Forbidden Fruit
Breeder: Chameleon Extracts (Joseph / UrbanGardener408)
Forbidden Fruit is an indica-dominant hybrid famous for its exotic tropical-cherry terpene profile and stunning deep purple bag appeal. Created by Joseph (UrbanGardener408) at Chameleon Extracts in 2015, it was selected from 37 phenotypes for its unique cherry-citrus flavor and early purple expression. It bridges the Cherry Pie and Tangie family trees and became a Leaflink Best-Selling Flower in California in 2019. Forbidden Fruit was created in 2015 by Joseph at Chameleon Extracts (UrbanGardener408), a Santa Clara, California-based operation. The cross used a Tangie mother from Crockett Family Farms dusted with Cherry Pie pollen sourced from Jigga—the same legendary Bay Area breeder behind Girl Scout Cookies and Gelato. Chameleon popped roughly 30 seeds and selected a single standout phenotype: the only plant in the batch showing purple coloration from the earliest stages. As Joseph explained to Cannabis Now, 'The one that we ended up keeping was purple from the beginning... Out of the 37, it was the only one showing any color at all. There was a couple that maybe smelled a little better, but it had that visual appeal I knew people would enjoy. But it tastes like Tangie all the way through. It had the Pie look, it just tasted like Tangie.' The cultivar has been maintained as a clone-only variety since its original selection, though S1 seed reproductions have been released by Humboldt CSI (Nspecta). The strain quickly established itself as a South Bay icon and helped define the modern 'exotic fruit' dispensary era alongside Zkittlez and Gelato.
Lineage & Genetics
Cross: Cherry Pie x Tangie
Cherry Pie (from breeder Jigga) is a Granddaddy Purple x Durban Poison cross known for sweet cherry flavor and dense purple flowers. Tangie (from Crockett Family Farms) is a California Orange x Skunk hybrid famous for loud tangerine citrus aromatics. The combination produces a unique tropical cherry profile not found in either parent alone.
Lineage Dispute
Breeding notation: Tangie (from Crockett Family Farms) was the mother plant, dusted with Cherry Pie pollen (from Jigga). Commercially listed as Cherry Pie x Tangie for consistency across databases.
Terpene Profile
Myrcene — Provides the earthy, musky tropical fruit base and heavy body relaxation
Limonene — Drives the grapefruit and tangerine citrus character inherited from Tangie
Caryophyllene — Adds peppery spice and clove depth; anti-inflammatory
Humulene — Contributes earthy, woody, herbal undertones
Linalool — Provides floral lavender sweetness and enhances sedative qualities
Aroma: Sweet cherry and tropical fruit dominate with citrus peel, musky undertones, and pine
Flavor: Cherry and tropical citrus with tangerine and grapefruit layers, earthy pine finish
Effects & Experience
Onset: Gentle relaxation with euphoric mood elevation within 5–10 minutes
Deeply relaxing and euphoric with a happy, sleepy quality. Full-body calm without complete couch-lock. Uplifting enough for evening social use before transitioning to sleep.
Duration: 2–3 hours; tapers into sleepiness
Commonly Reported Uses
Grower's Notes
Forbidden Fruit establishes with a cooperative, medium-height hybrid frame and enough lateral branching to support early structural training. Vegetative vigor is steady rather than explosive, and the plant responds exceptionally well to topping, low-stress training, and SCROG—its natural branching pattern fills a horizontal trellis efficiently when developed early in veg. Expect moderate stretch at the flip, typically 1.5× to 2× in height during the first two weeks of 12/12, making this an approachable canopy to manage in height-limited indoor rooms. Plants generally finish at 80–120 cm indoors and up to 160 cm outdoors.
Flowering Time and Harvest
Flower formation becomes visible early, with sites stacking by weeks five and six and resin production ramping noticeably from week seven onward. The cultivar is a moderate-to-heavy feeder through mid-flower; transition to a phosphorus- and potassium-heavy bloom formula by the third week of 12/12 for noticeably denser, more resinous colas. Many experienced growers prefer a clean late-flower finish—flushing with plain pH-adjusted water for the final seven to ten days—to preserve the cultivar's signature tropical top notes and resin brightness. Overfeeding late can dull the terpene profile and cause mild tip burn on sensitive phenotypes.
Growing Media
Forbidden Fruit performs well across media. In living soil with organic amendments, terpene expression tends toward richer, earthier fruit tones; in coco coir or rockwool under high-frequency fertigation, the citrus-forward Tangie side comes through more sharply. In coco, maintain pH 5.8–6.2, supplement Cal-Mag at every feeding, and ramp EC from 0.4–0.6 in seedling stage to 1.6–2.0 during peak flower. In soil, target pH 6.2–6.8 and water with nutrients every other irrigation.
