The diverse spectrum of weed strains is not there for no reason.
With over 700 strains of cannabis worldwide, they have numerous flavors and tastes for every user.
Whether you like it or not, that is a different matter altogether.
Coz just because you didn’t like a particular strain or flavor does not mean that the weed is bad, rotten, or molded.
At the same time, any type of weed can go wrong as the time passes.
Being an organic substance, it can start giving off its original aura, especially, when not stored properly in the right conditions.
To ensure a safe and effective consumption of your favorite flower, it is crucial to know about the different types of taste profiles that are offered by marijuana including that of bad weed.
Before we get our hands dirty, let us get familiar with some of the most common flavors that you can find
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ToggleWhat Does Weed Taste Like?
Weed comes in several flavors and aromas depending on various factors such as the lineage or strain, different growing conditions, and most importantly the amount and types of terpenes.
Also known as terpenoids, terpenes are essential oils found in cannabis and other plants that are responsible for giving them their color, aroma, and taste.
Some of the most commonly found terpenes in the cannabis plant family include myrcene, limonene, pinene, linalool, humulene, and caryophyllene among others.
Based on the combinations of these different compounds and cannabinoids such as CBD, THC, CBN, and so on, cannabis products can have a diverse taste profile.
For instance,
- Earthy, piney, and herbal
Common strains such as Kush hybrids, Jack Herer, and Sour Diesel have an earthy and woodsy taste with an herbal and damp punch.
- Citrusy and fruity
Another popular taste among cannabis users is the lemony or citrusy flavor that is pretty similar to the taste of lemon and orange. Found usually in strains such as tangie, lemon haze, and pineapple express, it can also have shades of mango and pineapple.
- Spicy and peppery
For someone with a strong throat, weed also comes in several spicy flavors like that of black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon. Known for their chili and tingling sensation, some typical examples of such strains include black widow, white fire OG, and Northern Lights.
- Sweet and floral
If you don’t fancy an over-the-top herbal stench on your flower, there is always the option to go with something sweet, such as cherry pie, lavender, and blue dream.
Loved for their sweet and floral aromas, these mouthwatering marijuana flavors can easily make you drool like any sugar or honey-infused edible.
- Skunky/ musky or pungent
Before everything else, there is the underlying skunky or musky scent of cannabis which is almost too common across every breed or strain including the infamous Skunk #1, sour skunk, cheese, and so on.
As the most natural note of the marijuana plant family, this somewhat pungent taste may not be for everybody. And hence, the different flavors to suit every palate.
What Does Bad Weed Taste Like?
Bad weed refers to those types of weed that are well past their prime or expiry or have caught mold due to improper storage.
That’s right, with time, weed, no matter how pure and strong, can start losing its original smell and flavor.
To be specific, when stored properly in airtight conditions, your precious weed can stay good for up to 6 months to 1 year.
After that, it begins to lose its potency and aroma by roughly 16% of THC in the first year, 26% in the second, 34% in the third, and over 40% by the fourth year. Eventually, losing its entire THC as it slowly starts converting into a less potent compound called ‘CBN.’
In any case, bad or molded weed can have strong whiffs of fungus, fodder, or dry hay with a mildew and musty taste.
In other cases, it can have little to no smell at all, especially when the weed has gone bad due to aging.
Now, as your weed ages, it also starts losing its terpenes which causes the smell and taste to deteriorate along with the supposed effects.
Besides the lack of taste, old or molded weed can also make you nauseated or cough should you choose to consume it.
Needless to say, smoking mildewed weed can be particularly problematic for those with certain medical conditions such as an allergy to dust or fungus.
To be safe, make sure to store your weed in an airtight container free from any moisture or water contamination.
Also Read: What Does Good or Bad Weed Smell Like?
What Does Good Weed Taste Like?
Fresh and high-quality weed has a unique taste and aroma that is hard to forget for even those who don’t usually consume it.
At the same time, it can tell you a lot about the quality of your flower.
That is, the weed that is cultivated, dried, or cured in the best of conditions would certainly be as fragrant as any other flowering plant.
With shades of herbal, earthy, sweet, fruity, spicy, and skunky flavors, good weed maintains a variety of tones in its complex aromatic spectrum.
It is the combination of these different tones called top notes, middle notes, and bottom or base notes that define a particular strain of weed, thanks to the tremendous terpenes!
For example, the citrusy, fruity, and juicy notes are known as top notes that give us an initial impression of a specific strain.
Similarly, the skunky, herbal, and piney stench of marijuana are considered as the middle notes that follow the initial taste.
Lastly, the under or bottom notes are those that tend to stick to our fingers or the container long after they have been used. These bottom notes can be sweet, spicy, fruity, and floral.
All-in-all, good weed shows an intricate balance of different tastes and tones that blend well to give our olfactory sensory systems a unique experience every time we smoke a joint.
But there are many ways to consume it other than smoking as you might well know.
How To Taste Weed?
There are many ways to predetermine the taste of your weed without even having to taste it.
E.g., appearance, texture, and smell.
If everything fails, you can also get a hint of the taste of your favorite cannabis product at your local weed dispensary such as the Royal Apothecary in California.
Here’s what to look for when tasting weed for your palate:
- Taste different strengths and flavors to find the one that suits you the best.
- Take help from friends or family to get more opinions on taste.
- Compare and contrast all the different notes that you can figure out.
- Try different types of products including edibles, smokeables, vapes, tinctures, and so on.
- Ask for assistance from an experienced or professional budtender to get familiar with the tastes.
To give you an idea, a fresh and premium-quality weed would give you a rich and fragrant taste with tones of wood, herbs, flowers, and fruit.
A quick sense of taste will also help you separate bad or molded weed from your fresh portion.
Poor-quality weed, be it for whatever reason, will most probably have a harsh acrid taste with a sour undertone that might not be as inviting as fresh and high-quality weed. Or, it will have little to no taste at all.
Is There Weed With No Taste?
Yes! Weed, especially that which is overaged and has gone well past its initial year, can slowly start losing its color, smell, and flavor until there’s nothing left but a dry odorless flower.
With aging, many of the compounds found in cannabis including the cannabinoids and terpenes can dissipate over time.
After a few years, the main cannabinoids THC and CBD can even start breaking down into minor cannabinoids such as CBN or CBG that are rather tasteless and impotent.
It is for this reason that many tasteless flavors are sold as isolated concentrates and distillates with higher THC levels, artificial sweeteners, and other substances.
Furthermore, these tasteless compounds are chemically extracted so they can be used in a variety of other products such as edibles, tinctures, and vape cartridges.
Despite being tasteless, these isolates are some of the purest forms of cannabis that are largely used for medicinal and therapeutic purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Terpenes and phenols are the main volatile compounds that give weeds their peculiar aroma and flavor. It is the combination of different compounds and terpenes that provides a flavor to a variety of other aromas that are usually categorized as top, middle, and base notes.
Apart from overaged weed, isolated extracts of cannabis such as concentrates and distillates can have little to no taste depending on the strain. Molded or mildewed weed may also lose its original smell and taste if kept untouched for longer periods.