Gelato #25

Also known as: Barry Bonds, Guava Gelato

Breeder: Cookie Fam Genetics (Sherbinskis / Jigga)

Lineage & Genetics

Cross: Sunset Sherbet x Thin Mint GSC

Sunset Sherbet: An indica-dominant GSC descendant (Girl Scout Cookies x Pink Panties) bred by Sherbinskis — contributes the sweet, sherbet-like fruit terpenes and body relaxation. Originally a happy accident from a Pink Panties pollination at Sherbinski's grandmother's house. Thin Mint GSC: The minty, gassy Girl Scout Cookies phenotype (OG Kush x Durban Poison) — contributes the mint/fuel aromatics, dense bud structure, and trichome-heavy resin production that defines all Gelato phenos.

Terpene Profile

Aroma: Sweet cream and mint on the nose with a citrus-berry underbelly. Breaks open to reveal lavender and light earth notes. Moderate to loud — fills a room when jars are cracked but not as pungent as #41. Growers report needing carbon filtration by mid-flower.

Flavor: Leads with sweet cream and sherbet, mid-palate delivers mint and ripe berry (strawberry-mango per AskGrowers), finishes with a subtle fuel/earth exhale. Cleaner and sweeter than #41, less gassy than #33. Multiple reviewers note the dessert-forward profile as the defining trait separating #25 from its siblings.

Effects & Experience

Onset: Fast-acting — cerebral pressure and euphoric uplift within minutes. Described as a 'joyful mental lift' that arrives before the body effects settle in.

Indica-forward body weight lays heavily on the limbs while the mind stays excited and uplifted. Happy, talkative, and giggly in the first phase, transitioning to deep physical relaxation without full couchlock. Appetite stimulation is commonly reported. The head stays clear enough for conversation and creative tasks despite the heavy body.

Duration: 2–3 hours. The cerebral phase tapers after ~45 minutes; the body relaxation and appetite effects carry through the remainder.

Growing Characteristics

Grow Tips: Top at the 5th node + LST for 4–6 main colas; responds well to ScrOG for even canopy. Dense buds are prone to rot — maintain strong airflow with oscillating fans and drop RH below 45% in final two weeks. Carbon filter required mid-flower; nose gets loud despite being quieter than #41. Increase P-K in bloom nutrients weeks 3–6 of flower for trichome density. Cooler night temps (7–9°F drop) in late flower can bring out purple undertones in some phenos. WASH DATA: Average to below-average washer per Atlas Seed trials — not recommended as a primary hash cultivar. Trichome coverage is excellent for bag appeal but head size/detachment doesn't favor ice water extraction. Better suited for flower sales and BHO/hydrocarbon extraction where the terp profile shines.

History & Origin

Bred by Cookie Fam Genetics — specifically Mario Guzman (Sherbinskis) and Jai Chang (Jigga) — in the Bay Area of California. The original Gelato seed run (Sunset Sherbet x Thin Mint GSC) produced dozens of numbered phenotypes. Per High Times' 2016 Top 10 Strains feature, Cookie Fam conducted a group taste test to narrow the field; the five keepers were #1 (Guno), #25 (Barry Bonds), #33 (Larry Bird), #41 (Bacio Gelato), and #45. Each number corresponds to the phenotype's selection order, and the nicknames reference famous athletes' jersey numbers. #25 became known as the sweetest, most indica-leaning keeper and later proved its genetic significance as the parent of Biscotti, which itself spawned an entire sub-lineage of modern exotics.

Notable Crosses

Strains bred using Gelato #25 as a parent: