Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Cookies Fam cannabis is one of the most widely recognizable and available flavor-forward purveyors across recreational states.
While the loud branding isn’t necessarily my cup of tea I have to say I’m in the category of “love” when it comes to some of the strains Cookies and Seed Junky Genetics collaborated on and subsequently seeded across the cultivation market.
From their hallmark GSC genetics to rap industry star child Gelato to top shelf queen Wedding Cake, to the Animal Mints (also spelled Mintz), it becomes hard to escape just how pervasive “cookies” flavors have become in the modern world of legal cannabis.
Look, I listened to Pennywise too. Yes, it’s easy to hate on corporations and I still do it frequently msyelf.
But as the angsty hipster in me ages, moderate Erik is realizing that hating is also a waste of time.
Hating on Cookies because of their success isn’t even contrarian anymore, it’s the NPC mainstream take.
Case and point the uber-popular Animal Mints, itself a potent hybrid cross between Cookies Fam/Seed Junky stalwarts Animal Cookies and SinMint Cookies.
Hate on popularity al you want but it also might be worth stopping to think perhaps there’s a reason why people keep buying strains like Tropicana Cookies or Super Boof or..Animal Mints, over and over again.
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Animal Mints itself is yet another bangin example from Seed Junky Genetics, who you may also know from hits such as Wedding Cake/Pink Cookies, Ice Cream Cake, and Jealousy, to name just a few.
Animal Mints has birthed its own star children as it is a genetic contributor to strains such as Kush Mints, The Soap, and Animal Face.
Recently when Animal Mints #15 seeds hit the market using a Wedding Cake cut for the back-cross.
These seeds commanded damn near $2k when auctioned, although now that some time has passed I see “Animal Mints” seeds selling now from $250-$350, which is still impressive.
This quarter ounce of beautiful Animal Mints was cultivated by the maestros at Evan’s Creek, a small operation near Mt. Hood, Oregon that has attracted a loyal and rabid following of stoners like myself who are perpetually eagerly awaiting their next drop because they are always winners.
You can peruse some of my other Evan’s Creek-grown strain reviews to see what I mean. From Grandpas Gunchest to MAC 1 to Fried Ice Cream to Black Soap, I’m always satisfied when dropping my hard earned cash on this truly craft-cultivated cannabis.
A cross of SinMint Cookies and Animal Cookies, Animal Mints is considered a “balanced” hybrid but leans a little more towards the relaxing, sedative side of things a little heavier, with GSC’s OG Kush genetics teaming up with Fire OG’s Fire Kush genetics to keep things fuzzy wuzzy.
Appearance: Studded Contrast To the Max
I don’t know shit about graphic design but I’ve turnt the contrast up way too high enough times to know how that changes images and feel like that’s a solid descriptor for how these dark, gnarly little bastards.
The bracts are knobby and clearly distinguishable, little blackish-purple studs dominated by deep dark almost black purples with a few bits of green which flow together in a rather aesthetically pleasing way.
Seven out of the eight nugs in my quarter ounce are damn near identical in overall size and shape, reflecting Evan’s Creek’s insanely consistent and high quality craft cultivation work.
The knob-like composition and thorough trichome coverage reminds me of a handful of compressed whitetail deer scat on a frosty morning.
Pistils are sparse but impressively long, reaching well out beyond the bracts themselves which help to further punctuate the almost modular looking nature of these things.
Overall “gnarly” is probably the best descriptor. They ain’t particularly beautiful, they look like they were grown on an alien planet or something, which depending on who you’re trying to show off to could constitute “impressive” bag appeal.
This kind of course surface area makes them super easy to break apart in the exact quantity you want to shred up for smoking or vaping, which is a convenient pro of such bud structures.
Smell: Hot Asphalt Full of Peppercorns
Upon opening my jar I’m hit with an initial earthy kushiness that dissipates nicely and fills the room with a softer, more savory roast turkey kind of smell. Layered on top there are delicate top notes of spiced cranberry and tiny bit of marshmallow brown sugar sweet potato bake sweetness.
