Fruit Punch is a predominantly sativa hybrid with a uniquely fruity flavor profile that might remind you of the sugary soft drinks of your youth. It was created by European company Heavyweight Seeds, the same people who have given us taste-focused strains like Lemon Cake and Green Ninja. Genetically, Fruit Punch offers something for everyone -- it is a cross between Haze, Skunk #1, and Northern Lights. These three powerhouse strains combine to yield a bold, long-lasting bud with strong cerebral effects. The hybrid’s potency has been measured at between 17% and 25% THC.

Fruit Punch’s bag appeal is clear from the outset: its large flowers have a distinctly bullet-like shape. Despite being mostly sativa, these buds hold the dense, solid structure more commonly associated with indicas. The tightly-curling leaves are a bright shade of spring green and are shot through with brown and orange pistils. In some phenotypes of the strain, leaves and even stems also show faint hints of purple; these surprising hues come about when pigments called anthocyanins in the plants’ genetics are excited by cold weather during the growing process. Finally, a coating of milky-white trichomes gives these already-colorful flowers an icy sheen and accounts for their psychoactivity.

A fruity berry scent wafts up from the cured buds. Although sweet, the impression is more sugary than naturally fruity, somewhat reminiscent of candy or sherbert. Lurking underneath is a slightly piney and dank aroma. When combusted, Fruit Punch burns with a smooth smoke that’s very easy on the lungs; this smoke tastes herbal and floral on the exhale, courtesy of parent strain Haze.

Fruit Punch has a high that hits relatively quickly, bestowing a pressure that can be felt around the cheeks, eyes, and temples. As smokers adjust to this novel physical sensation, they find themselves launched into a buzzy, head-focused high. This fast-paced energy can be a great motivational tool for anything that’s on your agenda, be it complex, analytical work, innovative, creative crafts or projects, or simply mundane tasks like house cleaning. While Fruit Punch allows users to maintain lucidity and concentration, it may also have certain trippy effects -- chiefly, a strong sense of time dilation. In social settings, this cerebral energy can also yield a remarkably warm and giddy feeling. After some time, a sense of physical relaxation emerges to even out this stain’s head buzz. Nevertheless, thoughts may continue to flow; although users may be less likely to be out and about as this high wears on, they may remain mentally stimulated. The combination of mental and physical effects makes Fruit Punch a great way to enhance activities that involve both brain and body, like exercise, dancing, and not least of all, sex. Although a great wake-and-bake strain, Fruit Punch is also enjoyable during the afternoon and early evening; at night, it may keep smokers overly alert.

Medical cannabis patients may find derive many psychological benefits from this mentally-focused strain. Its long-lasting focus can be a boon to those with attention deficit disorders, helping them to concentrate on a single task. It may also temporarily relieve the difficult symptoms of stress and depression. Physiologically, Fruit Punch may soothe users’ aches and pains as well. Because its onset may come with the kind of “mindrace” that may lead to intense, recursive thinking, this strain is not recommended for those who are prone to panic or who have a low tolerance for THC.

Conveniently, Heavyweight has made seeds of Fruit Punch available for sale online. A sturdy and resilient grow, it is a good choice for newcomers to cultivation. The hybrid can be grown indoors or out, although success outdoors calls for a semi-humid, Mediterranean-like climate. Like many sativas, Fruit Punch can grow very tall and may require some early training and trimming when grown indoors. Those looking to bring out the bud’s purple potential should briefly expose their crops to nighttime temperatures at least 10 to 15 degrees below average. Fruit Punch flowers within 8 weeks when grown indoors and is ready for harvest in late September when grown outdoors. It offers a high yield of about 57 grams (or 2 ounces) of flower per square foot of plant.

A great party bud, Fruit Punch can bring about a positive, energetic mood when shared with like-minded friends. Just be sure to bring enough to share, as this strain’s fruity aroma is sure to attract some attention.