Gelato 45 Strain

Gelato 45 Strain: The Minty, Mellow Gelato Cut

The Gelato 45 strain — G45, or Gelato #45 — is one of the numbered plants picked from the Bay Area Gelato seed run, which crossed Sunset Sherbet with Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies. Where its famous sister Gelato 33 leans sweet and bright, #45 adds pepper and a cool menthol edge, and its high runs calmer: a happy, giggly start that settles into a relaxed body. It's indica-leaning, dense and frosty, and it fits the dessert corner of our THCA flower collection.

Gelato 45 also matters more as a parent than its modest fame suggests. It sits behind Italian Ice, Bubblegum Gelato, Watermelon Gelato and Compound Genetics' The Menthol. Below: where #45 fits among the Gelato numbers, what it tastes like, how strong it really is, how the high unfolds, how to use it, how to grow it and how to judge a bag.

Gelato 45 Strain Genetics & Lineage

• Type: Indica-leaning hybrid. AllBud and GrowDiaries list 55% indica / 45% sativa; Barney's Farm calls its seed version a "60% indica hybrid"; Leafly simply says hybrid.
• Ancestry: Sunset Sherbet × Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies — the same cross as every Gelato number. Leafly and AllBud shorten it to "Girl Scout Cookies × Sherbet."
• Breeder: The Gelato line came out of the San Francisco Bay Area, credited to Mario Guzman (Mr. Sherbinski) and the Cookie Fam. SeedFinder lists Gelato #45 under Sherbinskis; Barney's Farm and Premium Cultivars sell seed versions.
• THC: Leafly lists 19%; AllBud 23–26%; GrowDiaries 19–26%.
• CBD: Negligible. Leafly lists about 1% CBG.
• Aliases: G45, Gelato #45, 45 Gelato. SeedFinder also lists "Michael Jordan" — in keeping with the line's athlete nicknames (Gelato 33 is "Larry Bird"), and Jordan famously wore #45 for part of the 1995 season. We found no breeder statement confirming it.

What the "45" means — and how #45 relates to #33 and #41

The numbers on Gelato strains aren't THC percentages. They were labels on individual seedlings from the Sunset Sherbet × Thin Mint run; the keepers were later cloned and sold under their numbers. That makes Gelato 33, Gelato 41 and Gelato 45 sisters — same parents, different plants, each expressing a different mix of the Sherbet and Cookies sides. Our Gelato entry covers the whole family.

The history isn't tidy. Seeds Here Now's account of the line says Mr. Sherbinski put his name on only six selections — #25, #33, #41, #43, #47 and #49 — so #45 isn't one of that official set. Verilife says the Cookie Family and Sherbinski each worked different numbers. Either way, #45 is the cut breeders reached for: Barney's Farm built its seed line on it, and it's the named Gelato parent in several popular crosses.

• Gelato 33 ("Larry Bird"): the most widely distributed cut — sweeter, more balanced, often described as uplifting.
• Gelato 41 (Bacio Gelato): heavier, gassier and more potent; see Bacio Gelato.
• Gelato 45: the indica-leaning, calming cut with the most pepper and menthol in the flavor, and the parent of choice for many breeders.

Gelato 45's offspring

• Italian Ice: Gelato 45 × Forbidden Fruit — creamy, fruity and relaxing. Leafly lists it as one of G45's children.
• Bubblegum Gelato: Gelato #45 × Indiana Bubblegum, credited to Backpack Boyz; Verilife calls the #45 side "the classic and highly potent Gelato #45."
• Watermelon Gelato: Watermelon Zkittlez × Gelato 45, per Verilife.
• The Menthol: Compound Genetics' "quadruple cross combining Gelato 45, Jet Fuel, High Octane OG, and White Diesel," per GrowDiaries — a hint at where #45's cool, minty edge ends up.

Gelato 45 Terpene Profile

Leafly lists caryophyllene as Gelato 45's dominant terpene, followed by limonene and humulene; strain guides add linalool and trace myrcene. That caryophyllene lead is the source of the pepper on the exhale — and it matters beyond flavor: a 2008 PNAS study identified beta-caryophyllene as a "dietary cannabinoid" that binds CB2 receptors.