Environment and Climate
Environment matters for both quality and color. Maintain 68–79 °F during veg and tighten to 68–75 °F once flowering begins. Dropping nighttime temperatures to 62–65 °F in the final two weeks triggers the deep purple and blue-black calyx coloration the cultivar is famous for, without stressing the plant. Humidity should step down progressively: 60–65% RH early veg, 50–60% late veg, 45–50% early flower, and 38–42% in the final three weeks to protect the dense colas from botrytis. Good airflow through the canopy is non-negotiable—light defoliation of interior fan leaves mid-flower improves both air circulation and light penetration to lower bud sites. An 18/6 light schedule in veg and 12/12 in flower is standard; the plant shows no particular sensitivity to light intensity and performs under both HPS and full-spectrum LED, though LEDs paired with the late-flower temperature drop tend to produce the most vivid anthocyanin expression.
Bud Structure and Trichomes
Bud structure is dense, rounded, and pebble-shaped with dark forest green foliage, prominent purple highlights, and wiry orange pistils, all wrapped in a thick, frosty coat of resinous trichomes. The visual appeal—often described as boutique-grade bag presence—is one of the primary reasons this cultivar became a dispensary shelf standout. Trichome heads are large and stalked, giving the flowers a shimmering, crystalline appearance under light. The dominant terpenes are myrcene, limonene, and beta-caryophyllene, layered with linalool, creating a room-filling aroma of tropical cherry-citrus with musky sweet undertones.
Pest and Disease Resistance
The cultivar is generally considered low-maintenance and moderately resistant to common pests, but its dense flower architecture creates meaningful botrytis and powdery mildew risk in humid or poorly ventilated environments. Integrated pest management—regular scouting, proper plant spacing, companion planting outdoors, and preventive applications of biological controls—is the best insurance. Outdoor growers should watch humidity closely as fall rains approach harvest time.
Wash and Extraction
Indoor yields of 450–500 g/m² (roughly 1.3–1.5 oz/ft²) are consistently reported under optimized conditions, and outdoor plants can produce 500–550 g each in warm, dry Mediterranean-type climates, with harvest typically falling in late September to early October. For solventless extraction, Forbidden Fruit's heavy resin load and large trichome heads make it a strong wash candidate; crosses like Forbidden Fruit Cake have documented bubble-hash returns of 6–8% in the 90–120 µm range with full-melt potential. Fresh-frozen material washed gently in near-freezing water yields the cleanest results.
Drying and Curing
Drying and curing demand patience to preserve the terpene-forward profile this cultivar is known for. Hang whole branches in complete darkness at 60–65 °F and 55–60% RH for 10–14 days until stems snap cleanly. Rushing the dry with heat or aggressive airflow will strip volatile monoterpenes and produce a flat, grassy flavor. Once dry, jar in airtight glass at 75% capacity, maintain 58–62% internal RH, and burp twice daily for the first week, tapering to every few days over a four-to-eight-week cure. A slow cure allows residual chlorophyll to break down, revealing the cultivar's full tropical citrus character and preventing the sweeter fruit layer from flattening into generic earthiness.
History & Origin
Created in 2015 by Joseph (UrbanGardener408) at Chameleon Extracts using a Tangie cut from Crockett Family Farms dusted with Cherry Pie pollen from legendary breeder Jigga. Selected from 37 phenotypes for early purple expression and unique cherry-citrus terpenes, then backcrossed twice into Cherry Pie. Originally circulated as a clone-only cut through California's secret sesh scene before gaining widespread fame and seed availability from Royal Queen Seeds, CSI Humboldt, and others.
Awards & Recognition
- ●1st Place — Spannabis Cannabis Champions Cup 2019
- ●2x High Times Cannabis Cup Winner
- ●Best of Secret Sesh Winner
- ●Blazer's Cup Winner
- ●8x Farmers Cup Award Winner
- ●Leaflink Best-Selling Flower in California 2019
- ●1st Place Best Indica Flower — 2019 High Times Seattle Cannabis Cup (Doc and Yeti Urban Farms)
- ●1st Place — 2019 Spannabis Champions Cup (Soil With Attitude)
- ●3rd Place Best Indica Flower — High Times Oklahoma Cannabis Cup (Stability Cannabis)
- ●1st Place Best Indica Flower — Gas House with Synergy (regional cup)
Notable Crosses
Strains bred using Forbidden Fruit as a parent:
Frequently Asked Questions
8 common questions about Forbidden Fruit
What is Forbidden Fruit and what are its genetics?
