Mandarin Cookies #17: The Selected Queen
Mandarin Cookies #17: The Selected Queen
Strain Overview
Type: Sativa-Dominant Hybrid (60% Sativa / 40% Indica)
Breeder: Ethos Genetics
Lineage: Girl Scout Cookies (Forum Cut) x Mandarin Sunset R1
Market Status: The "Breeder's Selection"; Mandarin Cookies #17 is not just another number—it is arguably the most important phenotype found in the original Mandarin Cookies hunt. While the general release of Mandarin Cookies was a hit, phenotype #17 was selected by Colin Gordon (Ethos) specifically for its structural perfection and intense resin production. It became the mother of the Ethos Cookies line, making it the genetic grandmother of the now-famous Mandarin Cookies V2. It is revered for correcting the low yields of the Cookies lineage while amplifying the citrus terpene profile.
THC Content: High (25% – 30%)
Dominant Terpenes: Limonene, Caryophyllene, Myrcene, Linalool
Key Effects: Soaring Euphoria, Mental Clarity, Energetic Buzz, "Smiley" Relaxation
Mandarin Cookies #17 is the cut that changed the game for Ethos.
It represents the moment where "Bag Appeal" met "Commercial Viability." It took the delicious, dessert-like aroma of the Forum Cut Cookies and injected it with the structural integrity of the Mandarin Sunset. It offers a profile that is equal parts bakery and fruit orchard, with a potency that satisfies the heaviest of daily smokers.
History and Lineage: The Perfect Phenotype
To understand the #17, you have to understand why it was hunted.
The Mother (Forum Cut Cookies): The legendary but flawed GSC clone. It tastes amazing (spicy dough/mint) but yields poorly and grows slowly.
The Father (Mandarin Sunset R1): The flavor donor. Famous for its intense orange zest and skunk profile and purple fade.
The Selection (#17): Out of many seeds popped, Phenotype #17 stood out. Why? Because it didn't grow like a Cookie plant. It grew tall, stacked heavy, and had much stronger branching. Yet, it retained the creamy dough flavor that everyone wanted. This specific cut was so impressive it was used to breed Ethos Cookies (crossed with Colin OG), paving the way for the future of the lineage.
Terpene Profile: Grapefruit and Biscuit
The aroma of Mandarin Cookies #17 is distinct from the later V2. It is slightly more complex, with heavy grape and floral notes mixing with the orange.
Dominant Terpenes
Limonene (The Citrus): The dominant terpene. It presents as a mix of sweet clementine and sour grapefruit.
Caryophyllene (The Dough): Provides the spicy, baked cookie backbone. It gives the smoke a warm, savory quality.
Myrcene (The Fruit): Adds a distinct grape and berry nuance that is often found in the best Cookie cuts, rounding out the sharp citrus.
Flavor Notes:
The Aroma: It is loud and dessert-like. It smells of orange cream popsicles, spicy cookie dough, and fresh grapes.
The Smoke: Smooth and flavorful. It tastes of citrus zest and vanilla on the inhale, followed by a spicy, earthy fuel on the exhale.
Strain Effects: The Creative Spark
Mandarin Cookies #17 leans towards the Sativa side of the hybrid spectrum, making it a favorite for daytime motivation.
The Experience
The Lift: The high hits quickly behind the eyes. It is a bright, energetic onset that wakes up the brain.
The Focus: It provides a great deal of mental clarity. It is not a "foggy" strain; it allows you to concentrate on tasks, art, or conversation.
The Buzz: A light, vibrating body buzz accompanies the head high. It is relaxing but not sedative—you won't feel glued to the couch.
The Sociability: It is an excellent party strain. It lowers social anxiety and makes conversation flow easily.
Best For: Morning wake-and-bake, hiking, social gatherings, creative writing, and combating fatigue.
Growing Mandarin Cookies #17: The Vigor Shift
Growers cherish this specific phenotype because it solved the "Cookie Curse" (weak stems and low yields).
Growth Structure
The Vigor: #17 grows Tall and Aggressive. Unlike the slow-growing Forum Cut, this plant explodes in veg and stretches significantly in flower.
The Yield: High. It produces long, spear-shaped colas that fill out from top to bottom. It has a high calyx-to-leaf ratio.
The Structure: It has perfect internodal spacing—wide enough to prevent mold, but close enough to create continuous colas. It responds beautifully to topping.
The Colors: Like its father, it often fades to beautiful shades of purple and red in the final weeks of flower.
The Time: It finishes flowering in 9 weeks.
Grower’s Tip: Because this pheno stretches, height management is key. Top early and often. Also, support the branches with a trellis net; while the stems are stronger than GSC, the buds are heavy enough to topple the plant late in flower.
Final Verdict: The Selected Queen
Mandarin Cookies #17 is the matriarch of the modern citrus-cookie family. It is the specific plant that proved you didn't have to sacrifice yield to get top-tier Cookie flavor. It offers a smoke that is sweet, zesty, and uplifting, growing on a frame that makes cultivators' lives easier. If you want to experience the specific cut that launched a dynasty of Ethos genetics, you need to try the #17.
You should choose Mandarin Cookies #17 if:
You love Orange/Dough flavors.
You want a Sativa-Leaning High.
You are interested in Breeding History.
You want High Yields.
Score: 9.5/10 (The Genetic Cornerstone)