September Strain of the Month: Apple Tartz
Fall doesn’t officially start until the equinox, but the shift shows up early in Missouri. Cooler mornings, shorter daylight, and that unmistakable pull toward anything that tastes like an orchard. This year NatureMed’s September strain of the month leans directly into that craving. Apple Tartz is a hybrid strain built on a genuine sour apple and pastry flavor, and it’s stocked at every one of our five Missouri locations right now, from Kansas City to St. Louis.
Apple Tartz comes from a cross of Runtz and Apple Fritter, two parent strains that each bring something specific to the final result. Runtz contributes its sugary, candy-forward sweetness and a dense trichome coat that gives the buds their frosted look. Apple Fritter is one of the most recognizable apple-flavored strains in cannabis. It’s known for a rich, dessert-like profile that genuinely reads as tart green apple with a baked, pastry-adjacent finish. When those two genetics combine, the result is a strain that tastes closer to an actual apple tart than most fruit-named flower ever manages to pull off.
Why Apple Tartz Tastes Like Fall
That apple flavor comes down to terpenes, the aromatic compounds in cannabis responsible for how a strain smells and tastes, and that also shape how the effects feel. Apple Tartz carries a terpene profile led by caryophyllene, limonene, and myrcene. Caryophyllene is the same compound found in black pepper, and it adds a warm, slightly spicy undertone that shows up as that cinnamon-adjacent note underneath the fruit. Limonene brings the bright, citrus-leaning sharpness that makes the apple taste crisp instead of flat. Myrcene rounds things out with an earthy, almost tropical base that keeps the whole profile from tipping too sweet.
This exact terpene combination is why apple strains tend to cluster on dispensary menus around this time of year, not just at NatureMed. Cooler fall weather actually helps preserve terpenes during curing, since heat speeds up the breakdown of the same aromatic compounds that create flavor. Flower harvested and cured heading into fall often holds onto a sharper, more distinct terpene profile than flower cured during a hot summer stretch. That’s part of why apple and pie-adjacent strains taste especially true to their name this time of year.
What to Expect From Apple Tartz
Apple Tartz sits on the sativa-leaning side of hybrid, which shows up in how the effects actually feel. The high comes on with a clear, uplifted mood rather than a heavy or foggy one, and a lot of people notice colors and music feel a little sharper within the first several minutes. That mental lift stays clear rather than scattered. It’s a strain people reach for during creative projects or conversations, or anything that benefits from a little extra focus instead of a full slowdown. Physically, the effects lean relaxing without being sedating, easing tension in the shoulders or jaw without pulling you toward the couch for the rest of the day.
That balance is what makes Apple Tartz work as a fall pick specifically. Late summer and early fall in Missouri often mean outdoor plans that are still on the table. Football weekends, farmers markets, and patio hangs before the weather turns all call for a strain that keeps you sharp and social rather than one built purely for winding down at the end of the night. It holds its own during the day and still feels right easing into an evening.
Find Apple Tartz at NatureMed This September
Apple Tartz is in stock across all five NatureMed locations throughout September, so there’s no need to track down which store happens to have it. Whether you’re closest to Kansas City, Gladstone, Independence, St. Louis, or O’Fallon, you can check availability and grab it on your next visit. Stop by to pick up a jar, ask your budtender about it if you want a closer look at the terpene profile before you buy, or check out our daily deals for ways to pair it with a discount before you check out.
Shop our daily deals to see what else is stacking this month, or browse our online menu to find Apple Tartz at the location nearest you.