Premium Hemp Flower, i'm positive you've seen it mentioned or heard it get said somewhere before. You probably think the same thing as me when you hear it, "this is fire". But what many buyers don’t truly realize is that phrase or term "top-shelf" is an actual designation that tells you about the quality of a certain strain.
Unfortunately, most retailers throw around that term too loosely these days, causing some confusion among buyers who are in search of the best hemp their money can buy. The fact is that ‘top-shelf’ is a measurement of quality, and not all hemp strains will meet the parameters necessary to qualify as top-shelf.
So, what exactly does it mean when a particular hemp flower is top-shelf? Here’s everything you need to know.
How to Measure Hemp Quality
While sites can say things about a product which may be very helpful, there are certain aspects that you can look into to measure the quality of a specific hemp product you’re interested in. By figuring out where its qualities stand in reference to these criteria, you can determine whether or not it’s right on the money or a total waste of cash. Knowing how to pick the best CBD flowers is crucial to a quality experience, I will provide the best ways to identify the best premium hemp flower so you know it when you see it!
Potency
You can tell a lot about hemp based on the extent of the effects that it brings and the way cannabinoids react with your body. Hard-hitting effects that you can feel after just a toke or two indicate that your bud contains higher levels of the cannabinoids and terpenes. Lower quality hemp won’t have the same colorful, colorful nug profile as a top-shelf sample. If it doesn't "work" or provide the effects you were looking for, it may not truly be premium.
Flavor and Aroma
Premium quality CBD hemp flower should show a defined, multi-dimensional taste and smell that makes you want to stuff your face into the bag. Top quality and premium hemp strains usually smell strong. Where flavor is concerned, a top-shelf strain should more or less taste similar to how it smells, but that is not always the case with some hemp cultivars.
Feel and Aesthetic
Premium hemp flowers should look and feel premium. Bright colored and dense nugs showing off heavy trichomes and yummy scents can really help you judge the quality of the hemp overall. Basically, the brighter and more attractive a specific hemp flower, the better its quality should be. This is due to a better cure and processing methods used, as all farms have different methods. When you squeeze a premium CBD bud, it should be sticky, leaving a mild layer of tacky trichomes on your fingers. Keep in mind some strains may be a lot more sticky than others. Some strains have higher resin count while others may be high in cannabinoids. The best hemp flower should have both!
So What Makes Hemp Flower Premium?
What exactly is premium hemp? As you might have noticed, it’s not simply an accident that some farms are able to sell hemp flower that is of significantly higher quality than others. The truth is that producing premium hemp takes more knowledge, effort and cost, which is why it seems to be so much more rare than budget hemp flowers!
To produce premium hemp, growers and farmers are very careful to ensure optimal conditions throughout the growing process. That means the selection of top-quality seeds from top-shelf strains, the use of premium, high-quality fertilizers, careful calibration of heat and humidity, pest & viral management as well as perfect timing for the harvest, drying, and curing processes.
Most of the time, premium hemp is grown in controlled conditions, away from the potential dangers of pests, virus, contaminants, mold, and mildew. Usually in greenhouses or indoor and in some cases, in sun-grown craft grows which may yield some of the best hemp flowers you will ever see. That means that most of the premium flower choices you’ll find will often either be grown in craft gardens, indoors or in greenhouses where true cannabis cultivators and the best CBD flower companies can fine-tune conditions to produce the best hem flowers!