Aged weed is better.....

[lwien]

Ok, I know absolutely nothing about growing or curing. I do know about storage though and know that light, heat and air are the things that degrade weed quality so my method of storing weed is to use the smallest Space Case container that I can, close it up tight and then put that container in a mason jar and close that up tight. That double seal has kept my bud fresh and still sticky up to year after storage.

But here's the deal. Almost every time I purchase bud from my dispensary, and it's been a few different ones, with many different strains, what I have noticed is the bud becomes MUCH stronger after I've stored it for 2 to 3 months or more. Now the bud that I get is NEVER wet but rather sticky and never moist and therefore, I assumed has been cured correctly.

I've always been concerned that the bud that I get is fresh so I always ask when they got their shipment in, but now I'm thinking that that concern is unfounded.

Is bud like wine in this respect, that is, as long as it's kept in a very controlled environment, does it get better with age? In my experience, it does.

Thoughts??

 

[JCat]

Interesting ... I think some length of jarred cure after the initial hanging etc is necessary ... (I do think a proper cure generally takes a couple months before its perfect ... at least that was my experience back in the day ) ... I think after its reached that "ideal" state (which can vary a little by person), its not going to get better after that ... but proper storage can keep it there I believe ... and I've never seen weed that takes more than a couple months when handled correctly to get to this point of what I would consider "ideal" ... (just my thoughts on the matter from experience curing ...)

 

[lwien]

...and I've never seen weed that takes more than a couple months when handled correctly to get to this point of what I would consider "ideal" ...

Yup. I think my statement of 3 months is a stretch......more like 2 months.

 

[Vicki]

I have some flowers that I have had since May, stored in a CVault, almost 6 months. They are a lot more potent than when I first got them.

 

[Crohnie]

I must agree. This happens to me all the time. IMO, the bud takes longer to fully cure than most people think. I always make sure my bud is fully dried. It almost always ends up significantly stronger.

Good thread....I used to think I was imagining this effect.

 

[JCat]

Yup. I think me statement of 3 months is a stretch......more like 2 months.

So looks like you're in agreement with my observations back when I did my own cures as well ... under cured weed is much better than poorly cured weed though as then you can finish it yourself! (seems like what you've been doing @lwien)

I must agree. This happens to me all the time. IMO, the bud takes longer to fully cure than most people think. I always make sure my bud is fully dried. It almost always ends up significantly stronger.
Good thread....I used to think I was imagining this effect.

I'm not convinced that it gets that much stronger, but I am convinced that it improves considerably in taste/burn-vaporization/harshness/etc with a proper cure ... what differentiates cannabis that will "get you there" vs cannabis that is "good" ... cure does change the THC/CBD/CBN balance though so it does definitely affect the effect

 

[lwien]

I always make sure my bud is fully dried.
/QUOTE]

For me, it's not the dryness. My bud is just as dry and sticky 2 months after I bought it. That hasn't change, but what has changed is the potency.

^^ That's weird. I can't seem to correct that with an edit. Oh well....

 

[sasNW]

Yes sir it does, all buds will have some non physcoactive THC in it. With a proper cure most, if not all the thc will infact become physcoactive. Of course there is more going on, but a proper cure is essential for unlocking a buds true top shelf potential

 

[lwien]

Yes sir it does, all buds with have some non physcoactive THC in it. With a proper cure most, if not all the thc will infact become physcoactive

Yeah. I always thought that it had to do with moisture content and that as long as the bud was sticky but not moist and just a tad on the dry side, that it was totally cured. Guess I was wrong on that one.

 

[JCat]

Yes sir it does, all buds with have some non physcoactive THC in it. With a proper cure most, if not all the thc will infact become physcoactive

I think you're replying to me on this one? Yes, you are correct I believe, until it reaches a certain level of cure, the THC increases (with conversion of CBG to THC), that being said, I'm not sure where the tipping point for this is ... I know that curing for 4-8 weeks seemed ideal when I was curing ... over curing can lead to degradation of your THC into CBN as well so there is a fine line although I think proper storage mitigates most of the degradation ...

