Freeborn Selections Limenade Kush (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  I received these seeds via Meangene (@meangenefrommendocino) and I believe the cross is OG Kush/Sour Diesel x Limepop 5, making her a half-sister to Limepop Kush. I loved my experience with Limepop Kush, and have always enjoyed OG/Sour crosses. Between both of these affections, I knew I’d love Limenade Kush—and the thought of grenades made of lime-flavored cannabis has had me drooling ever since acquiring these beans. I believe Limenade Kush was sold at Emerald Cup as well. These plants were grown outside in several gardens along Colorado’s front range during the 2021 outdoor season.

Appearance:  Grenade-like indeed, these completely green buds are chunky and resinous. Similar to calyx-stacking OG but chunkier/thicker/fuller, these green nugs scream “high quality” from inside of a jar or bag. Other plants yielded smaller fingerling-like nugs, but the common traits were high resin, completely green flowers and plants, and low amounts of leaf present around the buds. My favorite plants looked like thicker and higher-yielding OG.

Aroma:  Intensely loud and pungent, there are notes of bitter lemon peel and pith, fresh-cut lime, and super-sour fuel like OG or Sour Diesel. While I always think of “dank” as a descriptor as being a way around genuine and more articulate descriptions, Limenade Kush is the sort of dictionary definition of “dank” in the context of weed. Chemical components are definitely present here as well, leaning toward lysol and other industrial cleaning products. These become especially apparent as flowers are broken up or ground. Other phenotypes lean more toward lemon-lime pez, an almost-cloying and candied aroma, but my favorite phenotypes tend to lean more toward OG and Sour Diesel in character. I believe the candy-like plants lean toward the Limepop 5.

Flavor:  Palate-coating and far from understated, this in-your-face flavor will please OG heads and hardcore smokers. This is sour with notes of bitter lemon, limeade or lime kool-aid (does that exist?), and specifically lysol. Loud as can be, Limenade Kush is simultaneously both classic and novel. Smokers who appreciate old Sour and OG cuts will love the flavor of Limenade Kush, as it exhibits intensified qualities from both strains and frankly improves on both of them. The sour fuel and skunky character is present in spades (although “light” on fuel compared to some other elite cuts), and wonderfully dovetails with lemon, lime, lysol, warhead candy, and pez. Limenade Kush is like blending a salad* of weed, balancing notes from the OG and Sour families with the candied sweet Lime of Meangene’s stock. Incredible.

*People have different terms (seemingly differences in geography correlate to differences in terminology) for this, but I always considered a “salad” a bowl or joint when two or more different strains of weed are combined. It’s really just a blend of two or more flowers.

Effects: Limenade Kush hits immediately in the forehead and is felt in the sinuses, causing nose crinkling, eye squinting, and feelings of regret wondering if you’ve already gone too deep. Similar to smoking OG, the effects are potent and hard-hitting like a true Kush varietal, the stone is reminiscent of OG&Sour Diesel crosses (like Sour OG, Headband, etc.) and is the type of flower that could give you a head rush and instant sweats out of a bong. The effect is at once sedative and creative, making the writing of this exciting, engaging, and honestly cerebrally thrilling. I’m having the time of my life in my head, while by all appearances I’m hanging out on my couch with a laptop. This is super strong weed that most daily smokers (and especially those who had the experience of smoking OG or Sour in their youth) will love. The effect is relatively long-lived before dying into a tired, groggy, and foggy state of mind. Highly enjoyable on the front end.

Overall:  Meangene continues to find new angles to approach “lime” from. Every time I germinate a new Lime ____ or ____lime, I know I’ll be getting something different and unique. Limenade Kush significantly differs from the various iterations of Lime I have already grown or smoked, and in a direction that I love (it might be my favorite, next to Black Lime 15). I have enjoyed Lime and Limepop crosses in the past, but I do think the OG/Sour cross used here really adds to the profile. I’m of the opinion that both Limepop5 and Sour OG are great cuts, but crossing them is an improvement on both ends—an ideal breeding achievement. The buds are thick and the plants are strong, and I imagine these would be decent or better for a commercial grower. For home-growers like me, there is a laundry list of reasons to grow Limenade Kush. That being said, there was some selecting involved—some plants were super-sweet candied and not my particular favorites (they have a short lived high but the flavor is an experience), but I thought the flowers exhibiting both parents were the preferred keepers. I will definitely be making more of these seeds and it’s worth keeping a favorite female around.

