Orange Z by Grassroots - Ascend Cannabis (Ellicott City, Maryland)

Strain: Orange Z

Dispensary: Ascend Cannabis 

Market: Maryland Recreational

Overall Rating: 8.8/10

Lean: Balanced Hybrid

Initial Thoughts

Heads up! Fresh Orange Z (Zkittles) from Grassroots has just arrived at Ascend Cannabis in Ellicott City. This balanced hybrid is a cross between the iconic Agent Orange and Zkittles, resulting in a citrusy and candy-like experience that’s as playful as its name. If you’ve ever argued about which candy color reigns supreme in a bag of traditional Skittles you should note that the orange ones win in this case without question—and this strain proves why.

Status

Fresh.

Appearance

The first thing that caught my eye with this cultivar was the stark contrast between the deep, rich greens of the bud itself and the vibrant orange of the stigma reaching off the flower. Trichome coverage on the flower was thick and the retention through the chain of custody was impressive, with over 70% of the trichome heads intact. I personally like a looser trim

(“better to have and not need than need and not have”) and the flower in this batch was slightly tighter than my preference, though it didn’t affect the beauty of this cultivar.

Aroma

Within seconds of popping the jar for the first time, the citrus terpene profile of Orange Zkittles overwhelms your nose and everything around it. A sweet aroma of Lemonheads candy and a supporting note of classic Haze-style cannabis strains mix with the air after a minute or two and a subtle undertone of hibiscus and other tropical flowers becomes more prevalent, almost luring you in for several repeat sniffs to fully take in all the layers.

Flavor

The connection between your sense of smell and your sense of taste has never been more obvious than in the first inhale of Orange Zkittles. The citric aroma has now become sharp, and the taste of a charred orange peel garnish owns your entire palate. The subtle floral aroma notes now grow in intensity and multiply to give your tongue the flavor of an entire spring bouquet – with nuances of Rose, Lavender, and Gardenia detectable in each inhale. Paying strong homage to the Agent Orange parental strain, delicious hazy cannabis flavors stick around on your tongue as a sweet goodbye on each exhale.

Lineage

Orange Z is the product of a flavorful cross between:

• Agent Orange

• Zkittles

This lineage balances mental invigoration and physical relaxation, offering the best of both worlds.

Experience

The label gives Orange Zkittles a hybrid status, though my mental effects were a bit more stimulated. My physical effects were balanced, allowing me to complete some house chores and get some reading done without feeling lethargic or having trouble corralling all my thoughts into one place.

Conclusion

From start to finish, Orange Zkittles lived up to every promise that I was given. My budtender told me that this was one of the most “Orange-y” strains she’s had in recent memory, and she was spot on. The flavor was one-of-a-kind and to say the coloring on the flower was eye-catching would be an understatement. With even-keel effects and a palate pleasing flavor, this Grassroots Taneytown grown cultivar has solidified its spot in my regular rotation.

*Medical cannabis is for certified/qualifying patients only. Must be at least 21+ years old to view content.