Origins and Backstory: Prior to Root Beer, Black Lime held the status of being Meangene’s most famous and coveted variety. Black Lime Reserve, daughter of Black Lime, was popularized through Aficionado Seeds, and has since made her way through the community. I’ve smoked some BLR, and it has been of varying quality. After growing/smoking Black Lime 15, a specific delineation of meangene’s Black Lime, it is clear to me that Black Lime Reserve is a sort of watered-down Black Lime, and BL more powerfully exhibits every desirable trait present in BLR. I believe Black Lime is an old inbred line of Northern Lights, Oil Can (another long-held Mendocino heirloom, and Burmese. I am also of the impression that Black Lime 15 is a specific offshoot of this line, tending more toward the darker chemical aromas.
Appearance: Plants grew with a classic sativa cannabis structure with the majority of the plants resources ending in the elongated, spear-shaped buds at the ends of each branch. Plants faded strongly to yellow, with hints of purple, pink, and magenta lining tips of foliage and calyxes. However, this overall finishes like standard spear-shaped green buds. Relatively abundant leaflets end narrowly around the buds, which annoyingly mean higher trim effort is required. Very high resin production, and the buds look highly resinous and high quality with very plumped calyxes at finish.
Aroma: The defining attribute of this plant and flower, the aroma is absolutely very bit as iconic as OG Kush, Sour Diesel, or any other world-famous clone-only. I genuinely cannot believe Meangene has managed to keep this one so close to home after all these years, it is simply that incredible! Both living plants and dried flower are very similar, with an overwhelmingly strong lime-chemical aroma. Depending on the plant, the character of the lime can move from juice to outer or even inner rind, but it is dominantly lime—not even a hint of lemon. There is an element of rotting or overripe fruit here too, like if limes could get super overripe and wet in a tropical environment. The intense lime character would be enough for novelty on its own, but is almost outdone by the accompanying chemical aromas present in this plant. I could detect both sharpie marker (MUCH more intense than an actual sharpie) as well as nail polish remover. Each plant seemed to have lime juice/lime rind/sharpie/nail polish remover notes present, but these were more/less intense depending on pheno. To clarify, I mean that some plants were heavy on lime juice and nail polish remover with some sharpie and rind tones, while other plants tended to be heavier on lime rind and sharpie but lighter on the juice and solvents. In any case, the gene pool is just unstable enough that you’ll be able to pick a personal favorite. Black Lime 15 offers unparalleled richness in its bouquet, and I would grow this based on scent alone—it is that unique, intense, and desirable. Friends who have smelled her agree.
Flavor: An enjoyable translation from the aroma, the flavor tends to be much juicier, sweeter and lime-dominated, accentuating the lime notes as well as those of rotting or overripened fruit (although I cannot articulate any specific fruit outside of limes). Chemical tones of nail polish remover and some solvents are lightly present. While losing slight intensity of the chemical funk, the flavor is still entirely enjoyable and different and new, unlike anything I have smoked or am aware of on the market. The flavor is definitively more like the actual fruit and flesh of a lime than the aroma, and my only critique is that I wish it would have kept the intensely industrial and seemingly-artificial character of the bouquet. After the initially juicy lime flavor fades, there is a lingering aftertaste on the back of my palate that is of lime rind and nail polish—a work of art.
Effects: Black Lime is strong, stoney, and relaxed. Most would call this one indica-dominant in its effects, but lighter doses are equally creative, spacy, and thoughtful. While felt instantly in the head, the majority of Black lime comes on gradually behind the eyes, and noticeably in the body—I feel that it can instantly resolve tension in my shoulders and back, as well as in my mind. Smoking Black Lime is, metaphorically speaking, like taking a deep breath from life. It slows everything down a bit and offers some breathing room. In higher doses however, Black Lime can be disorienting and borderline psychedelic in its effect. For brief moments after smoking a lot, the world can feel like it’s moving about or otherwise seem alien and anomalous. Sometimes, weed is so tasty that breeders are willing to sacrifice all quality and potency of effect to preserve it—however, Black Lime makes no such compromise, and is as potent and deeply stoning as any weed on the shelf. It isn’t particularly giggly or giddy, and it isn’t lazy either—but Black Lime is certainly a treat for the introspective among us. I enjoy Black Lime alone or on nights spent inside with music, youtube, podcasting, gaming, etc. Not my favorite smoke for outdoor adventure excursions or socializing.
Overall: This is a plant worthy of keeping, breeding, and generally doing everything else with. It’s an incredible plant and in my opinion, just as worthy of the unofficial weed smoker’s Hall of Fame as OG Kush, Sour Diesel, Purple Urkel, Haze, and any other undisputable icon that one could name. It features a greasy finger-feel and lime&chemical-dominant aroma that are nearly Trademarks of Freeborn Selections. The aroma of Black Lime is so complex, unique, and nuanced, it would genuinely be worth growing if it only had half the buzz that it offers. Hell, I might grow hemp plants every year if they smelled like this one. The combination of lime and sinus-clearing chemicals is stunning, and one I can’t say enough good things about. Most people have never truly experienced lime flavor in cannabis, and this weed offers just that. The flavor and head experiences of a joint are wholly unique, and I can’t find a bad thing to say about it. This is a plant that I’d like to have around for a lifetime.