 

[MinnBobber]

Good subject.

In talking with super knowledgeable home growers, many cure their bud for 2-3 months.
It seems that many dispensaries, even the top quality ones, "Cure" their bud for much
less time. I called and talked with the manager of the CO dispensary where I bought my
herb. I asked how long they cure it for and the answer was 2 weeks....
I was shocked but I guess business is business, get it out there to sell.

So I'd say they are"drying" the herb but not really "curing" it. But, the good news is that
I can then continue the cure myself. Airtight containers with the Bovida humidity packs
(I think 62%?) gives the ideal curing environment.

For curing , the idea is to remove the water slowly enough to let biological processes take place that convert the sugars and starches into harmless and flavorful compounds. Sugar or starch will give a harsh smoke that hurts the lungsPlants need sugars to live on and they produce them from fertilizer and sunlight. This curing process also breaks down some of the chlorophyll which give herb it's green color. Too much chlorophyll gives an unwanted leafy taste
IMO properly cured bud might be slightly stronger, but is smoother vaping, just a better experience.
Just like a wine that is great quality to start with and properly aged is better than a great quality wine that was not aged long enough. It doesn't get stronger but gets better.

?? But wouldn't dispensary sales volume still be same if they aged everything 2 months, for example?
The continual supply stream would just later. With the exception of the startup point.

...I think properly aged bud might be stronger but the real dramatic plus is much smoother and tastier experience.....

 

[lwien]

Airtight containers with the Bovida humidity packs
(I think 62%?) gives the ideal curing environment.
IMO properly cured bud is likely not stronger, but is smoother vaping, just a better experience.

In my experience, it is DEFINITELY stronger.

As an aside, I have never used Bovida humidity packs but my storage methods seems to keep the moisture content the same as when I originally purchased it.

 

[sasNW]

I think you're replying to me on this one? Yes, you are correct I believe, until it reaches a certain level of cure, the THC increases (with conversion of CBG to THC), that being said, I'm not sure where the tipping point for this is ... I know that curing for 4-8 weeks seemed ideal when I was curing ... over curing can lead to degradation of your THC into CBN as well so there is a fine line although I think proper storage mitigates most of the degradation ...

Sorry I'm at work, was just posting a reply to the original question of if it can make it better. Same here, I prefer a 2 month cure from my crops. But honestly I have no idea on the tipping point either. I just know that aging will activate some of the thc, and eventually can convert into cbd... Don't know exactly when this happens but Ya, just thought I'd confirm what @lwien is experiencing.

Edit- also if anyone hasn't checked out "herb preserve" jars They are the best for curing IMO. Light proof Egyptian glass, mine are glass on glass tops also, so only glass touches my precious crop. Just thought I'd throw that out there.... Not too cheap though

 

[CarolKing]

Last summer I had been waiting a while to try some Skywalker Og. Finally found some at the dispensary. I tried it and thought why is everybody so stoked about this strain? It wasn't that medicating. I put it away in the CVault container for a month or so and I use the little stay fresh Bovida humidity packages. When I vaped with it a second time it was wonderful taste wise and it medicated perfectly. It needed to cure an extra month is all.

 

[grokit]

For curing , the idea is to remove the water slowly enough to let biological processes take place that convert the sugars and starches into harmless and flavorful compounds.

This is most of the equation, it has to be added that additional thc is most of what these compounds are that these starches and sugars get converted into (why the weed gets stronger over time), great post

Edit: sadly I haven't been able to do much besides a basic cure with my own stash, I'm just starting to hit my gardening stride though so hopefully I can change to a longer cure soon. I suppose that the tail end of my 2-3 month stash is more potent than the beginning, but by then my tolerance is destroyed so it's hard to tell. I think most black market growers do about the schedule I'm on which is just a basic cure, it takes about a week or three after the material is completely dry.


