High C Kush Strain dossier

1. Lineage and Genetic Background

Confirmed Lineage: Hi-C Kush (often simply “High-C”) traces its genetic origins to a cross of California Orange (Cali-O) and Gorilla Biscuit. This lineage is widely reported by both industry sources and the strain’s original breeders, Seeds of Compassion, who introduced the cultivar under the name Ecto Cooler in the 2010s. Despite the “Kush” moniker, no true Kush ancestry is present – the name appears to be a colloquial addition, possibly referring to its resinous qualities or simply a branding choice (there is no Hindu Kush or OG Kush in its parentage). The Gorilla Biscuit parent (an indica-leaning hybrid unrelated to Gorilla Glue) contributes chem-family genetics – one grower notes Gorilla Biscuit carries some Stardawg lineage, adding a Chemdawg-like fuel element to the cross. Meanwhile, Cali Orange (a classic 1980s citrus strain) brings the vivid orange terpene profile and sativa influence. The resulting hybrid is typically classified as a sativa-dominant cultivar (~70% sativa), combining uplifting traits from Cali-O with the body and resin traits of Gorilla Biscuit.

Breeder & Origin: Seeds of Compassion is credited with the original creation (under the name Ecto Cooler), and the cut circulated in West Coast craft cannabis circles by the late 2010s. It gained notoriety especially in California and Colorado, often under nostalgic branding referencing the Hi-C orange drink (hence the name). There are multiple interpretations and name variants: some dispensaries have used “High-C” or “Hi-C” for the Cali-O × Gorilla Biscuit cross, and a few disparate strains have been sold as “Ecto Cooler” with entirely different lineages (for example, an East Coast breeder once labeled a Panama Chunk × Chem 91 cross as “Ecto Cooler,” causing confusion). However, the consensus lineage for Hi-C Kush in the solventless community remains Cali Orange × Gorilla Biscuit, which aligns with its distinctive orange-citrus and fuel terpene signature. We found no evidence of an official “Hi-C Kush” seed release beyond this cross, suggesting that Hi-C Kush refers to this clone-only or select phenotype from the Ecto Cooler line (the “Kush” suffix likely added informally). In summary, confirmed facts are that Hi-C Kush = Cali-O × Gorilla Biscuit (bred by Seeds of Compassion), while anecdotally, some growers have mis-attributed the name to other citrus hybrids – it’s important to verify the source of the cut due to these naming inconsistencies.

Phenotype Variants: Like many polyhybrids, Hi-C Kush exhibits two main phenotype expressions reported by cultivators. Pheno #1 leans toward the Cali-O/Tangie side: taller, spear-shaped colas, extremely bright citrus (orange/lime) aroma, and a very energetic, terpinolene-forward profile. Pheno #2 shows more influence from the Gorilla Biscuit side: slightly denser bud structure, a bit more beta-caryophyllene and myrcene (adding a peppery, musky depth), and a rounder effect (still daytime-friendly, but with a hint more body relaxation). Both phenotypes finish in roughly the same timeframe and carry the hallmark orange-pine notes, but the second cut may present a heavier “chem” funk under the citrus. Multiple cuts of Hi-C Kush are in circulation – some growers specifically select for the louder terpinolene “orange soda” pheno, whereas others prefer a balance of sweetness and gas. We did not find evidence of radically distinct “Hi-C Kush” cuts beyond these aroma/intensity differences (no reports of a purple vs green pheno beyond minor color variance). In all cases, the cultivar tends to inherit prolific terpene production from Cali Orange and ample resin coverage from Gorilla Biscuit. Notably, Gorilla Biscuit’s influence (aside from some fuel terps) appears in the plant’s structure and resin: the buds have a tighter structure and thicker resin heads than a pure citrus sativa might, suggesting the indica parent passed on resin-dense flowers and robust trichome development. These inherited traits bode well for resin content, but as we’ll see, the quality of that resin (in terms of hash recoverability) can vary. Finally, it’s worth clarifying that Hi-C Kush does not carry true landrace Kush traits – any “Kush-like” features (e.g. stout trichomes or sedative undertone) would be incidental from the Gorilla Biscuit side. Overall, confirmed: the strain is a citrus-dominant hybrid with genetic roots in a classic orange varietal and a lesser-known indica, and anecdotal reports highlight minor phenotype-driven differences in aroma intensity and effect.

