The creation of California-based breeders Symbiotic Genetics, Cherry Punch does precisely as the name suggests—punch your taste buds with hints of cherry, citrus and a touch of skunk. The progeny of Purple Punch and Cherry AK-47, it's an evenly-balanced hybrid favored not just for its fruity flavors, but the hard-hitting cerebral high. To learn more about the history, lineage, and possible uses of this uplifting cultivar, keep reading.

History of Cherry Punch

Cherry Punch (also called Black Cherry Punch) was created by Symbiotic Genetics, a north California-based breeding duo established in 2014. A collaboration between renowned growers, The Village and Budologist, this unusual pairing of talents continues to release some of the most refreshing and innovative strains available on the Pacific Coast. Alongside their cherry-inspired cultivar, some of their most popular seeds include Banana Punch, Purple Punch 2.0, and Wedding Crashers.

While The Village started his career in the industry at a medical marijuana dispensary in South Sacramento, the Budologist was an experienced breeder with several sought-after cuts of Purple Punch and Pennywise. The two would eventually meet through mutual friends in the cannabis scene, and several months later, the Budologist gifted the Village a strain (Purple Punch from Supernova Gardens) to experiment with.

Fast forward a year, and the Budologist got back in contact, this time to ask if The Village wanted to start a joint breeder project—Symbiotic Genetics. Armed with a female Purple Punch, they would work together (with Supernova's approval) to enhance the cultivar with a worthy male Purple Punch phenotype. From this moment on, the standard for Symbiotic Genetics was set, and even today, a decade later, the two continue their search for cutting-edge cultivars.

Genetic Lineage of Cherry Punch

With an understanding of just how The Village and Budologist met, we can start to examine the genetic lineage of Cherry Punch. Why? Because that fabled Purple Punch forms the cornerstone of Cherry Punch, alongside the berry-scented Cherry AK-47.

Sitting firmly in the indica camp, the F2 variant of Purple Punch results from backcrossing carefully chosen Purple Punch phenotypes. The result is a strain with a hard-hitting high that starts with waves of intense euphoria before descending into a physically soothing experience. Expect THC levels to reach 20-24% with up to 2% CBD to help broaden the strain's calming influence. The jewel in this cultivar's crown is undoubtedly the flavor, a delicate blend of blueberry, candy, and flowery vanilla undertones. Subtle enough to please cannabis connoisseurs, but fruity even to appeal to mainstream modern audiences.

Working alongside Symbiotic Genetics' most well-known cultivar is Cherry AK-47, a cherry-infused variant of the iconic AK-47 line. Alongside the strong, berry-like flavors are reddish-purple buds and a smooth taste that boasts fruity notes on the inhale and creamy sandalwood on the exhale. Expect THC levels to peak around 16%, but what this strain lacks in potency, it makes up for in appearance and flavor. Fortunately, the most captivating attributes of both strains have filtered into their offspring, Cherry Punch.

Physical Characteristics of Cherry Punch

We'll cover the effects of this evenly balanced hybrid shortly, but not before covering the strain's equally impressive visual appeal. Buds appear dense with a thick layer of glistening trichomes. Break open the flowers, and you'll be greeted by a dark purple core, set against a backdrop of purple-tinted leaves. The entire spectacle is complemented by a generous helping of long amber hairs, giving the buds a dominant, fiery appearance.

When Cherry Punch plants enter flowering, they'll fill your grow room or tent with a full-bodied candy aroma. Think sugary energy drink with a subtle hint of skunk. This outwardly fruity profile is thanks to the strain's diverse terpene mix, of which caryophyllene, limonene and humulene make up the majority. Together, these aromatic plant compounds not only contribute to Cherry Punch's aroma, but also its high.

Properties/Effects of Cherry Punch

Another area in which Cherry Punch has attracted both recreational and medicinal users is its balanced effects. Being equal parts indica and sativa, it has a head-focused high and a gentle, stoning influence—making for a balanced experience. The former is the first to impact users, with many describing the initial stage as euphoric, happy, and creative. It's also the initial hits that contain the most flavor, with cherry candy and blueberry dominating.

As for potency, expect most examples to reach around 24% THC, a highly respectable concentration that puts this strain towards the top end of modern cultivars. First-time users will need to approach Cherry Punch cautiously, but experienced tokers should have no trouble riding her balanced high right to the end.

If you are interested in trying Cherry Punch as a newcomer, consider vaping as a consumption method. A high-quality vaporizer works just as well with half-loaded chambers, reducing the strain's overall impact while still allowing you to experience Cherry Punch's complete flavor profile.

Uses of Cherry Punch

Given the strain's initial focus on the mind rather than the body, it's recommended you spend the first few hours with Cherry Punch trying the following:

• Long walks in the park
• Project work
• Household chores
• Painting or creative writing
• Socializing with friends

Once the high settles, you'll notice an inner calmness wash over your body. This is when the experience switches, leaning more on its indica heritage and terpenes such as caryophyllene and humulene. If you're at home when the transition occurs, then we recommend treating yourself to:

• A massage
• Extended yoga session
• An afternoon nap

There's also the medicinal benefit of strain that offers both mental and physical relief. The experience will depend on your tolerance and the condition in question, but some patients report a positive outcome when using Cherry Punch to support various mood-related disorders. The strain's soothing influence can also make it a welcome sleep aid.

Cultivation/Production of Cherry Punch

Fortunately, Cherry Punch is well-suited to all types of grow op, whether outdoors, indoors, in soil, or hydro. In fact, the best way to grow this aromatic cultivar is to stick to the environment and conditions you're most comfortable with. This evenly balanced hybrid comes from two well-known and stable parents, plus it was crafted by expert breeders The Village and Budologist. Expect reliable returns, provided you don't let infestations, overwatering or fluctuating temperatures ruin your plants before they have a chance to bloom.

If you're new to cannabis cultivation, consider low-stress techniques such as Sea of Green (SOG) or Screen of Green (ScrOG). Both are simple yet effective training techniques that will help you maximize returns while only putting plants through marginal stress. The former requires you to switch plants to flowering slightly earlier than usual (typically 4-6 weeks of vegging). Still, you make up for what you lose in size with the sheer number of plants you cultivate simultaneously.

Screen of Green differs slightly, relying on a purpose-built net screen to control the canopy height and ensure maximum light penetration for all bud sites. Regardless, both methods are excellent techniques for pushing the yield potential of Cherry Punch to the limit.

Cherry Punch: Delivers a 1-2 Cerebral Knockout

Whether you're a keen recreational user or rely on cannabis for its medicinal properties, Cherry Punch delivers a potent yet balanced high, uplifting the mind while calming physical aches and pains. Combined with its sweet berry-like flavors and colorful appearance, it showcases everything you'd expect from the formidable breeding team at Symbiotic Genetics. A unique partnership by cannabis experts The Village and Budologist, Symbiotic Genetics continues to dominate the Pacific Coast cannabis scene, not just with Cherry Punch, but with a catalogue that includes Mimosa, Wedding Crasher and much more.