How to Get Better, Smoother, Harder-Hitting, and More Flavorful Smoke from Your Favorite Dry Herbs

Smoking dry herbs is a pastime that dates back thousands of years. And, especially in recent times, we’ve gotten quite good at it, with higher-quality dry herb that exists on the market and a richer selection of pipes and the like, which come with exciting features and accessories that make us all the more able to enjoy each puff to the max. However, smoking dry herb does leave room for human error, which can result in clouds of smoke that are lacking in flavor, overly harsh, or simply not potent enough to satisfy our needs.

How to Maximize Your Herbal Smokes the Right Way

Obviously, we all want quality herbal smokes from our favorite pipes and bongs, especially when they’re affordably priced. Still, besides just having a reasonable price point, along with amazing durability, those herbs being smoked should be as clean as possible, so it tastes good and works fast. This means having the right smoking accessories to accomplish this… more on that later. However, there are other things, too, that you can do in order to get the most out of each herbal smoking session.

Tip #1: Select Your Flower Wisely

First, you need to know that your smoking sessions are never going to be satisfying if your flower is lacking. Today, it’s easier than ever to acquire some dry herb. And, that’s both a good and a bad thing.

• Good because it means we can choose from a larger selection of strains, and also buy it easier since it’s more readily available.
• Bad because it means that it is easier to encounter low-quality flower being passed off as top-shelf.

So, how do you know you’re getting “good” dry herb?

Well, look at a retailer’s reputation, since that will give away everything you need to know. Besides that, get up close and personal with the flower. Make sure its color is vibrant (if that’s consistent with the strain description), and that it doesn’t feel too spongy or too dry. And, look at the trichomes – the flower buds should be covered in these resinous glands, which indicate potency, freshness and good growing techniques.

Tip #2: Know How to Store Your Flower

Once you’ve scored the best flower, your work isn’t over. Flower must be stored properly whenever it’s not in use. You must keep your buds in an airtight container, as oxygen can degrade the compounds and dry the flower out quickly, leading to dry hits and weak flavor as well as potency. Also, make sure your flower isn’t exposed to light, heat or humidity, all of which cause dry herb to break down more quickly. Cool, dark and dry places are ideal. Ultimately, dry herb is “good” for about 6 months, but only if it’s stored in the right way.

Tip #3: Choose Your Piece Carefully

Different types of pieces have different effects on your smoke quality:

• One-Hitters: Known for stronger, harsher, and more direct hits, since it has a straight airflow channel that doesn’t filter the smoke in any way.
• Water Pipes: Contain water chambers that the smoke passes through, filtrating the smoke to make it cooler, more flavorful and smoother/less harsh on the inhale.

Basically, if you want smoother, more flavorful smoke, then a water pipe is a great choice, and if you want stronger, heavier-hitting smoke, a one-hitter or spoon pipe is recommended. Also, rolling the flower in papers works for a lot of hemp/cannabis smokers.

Tip #4: Maintain Your Piece with Proper Cleaning

All pieces need to be cleaned regularly, as gunk and ash can build up on the inside of the airflow channels, causing old smoke residue to mix in with fresh smoke. This leads to a pretty unpleasant flavor, not to mention harsher inhales. Consider cleaning your device weekly, by soaking it in a solution of alcohol, water, and salt, which will break up old residue. If you’re using a water pipe, then try to change the water before or after each use.

Tip #5: Get a Mesh Screen

Mesh screens are tiny screens that fit in the space between the bowl portion and the airflow channel. What they do is prevent ash and bits of dry herb from getting into the airflow channel and eventually making their way into your mouth. They can help reduce any harshness you get on the inhale, by preventing chunks of flower from burning too hot, as well. They’re easy to find, inexpensive and compatible with mostly all pipes.

Tip #6: Grind It Right

Sometimes, it’s the grind that’s the problem. Grinding is a trial-and-error process, as everyone has their own “sweet spot” when it comes to how finely or coarsely their buds have been ground. Just make sure you don’t go with a grind that’s too fine or too coarse, as too fine of a grind can burn instantly and produce a bad flavor, and too coarse of a grind means an uneven burn which can give you inconsistent hits of smoke.

Say Goodbye to Disappointing Herbal Smoking Sessions

When it comes to smoking dry herb, the process itself is pretty straightforward: grind, insert into your piece and light it. But, there are still plenty of things that you may be doing wrong without realizing it, from buying low-quality flower to not taking advantage of the wealth of accessories at our disposal. Consider making some changes based on the tips above, and then see just how better you’re able to really enjoy each and every cloud of cannabinoid and terpene-rich smoke moving forward.