2. Cultivation Characteristics

Growth Environment Performance: Hi-C Kush has been successfully grown indoors, in greenhouses, and outdoors, though it thrives best in a controlled environment. According to breeder info, it has a flowering period of ~63–70 days (9–10 weeks) when grown indoors. Seedfinder notes the strain can be cultivated outdoors as well, with late September to early October harvests in temperate climates. Indoor growers report moderate difficulty – it isn’t exceptionally finicky, but maximizing its terpene potential requires dialing in climate. Specifically, maintaining slightly cooler temperatures in late flower can help preserve volatile terpenes (we’ll discuss post-harvest handling later) and can even bring out faint purpling in the buds if night temps drop, without affecting yield. Outdoors, Hi-C Kush will stretch and branch in a sativa-leaning manner, reaching medium height (roughly 5–7 feet, given its ~1.5–2× stretch after flip) and yielding moderately. However, outdoor cultivation demands a dry climate or proactive mold prevention – while the buds aren’t extremely dense, the foxtailing structure can create niches for moisture if fall weather is wet (an anecdotal caution from growers of similarly structured strains). Overall, indoor or light-dep greenhouse is preferred for consistent results, allowing precise control of temperature and humidity to protect its high terpene content.

Plant Structure & Morphology: Hi-C Kush exhibits a sativa-hybrid morphology. In veg, expect medium internodal spacing and vigorous lateral branching. Fan leaves are mid-size and somewhat slender-fingered (not as broad as a pure indica, reflecting the Cali-O influence). During the transition to flower, anticipate a moderate **stretch (approximately 1.5× to 2×)**. Adequate trellising or support is advised, especially for the taller citrus-leaning phenos, which can develop elongated colas. These colas often take on an “elongated spear” shape by late flower, particularly in the terpinolene-heavy phenotype. The buds themselves have a somewhat loose, open structure with pronounced foxtails (calyx towers) – Westword described Ecto Cooler’s buds as “relatively loose… known to foxtail” with a almost radioactive lime-green hue. This matches cultivator reports: Hi-C Kush buds are lime to bright neon green in color with vibrant orange pistils, and can display lavender/purple highlights on calyx tips when properly finished in cooler temps. Trichome coverage is heavy: buds appear frosted white due to dense resin gland development. The visual appeal is high; as one source describes, the nug format is *“dense, heart-shaped neon green with subtle purple highlights and a thick coat of frosty trichomes”*.

Hi-C Kush flower exhibiting lime-green calyxes, bright orange pistils, and flecks of purple. Dense trichome coverage gives a frosty appearance.

Structurally, internodes remain reasonably tight, which along with the high calyx-to-leaf ratio leads to good light penetration and manageable canopy. Growers note that Hi-C Kush responds well to topping and low-stress training, resulting in a bushy, multi-top plant rather than a single cola dominant form (especially important to control the stretch of the sativa-leaning phenos). As flowering progresses, calyxes stack prominently. In the most resin-heavy expressions, bracts swell significantly and sugar leaves get blanketed in resin heads, giving an almost wet sheen by harvest time. Importantly, trim leaf is minimal on the best phenos – the buds are not obscured by excessive leaf, making manicuring easy. This high calyx/low leaf trait is beneficial for hash: less leaf material means less chlorophyll and contaminant in the wash, and more of the plant’s weight in actual trichome-rich calyx tissue. Confirmed: high resin density and a strong calyx presence are characteristic; anecdotally, growers love the easy trim and abundant kief these buds produce.

Climate and Feeding: Hi-C Kush does not demand unusual feeding regimes – growers categorize it as a medium feeder (neither particularly hungry nor sensitive). In line with its hybrid nature, it appreciates balanced NPK during veg and a standard bloom regimen. There is no widely reported nutrient sensitivity (such as the calcium-hunger of some OGs or the light feeding needed by some landrace sativas); however, maintaining healthy, green foliage through late flower can be challenging if over-fertilized, as with any high-terpene strain (excess N can diminish aroma). One cultivation guide suggests “moderate feeding and disciplined canopy management” are key for this cultivar. Environmental control is crucial for terpene preservation: growers aim for a “low and slow” dry/cure at ~60°F, 60% RH to retain volatile terps (more on that under post-harvest). During flowering, keeping daytime temperatures in the comfortable mid-70s°F (24°C) and avoiding any heat stress will help maximize terpene synthesis. While not especially prone to hermaphroditism, any major stress (light leaks, etc.) should be avoided during the 9-week bloom to ensure no intersex traits – we found no reports of Hi-C Kush being a “hermie-prone” strain, which is reassuring given its Tangie/Cali-O heritage (Tangie sometimes has herm issues, but it seems Hi-C’s stable breeding mitigated this). The plant shows good resilience to common pests and molds in controlled environments; its somewhat airy bud structure means it’s less likely to develop bud rot than extremely dense indica buds, but standard IPM and airflow are still important.