• Caryophyllene: Peppery and spicy — the Cookies-side backbone, and the only common terpene known to act directly on CB2 receptors.
• Limonene: The sweet citrus and berry on top, inherited from the Sherbet side, and part of the happy, giggly onset.
• Humulene: Earthy and woody — the "earthy pine" floor that Leafly and SeedFinder both describe.
• Linalool: Floral and soft; likely part of why #45 reads calmer than #33.

The menthol note isn't a single terpene. It's the Thin Mint Cookies side showing through — the same cool streak that runs through the Animal Mints and other mints-family strains.

Appearance

Gelato 45 grows dense, heart-shaped to golf-ball buds in forest to dark green, often with deep purple undertones — and, per Leafly and SeedFinder growers, occasionally blue. Thin orange pistils thread through a heavy dusting of trichomes that can look faintly purple-tinted under light. AllBud describes "heart-shaped, forest green nugs" with "frosty, purple-tinted white crystal trichomes." Cold nights late in flower push the purple further.

Aroma and Flavor

Open a jar and you get sweet berry and creamy sherbet first, then earthy pine and a peppery, woody base. Barney's Farm describes the scent as "reminiscent of mint chocolate ice cream and fruity berries" — and on Leafly, menthol is one of the top three flavors alongside pepper and earth. The inhale is sweet and creamy; the exhale turns peppery with a cool, minty finish. AllBud adds citrus, sour and woody notes, and some reviewers pick up anise or a chemical edge.

If you like the cool-dessert profile of Mint Chocolate Chip, #45 is the Gelato cut that comes closest to it.

Recreational Effects

Leafly describes Gelato 45 as "mostly calming," and its top-reported effects are relaxed, euphoric and happy. AllBud calls the high "lifted yet calming." The most common reports:

• Happy and euphoric: a quick, warm mood lift.
• Giggly and sociable: SeedFinder and AllBud both mention fits of giggling — a good strain for company.
• Relaxed: the defining effect; the body loosens without immediately locking you down.
• Light physical tingle: a gentle body buzz, per AllBud.
• Calm: less bright than many sativa-leaning strains — more unwind than spark.

How the high unfolds: onset, peak and duration

• First few minutes: a happy, slightly giggly lift behind the eyes.
• 10–30 minutes: the peak — euphoric and social, with the body relaxing steadily.
• 1–3 hours: a calm, heavy-limbed settle. At higher doses it slides toward the couch and sleep.

An AllBud reviewer put it simply: "a little goes a long way."

→ Experience it yourself — shop Diesel Hemp's THCA Flower

How Strong Is Gelato 45? Which Gelato Is the Strongest?

Gelato 45 is a potent strain, but the published numbers are all over the place:

• Leafly: 19% THC, about 1% CBG.
• AllBud: 23–26%.
• GrowDiaries: 19–26%, with 23% as its headline figure.
• Verilife: says Gelato #45 and #41 "have been tested to have a higher THC content of 27–29%."
• Barney's Farm seed version: strain guides report about 20–25% under good conditions.

So which Gelato is strongest? No number reliably wins. #41 (Bacio) and #45 are usually named as the heavier hitters, with #33 the more balanced, everyday cut — but grower, cure and harvest timing move the number more than the cut does. Judge the batch in front of you, not the name.

THCA flower is labeled differently from dispensary flower: the lab reports THCA, which converts to THC when heated, plus a small amount of delta-9 THC. When you compare a batch of Gelato 45 against the 19–26% range above, compare total THC on the COA, not the headline number — our guide on how to read a THCA flower COA walks through the math.

Gelato 45 vs Similar Strains

• vs Gelato 33: the famous sister. #33 is sweeter, brighter and more balanced; #45 is peppier on the exhale, mintier and calmer.
• vs Gelato 41: the gassier, heavier sister. #41 hits harder up top; #45 is creamier and more relaxing.
• vs Sunset Sherbet: the fruit-forward, indica-leaning parent. #45 adds Cookies pepper and frost.
• vs Italian Ice: its own child with Forbidden Fruit — fruitier, creamier, and similarly relaxing.
• vs Ice Cream Cake: another Gelato descendant (Wedding Cake × Gelato 33) — doughier, vanilla-heavy and more sedating.
• vs Straw Gua Mintz (in stock): not a Gelato cut. It's a Strawberry Guava × Kush Mints cross with candy-sweet fruit up front and a cool, minty exhale — the closest flavor bridge we carry to #45's menthol finish, though it's brighter and less sedating.

