For Great Cannabis, It’s All in the Cure

For many cannabis connoisseurs, the appearance, smell and taste of a particular flower bud is just as important as her effects. The quality of cannabis depends on many factors during all stages of the growth cycle. The selective trimming of leaves from buds, the cure procedure following dry time, as well as the genetic lineage of the particular strain, all factor in.

But what makes for the best genetics and well-grown cannabis is dependent and/or changed by what happens to the flower after it’s done growing. For the best overall cannabis that is well-rounded in looks, taste, smell and chemically composed flowers, one must get the proper “flush,” trim, dry and cure. Recent research has even looked into the effects of dry time on the relativity to which terpenes are present and in what concentration. This has allowed for some pre-judgement of hash concentrate terpene profiles.

Once you’ve determined that your plants are about ready to be “harvested” or “chopped” within a month or so, I say that is time to start the flush. Whether grown in soil or a hydroponic soil-less medium such a coco coir, a proper flush is necessary. This will get the most out of residual nutrients from the plant, and “sweeten” her up.

This is very important to me because I have had low-dose chemo before (for 5 years on and off) and if a bud is not properly flushed, it can taste pretty much like chewing a non-chewable multivitamin enhanced with iron and magnesium, leaving little for the curing process to “spruce up.”

After trimming the leaves, hanging the stalks/stems with the buds attached is the next step. Then, once mostly dry, the curing process starts — and this is where you either make or break the taste and smell of the flowers. Additionally, this will allow for the non-psychoactive THC and non-active cannabinoids decarboxylate to transform into their psychoactive, and “use ready” state.

The cure is the most important step (besides the growing aspect), in my opinion. Curing is the process of allowing the buds to mature and gain the desired chemical composition, producing an attractive appearance, smell, taste and effect.

This can be from enhancing the terpene profile and bringing out the complex tastes of a multi-hybrid strain such as Fruity Thai, to understanding how air and cannabis work when no longer attached to a living host. In my opinion, a proper cure method lasts two weeks minimum (depending on environment), then an additional few weeks in a glass container, such as the popular mason jar, where it is “burped” or aired out every 24 hours for 1-2 weeks.

If drying is done too quickly, the “green” taste can be sealed into the buds, resulting in a less pleasant tasting flower. This “burping” process works by allowing just enough oxygen to get into the jar and release excess gasses or residual gasses from the flowers, present from the drying and curing process. It allows the flower to develop its smell and taste profile from the terpene molecules lurking behind the organic, earthly chlorophyll flavors; and leaves behind the hay or “dry cut grass” smell.

After the first two weeks, if wanting to do a slower, longer cure, you can continue to “burp” the containers on a bi-weekly, or weekly basis, to obtain the desired smell and flavor. This is the step where I think a lot of people lose patience and understanding of how air and plants work. The exchange is necessary for the herb to totally mature into what nature intended, and the sweetness of the fruit of one’s labor can be enjoyed. Once the flower buds have reached the cure of your liking (much more won’t be achieved after 5-6 months), long-term storage is the next step. I personally just keep the flowers inside a glass jar, airtight, in a darker area, and use a smaller personal jar for opening on a frequent basis throughout my day.

So please, take the advice of a weedist with a picky group of senses — if you grow your own medicine, follow through, let the full and true beauty of every harvest shine, and remember, it’s all in the cure.