Let's talk flavor

[swampdank]

I have been growing on and off for over a decade and for the past 5 years solid. My mission is always quality over quantity. For some reason I can;t seem to get that "sweet" flavor out of my buds like I have expirienced in some grade A samples. I know the first thing everybody says is "cure". It seems that no matter how long I cure or whatnot, the delicious flavor eludes me. I garden 100% organic and flush as advised by the fanatics. What am I missing?? Am I in for a lifetime of dissapointments, or is there a holy grail that I have yet to find??

Are there any tricks to maximizing flavor? How do I get rid of that hot, burning plant matter taste out of my buds?

I always dry my plants slowly and cure the buds for around 3 weeks to a month. Everybody that I share my work with always remarks how good it tastes but I am not satisfied. Should I try another method, like coco or hydro?? Am I doing something wrong curing??

Let's get specific here. I have studied the generalized guides to growing,trimming,drying and curing on icmag. Are there any details that I need to know to take my garden to the next level?

C'mon flavor junkies, help me boost the sweetness at the swamp.

 

[Quazi]

I'm no expert on the flavor subject, but I recall coming across an explanation of flavor curing. It may be possible that the flavor you recall was implemented in a similar fashion. If you know who grew it, you might consider asking them if they used a similar method.

If not, well, it's a decent read anyway:
http://forums.cannabisculture.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/490443/site_id/1

It sounds like you're doing everything else correctly from what I've read about flavor and curing. I did see that you said you let them cure for 3 weeks to a month. I've read that bud continues to cure and enhance in flavor and smoke quality for 2, 3 even up to 5 (or longer, who knows?) months. Maybe increasing the curing time would be something to consider trying?

Sounds like your mates enjoy it though; that's good! Sometimes it's tough being your own worst critic.

-Q

 

[MHHSP]

How are you curing? I would (after being dried well from paper bags) place the nugs in 1 quart mason jars with tight lids. Open the jar lids for about 20 min, once a day for at least 2 weeks or more. Even a month and

 

[swampdank]

quazi: decent read man. and you are right, the toughest pallatte to please is my own.

MHHSP: i graduated from the paper bag deal a while back. now i use pizza boxes, then jars like in the pics above. i think you can see a piece of the pizza box in that pic too.

this method does improve the flavor and smoothness greatly. but i am looking for methods in addition to this process. maybe it's just that i havent found that special super tasty strain yet. all of my "keeper" plants have subtle, delicious flavors but i am trying to boost the intensity of the flavors already present.

i heard growing in coco boosts flavor but never compared side by side.

 

[Dr Dog]

I really dont know how to improve the taste, I find I like the taste of everything I have grown out. I have tried some different things though.

Molasses and Maple Syrup

I do use Molasses on every crop, when it gets late in flower I like to add molasses to my mixes, The theory here is that it sweetens the buds with a basic sugar, and helps them plump up, does it work? Not sure, but it is not hurting them, and I would rather add molasses than anything else, who wants more additives manufactured somewhere. Same type of deal with maple syrup.

The one downfall to adding sugar to your buds, are my gf always complains how bad it smells when i smoke sugared bud as opposed to non sugared bud, almost immediately, so it is doing something. My gf cannot smell differences between lets say AK 47 and a Diesel strain, but she certianly knows what weed I am smoking, when it is burning.

But I think most taste issues will be solved witha good long cure, I cure my buds for months, I have some stuff that has been in jars for over 6 months, I have yet to touch it.

 

[roor smoker]

jeez....wish i had buds for 6 months and had yet to touch them..lol

 

[Oscuridad]

swamp - You haven't mentioned if you've been growing strictly from seed , or whether you've had the opportunity to grow any elites that you would "expect" amazing flavor from.

In our experience, "amazing taste" is the rarest thing you'll find growing from seed. you can get plants for years with amazing health, great smell & bag appeal, and do everything "perfect" but you stil may not have found something that "tastes like the Jack that a buddy brought back from the coast" if you know what I'm saying.

Lots of people love to get down on commercial growing operations for growing substandard pot, but truth is.. all (or atleast most) of it is still coming from a very rigorous selection process. Some might be much more focused on weight than others, but taste is certainly always something that will sell, no?

I would suspect a lot of people find themselves in a similar situation as you describe, where friends often comment on the flavor but there are usually a wise&informed few in the room who know better. I saw this thread & was interested right away because this seems like a common thread of discussion amongst a few really smart & talented guys I've known through the years.


Source those cuts &/or pay for those hybrids and do a little digging and you may find what you're looking for.

 

[swampdank]

Oscuridad: I think you are right. My geographic location prevents me from scoring some elites. I try to select the best from the pool I have. I guess the search will continue until the4 goal is reached.

Doc: I use molasses as well. I think the stuff is great fuel for the microherd. I think I might leave the budss in cure for a few more months and see if any major differences appear.

 

[Grizz]

I have switched from soil to coco and have noticed a big differance in smell and taste over soil. It also has so much to do with the strain, If you can find any thing crossed or original green crack try and get it , it reeks with smell and has the fruitest watermelon taste of anything I have grown, grind house sour bubble is also very tasty as well as rez'es sd ibl.. if its got the smell it will have taste.

 

[Oscuridad]

if its got the smell it will have taste.

