The best cannabis experiences—whether you’re smoking flower, eating edibles, or using tinctures—often come from the best source material or “top-shelf” bud. But being able to identify high-quality flower and other products can be difficult. Even for the most experienced cannabis enthusiasts. There are some key traits that separate good weed from bad weed—and we’re here to break them down and offer some tips to help you spot the good stuff and avoid the bad.
What to look for in high-quality flower:
Look
Take a look at the bud and inspect it thoroughly. There are many visual signs that can indicate the quality of the flower. Fresh, healthy flower can display an array of vibrant colors, most often deep green with flaming orange or red hairs. You could also see deep purple and or blue shades within the nugs. Another important visual indicator of high-quality flower is the amount of trichomes and their viability. Trichomes are tiny, crystalized appendages on the plant’s surface. They create the compounds responsible for cannabis’ smell, flavor, and effects. The more frosty trichomes you see, the higher the quality of the flower.
Smell
The way bud smells can tell you a lot about its quality. Cannabis cultivated and cured to the highest standards is typically very fragrant and you should be able to easily recognize its herby, sweet, or skunky aromas. The smell may be different depending on the particular strain. But if the product is high-quality, you should be able to pick up on the various notes of its scent profile. The stronger the fragrance, the more nuanced your experience with the bud may be.
Feel
High-quality flower should be sticky and slightly spongy to the touch. Good bud is relatively easy to break apart, with stems that snap. It’s not completely dry or crumbly. You don’t want your buds to turn to dust when grinding or breaking by hand. Alternatively, buds shouldn’t be too wet or soft. High-quality cannabis is the perfect balance between dry and sticky. Sometimes buds may seem overly moist but that is most often oily resin glands from the bud (and that’s a good thing).
Taste
It may not always be possible to taste the bud before purchasing, but if you do get the chance, try it before you buy it. Similar to smell, taste can tell you a lot about the quality of cannabis. On the palate, good bud is rich, pure, and sharp. The bud’s terpene profile will give way to the flavor—whether it’s gassy, fruity, herby, or earthy—depending on the strain and its intended effects.
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What to watch out for in low-quality flower:
Look
Whether that’s due to discoloration or an abundance of stems and seeds, low-quality flower has a distinct appearance. Bad weed coloration can range from brown to tan to grey to red and even yellow. Poor coloration may be an indication of mold, age, pesticides, or other chemicals. Bad weed can look very dry, which is not a good sign. Trichomes turn from clear to amber with excess time, heat, and light—which may be a sign that you’ve received an old harvest.
Smell
Scent potency is very important in telling the quality of bud. If your flower smells bland or dull, that could be an indication that it may be old, dried out, or nutrient-rich. A nutrient-rich bud sounds like a good thing, but it isn’t. It could be an indication that the cultivator overloaded the flower with nutrients to get a higher yield—bringing down the quality. Low-quality or bad weed can have a musty or hay-like aroma, which is another indication of age or even compromised cannabis. If you’re wafting unpleasant aromas from the flower, it is generally a sign of mishandling, pour cultivation and curing, or old product.
Feel
Low-quality flower will feel dry and brittle to the touch, and easily crumble when handled. Dry bud is light and airy, with little weight behind it—unlike high-quality bud which is dense and sticky. Conversely, bud that is overly wet should also be avoided. Overly wet flower has stems that don’t snap and the extra moisture makes the bud susceptible to mold and milder. Wet nugs tear apart rather than break, which is a sign of poor cultivation and curing.
Taste
Lower-quality flower will taste bland and produce harsh acrid smoke, you may be able to pick up metallic or very off-putting chemical notes. This is the case for poorly grown and uncured buds. Buds that may be moldy or mildewy may have a sour taste–if so, stop consuming the cannabis to avoid inhaling dangerous substances that could harm your lungs. Overall, it won’t be an enjoyable experience.
Bottom line
Distinguishing between high-quality and low-quality flower can be difficult. However, with a discerning eye and nose, even novice cannabis enthusiasts can find the perfect bud for themselves. Finding the cannabis strain that appeals to your senses and provides the experience you’re searching for doesn’t have to be complicated. The bottom line is, if the bud doesn’t look, feel, or smell right—it’s probably not. The goal is to find the right strain for you and with these indicators, you’ll find a quality strain that perfectly suits your personal taste.
