Lemon Lava

Grown under mixed light on the Mendocino coast, Lemon Lava took 8th place in the Mixed Light category at the Emerald Cup 2019. The flowers were entered by Lit House, a grower that cultivates its plants between coastal fog and sun, where the heat of the interior is absent; according to the grower, delicate terpenes are better preserved this way. The cross was bred by pHinest Cannabis, and a press report counts it among the breeding legacy of the late co-founder Jai Malloy.

Genetics and Origin:

The press report, producer statements and several strain descriptions agree on Lemon Heads and Lava Cake as the parent strains. One seed retailer deviates and lists Lemon Skunk instead of Lemon Heads. One strain description classes Lemon Lava as a sativa-leaning hybrid with 60 % sativa and 40 % indica, while others speak only of a hybrid.

Aroma and Flavor:

Lemon defines the profile. In the press report, the first impression of fresh lemons gives way on closer sniffing to a sugary note reminiscent of lemon candies; the cold draw tastes of lemon cake there, and when smoked, sweetness, earthy notes and sage come through. Strain descriptions add mint and a slight aftertaste of grape, and another names sour and earthy tones. User reports confirm lemon, sweetness, mint and grape; one mentions pine and a hint of diesel. Strain descriptions list myrcene, caryophyllene and limonene as the dominant terpenes.

Effects:

User reports describe a clear, stimulating effect with focus, creativity and lifted mood. Euphoria, giddiness, tingling and hunger are also mentioned, and some reports describe a relaxed, warm body sensation with a clear head. One report found the duration of the effects short. The press report places the strain between mild relaxation, which it attributes to Lava Cake, and the stimulating side of Lemon Heads.

Reports name dry mouth, dry eyes and a very dry throat as side effects. One report describes racing thoughts, nervousness and an increased pulse at a higher dose.

THC and CBD Content:

Two strain descriptions give 20 % and 19 to 20 % THC respectively. For CBD, the figures diverge: one description gives 1 to 2 %, while others list the strain without any CBD content. A single strain description also shows 1 % CBG.

Cultivation:

The press report describes the competition flowers as dark and crystalline, with buds heavy enough to bend the branches. Strain descriptions mention orange to saffron-colored pistils and a dense, granular trichome coverage.

Specific cultivation figures appear only in seed descriptions that name no breeder. A description of feminized seeds with Lemon Skunk as a parent gives 8 to 9 weeks of flowering, an indoor yield of 500 to 600 g/m² at a height of 80 to 140 cm and 150 to 180 cm outdoors, along with a harvest in late September, a Mediterranean to temperate climate and a good response to topping and LST; for this version, 22 to 26 % THC and 0.5 to 1 % CBD are stated. A second seed description, which lists Lemon Heads as a parent, gives 8 to 10 weeks of flowering and an outdoor harvest in early to mid-October. Both rate the difficulty of cultivation as medium.