Have you really never found this to not be the case?
Around here we have definitely sometimes been super excited about something that retains its great smell even through drying (as some seem to wane a bit once chopped,) only to be somewhat let down upon actual testing.


swamp .. good luck in the continued search buddy.

 

[johnyhash]

phinal phase leaching solution helps bring out that chronic flavor. I have done my own experiments with this. I think the biggest factors when it comes to good flavor is strain/pheno, and proper leaching. My romulan diesel cut with no cure will taste like a million bucks. Curing helps.

 

[Grizz]

Have you really never found this to not be the case?
Around here we have definitely sometimes been super excited about something that retains its great smell even through drying (as some seem to wane a bit once chopped,) only to be somewhat let down upon actual testing.


swamp .. good luck in the continued search buddy.

not that I can remember, the diesel I had stunk like hell and tasted real good, same with og kush and the appalacian Im running now defies my carbon filter and taste so good , like fruit or watermelon, I have grown some sativa's that had a fair smell when growing and smelled and tasted like alfalfa after cure, I hate that taste..

 

[swampdank]

It seems that everything is pointing to coco. I want to find that sweet, transparent taste. I always dry and cure my harvest the right way but still have some residual harshness. Some of the flavors I have gotten from cali lack the harshness. Even the old skunk #1 sacks taste wonderful. I guess I need to expiriment with other methods and stop being so closed minded. Coco, here I come.

 

[Grizz]

its worth a try swamp, Its so easy to use and reusable to. Zoolander has posted a complete nute guide over at the farm if you want to check it out.

 

[swampdank]

i am witcha joesy. i guess i have to look at it like a minimal investment for long term rewards.

 

[subrob]

if your looking to to a coco grow, check out the canna line of nutrients. very tasty herb from my bro's who use this line. what strains have you been growing? ive tried the paper or cardboard drying, and i think it sucks the moisture out a lil quicker than normal. now ive gone back to habging them in a cool dark room with circulation from 8 to 12 days, then jar them up and burp them daily for a couple weeks. hydro can def. produce some tasty buds, with FANATICAL flushing, and is more strain dependant then coco or organic. good luck............sub

 

[swampdank]

if your looking to to a coco grow, check out the canna line of nutrients. very tasty herb from my bro's who use this line. what strains have you been growing? ive tried the paper or cardboard drying, and i think it sucks the moisture out a lil quicker than normal. now ive gone back to habging them in a cool dark room with circulation from 8 to 12 days, then jar them up and burp them daily for a couple weeks. hydro can def. produce some tasty buds, with FANATICAL flushing, and is more strain dependant then coco or organic. good luck............sub

sup rob?! i have been eyeing the canna line. i was convinced i needed to go the GH route but as of late i think i will try the canna line. so, ya think skipping the paper/cardboard phase improve the final product?? i know it is all strain dependent but i am game for new approaches. i grow DJ's f13 and TB plus bluebonic and SWT#3. i also have some sweet and sour kushes in the vault. i am ditching my williams wonder moms after this grow since i am disappointed with the buzz. i think my main goal is to get the plant matter harshness out of there. the flavor is present in all of my buds, i just want to rid them of the burning pot flavor. i am planning a switch to coco. i predict my first run will be in early november. i might run 50/50 coco/ soil til i get the basics down. i cant afford to screw up a whole crop by making noob mistakes so the transition will be gradual. i am now sold on the canna line of nutes. is the pk13/14 a must have?? i mean, i will get it if the difference is noticable. i just hear that stuff adds a little harshness, which is what i am trying to get rid of. damn, am i glad to have the icmag crew. people have reached out to me via pm with tricks of the trade and stock upgrades. you guys rock. see ya'll soon in the coco forum.

SWT#macro

 

[subrob]

i used the pk when i was using thier hydro line(substra) but i do not use it with the bio. i will ask my bro's if they use the pk with the coco. no matter which nutes you use, to me the most important part is the flush, flush, flush. blubonic rocks doesnt it?

 

[krk]

those plants are bluebonic...yes?

 

[Moldy Dreads]

It seems that everything is pointing to coco.

I disagree, I get more flavorful results with soil.

HOWEVER, in all reality OBSCURIDAD hit the nail on the head. It all has to do with GENETICS.
I've grown maybe 70 strains from bagseed, from vendors like Reservoir, Federation, Serious, MOD etc, and from elite clones from dispensaries and fellow growers.Hands down, the elite clones picked from hundreds of specimens were always sweet or flavorfull, and in different mediums the soil always gave me more complex and deeper flavors.

That being said, some seed companies gave me great results like Reservoir seeds Sour Diesel IBL and 2.5. However seeds from the Strawberry Diesel, I got no real winners, bland flavors, just a crapshoot.

I've grown in Coco, rockwool, hydroton etc and in hydroponics the nugs swell up, but the flavor is not as complex and deep as in soil grows (buds were a bit thinner).

I believe Obscuridad is correct, it's all about Genetics and elite tested clones..

edit - I almost forgot, Subrob is also 100% correct. Cardboard boxes or paper seem to add a paper smell to my buds. Lame.
Listen to Soma, he said dry plants hanging for 7 days (or until dry and crunchy on outside but semi moisture in large stems), cut only the big fan leaves before hanging, then remove all stems and excess leaves after the week is up , and jar. Then open jar once a day to let the stale air out for a month. Best results hands down. Paper or cardboard suck..