Who Gelato 45 Is (and Isn't) For

Good fit: evening smokers who want a happy, social high that winds down instead of up; fans of creamy, minty dessert flavors; anyone who finds Gelato 33 a bit too bright.

Poor fit: anyone who needs to be sharp and productive, and very new users — reviewers say a little goes a long way. For a heavier, sleepier dessert option on our shelf, Blueberry Pancakes is an indica-dominant pick from $24.

How to Use Gelato 45 THCA Flower — and How Much

THCA has to be heated to do anything. Raw, it isn't intoxicating; heat converts it to THC (decarboxylation), which is why the method matters as much as the strain.

• Smoking (joint, pipe, bong): the fastest onset. Take one or two small hits, then wait 10–15 minutes before deciding on more.
• Dry-herb vaporizer: the best way to catch the cream and mint before the pepper takes over. Around 350–375°F keeps the sweet, cool top notes; 390–410°F brings out the spice and the body weight.
• Pre-rolls: the no-prep option — see our THCA pre-rolls.
• Homemade edibles: decarb the flower first. Edibles take 30–120 minutes to kick in and last far longer, so start low and wait the full two hours.

How much? New or occasional users: one or two small puffs, then wait 15–30 minutes. Regular users usually find two or three hits gives the full happy-to-calm arc without tipping into sleep. You can always add more; you can't take it back.

Medicinal Benefits

These are uses consumers report on Leafly and AllBud, not established clinical outcomes. Individual response varies with dose, tolerance and chemotype.

• Anxiety and stress: the most-cited reason on Leafly (about 25% of reviewers), consistent with its calming reputation.
• Low mood: about 13% of Leafly reviewers, in line with the happy, euphoric onset.
• Aches and pain: about 13% on Leafly; AllBud also lists chronic pain.
• Winding down: many use it in the evening for the relaxed, heavy-limbed finish.

For a plain-language primer on how terpenes are thought to shape these effects, see Project CBD on terpenes. Nothing here is medical advice, and nothing on this page is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you take prescription medication or have a health condition, talk to your doctor before using any cannabis product.

Side Effects and Cautions

• Dry mouth and dry eyes — the most common complaints.
• Dizziness and headache — among Leafly's top negatives, usually from overdoing it.
• Couch-lock and sleepiness at higher doses.
• Anxiety — less common with a calming strain, but possible at high doses or low tolerance.

Is Gelato 45 good for sleep? At a moderate-to-high dose, many people find it is; at a low dose it's more happy and social. Don't drive after using it, and talk to your doctor first if you take prescription medication, are pregnant or nursing, or have a heart condition.

Is Gelato 45 Top Shelf? How to Judge a Good Bag

• Ask which Gelato. "Gelato" on a menu can mean #33, #41, #45 or a seed-grown pheno. A good seller knows the number.
• A current third-party COA naming the lab, with THCA, delta-9 and total THC. Treat 30%+ claims without paperwork as marketing. Ours are on the lab results page.
• Cream, berry and a cool finish. A real #45 shows sweet dessert notes with pepper and mint; flat hay or pure earth means a poor cure or a different cut.
• Density and frost: tight, heavy buds with trichomes coating the inside, not just the surface. Purple or blue hues are a bonus, not a requirement.
• A proper cure — the bud should bend slightly before it snaps.

Growing Gelato 45

Gelato 45 is a compact, dense, bushy plant that suits indoor growers. GrowDiaries says it does better indoors but can work outdoors in warm, sunny climates; Barney's Farm calls its version hardy and adaptable.

• Flowering: about 8–9 weeks indoors (GrowDiaries and Barney's Farm strain guides).
• Yield: around 400–500 g/m² indoors reported for the Barney's Farm version.
• Structure: medium height, short internodes and tight branching — defoliate and keep airflow up to protect dense colas from mold.
• Color: cooler night temperatures in late flower bring out the purple.
• Seeds: feminized versions from Barney's Farm and listings under Sherbinskis and Premium Cultivars. The original #45 is a clone selection, so seed plants will vary.

Is Gelato 45 THCA Flower Legal?