My nose quickly crinkles though as big bold punch of freshly cracked black peppercorn and cold rain on hot asphalt and rubber smell worms its way deep into my sinuses, warning me of the subtle potency that lays locked into these silverish, purplish sparkled flowers.
There is also a bit of pencil sharpener and doughy maltiness that plays well with the baked sweet potato softness which helps to sand off the corners of the black pepper and asphalt a bit, resulting in a net “sweet ‘n spicy kush” effect that’s kind of addicting.
The interplay between sneezy pepper and soft sweetness is fun but intense, like switching between hot and cold baths, but may not be for everyone. Make no mistake this isn’t your average candy-like fruit bomb.
Still, the overall profile on the nose is complex even without the incorporation of any of the sulfur-heavy hallmarks of the GMOs that are often married with these zesty kushes.
I can see why the capitalism gods of the American recreational market have bestowed such success upon Animal Mints, one sniff is never enough and if you end up sniffing it more than once that’s enough to make an impression and thus more likely to reach for your wallet.
Just make sure to have a tissue on hand for the inevitable nasal itch, or at least those sensitive to Beta-caryophyllene terpenes.
Once you make it through the grinding and rolling stage it’s all gravy baby. Animal Mints smokes a lot smoother than she smelled, like a roaring lion that ultimately just wants some pets.
Animal Mints makes you earn your high. It doesn’t try to woo you with a bright fun appearance nor does it stroke your nostrils with sweet perfume notes, but if you like no-fuss hitters you’re in for a treat once get to the spark up (or vape up) stage of the process..
Sensation: Bass Up, Treble Down
Not gunna lie, Animal Mints hits me pretty hard, even with a pretty steady daily consumption routine.
The onset is not linear and instead feels almost exponential for the first 5 minutes. To a new smoker or someone with tolerance this may be a tiny bit worrisome but if you can make it past that initial 5 minute surge of take-off you’ll be rewarded by an exceptionally plush cruising altitude.
Evan’s Creek always seems to bring out the best in whatever they grow and this quarter ounce is no different, testing at a healthy 31.90%, which while not the end-all-be-all, most definitely reflects a healthy plant packed with potency.
Animal Mints makes me want to lay down and just let the waves of bass from the music I’m listening to wash over me as the little pains and stressors of life get boiled off under the heat that is this bomb ass weed.
Before blazing up some of this Animal Mints flower for this review my back was aching from a recent 4+ hour flight in economy class (them seats weren’t designed for my 6’2 body) and on top of that I had a bunch of rose thorns embedded in my left hand after a rather fierce landscaping battle.
Had I known the price rose bushes demand from anyone who dare trim them in anything short of a bomb squad suit I would have worn thicker gloves but alas, three days later, those bushes were still making me pay every time I brushed the back of my hand against something.
Within a few minutes after vaping up a bowl of this Animal Mints I forgot about my achy back, while a sudden urge to dig these pesky little fuckers embedded out of my skin formed.
Armed with a safety pin and rather blunt tweezers I was able to dispassionately back them up enough with the point of the pin and then rip the rest out with the tweezers, pain-free, thanks to a couple of mega rips of Animal Mints to the dome.
A bit of ointment later and here I am typing away this review. Can’t really feel any pain in my hands or in my back.
I am thus presuming Animal Mints to a solid pain management strain, or maybe just anti-annoyance strain as my pain was more like a 2/10 compared to what many others have to deal with on the daily..
On the whole this Animal Mints definitely left an impression. It’s got a naturally standout bud structure, a deep dark purple complexion that I’m partial to, and doesn’t fuck about when it comes to getting you ripped.
It’s going to be a little while before a re-up though, mostly because it got to the point where I was sneezing every single time I was grinding this up, which I don’t know if is my own increasing sensitivity to those caryophyllene terps or if this bud is just overly packed with the stuff.
If you love that terpene or just black pepper or fresh hot asphalt type smokes then I encourage you to seek some of this out, definitely an impression maker!
What about you? You fuck with Animal Mints or not? Share your smoking notes in the comments so we can learn together!
