Monkey Bread #1

Named for the popular sticky dessert, Monkey Bread #1 is a mostly indica hybrid with roots in the Pacific Northwest. Created by Certified Portland, this strain is a combination of Grease Monkey and the Forum phenotype of Girl Scout Cookies. The results are a sweetly-scented bud with deeply relaxing somatic effects. Monkey Bread #1 has a particularly high THC content, measured at levels of between 19% and a staggering 32%. 

Monkey Bread #1 flowers are small to average in size and are solid, rounded shapes that resemble bullets. The structure of these buds is somewhat hybridized, the leaves cling closely together at their core but spiral loosely outward at their edges. The feathery leaves are a mottled mix of spring green and faint purple; the latter is thanks to high concentrations of the pigment anthocyanin. Finally, its buds are coated in crystalline white trichomes and twisted through with curly orange pistils.

An olfactory inspection of Monkey Bread #1’s flowers will pick up on a faint fruity aroma and some of the nutty, biscuity scents that are so characteristic of parent strain GSC. When pulled apart or ground up, it can emit a rich, spicy odor, a quality that intensifies when its combusted. Flowers burn with a smoke that’s pungent, but light, and easily inhaled; on the exhale, this smoke has a toasted flavor and a creamy, buttery mouthfeel.

As with many other indica-dominant strains, Monkey Bread #1 is a creeper of a high, taking several minutes to manifest. When they do arrive, the effects hit hard, first striking users with face-focused sensations like an increase in salivation and a feeling of pressure around the temples and eyes, then a change in their thinking; ideas may seem to flow with a higher frequency or to take on a new complexity, dwelling on concepts, or even inanimate objects, that might not command any attention. This cerebral vibe can enable everything from productivity on analytical tasks to inspiration on creative projects. When shared in social situations, all this mental stimulation can lead to chattiness and camaraderie.

After about an hour, this high morphs into a bodily experience. Starting with a tingle of relaxation in the spine and rolls outward through the core and limbs, banishing any muscular tension and allowing for deep, easy breathing. Consumers who are away from home when this sedation hits may feel significantly slowed down; any physical exertion may feel like wading through peanut butter. Those who are already lounging at home, though, have the advantage of sinking into their surroundings as any prior preoccupations dissolve into the background. At this point, this high is best suited to lazy activities like binge watching and snacking. Because of its slow devolution in energy, this strain is recommended for late afternoon through evening consumption.

This versatile bud can be as useful to medical cannabis patients as it is to recreational consumers. Its initially focused effects can help those with ADD and its ability to improve moods may temporarily distract from symptoms of stress and depression. Physically, it may soothe aches and pains cause by minor injuries or serious chronic conditions and the anti-inflammatory properties can help take the sting out of daily discomforts like cramps and headaches. In relaxed conditions, Monkey Bread #1 is a decent treatment for insomnia, pulling users into a deep, restful sleep.

Unfortunately for home growers, Certified Portland has not made seeds of Monkey Bread #1 available online. Instead, growers should seek out mature, healthy plants to take clippings that can be fostered as “clones.” These clones can be grown in controlled indoor environments or outdoors in a hot, Mediterranean-like climate. Those looking to highlight the strain’s eye-catching flashes of purple should activate anthocyanin pigments by exposing their crops to cold, but not freezing temperatures, just before flowering begins. Monkey Bread #1 flowers within eight to nine weeks.

With a robust flavor and impressive THC levels, Monkey Bread #1 is sure to impress cannabis newbies and veterans alike. It’s an excellent way to wind down at the end of a long day or week.