Edit2:

?? But wouldn't dispensary sales volume still be same if they aged everything 2 months, for example?
The continual supply stream would just later. With the exception of the startup point.

...I think properly aged bud might be stronger but the real dramatic plus is much smoother and tastier experience.....

I would think in a highly-competitive dispensary environment, that the better-cured product would eventually attract a more appreciative clientele.
Because yes, as the thc gets stronger the taste improves !

 

[smokum]

6 months at a 'stable' 62% ( I burp fresh jarred for 2 weeks after it is hung/screened dried after chop at 10-30% amber trichs (strain dependent) to almost 'crispy' knowing that the core and stems still contain moisture). This is my preferred cure time for what I will then consider 'my' connoisseur finish.

The basic 2 week cure still tastes 'green' with too much chlorophyll and without mature substance.

 

[t-dub]

You guys know I get my flowers once/year and aging does help. I get a great cure to begin with, but as time goes by flavors improve and mellow. I had some GSC with a pretty irritating headband effect that mellowed very nicely after a couple months. I use vacuum with O2 absorbers for long term storage in 1/2 gallon mason jars then when I refill my pint jars for the fridge, not vacuum, I throw in a Boveda pack.

 

[sasNW]

6 months at a 'stable' 62% ( I burp fresh jarred for 2 weeks after it is hung/screened dried after chop at 10-30% amber trichs (strain dependent) to almost 'crispy' knowing that the core and stems still contain moisture). This is my preferred cure time for what I will then consider 'my' connoisseur finish.

The basic 2 week cure still tastes 'green' with too much chlorophyll and without mature substance.

Pretty much my method also, for the first week when jarred I try to burp them once every 2 hours for 1 minute and less often the second week. Always goes into the jar drier then most people think it should, like smokum said another reason for a cure is to pull out moisture from the bud and stem that a simple air dry won't since a cure is pulling out moisture and distributing it more evenly throughout the bud.

 

[grokit]

Research suggests THCA has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects but does not produce the psychoactive effect that make you feel “high”. This “high” is from the cannabinoid THC, of which little if any is found when cannabis is growing or recently harvested.

I'm in the worst place now, barely dry but probably better than sticking it in the dehydrator lol...

pretty irritating headband effect

That may be what I'm feeling, maybe the dehydrator is better -- I seem get better effects with it than just air-drying. I use the mason jar method unless I'm in a hurry lol, which will be the case for a while longer.

 

[grokit]

I think this applies to a lot of things we consume, where a bit of aging can considerably improve quality. For example you don't want to drink a bottle of wine too when it's too young, and dry-aging always improves a cut of beef or a wheel of cheese. And when it comes to other booze like xo cognac and single-malt scotch, fine quality usually takes well over a decade to achieve.

 

[exit]

I don't know if ALL aged weed is better, but i have definitely thought to myself many a time that a certain strain i got would do well to sit around for a long time in a jar, anywhere from a couple weeks to several months.

not because it was too wet when i got it or anything, more that i just had a sense that the weed should age for a while in a jar before getting to its best point.

i actually right now have been smoking a jar i put to the side abour 3 months ago for this very reason. i was very happy with the wait so even if it is perfectly dry seeming when i get it, maybe it needs a few weeks to get real crumbly.

 

[various127]

I watched something on youtube a while back, i think it was called smoking with the president of Uruguay. And some person was saying that they cured this bud for a year and now they are going to try it out. Might have even compared it to fine wine.

 

[Snappo]

I have used herb that was stashed away in a tightly sealed jar for over 10 years and it was perfectly fine in flavor and potency.

 

[lwien]

I have used herb that was stashed away in a tightly sealed jar for over 10 years and it was perfectly fine in flavor and potency.

Kinda like Twinkes, eh?

 

[biohacker]

I have used herb that was stashed away in a tightly sealed jar for over 10 years and it was perfectly fine in flavor and potency.

That is insane! WOW....this must be a record.

Didn't they find some weed in a mummies tomb somewhere? lol