Pink Lemonade

The California testing lab SC Labs includes Pink Lemonade among the strains dominated by ocimene in its 2022 terpene overview, and one strain description likewise lists ocimene first, followed by pinene and myrcene. Declared batch values show a different profile. Adding to the confusion, several plants circulate under the name: a clone line from Purple Kush and Lemon Skunk with no documented breeder, a seed version with Pink Kush as a parent, and newer crosses with an entirely different lineage.

Lab Results:

An outdoor producer in Ontario, who lists the strain as a cross of Lemon Skunk and Pink Kush, declared 21.7 % THC and 1.67 % total terpenes for a batch packaged in July 2024. The largest shares were caryophyllene at 0.40 %, terpinolene at 0.33 %, and myrcene at 0.26 %. The product description for this batch states 4.6 % total terpenes with the same 3 main terpenes; ocimene is not among them there.

For THCA-rich hemp flower sold under the strain name, 2 US vendors state individual values: one lists 24.8 % THCA with 0.22 % delta-9 THC, the other 20.72 % THC. The product pages do not indicate which lab performed the testing or what genetics underlie the flower. Strain descriptions put THC content at 17 to 22 %. Values vary by batch, cultivation, and phenotype.

Genetics and Origin:

Several strain descriptions name Purple Kush × Lemon Skunk as the lineage. Who created the cross is not documented; one description suspects a third, unnamed strain in the lineage and notes that this line never appeared as feminized seed. Sources disagree on classification: one strain description states an 80 % indica share, while a US producer lists the plant as a sativa-leaning hybrid.

At the 2018 Emerald Cup, Tar Hill Family Farms won the Licensed Mixed Light flower category with Pink Lemonade, and a solventless concentrate made from the same plant took 2nd place in its category. The reports do not specify the genetics of the winning cut. As a parent strain, Pink Lemonade appears in, among others, Pink Sunset by Driftwood Genetics and Roasted Lemons by Farmhouse Genetics.

Versions from Different Breeders:

34 Street Seed Co offers a feminized Pink Lemonade from Pink Kush × Lemon Skunk. The breeder describes it as indica-dominant with an 80 % indica share and states 8 to 8.5 weeks of flowering, an outdoor harvest in early October, 18 to 29 % THC, and under 1 % CBD; another description of the same version states 18 to 27 % THC. As terpenes, the breeder lists caryophyllene, farnesene, terpinene, limonene, and humulene. The autoflowering variant, with ruderalis in its lineage, needs 70 to 90 days from germination to harvest according to 34 Street Seed Co, with THC content stated at 19 to 29 %.

The feminized Pink Lemonade from Lit Farms has a different lineage, from Lemon Tree × Red Velvet. The breeder estimates 63 to 70 days of flowering and describes fan leaves that turn pink around week 4 and shift fully to purple by weeks 6 to 7. A magazine article also lists Pink Lemonade as a cross of Lemon Cheesecake and Huckleberry Soda. These plants should not be confused with Pink LemonAid by Annunaki Genetics or Pink Lemon-Aid by Mosca Seeds.

Aroma and Flavor:

Lemon and grapefruit dominate the descriptions, accompanied by sugary sweetness, an earthy undertone, and at times berries. One strain description identifies a fruity tea note with menthol in the scent, while the Canadian producer notes floral and minty hints. In one grow report, the flowering plant smelled strongly of citrus with a trace of skunk, which became more pronounced after drying.

Effects:

User reports describe an uplifted mood with a clear head, focus, and creative ideas, sometimes with a noticeable sense of drive; physical relaxation sets in later. How pronounced this is varies: some stayed active during the day, others felt heavy and sluggish. Reported unwanted effects include dry mouth, dry eyes, headache, dizziness, and anxiety, along with an unpleasant comedown. One grower noted neither dry mouth nor dry eyes.

Cultivation:

For the clone line, one cultivation description states 8 to 9 weeks of indoor flowering and an outdoor harvest between late September and early October. The strain prefers a warm climate according to this description as well as according to 34 Street Seed Co; the breeder advises avoiding cold nights and harvesting before the first frost. Assessments of difficulty diverge: the cultivation description considers the plant fairly easy to grow, while 34 Street Seed Co rates its own version as more demanding and notes high stretch for the photoperiod variant.

Community Experiences:

An indoor journal using seeds from 34 Street Seed Co from 2020 and 2021 deviates significantly from the breeder's figures: the mother plant flowered for 91 days instead of the stated 8 to 8.5 weeks. The grower trained it to 4 main stems and harvested 31 colas. The buds became dense and heavily resinous, and toward the end the branches needed support. Around day 46 of flowering, the foliage turned purple, which surprised the grower.