Key Lime Pie is a potent hybrid with a unique taste. Its high leans toward the mellow indica end of the spectrum. Although its name implies some kind of connection to Cherry Pie, Key Lime Pie is actually a distinct phenotype of famed strain Girl Scout Cookies -- much like Thin Mints and Animal Cookies. California-based breeder Burnish Bush Nurseries takes responsibility for cultivating this variety. Cannabis testing lab Analytics 360 has consistently found Key Lime Pie flowers to have between 20% and a whopping 25% THC composition.

Key Lime Pie produces small to medium-sized buds that adhere in nugget-like shapes. The buds have the tight, dense structure characteristic of indica-dominant varieties. The leaves themselves are a vibrant spring green. Some phenotypes even have purple hues which stand out in contrast. The presence of purple in Key Lime Pie flowers is due to a high genetic concentration of pigments called anthocyanins, which are activated when plants are exposed to cold weather in the vegetative stage. If cured properly, this strain is very sticky and can be difficult to break up for pipes or joints without the use of a grinder. In addition to its striking visuals, Key Lime Pie also boasts a complex flavor profile. Most immediately, the buds have a fruity, slightly sour odor which may remind many of citrus or lime. Underneath these top notes are vaguely herbal scents -- some may detect the same minty freshness associated with Key Lime Pie’s cousin strain Thin Mints. Burning the buds shows off the OG genetics and gives off hints of spice and musk. Notably, this strain is not known for having a grape-like taste; the same anthocyanin pigments that produce its purple leaves are not responsible for any nuances in flavor. Key Lime Pie burns smooth, and on the exhale, leaves the impression of a sweet and sour candy mixed with some spice.

This is a fast-acting strain and can strike users before they’ve even finished savoring its strange taste. A deep and heavy relaxation in the face is the most obvious initial effect; this feeling of calm soon spreads throughout the body, relieving tension and allowing users to breathe easily. Although smokers may feel some mental stimulation, the overall feeling is more dreamy than cerebral. A palpable body high pervades, making this a perfect strain to enjoy on a lazy day indoors or at night after a long day of work. In large enough doses, Key Lime Pie can leave users -- especially those with a low THC tolerance -- somewhat spaced-out and couchlocked.

Its ability to unleash a wave of relaxation makes Key Lime Pie an ideal painkilling strain for medical cannabis patients. It can dull aches and pains, whether they’re incidental or more chronic and entrenched. It can also be a great way to combat insomnia, lulling users into a deep, refreshing sleep. This strain’s tendency to take the edge off of a frenzied mind also marks it as an effective treatment for some of the symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Seeds of Key Lime Pie are not commercially available. Instead, this somewhat rare strain must be grown as a clone, from clippings taken from mature and healthy plants. It can be successfully cultivated indoors or outdoors, although outdoor growing requires consistently warm and humid conditions with daytime temperatures between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Unsurprisingly, Key Lime Pie’s plants have a bushy indica shape, with strong lateral branching. Growers should practice “topping” in the vegetative stage, which involves trimming light-blocking fan leaves that grow at the top of the plant in order to encourage maximum flowering in the lower branches. To bring out this strain’s eye-catching purple colors, growers may also want to artificially “shock” the plants by exposing them to cold just before flowering occurs. Key Lime Pie flowers within 9 to 10 weeks when grown indoors and is ready for harvest in early October when grown outdoors. Growers can expect an average yield.

With a dynamic taste and a balanced but slightly lazy high, Key Lime Pie is a great strain to share with good friends or to unwind with alone. Its distinctiveness as a phenotype of an existing strain is proof of the surprises that focused cannabis cultivation is capable of offering.