Indica70/30 Indica/Sativa15–28% THC

Lava Cake

Also known as: Lava Cake #11

Breeder: Cannarado Genetics

Lava Cake is an indica-dominant dessert hybrid bred by Cannarado Genetics, crossing the '09 Cookies Thin Mint Cut with Grape Pie. The strain gained massive commercial visibility through the Jungle Boys cultivation collective in Los Angeles, who pheno-hunted the #11 selection that became the canonical cut. Its confectionary chocolate-grape-mint flavor profile and heavy indica relaxation have made it a fixture on dispensary menus with a 4.5-star average across 177 Weedmaps reviews. Lava Cake is a dessert-profile indica-dominant hybrid (70/30) created by Cannarado Genetics through the cross of Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies and Grape Pie (Cherry Pie × Grape Stomper). The strain expresses THC concentrations typically between 19–25%, with select phenotypes reaching 26–28% under optimized conditions. Its terpene profile is led by caryophyllene and myrcene with significant contributions from limonene and linalool, producing a layered chocolate-mint-grape impression with peppery complexity. The strain is also referred to as Lava Cake #11 in some markets. Lava Cake has earned a reputation as a commercial cultivar favorite due to its combination of manageable structure, above-average resin production, striking bag appeal with purple coloration, and a relatively short flowering cycle that accommodates multiple harvests per year.

Lineage

Thin Mint GSC × Grape Pie

THC Range

15–28%

Flower Time

56-63 days

Difficulty

Intermediate

Lineage & Genetics

Cross: Thin Mint GSC × Grape Pie

Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies is a phenotype selection from the Cookie Fam collective in San Francisco, crossing OG Kush with Durban Poison. Known for its distinct mint-chocolate aroma, dark resin-rich flowers, and cooling menthol sensation. It placed 3rd in the 2014 Seattle Cannabis Cup hybrid category and is a cornerstone parent for modern dessert hybrids including the entire Gelato line. Grape Pie was bred by Cannarado Genetics from Cherry Pie (GDP × Durban Poison) and Grape Stomper (JojoRizo's Purple Elephant × Chemdog Sour Diesel). Known for deep purple coloration, sugary grape sweetness, wine-like complexity, and enhanced resin production.

Terpene Profile

DOMINANT

Caryophyllene — Provides spicy, peppery notes and a pepper-chocolate finish; uniquely binds to CB2 receptors for anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties

DOMINANT

Limonene — Contributes citrus sweetness, lemon-rind brightness, and mood-elevating qualities complementing the body warmth

DOMINANT

Myrcene — Earthy, herbal depth and sedative couch-lock effects; creates chocolate-earthy depth when combined with caryophyllene

SECONDARY

Humulene — Hoppy notes synergizing with caryophyllene for enhanced anti-inflammatory effects

SECONDARY

Linalool — Calming floral notes contributing to the strain's relaxing dessert character

Aroma: Confectionary chocolate and baked-dough notes from Thin Mint GSC heritage, with a secondary wave of grape, blackcurrant, and ripe plum from Grape Pie. Peppery spice and cool mint provide balance. Overall reads as dessert-forward yet layered — like opening a jar of freshly baked goods with notes of mint, pepper, earth, and chocolate.

Flavor: Chocolate-grape entry with a crème de menthe exhale. Limonene brightens mid-palate with faint lemon-rind accents. Caryophyllene adds a peppered cocoa finish. Smooth cake-like sweetness on the inhale followed by cool minty-fruity exhale with an earthy kush base.

Effects & Experience

Onset: Light cerebral lift with a touch of euphoria and mental energy in the first 10 minutes

Initial cerebral energy gives way to creative thought and introspection. Deep physical relaxation settles in with muscles loosening and tension dissolving. Pronounced appetite stimulation. Extended body relaxation that may lead to sleepiness at higher doses while mood remains content

Duration: Peak effects at 30–90 minutes with extended relaxation tail; evening-oriented

Commonly Reported Uses

Chronic painMigrainesStressAnxietyDepressionInsomniaAppetite loss

Grower's Notes

Flower

56-63 days

Indoor Yield

400-550 g/m²

Outdoor Yield

500-650 g/plant

Difficulty

Intermediate

Height / Stretch

80-150 cm (indoor)

Environment

Indoor preferred; warm Mediterranean outdoor

Structure & Training

Compact, broad-shouldered profile with tight internodal spacing and minimal stretch. Symmetric branching with strong central colas when topped early. Responds well to topping, lollipopping, SCROG, and LST. Heavy defoliation at week 3 of flower for airflow and light penetration. Multi-top layout recommended for maximum yield.

Nutrients & Feeding

Runs lean on nutrients — moderately sensitive to overfeeding. Stable EC preferred without aggressive feeding. Transition to bloom formula higher in phosphorus and potassium during flower. Responds well to dialed-in inputs without heavy pushing.

Environment & Purple Expression

Prefers hot and dry climates. Indoor flowering temp 65–75°F ideal. Drop nighttime temperatures to 64–68°F during weeks 6–9 to activate anthocyanin expression for purple coloration. Responds well to high PPFD: 600–800 µmol/m²/s, premium results at 900–1,100.

