Every prime product delivered to dispensaries features a seal stating our commitment to handcrafting high quality medical marijuana that is bred, grown, and harvested in Pennsylvania. From hand-selecting genetics for desired phenotypes, to carefully monitoring unique expressions at each step of the cultivation process, our in-house breeding program is curated to deliver our most distinctive prime phenos to Pennsylvania patients.
In today’s installment, we’re providing an in-depth look at two of the reigning cultivars in our exclusive lineup of in-house bred strains: PT Starqueen #22 and #28. Since its debut on dispensary shelves in April 2020, PT Starqueen has consistently produced high terpene extracts with such distinctive flavors as maple and peach. Read on to explore the hand-curated genetics that created the French Toast and Dutch Peach phenos from seed and gain insight into how these phenos perform in both live and dry extraction forms.
Genetics that Create Diverse Expressions
As crosses between the prime sativa African Thai #15 and indica PT Stardawg #36, each of the PT Starqueen cultivars embody distinctive traits that reflect their hybrid parentage. African Thai #15, another offering in our Grower’s Select line, stems from an Unknown Durban and true Thai strain that were crossed as part of a small batch breeding project conducted in Colorado by our Sr. Director of Production and Facilities, Brandon Miller. African Thai’s true sativa lineage is especially evident in the #22 French Toast pheno’s structure, which displays almost leafless buds that are covered heavily in trichomes (the resin-producing structures on the cannabis plant where cannabinoids, like THC and CBD, are generated). Such prevalent trichomes explain why both African Thai and PT Starqueen #22 produce high terpene extracts in our state-of-the-art lab.
The PT Stardawg #36 parent, a cross between Pootie Tang x Stardawg, is rich in myrcene (a terpene also found in mangoes that may potentially relieve chronic pain). This strain displays dense kush-like buds with the classic hashy sweetness for which Indica strains are commonly known. Stardawg traits are most evident in the #28 Dutch Peach pheno, which generally produces large buds that have ample surface area for trichomes and resin production. This cultivar’s flavor profile is reminiscent of the legendary strain OG Kush. The #22 French Toast pheno was also influenced by its PT Stardawg parent, inheriting notable levels of the terpene pinene, which contributes to its subtle pine flavor.
Techniques that Shape Flavors and Aromas
Genetics are not the only factors that affect how our exclusive, in-house bred strains may smell or taste. The expert practices that our team employs, whether curing our premium whole flower after harvest or extracting from fresh frozen plant material, have the potential to shape the aromas and flavors of the final products patients can find on dispensary shelves.
For example, PT Starqueen #22 is called the French Toast pheno for its prominent flavors of sweet egg badder, butter, and maple. Yet, patients may note that the live varieties of this pheno’s concentrates exhibit variations in taste from its dried flower form. When frozen at peak harvest for our live-plant extraction process, the terpenes in this cultivar are uniquely expressed as flavors of cookies and fresh bread.
Similarly, the #28 Dutch Peach pheno derived its name from its flavor notes of ripe peach and tangerine – a profile that is reminiscent of the legendary strain L.A. Kush. After being harvested and carefully cured, our hand-trimmed PT Starqueen #28 buds develop a distinctive aroma of champagne that is especially prominent in the flavor profiles of the dry extracts our expert team handcrafts from this pheno.
