The term “Top Shelf Cannabis” gets thrown around a lot, and many people have different ideas of what it means. Some associate it with “exotic” strains and “craft” growers or even a hefty price tag.
True top-shelf cannabis has choice genetics, precise growing conditions and excellent curing and trimming, along with great terpene and cannabinoid profiles. If you want some of the best cannabis in New Jersey, check out this definitive guide by ReLeaf to understand how to spot quality cannabis like a seasoned connoisseur.
Check for Trichome Consistency
The frosty, microscopic, and crystal-like structures that you see on your cannabis flower are called trichomes. Trichomes are a great visual indicator for how high quality the bud is as they house some of the plant’s terpenes and cannabinoids.
Under a light, great quality flower should look like it was dipped in sparkling dust or frost. If your flower looks dull, bare, or not abundant and broken, the trichomes have been handled poorly or trimmed improperly. If there’s no frost, it means the potency of the flower is low.
Are the Colors Vibrant?
Good quality cannabis has a bright shade of green that is rich and deep, along with the striking contrast drawn by streaks of purple, blue, or orange, accompanied by pistils (the hair-like structures you see).
If your dispensary in NJ has bud that looks like this, go for it! If the flower looks brown/yellowish or even a bleached, whitish tone from sun or light exposure is a red flag. Avoid buying adult-use cannabis that looks like this.
Dense Structure and Impeccable Trims
The shape, density, and structure of recreational cannabis tell you a lot about how well it was cared for when grown and after harvest as well. Top shelf cannabis is typically quite dense and tightly-packed. While mechanical trims are efficient, they leave the outdoor edges of trichomes looking uneven or even mangled or bald. Hand-trims preserve those structures when done well.
Avoid fluffy or airy-looking flowers that have a lot of leaves or stems. This usually means the plant didn’t get the right amount of light.
The Touch Test
While visual cues tell you a lot about the quality of flower, touch-testing the product for yourself will help confirm the rest.
(Note: New Jersey laws prohibit unpacking or handling cannabis products in a dispensary)
Top-shelf bud should feel like it has some bounce. If it crumbles apart, that’s not a great sign, but if it yields a little without collapsing, it’s a solid, dense bud. Additionally, good flower is also sticky to the touch due to a high amount of resin content.
Damp or spongy-feeling flower has either not been cared for well enough or is old and has lost potency and terpenes, which is not ideal.
Pete’s Top Shelf Cannabis
Pete’s Top Shelf Cannabis is a small-batch, craft line of cannabis flower and pre-rolls grown at home in New Jersey.
Pete’s Top Shelf does something very few other brands can manage: they craft high-quality cannabis with great terpene and cannabinoid profiles while still making it feel like you’re getting flower from the street like in the old days, especially with the “Mystery Flavor Smalls” that keeps your on your toes while allowing you to rest assured that the quality is top-notch.
They’ve quickly become a customer favorite at ReLeaf with their unique flavors and small-batch, small-flower approach, while charging very reasonable prices for the quality they provide.
Some of our favorite Pete’s Top Shelf products include:
- Frozen Margherita Smalls: An uplifting, flavor-packed sativa-leaning strain that’ll definitely raise your spirits.
- Spritz Check Smalls: A fruity and zesty strain that’s refreshing yet punchy. Great to elevate your mood and creativity.
- Game Over Smalls: This strain has deep, gassy notes with earthy, spicy undertones, creating a rich, balanced, and calming experience.
- Guava Pop: A potent indica-leaning strain, Pete’s Top Shelf’s Guava Pop has a sweet and peppery taste while providing a relaxing yet punchy experience.
Shop Top Shelf Cannabis at ReLeaf
Top shelf cannabis should never smell like hay, grass, or faint. Opening a jar or a package with cannabis in it should hit you with a complex and strong wave of aroma, ranging from gassy, citrusy, or sweet and earthy.
Still need a few pointers for distinguishing between good and bad flower? Stop by ReLeaf’s Williamstown dispensary where our friendly and knowledgeable budtenders would be happy to recommend products that suit your needs and preferences.
Browse our online menu beforehand to familiarise yourself with top strains and taste the difference good quality makes at ReLeaf!