Humidity & Mold Prevention

45–50% humidity during flowering to prevent botrytis in dense buds. Adequate airflow essential. Moderate defoliation mid-flower helps open dense structure. Prefers hot/dry over cool/wet environments.

Harvest Timing

Most phenotypes hit peak trichome maturity around day 60. Target mostly cloudy trichomes with 30–40% amber for the indica-leaning sedative effect. Purple coloration develops naturally in final weeks with cool night temps. Late September to early October outdoors.

Drying & Curing

Grape-chocolate complexity becomes distinctly more pronounced after proper cure (minimum 2 weeks at 60–62% RH). Dense bud architecture requires careful drying to prevent inner-bud mold. Trichome-heavy flowers benefit from cool, dark, slow drying.

History & Origin

Lava Cake emerged in the late 2010s from Cannarado Genetics' dessert-strain program, crossing the '09 Cookies Thin Mint Cut with Grape Pie to capture Cookies richness with deeper berry and wine notes. Gentleman Toker documents the strain's vintage as 2019. While Cannarado bred the seeds, the strain gained massive visibility through the Jungle Boys — a Los Angeles cultivation collective founded by Ivan around 2006, known for popping 1,000+ seeds to find unicorn phenotypes. They frequently ran Cannarado genetics, pushing strains like Sundae Driver and Lava Cake into California's spotlight. The #11 phenotype (Thin Mint GSC × Grape Pie) is the canonical Lava Cake, while #3 and #7 from Jungle Boys represent different lineages (High Octane × Wedding Cake). Alternate versions exist from 707 Seed Bank, Zamnesia, and Blimburn Seeds.

Awards & Recognition

●1st Place Indica Flower — High Times Cannabis Cup Nevada (Greenway Medical)
●1st Place Sun-Grown Flower — High Times NorCal Cannabis Cup 2019 (LitHouse)
●2nd Place Sun-Grown Flower — High Times Bay Area Cannabis Cup 2019 (LitHouse)

Notable Crosses

Strains bred using Lava Cake as a parent:

Jungle Lava— Jungle Cake × Lava Cake

Lava Kush— Jungle Lava × TK Bx1

DNA Cake— Gelato Sorbet × Lava Cake

Molten Lava— Lava Cake × Jet Fuel Gelato

Apple Crisp— Lava Cake × Apple Fritter

Hot Dog OG— Lava Cake × DogWalker OG

Frequently Asked Questions

7 common questions about Lava Cake

What is Lava Cake and what are its genetics?

Lava Cake is a indica cannabis strain (70/30 Indica/Sativa) bred by Cannarado Genetics. It is a cross of Thin Mint GSC × Grape Pie, testing at 15–28% THC. Lava Cake is an indica-dominant dessert hybrid bred by Cannarado Genetics, crossing the '09 Cookies Thin Mint Cut with Grape Pie. The strain gained massive commercial visibility through the Jungle Boys cultivation collective in Los Angeles, who pheno-hunted the #11 selection that became the canonical cut.

What does Lava Cake smell and taste like?

Lava Cake's dominant terpenes are Caryophyllene, Limonene, Myrcene. The aroma is described as confectionary chocolate and baked-dough notes from thin mint gsc heritage, with a secondary wave of grape, blackcurrant, and ripe plum from grape pie. peppery spice and cool mint provide balance. overall reads as dessert-forward yet layered — like opening a jar of freshly baked goods with notes of mint, pepper, earth, and chocolate.. The flavor profile features chocolate-grape entry with a crème de menthe exhale. limonene brightens mid-palate with faint lemon-rind accents. caryophyllene adds a peppered cocoa finish. smooth cake-like sweetness on the inhale followed by cool minty-fruity exhale with an earthy kush base..

What are the effects of Lava Cake?

Light cerebral lift with a touch of euphoria and mental energy in the first 10 minutes Initial cerebral energy gives way to creative thought and introspection. Deep physical relaxation settles in with muscles loosening and tension dissolving. Duration is typically peak effects at 30–90 minutes with extended relaxation tail; evening-oriented. Commonly reported uses include Chronic pain, Migraines, Stress, Anxiety.

How hard is Lava Cake to grow?

Lava Cake is rated intermediate difficulty. It flowers in 56-63 days, reaches 80-150 cm (indoor) in height, and yields 400-550 g/m² indoors. Best suited for indoor preferred; warm mediterranean outdoor environments.

Does Lava Cake turn purple?

Yes. Lava Cake is known to express purple coloration, with reported colors including Olive green, Lime green, Prominent purple hues, Bright orange pistils. Cooler nighttime temperatures during late flowering typically intensify anthocyanin expression.

What strains were bred from Lava Cake?

Lava Cake has been used as a parent in several notable crosses, including Jungle Lava, Lava Kush, DNA Cake, Molten Lava, Apple Crisp. Its genetics contribute to a wide range of modern cultivars.

Has Lava Cake won any cannabis awards?

Yes. Lava Cake has received recognition including 1st Place Indica Flower — High Times Cannabis Cup Nevada (Greenway Medical); 1st Place Sun-Grown Flower — High Times NorCal Cannabis Cup 2019 (LitHouse); 2nd Place Sun-Grown Flower — High Times Bay Area Cannabis Cup 2019 (LitHouse).

Sources & References (47)

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