Animal Cookies

A potent strain with some famous genetics, Animal Cookies -- sometimes also known as Animal Crackers -- is a relatively recent indica hybrid. Bred by Canadian seed bank BC Bud Depot, it is a cross between perennial favorite Girl Scout Cookies and indica hybrid Fire OG. Animal Cookies has definite for consumers, with multicolored flowers and a complex sweet-sour scent. It has heavy, almost narcotic indica effects, providing pain relief, relaxation, and sleep. Cannabis lab Analytical 360 has tested samples of Animal Cookies and measured its THC content at between 18% and an impressive 27%.

Animal Cookies is marked by small to medium-sized popcorn-like buds with a dense bud structure typical of other indicas. Leaves are a yellowish-green; some phenotypes can express subtle purple hues. This purple is brought out when colder temperatures stimulate pigments called anthocyanins -- the process is similar to the way foliage changes color in autumn when chlorophyll breaks down in cooler weather.

The buds are very sticky and covered in white to cloudy amber trichomes, perhaps lending the leaves their yellowish appearance. Orange hairs -- which are actually pistils to collect pollen from male plants -- stand out against the colorful flowers. Animal Cookies has a scent that is simultaneously sweet and sour, with a dank, skunky edge. Breaking open the sticky flowers yields some more notes of pepper and pine.

Interestingly, this strain is not known for having a grape-like taste; although its pigments bring out purple hues in the right conditions, this does not result in a corresponding change in flavor. When combusted, Animal Cookies have a thick, harsh smoke that often induces coughing. This smoke has a sweet and vaguely spicy taste when exhaled.

Animal Cookies has a high that settles in fairly quickly for a predominantly indica strain. Smokers may not have finished coughing before they hit with a weighty and palpable stoney feeling that affects the entire body. Emotional well-being accompanies this relaxation so that users typically feel remarkably comfortable and content. Without any cerebral intensity, this strain does not confer the kind of rapid-association thoughtfulness that comes with more pure sativa varieties. The extreme relaxation that Animal Cookies provides can melt into a powerful couchlock if users continue to indulge in its potent bud.

These physical effects also make Animal Cookies an effective painkiller with medical application. Those suffering from both mild or more chronic, nerve-based pain report an easing or a total relief of symptoms. This strain's heaviness also makes it an excellent treatment for users who struggle with insomnia. Mentally, Animal Cookies can also be beneficial in helping treat stress and anxiety, as it renders users happily oblivious in its stoney haze. Side effects include the typical dry eyes and dry mouth, along with some appetite stimulation. More recommended for nighttime than daytime use, Animal Cookies is not usually praised for helping users accomplish work.

This strain can be difficult to grow, and is not recommended for newcomers to cultivation. Better nurtured indoors than out, Animal Cookies' plants tend to be a synthesis of indica and sativa varieties, with plants that grow tall but also have bushy and horizontally-spreading lateral branches. Fortunately, it responds if users bend and trim the stems and branches, growing accordingly to fit the surrounding space. Growers should also be sure to trim any broad fan leaves growing near the top of the plant, so as to allow light and air to circulate to the lower branches and flowering nodes.

Animal Cookies reaches the flowering stage within 9 to 10 weeks when grown indoors and offers a higher than average yield. Growers should keep in mind that this is a very pungent strain, even in the vegetative stage, and those looking to keep their operations discreet should put odor control measures in place like carbon air filters. Animal Cookies can be grown as clones, from clippings taken from mature plants; alternatively, seeds of this strain can be purchased online from breeder BC Bud Depot.

With a well-rounded, hashy taste and a heavy body stone, Animal Cookies has the best of what indica varieties have to offer. Its memorable name, conjuring nostalgia for childhood snacks, also means it is likely to have continued popularity. Strong and enjoyable even for experienced cannabis aficionados, this strain is best enjoyed alone in quiet surroundings or with a small, intimate group of good friends.