Freeborn Selections Cherry Limenade x Pina (Outdoor)

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Origins and Backstory:  Acquired from Freeborn Selections, this F1 was originally released at The Emerald Cup. Cherry Limenade is one of Mean Gene’s better known strains, having won the Emerald Cup at least once. Pina is an old heirloom bred by Meangene as well, and is renowned for her sweetly acidic pineapple aroma, uplifting effect, and general plant strength (pest resistance etc.). I first heard of Pina as it was the father of Aficinado’s In the Pines release. I will minimize my digression and encourage the reader to see that review as well, but In the Pines first put Meangene into my personal awareness, and I was deeply impressed. That’s ultimately the mother I used for Passionfruit Dakini as well. The lineage here is two winners, but also two very different genetic lines. F1s can be pretty consistent contrary to popular belief, and the Cherry Limenade x Pina is a great example of that. This genetic pool is similar enough that it’s obvious the plants are sisters, but diverse enough that each cultivator can hunt a favorite plant from the bunch.

Appearance: Beautiful plants, Cherry Limenade x Pina is richly colored. Ranging from a typical green at the beginning of season to a fading finch-yellow beginning senescence, ultimately concluding with purples and reds on both flower and foliage, growing these plants is an aesthetic experience. Flowers and colas are good-sized, with grenade-like structure after drying. Finished flowers are consistently a pretty mix of green and purple, with light orange pistils and a satisfyingly chunky structure. Resin production is good, and bag appeal is great.

Aroma:  A freshly opened jar brings notes of ripe fruit, baby wipes & baby lotion, and is even mildly reminiscent of freshly-laundered clothes. Predominantly sweet and fruity, phenotypes vary from vague cherry notes (the same present in some of my own Cherry Limenade x Pina crosses, like this one), to acidic pineapple, to coconut-based lotion or baby oil, to laundry detergent. My favorite plants exhibited all of the above, but leaned strongest toward the sweet candied fruit, with the sort of beachy sunscreen/baby oil notes lingering in the background. The smell of this one is enticing to all, a real people pleaser! People frequently comment that they love the smell of this one, both as a living plant and as dried flowers.

Flavor:  Cherry Limenade x Pina is sweet, smooth, fruity, and an easeful pleasure to smoke. Cherry is brought to the forefront and certainly dominates. However, the acidic pineapple-fruit and baby oil are still noticeable. My favorite phenotypes are those that taste uncannily like cherry and pineapple in a joint. here seems to be no laundry flavor, but occasionally I do get a far-off chemical tone of hairspray or another barber/salon product. This isn’t mouth-coating, palate-painting weed, but it’s definitely tasty and far from a weak point. It’s a fairly clean and direct translation of the aroma and altogether enjoyable and unique.

Effects:  Jockeying with the bouquet for the supreme highlight of Cherry Limenade x Pina, the effects are some of the most consistently feel-good and pleasurable to be had. This weed is a well-blended balance of THC, CBD, and presumably a few other cannabinoids and psychoactive terpenes—it offers a strong sense of well-being, optimism, euphoria, and is compatible with activity and worldly engagement. If I didn’t know it was likely high CBD, I’m not sure I’d know—tokes from a joint produce an instant head change and feel of stoniness behind the eyes. However, I never feel even close to being too high or otherwise overwhelmed. This is great party weed, ideal for yoga or skiing (or presumably other athletic endeavors) or really any kind of activity that one already enjoys. This is the kind of weed that enhances life in myriad ways, and won’t keep you from living it (as some other more narcotic strains can do). While I do like to smoke thought-obliterating strains and occasionally even get overwhelmed by potency, I am never found jonesing for a different weed after smoking this. I cannot say the same about many other high-CBD varieties! Overall, the best aspects of the effects of this weed remind me of Aficianado’s In the Pines, which shares the same Pina parentage—probably not a coincidence. Optimistic, uplifting, feel-good, relaxed, active, loose and easy-going—it’s not OG, and that’s not a bad thing in my book.

Overall:  As alluded to earlier in this review, I’ve really enjoyed smoking Pina’s descendants (Long Valley Sleigh Ride, In the Pines, and some of my own Cherry Limenade x Pina crosses). Cherry Limenade x Pina is certainly no exception, as it offers a rich and unique bouquet. The effects are top-notch, and Pina crosses are consistently my favorite thing to smoke early in the day, or along with activities of all kinds—but especially physical and outdoor ones! The complex and uniquely fruity aroma is unanimously enjoyed, and this is probably the strain that garners the most unsolicited comments on the flavor (with the exception of Cherry Limenade x Sky Cuddler Double Kush). Like most Freeborn, this plant and variety checks all the boxes and leaves nothing to be desired. It’s worthy of giving a shot in nearly every garden, but will find a special place in the heart’s, minds, and lungs of enthusiasts of such uplifting, optimistic, and day-brightening smokes. A Mendo heirloom at its finest!

