Chocolope, sometimes known as D-Line, is a very sativa dominant hybrid strain that has a highly complex taste profile. It was created by the breeder DNA Genetics as a cross between the popular and flavourful Chocolate Thai and Cannalope Haze. It resulted in an enjoyable sativa that has a huge number of fans.
It is rare to find cannabis strains that taste of chocolate, but the landrace parent strain Chocolate Thai may have achieved the flavour with its terpene production and terroir, picking up the nutrients from the fertile soil also used to grow coffee. Chocolate Thai was hugely popular in the U.S. in the 1980s, and Chocolope has now won a number of awards from the High Times Cannabis Cup and the High Life Cup. It was featured on the cover of High Times magazine as Strain of the Year in 2007. Chocolope has tested as having THC levels of between 17% and 22%.
The stain has long and fluffy buds that are almost cylindrical. The leaves are dark green and fairly loosely packed. While they can be very sticky, they are easier to break up than a pure indica strain and a grinder is not always necessary. The pistils are usually a bright orange. When cured, the buds have a particularly dank, earthy smell with a hint of sweetness. When the buds are broken or burnt, the earthy scent becomes more intense. Chocolope produces a smooth smoke on the inhale and tastes fruity with a hint of chocolate. The cocoa and coffee flavours become more evident on the exhale.
Chocolope provides a fast mental high, with users noticing a buzzy head high that soon morphs into an altered way of thinking. It has almost none of the heavy body stone associated with hybrids or indicas, but it is highly motivating and energising. While it is a cerebral high, Chocolope allows people to keep a mostly clear and level head. It is well suited to daytime use and can be used to accompany household tasks. Medicinally, it can be used to help with attention deficit disorders and some may find that it helps to alleviate stress and anxiety.
There are some peculiarities about Chocolope that makes it a bit tricky for beginners to grow. As with many other sativas, the plants can be very tall. However, while growing outdoors seems like a good solution, the strain is prone to mould so growers need to keep a close eye on it. For that reason, it is often grown indoors and growers work to restrict the height through bending and pruning stems early in the vegetative stage. The strain also requires a large amount of water, particularly when growers use nutrient mixes. It also has a very long flowering time of 10 to 12 weeks. However, it can yield as much as 60 grams per square foot.
Thanks to its cerebral properties, Chocolope is a fantastic wake and bake strain, and its flavours go well with a morning coffee. It can be disruptive to the sleep cycle, so is best not used late in the evening. However, it is excellent as a social lubricant and thanks to its unusual smell and taste, it is bound to set people talking when smoked in a social environment.