Trichome Maturity & Harvest for Solventless: The ideal harvest window for Hi-C Kush, particularly when growing for hash production, is when trichome heads are mostly cloudy with perhaps ~5-10% amber. This typically falls around day 63–65 for most phenos (some growers push to 70 days for maximal oil production, but there’s a trade-off as terpenes start to oxidize). Confirmed data on harvest timing for solventless is scarce, so the following is based on solventless maker anecdotes: Because Hi-C has such volatile monoterpenes, some hashmakers prefer to cut right as the trichomes turn fully milky, before significant ambering, to lock in the brightest terps. Others have found that letting it go an extra week can increase the resin’s waxiness slightly, resulting in more intact trichome heads during washing (but at the cost of a bit of that top-note aroma). In practice, most will harvest and fresh-freeze the whole plant immediately, often on the earlier side of ripeness, to strike a balance between terpene retention and trichome robustness (this is a common strategy with terp-heavy cultivars – an anecdotal best practice). Overall, the harvest timing is typically ~9 weeks, aligning with the breeder’s guidance, and growers fine-tune by trichome inspection. For example, a cultivator might note that at day 63 the heads are perfect for a live run – “milky with minimal amber, super loud citrus smell” – which usually indicates peak terpene content. Waiting until day 70 could increase yield slightly but risks terpenes like terpinolene evaporating or converting, leading to a more muted profile (again, anecdotal observation). Thus, for solventless, the recommendation is to err on the early side of full maturity, then freeze immediately to preserve the extensive terpene profile that Hi-C Kush is known for.

3. Resin and Wash Performance

Trichome Head Size & Characteristics: Hi-C Kush develops a capitate-stalked trichome profile typical of high-terpene hybrids. Observations from growers and a detailed strain guide indicate that trichome head diameters average around 80–100 microns on many phenotypes. This size range is adequate for ice water hash – it falls in the sweet spot that can be captured by 73µm–120µm wash bags. Not all heads are uniform, of course; some smaller heads (<70µm) and some larger outliers (>120µm) exist, but the bulk of resin glands are mid-sized. The trichome stalks are of moderate length (no reports of extraordinarily long stalks as seen in some landraces or ultra-frosty Kushes). Importantly, Hi-C’s resin glands tend to be very bulbous and oily – meaning they’re loaded with oils (terpenes, cannabinoids) and relatively thin in cuticle. In fact, one source notes that *“head size and cuticular wax composition can vary, which affects solventless yields”*. This suggests that in some phenos, the trichome heads have fragile outer membranes (thin wax cuticles) that may burst or “grease out” easily during handling, whereas other phenos might have slightly thicker cuticles that stay intact. This characteristic becomes crucial when washing: a delicate trichome will rupture in the wash, releasing oils into the water rather than remaining as intact hash – a major cause of low yield. Thus, Hi-C Kush’s resin can be described as “greasy” in certain expressions (high terpene content making resin less stable), requiring careful technique to extract efficiently.

Wash Yields – Real World Data: By all accounts, Hi-C Kush is not a heavy yielder in ice water hash. In fact, it has a reputation for exceptionally low returns, unless one has a very select cut. For example, a compiled hashmaker dataset (260 cultivars tested) reports Hi-C (Ecto Cooler) yielding a shockingly low 0.57% yield of hash from fresh frozen input, and about 0.26% yield as final rosin. To put that in perspective: starting with 1000g of fresh frozen Hi-C Kush, only ~5.7g of bubble hash was obtained, and after pressing that, ~2.6g of rosin resulted – an almost negligible return. This is one confirmed data point and is one of the lowest yields on record in that dataset. Such a low yield indicates that either a large portion of trichomes were not recovered (likely due to greasing or small head loss) or the plant simply doesn’t produce a high trichome-to-plant-mass ratio. Anecdotally, many solventless producers echo this outcome: Hi-C Kush is often a “<2% strain” (meaning under 2% yield from fresh weight). Some even joke that it’s the kind of strain you wash only for the love of the terps, not for the returns. On a hash forum, after seeing the low yields for strains like Hi-C, a member quipped: *“They can keep the same six 5+%ers. Over here... the hunt goes on [for the terps]!”* – implying that despite the abysmal yields, the unique terpene profile makes it worth it for artisan hashmakers.

However, there is a silver lining: select phenotypes or dialed-in processes can improve yields. Some sources claim that average phenotypes of Hi-C Kush “commonly return 3–5%” fresh-frozen-to-hash, and **exceptional resin-forward cuts can reach 5–7%+**. These figures (3–7%) are much more favorable and would put Hi-C in the mid-tier of wash yields. It’s important to note these are likely optimistic or theoretical maxima. We did not find hard documentation of a 7% yield with Hi-C Kush, so treat that as a potential in best-case scenarios (perhaps with a pheno specifically bred or selected for better resin recovery). The 3–5% range may be achievable with a well-grown crop and skilled washing, but it’s still largely anecdotal: many hashmakers will tell you they rarely see above 3% on this strain. The discrepancy in reported yields underscores high variability – likely due to pheno differences in trichome structure and the critical importance of harvest/handling. In practical terms, if one were considering running Hi-C Kush for solventless, a realistic expected yield might be ~2–4% hash of fresh weight (under optimal conditions), which is on the low end compared to workhorse hash strains (for comparison, strains like GMO or Papaya commonly hit 4–6%+). Only a top 1% pheno might hit above 5%. Thus, confirmed: at least one data-backed source shows ~0.5% yield, whereas other reports (less directly evidenced) suggest the possibility of ~5% with the right cut. This huge range indicates that Hi-C Kush’s wash performance is highly pheno-dependent and sensitive to process.

Effective Micron Ranges: Given the ~80–100 µm average head size, Hi-C Kush tends to produce most of its resin in the mid-range micron bags. Hashmakers report that the 90µm and 73µm bags often contain the bulk of the “keepers” for similar citrus strains, with some larger heads in the 120µm. We can infer Hi-C will behave likewise: The best-quality resin is likely in the 70–120 µm range, with 90µm being a sweet spot for full-melt potential (if any). Because overall yield is low, processors often combine multiple bag fractions (e.g. 73µ + 90µ + 120µ) to gather enough material. If one were to separate, the 45µm and below fraction of Hi-C Kush usually contains very little (small stalk fragments, broken heads – reflecting that the strain isn’t known for tiny heads like some Hazes). In fact, if the resin is greasy, very fine material may simply not collect well at all, instead ending up as oil in the water or staining the work bags. So, an optimal micron strategy for Hi-C Kush is often full-spectrum (e.g. 45–159µm combined) or at least broad-spectrum (e.g. 73–159µm) to avoid leaving precious resin behind. Some artisan hashmakers will still pull only the 90µm for personal/headstash to get the purest portion, but from a production standpoint, you’ll likely pool fractions to improve total yield. This is somewhat inferred (our sources didn’t explicitly list the micron breakdown for Hi-C, but this approach is standard with low-yield cultivars).

Grease, Melt, and Separation Behavior: One of the most critical aspects of Hi-C Kush resin is its “greasiness.” High terpene strains often have trichomes that tend to rupture or smear during ice water agitation – and Hi-C falls in this category. The cuticular wax on the trichome heads can be thin, meaning the heads don’t always stay intact under mechanical stress. As a result, Hi-C Kush can “grease out” quickly: instead of floating freely, the resin heads may break and release oils that emulsify with the water (creating that telltale greasy film). Hashmakers need to adjust their technique to mitigate this. Common strategies include using very cold water (near freezing 1–2°C), minimal agitation or gentler hand-washing (as opposed to aggressive machine washes), and doing more washes of shorter duration to carefully coax the resin without over-beating it. Despite such care, many report that a lot of the resin from Hi-C Kush just doesn’t separate cleanly – it either sticks inside the plant material or dissolves enough to pass through the bags. In terms of melt quality, the hash that is collected is usually not a true six-star/full-melt. Given the amount of broken/oily trichomes, the bubble hash often has residue when dabbed (e.g. a 3-4 star melt). Most producers choose to press the hash into rosin rather than keep it as full-melt, since the rosin can be made very clean even if the initial hash isn’t completely free of contaminant or residue. We did not find a specific rating for Hi-C Kush bubble hash, but anecdotally, don’t expect it to produce a competitive full-melt ice hash; its value shines more once converted to rosin.

When comparing fresh frozen vs. cured input, processors strongly favor fresh frozen for Hi-C Kush. The reason is terpene retention: monoterpenes like terpinolene and limonene can evaporate or transform significantly during drying/curing. Using fresh-frozen plant material (immediately freezing the harvested buds at -20°C or below) locks in those vol