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Freeborn Selections Black Lime 15 (Outdoor)

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.

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Freeborn Selections Yesca OG x Jaro (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  Acquired as testers from Meangene at Freeborn, I grew these outdoor in full sun on Colorado’s front range around 5300’. Yesca is an OG cut from California, desirable for its aroma and robustness of plant. Jaro is one of Mean gene’s lesser known hybrids—although I’m not sure why. Closely related to Rootbeer, they share the same OGCoffee “father” (pollen donor). Rootbeer’s mother is Headband, and Jaro’s is Sour Diesel—which likely share genetics. It’s highly probable that Rootbeer and Jaro share an unbelievable amount of DNA. So, Jaro is worthy of at least some percentage of the hype of Rootbeer in my opinion!

Appearance:  Growing like a much stronger OG Kush at first (somewhat lanky stacking nodes but growing fairly vertically), these plants developed into heavy-yielding OG Kushes, with much more impressive girth and weight than a traditional OG. The plants stacked calyxes in the typical OG fashion, and basically just produced much bigger-than-normal OG nugs. Everything about the plants and flowers stayed entirely green through cold temperatures, rain/hail/snow, 50 degree/24hour temperature swings, and yellowed at senescence. While the plants would have ideally finished later than our clime allows, the buds finished like many Sour crosses outside—full in shape, but could be more densely packed. These plants stayed entirely green through weeks with temperatures in the 30s.

Aroma:  True to its lineage, the aroma is sour, fuely, skunky, and loud—a real sour OG. There are notes similar to Headband, of sour rye bread and gasoline in addition to those of OG and Sour Diesel like lemon pith and sugar cookie. I love weed that smells like this, and OGs and Sours have permanent places in many toker’s hearts because of it. There is a kind of lemon-sugar cookie-perfume element present as well that only adds to the intrigue and complexity. The growing plant had other more alien notes present, smelling like coffee at times and like a kind of fermented or rotting fruit at others. The fruit is gone entirely and makes me wonder if it was a figment of my imagination, but I do frequently get a skunky coffee tone from an open jar. Overall, smells like many other lines of Sours, OGs, Headbands, etc.—and that’s not a bad thing.

Flavor:  The flavor is instantly palate coating, covering my mouth and tastebuds with a sensation of sour kerosene and asphalt. It is sweet-skunky with seemingly-artificial notes of oil and petroleum products as well as natural botanical ones. Reminiscent of Sour Diesel, the pungent and fuely flavor obviously hails from Sour Diesel lineage. Many will love and appreciate this, as Sour Diesel is a clone-only that many tokers lament there isn’t more of. Most Sour Diesel crosses are commonly and derogatorily referred to as “watered down sour”—maybe my memory fails me, but this reminds me of some of the best bags of Sour from “the old days.” It is at once nostalgic as well as deeply satisfying for new and old-school smokers alike.

Effects:  Immediately face-warming and causing a head rush, I can feel my eyes redden in real time. I am instantly stoned when smoking this weed, and my thoughts swirl—they seem new and different in an interesting way, and really everything becomes more interesting than it was before. Not for trips to the grocery store, this weed makes the world seem alien in a way and really puts me into my own head. This weed is deeply reflective, introspective, and generally thought provoking and thoughtful in general. The general effect is long-lasting, as is the peak of effect making this weed seemingly economical. A great choice for rainy or snowy days spent inside, this is my choice of smoke for adventures deep in my own mind, or creative endeavors requiring a balance of openness, deep thought, and focus.

Overall:  A stunner in every way, Yesca x Jaro resembles Headband, Sour OG, and other varieties hailing from Sour Diesel and OG Kush lineage. The aroma and flavor are as sour and petroleum-based as expected, and this line has obviously been selected with flavor in mind. Equally as compelling are the warm, relaxed, and highly enjoyable effects. Yesca x Jaro is one of my favorite weeds to smoke on evenings alone—interesting podcasts become fascinating, tasty food becomes delicious, enjoyable music becomes exquisite—you get the idea. Consuming this is really a great experience alone, and gives me a great appreciation for my own thoughts and self. I don’t like being social after smoking this weed, as it seems like a chore to adhere to social conventions. Between the sour-skunky-fuel flavor, joyous feelings of solitude and deep fascination, this has become one of my favorites this winter and I genuinely savor an evening in with this weed. To top it all off, this plant is robust and vigorous, especially for an OG cross. The buds were impressively big and thick (again, especially for an OG cross), but ideally would have liked a longer flowering season than the Front Range of Colorado offers. I’ll be growing more next year and seeing what else this gene pool offers.

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