Forbidden Fruit is a indica cannabis strain (70/30 Indica-dominant) bred by Chameleon Extracts (Joseph / UrbanGardener408). It is a cross of Cherry Pie x Tangie, testing at 21–26% THC. Forbidden Fruit is an indica-dominant hybrid famous for its exotic tropical-cherry terpene profile and stunning deep purple bag appeal. Created by Joseph (UrbanGardener408) at Chameleon Extracts in 2015, it was selected from 37 phenotypes for its unique cherry-citrus flavor and early purple expression.
What does Forbidden Fruit smell and taste like?
Forbidden Fruit's dominant terpenes are Myrcene. The aroma is described as sweet cherry and tropical fruit dominate with citrus peel, musky undertones, and pine. The flavor profile features cherry and tropical citrus with tangerine and grapefruit layers, earthy pine finish.
What are the effects of Forbidden Fruit?
Gentle relaxation with euphoric mood elevation within 5–10 minutes Deeply relaxing and euphoric with a happy, sleepy quality. Full-body calm without complete couch-lock. Duration is typically 2–3 hours; tapers into sleepiness. Commonly reported uses include insomnia, stress, pain, anxiety.
How hard is Forbidden Fruit to grow?
Forbidden Fruit is rated intermediate difficulty. It flowers in 8-10 weeks, reaches medium (80-120 cm indoor) in height, and yields 450-500 g/m² indoors. Best suited for indoor preferred environments.
What are the parent strains of Forbidden Fruit?
Forbidden Fruit is a cross of Cherry Pie and Tangie. Cherry Pie (from breeder Jigga) is a Granddaddy Purple x Durban Poison cross known for sweet cherry flavor and dense purple flowers. Tangie (from Crockett Family Farms) is a California Orange x Skunk hybrid famous for loud tangerine citrus aromatics.
Does Forbidden Fruit turn purple?
Yes. Forbidden Fruit is known to express purple coloration, with reported colors including deep purple, dark green, orange pistils. Cooler nighttime temperatures during late flowering typically intensify anthocyanin expression.
What strains were bred from Forbidden Fruit?
Forbidden Fruit has been used as a parent in several notable crosses, including Italian Ice, Forbidden Zkittlez, Forbidden Runtz. Its genetics contribute to a wide range of modern cultivars.
Has Forbidden Fruit won any cannabis awards?
Yes. Forbidden Fruit has received recognition including 1st Place — Spannabis Cannabis Champions Cup 2019; 2x High Times Cannabis Cup Winner; Best of Secret Sesh Winner.
Sources & References (30)
- https://gentlemantoker.com/forbidden-fruit/
- https://cannigma.com/strains/forbidden-fruit/
- https://nuggnotes.com/blogs/rolling-through-history/forbidden-fruit-citrus-meets-cherry
- https://seedfinder.eu/en/strain-info/forbidden-fruit/royal-queen-seeds
- https://seedfinder.eu/en/strain-info/forbidden-fruit/humboldt-csi
- https://www.strainpedia.com/forbidden-fruit/
- https://thcdesign.com/strains/forbidden-fruit/
- https://abstraxtech.com/blogs/learn/forbidden-fruit-favorite-strain
- https://www.pigtailgardens.com/product-page/forbidden-fruit-spannabis-2019-cup-winner
- Grower's Notes cultivation sources:
- https://hypnoseeds.com/the-blog/how-to-grow-forbidden-fruit-seeds-2025-grow-diary/
- https://seattlehashtag.com/blog/the-forbidden-fruit-story-from-cherry-pie-x-tangie-to-modern-dessert-classics
- https://dssgenetics.com/products/forbidden-fruit-feminized-seeds
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- https://www.binoidcbd.com/blogs/news/forbidden-fruit-strain-review
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- https://seedsgenetics.uk/blog/top-strains-for-rosin-and-solventless-extraction-in-2026/
- https://www.alchimiaweb.com/blogen/choosing-cannabis-seeds-five-star-water-hash/
- https://www.pettalscannabis.com/forbidden-fruit-strain-profile/
- https://mellowfellow.fun/blogs/learn/forbidden-fruit-strain-review
- https://www.edrosenthal.com/ask-ed-blog/2026/1/21/cannabis-drying-and-curing-how-to-preserve-terpenes-smoothness-and-potency
- https://www.mmj.com/learn/guides/drying-curing-cannabis/
- https://americanautoflowercup.com/blog/cannabis-cup-in-washington-ultimate-guide
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