to Pick Your Gelato Format in the City

Flower vs. disposable

Flower gives you the full Gelato experience, with the smell, the ritual and the flavor of a fresh grind. It’s also loud. Disposables are quiet, they fit in a pocket, and they’re easy to share. Pick based on where you’ll actually be smoking.

Keep it fresh

NYC summers are humid and radiators dry everything out in winter. Store flower in a glass jar away from sunlight and heat. Keep disposables upright and out of hot cars.

Stack the deals

Orders of $120 or more get a free pre-roll. A Guava Gelato ounce ($85) plus a Lemon Cherry Gelato pen ($35) lands right at $120.
VIP membership is $50 for one month and takes 15% off every item.

Getting it delivered

MetroBud delivers to Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. We’re open 11am to 11pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 10pm Sunday, with last call 30 minutes before closing. Pay with cash on delivery, a crypto wallet, or a card through secure card or Apple Pay checkout. Prefer to grab it yourself? Pickup is at the corner of W 26th St and 7th Ave in Manhattan. You must be 21+, and we check a valid government ID at delivery.

One more thing about who you’re buying from. MetroBud was founded in 2020 by two brothers. Both are Latino, both are disabled U.S. combat veterans, and the business is still family owned. We taste what we stock, and we tell you when something is only fine.

Gelato Strain FAQ

Is Gelato an indica or a sativa?

It’s a hybrid. Most cuts lean slightly indica, but the overall feel is balanced, with an upbeat start and a calm finish.

What does the Gelato strain taste like?

Sweet berry and sherbet, a creamy middle, and a light gassy finish. Variants push that in different directions, like citrus in Lemon Cherry Gelato or tropical fruit in Guava Gelato.

What’s the cheapest way to try Gelato at MetroBud?

Right now it’s a Guava Gelato eighth at $15. If you already know you love it, the Guava Gelato ounce is $85.

Which Gelato variant is best for beginners?

Try a small amount of Guava Gelato flower or a single pull from the Lemon Cherry Gelato pen. Skip the infused Bacio and the Gelato Ice pen until you know your tolerance.

Do you deliver to Staten Island?

No. MetroBud delivers to Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx only.

Will these Gelato products always be in stock?

No. Our menu rotates. If a variant sells out, check back soon or try the closest flavor in the same family.

Get Your Scoop of Gelato Today

Gelato earned its place for a reason. Whether you want a $15 eighth of Guava Gelato, a pocket pen of Lemon Cherry Gelato, or the infused Bacio for a big night, there’s a version that fits your apartment, your budget and your tolerance. Supplies rotate fast, so don’t sit on it. Shop MetroBud now and order your Gelato delivery.