Small buds — sometimes called smalls, popcorn buds or minis — are flower nugs that fall below a grower's size threshold during trimming and sorting. They come from the same plants as full-size flower from that harvest.
How they are separated
After drying and curing, flower is commonly sorted by size, often by hand or with a sizing screen. Smaller nugs typically develop on lower branches that receive less direct light.
What shoppers typically consider
- Price per gram is often lower than comparable full-size flower from the same retailer
- Appearance is less uniform, which matters to some buyers and not to others
- Cannabinoid content is reported per batch on the lab report, so check the COA for the lot
- Density, trim quality and moisture vary between growers and harvests
What small buds are not
Small buds are not shake or trim. Shake is the loose material that accumulates at the bottom of a container; trim is the leaf material removed during trimming. Product listings should state clearly which category applies.
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