Under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is federally legal when it contains no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis — see the USDA hemp program. THCA flower is sold under that rule. State laws differ and are changing, so check your state before you order. And whatever the label says, THCA flower will show up on a drug test — heated, it is THC.

Shop Premium Flower at Diesel Hemp

• Straw Gua Mintz THCA Flower — our Kush Mints cross — sweet fruit up front with a cool, minty exhale.
• THCA Flower — the full lineup, grown in Colorado by Diesel Hemp and partner farms.
• THCA Pre-Rolls — the same flower, pre-rolled.
• THCA Small Buds — same genetics, smaller nugs, better price per gram.
• What THCA flower actually is — the encyclopedia explainer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gelato 45 indica or sativa?

Gelato 45 is an indica-leaning hybrid. AllBud and GrowDiaries list it at 55% indica, Barney's Farm calls its seed version 60% indica, and Leafly describes its effects as mostly calming.

What is Gelato 45 a cross of?

Sunset Sherbet × Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies — the same parents as every numbered Gelato. Gelato 45 is one specific plant selected from that cross.

What is the difference between Gelato 33, 41 and 45?

They're sister phenotypes from the same Sunset Sherbet × Thin Mint GSC cross. Gelato 33 is the sweet, balanced, widely sold cut; Gelato 41 (Bacio) is gassier and heavier; Gelato 45 is the calmer, indica-leaning cut with more pepper and a cool menthol finish.

Does the 45 mean 45% THC?

No. The numbers were labels on individual seedlings in the original Gelato run. Gelato 45 usually lists between 19% and 26% THC.

How strong is Gelato 45?

Leafly lists 19% THC, AllBud 23–26% and GrowDiaries 19–26%; Verilife says #41 and #45 have tested 27–29%. It's potent enough that reviewers say a little goes a long way.

Which Gelato strain is the strongest?

Gelato 41 and Gelato 45 are usually named as the stronger cuts, with Gelato 33 the more balanced one — but grower and batch matter more than the number. Check the COA.

What does Gelato 45 taste like?

Sweet berry and creamy sherbet on the inhale, then pepper, earthy pine and a cool menthol finish. Barney's Farm compares the scent to mint chocolate ice cream with fruity berries.

Who bred Gelato 45?

It comes from the Bay Area Gelato line credited to Mr. Sherbinski (Mario Guzman) and the Cookie Fam. SeedFinder lists it under Sherbinskis, and Barney's Farm sells a feminized seed version.

Why is Gelato 45 called Michael Jordan?

SeedFinder lists 'Michael Jordan' as an alias, which fits the Gelato line's athlete nicknames — Gelato 33 is 'Larry Bird' — and Jordan wore #45 for part of 1995. We haven't found a breeder statement confirming it.

What strains come from Gelato 45?

Italian Ice (Gelato 45 × Forbidden Fruit), Bubblegum Gelato (Gelato #45 × Indiana Bubblegum), Watermelon Gelato (Watermelon Zkittlez × Gelato 45) and Compound Genetics' The Menthol, among others.

Is Gelato 45 good for sleep?

At moderate to higher doses, often yes — the relaxed body effect deepens toward sleep. At low doses it's more happy and social.

Is Gelato 45 good for anxiety?

About 25% of Leafly reviewers say it helps with anxiety, and it's described as mostly calming. Start with a small dose; too much can still cause dizziness or unease.

Where can I buy Gelato 45 THCA flower online?

Gelato 45 isn't in the Diesel Hemp shop right now, and nothing we carry is a Gelato cut. The closest flavor match is Straw Gua Mintz THCA Flower — a Kush Mints cross with sweet fruit and a cool, minty finish, from $29, third-party lab tested, with free shipping over $75. For a heavier, sleepier dessert strain, try Blueberry Pancakes from $24.

Related Strains

• Gelato — the parent line and all its numbered cuts.
• Gelato 33 — the sweeter, more balanced sister.
• Gelato 41 — the gassier, heavier sister.
• Sunset Sherbet — the fruity parent.
• Girl Scout Cookies — the Thin Mint side behind the pepper and mint.
• Italian Ice — Gelato 45 × Forbidden Fruit.
• Bubblegum Gelato — Gelato #45 × Indiana Bubblegum.
• Watermelon Gelato — Watermelon Zkittlez × Gelato 45.
• Ice Cream Cake — a heavier Gelato descendant.
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