Once you’ve shopped for flower a few times, you’ll start to notice something: some jars have a wow factor when you crack the lid, and others feel flat and disappointing. That’s the first sign you are starting to know what to look for in good weed.
We’re going to break down the basics of finding good weed, from smell to look and structure, and provide you with insight into how to tell if weed is low-quality or subpar before it reaches your grinder. By the end, you’ll be able to confidently spot top-shelf weed, even if you are new to cannabis use.
Smell
For a lot of customers, aroma is the fastest tell for quality. Good flower often announces itself through your nose. Good weed is:
- Aromatic: The scents should be clear and specific, such as citrus, pine, vanilla, berries, gas, or skunk. Those are the plant’s terpenes giving off the odor, and strong terpenes are a good clue that the plant was harvested, dried, and cured in the right ways.
- Consistent: Great batches of cannabis smell consistent from the jar through the grind. If the pre-grind nose is excellent but the aroma vanishes instantly when it’s ground, it could be old or poorly stored weed.
Good weed won’t smell weak or musty. If the smell is faint or more like hay, the flower may be over-dried or under-cured. It could also signal moisture problems. If something smells off, skip it. Remember, too, that smell is a personal experience. If a jar smells incredible to you, there is a good chance you’ll also love how the weed tastes.
Appearance
After smell, the visual appearance of the flower is the next thing to check. Great flower has:
- Strong color: Healthy buds look vibrant, from bright greens with pops of orange to deep purples or even pinks. If the flower looks dull, brown, or has a yellowed appearance, it may be a sign of heat exposure or rough handling during the harvesting stage.
- Trichomes: These are the tiny, crystalline structures that hold aromatic oils and cannabinoids. When you look at the flower, you should be able to see what appears to be a sugary coating. If there is a lack of trichomes (such as obvious bald patches), the cannabis will have less flavor and effect.
- Tidy trims: A tidy trim shows the harvester cared about quality. Excess sugar leaf (the protective leaves around the cannabis buds) isn’t a deal breaker, but heavy leaf coverage can dilute how potent the flower is and make your smoking experience harsher.
Feel and Texture
How flower feels to the touch can tell you a lot about how it was cured and how fresh it is. Flower should feel springy and resinous to the touch. When you gently squeeze a nug, it should give slightly and then bounce back. A light stickiness on the fingertips is a good sign that the resin is intact, which will provide you with a more flavorful and effective experience. Good flower will break down into fluffy, even granules in the grinder.
Avoid flower that crumbles into dust when you touch them or have stems that snap like kindling. That flower is over-dried and past its prime. It will burn hot and have a harsh taste.
Likewise, you don’t want buds that are too wet. If they feel spongy or leave a damp residue, it means they either haven’t been dried correctly or stored improperly. That increases the risk of mold.
Flower Structure and Trim
The build of a bud will tell you a lot about the genetics of the plant and the techniques used to grow and harvest it. Structure will vary by strain, such as sativas, which tend to have an airy structure. However, you’ll still be able to spot when a plant has been carefully cultivated, no matter the genetics.
Well-formed buds are dense but not as hard as rock. Quality flower will also have visible calyxes, which are the teardrop-shaped nodes that hold essential parts that form things like terpenes and trichomes. Loose buds with excess loose plant material and lots of extra leaves are a signal that the plant didn’t get enough light during its growth stage or that the harvesting process wasn’t very selective. These plants will burn faster and be less potent.
Red Flags of Bad Weed
Watch for these indicators that the product isn’t at its best:
- Mold: White, gray, or fuzzy patches (especially deep in the bud) are a hard no.
- Ammonia smells: If it smells like an old basement, it’s a sign of mold. Do not consume.
- Dull surface: If the flower looks dull and sandy instead of frosty and sparkling, it’s probably an older flower.
- Too many stems: Some stems are inevitable, but a stem-heavy jar means you are paying more for weight you won’t smoke.
- Seeded nugs: The popping seeds will ruin the flavor of the smoke.
- Dry texture: Dry flowers will turn into powder in your grinder and give you a flat, tasteless experience.
How to Shop for Quality Flower
Quality is a result of a combination of genetics, cultivation, post-harvest handling, and storage. Using your senses is the first step for finding quality flower, but you can also:
Ask Your Budtenders
Budtenders spend a lot of time learning about genetics, strains, cultivators, and curing methods. A good budtender will be happy to spend time with you exploring different jars and helping you find quality buds that can deliver the experience you want. Ask them about the freshest batches and customer favorites, and trust them to steer you away from jars that don’t meet your standards.
Check the Labels
Review harvest or pack dates, total cannabinoids/THC, and terpene information. Avoid chasing THC numbers. A 22% jar with great terps can outperform a 30% dry jar, so freshness matters. Making note of the label info on the jars you enjoy can help steer you toward other options you’ll love later on.
Find Top-Shelf Weed at From the Earth
You don’t need lab gear to spot quality on the shelf. The look, smell, feel, and appearance of flower will tell you what you need to know. At From the Earth, we curate shelves with fresh drops, and we’re always happy to help you compare jars so you can experience truly quality cannabis. When you’re ready to upgrade your stash, come in and let your senses take over. We’ll meet you at the counter and help you find top-shelf weed that looks, smells, and feels just right.
Visit our dispensaries in Port Hueneme or Santa Ana today to shop our curated selection of top-shelf flower.
