As a brand, Turtle Pie Co. has been one of the strongest names in the Northern California scene for the past decade, with strains like Prickly Pear and the eponymous Turtle Pie garnering demand on the top shelf at local dispensaries. That original Turtle Pie strain was a huge hit back in the early days, a cross of OG and Cookies, originally called Sweet Cooks.
“That strain was crossed with SFV OG, right as OGs and Cookies were the hype,” Matt “Turtle” Morgan, founder and owner, said. “Immediately, we knew we were onto something. The euphoric feeling and potency of smoking Turtle Pie was unlike other stuff we were used to, and we were Cookies and OG dudes.”
Flash-forward to a decade later, and the prevalence of hashable candy strains has pushed Morgan to hunt for new heaters.
Over the past year, he ran a pheno hunt out of his house, looking for the next hit.
“Valentine’s Day 2024, I put an Instagram post that said ‘Love is in the air, I’m looking for some pollen to breed with my girls, hit me up,’” Morgan said.
One of his breeder friends brought him Ztopia pollen along with a couple of others, and Morgan got busy matchmaking.
“I took eight of my strains — and had three different pollens — and did a breeding project in my fucking basement,” he said. “Turtle Pie needed a face-lift. Now, with this new lineage I’ve bred into it, it’s viable again. I think this is going to hit. It’s a perfect mix of candy and gas.”
He selected 25 finalists out of the hunt, and figures he’s going to be releasing six or seven under the Turtle Pie Co. name.
Leaf got a preview of another strain from this upcoming drop, the Saturday Cartoonz, in the March Flower Issue.
But the TurtleTopia, a cross of (Turtle Pie bx to OG) x (Ztopia Runtz x Zkittlez), definitely deserves its place in the spotlight as a Strain of the Month.
The tight, chunky nugs showcase a mix of frosted light and dark green coloring, sprinkled with orange and hints of purple. Sweet candy blends with fuel undertones, and the smoke is creamy and smooth, delivering a heavy-hitting, dreamy stone.
It’s a worthy update for a Northern California modern classic. It’s not available yet — this is a preview. The drop won’t happen until later in 2026, along with some others from the new Turtle Pie lineup. Keep an eye out for details on the brand’s Instagram.
turtlepieco.com | @turtlepieco | @turtlepiecoca
This article was originally published in the May 2026 issue of California Leaf.
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