Many people ask themselves how they can recognise the quality of buds on the outside. Of course, personal opinion and preferences play an important role here. But there are some visual signs that help to judge the quality of buds.
Dried cannabis flowers should have an appealing colour and exude an intense aroma. Furthermore, there should be no obvious defects such as mould, mildew or pest infestation. Furthermore, a plant can produce flowers of different quality. The smaller flowers that grow in the lower part of the plant ("pop-corn buds") often have less potency and an airier structure.
Quality standards in cannabis have a lot to do with location, access and local laws. Cannabis flowers can only be judged from the outside to a limited extent, because certain characteristics are not visible on the outside. Nevertheless, a good assessment can be made if one knows some criteria.
Important criteria for the external assessment of buds:
- A high number of trichomes indicates increased cannabinoid production and associated potency.
- high-quality buds have an appealing and intense aroma
Buds with low quality
Low quality buds often have a very airy structure, reminiscent of pop-corn buds.
Low quality buds have often been stored for a long time, pressed and have a paler colour than regular weed. Usually the colour is more brown than green and it is dry, with the aroma and smoke being earthy and often scratchy. The sweet and floral distress of cannabis is absent. The concentration of cannabinoids in these buds is only low because the growing and/or storage conditions were not ideal. Low quality buds often have an elevated CBN level. CBN is a by-product and cannabinoid that is produced when THC is broken down. An increased concentration of CBN is a sign of long storage.
Buds that have been stored for too long have a sleep-inducing effect and make you lazy (due to the CBN). But other negative effects can occur when improperly stored and poorly grown weed is smoked. "Street grass" can be contaminated with mould, dirt, mildew, pests, pesticides or even extenders.
Characteristics of poor quality buds:
- Pale, brownish colour
- No stickiness
- crumbly and very dry
- little or hardly any aroma
- low high
Buds with medium quality
Cannabis buds of medium quality can also still offer pleasant and satisfying effects with potent genetics. Due to less than optimal growing and storage conditions, the buds could not develop their full potential and therefore remained mediocre. Many growers worldwide produce medium quality weed that has a distinct aroma and strong effects. They achieve a climate and a supply of nutrients, resulting in buds of this quality.
Characteristics of medium quality buds:
- The buds have a light colour and a glistening trichome layer
- small leaves are covered with resin
- the buds are "rubbery", fluffy and dense
- a recognisable intense aroma
- the higher number of trichomes and cannabinoids leads to a moderate to strong high.
High quality and premium buds
High quality buds combine a massive aroma with powerful and diverse effects. This very high quality is not easy to come by and comes from the hands of professional master growers.
If you are looking for the best buds, look out for the following points:
- Perfectly trimmed, radiant colour
- Bright orange stamp
- a thick glittery resin layer
- the flowers are plump, extremely sticky and also neither too dry nor too moist.
- the aroma and flavour is stunningly strong and complex, so you'd better close the windows when consuming.
- an optimal cannabinoid profile that produces the desired effects.
- Very strong high
The terpene and cannabinoid profile of a variety depends on the genetic conditions. At the same time, genetics is only partly responsible, because correct drying and storage is also a decisive factor.