How We Actually Test Products Before They Hit the Site

There’s no shortage of hemp brands online promising “top shelf,” “lab tested,” and “premium” everything. But you and I both know a label doesn’t always match what’s inside the jar, cart, or bag.

At thisthat, we don’t just upload a COA and call it a day. Every THCA flower, live resin vape, live rosin, and gummy goes through a real screening process before it ever shows up on the site or in your cart.

This guide walks you through exactly how we vet products—so you know what happens behind the scenes before anything with our name on it reaches you.

Step 1: COAs First, Always

Before we even consider stocking a product, we start with documentation. If a brand can’t provide real, verifiable lab work, we don’t move forward—period.

For each potential product, we require:

• Full-panel COA (not just potency), including:
  • Cannabinoid potency (THCA, Delta-9 THC, minor cannabinoids)
  • Residual solvents (for extracts like live resin)
  • Pesticides
  • Heavy metals
  • Microbials and mycotoxins
• Batch-specific results that match the lot number we’re being offered
• Legit labs only (no in-house “testing” dressed up as third party)
• Legal compliance – Delta-9 THC within federal and state limits at dry weight

We cross-check:

• QR codes and URLs on packaging against the actual lab site
• Sample dates and test dates for freshness and legitimacy
• Cannabinoid totals that make sense (no cartoon math or “too good to be true” percentages)

Once a product passes this paper test, we list its COA on our Certificate of Analysis hub so you can review the same data we do.

Want a deeper breakdown on why this matters? Check out Why COAs Matter More Than Reviews.

Step 2: Visual & Aroma Check (Flower)

For THCA flower, we don’t just look at test results—we inspect every batch with our own eyes and noses before it hits the flower collection.

We check for:

• Trichome coverage: Frosty and intact, not dull or knocked off
• Trim quality: Clean, not leafy or stemmy
• Structure: Buds that reflect the strain’s genetics, not generic “nug chunks”
• Color: Healthy greens, purples, and oranges—no gray, tan, or oxidized look
• Aroma: Distinct nose (gas, fruit, dessert, etc.), not “hay,” cardboard, or chemical funk
• Moisture content: Not too wet (mold risk), not bone dry (harsh smoke)

If it looks mid, smells flat, or doesn’t line up with the COA or strain name, it doesn’t make the cut. We’d rather say “no” than put weak flower on the shelf.

For more on how we think about freshness and structure, see The Freshness Checklist: How to Inspect THCA Flower Before You Buy (or Jar It at Home) and What to Check Before You Buy Hemp Flower (So You Don’t Waste Your Money).

Step 3: Real-World Smoke Test (Flower)

Lab numbers are one thing. How it smokes is another.

For THCA flower we’re seriously considering, we run a real-world test:

• Grind test: Does it break down fluffy and resinous, or dusty and stemmy?
• Roll test: Does it hold a joint well, or fall apart and canoe?
• Flavor: Do the terpenes from the COA show up in the actual smoke, or is it flat and generic?
• Harshness: Does it burn clean and smooth, or bite the throat and nose?
• Ash color: We look for consistent, light ash—not dark, clumpy, or oily.

If our team finds a batch harsh, inconsistent, or out of line with its supposed terp profile, we don’t bring it in. We’ve turned down plenty of “high-testing” batches that simply didn’t smoke right.

Want to understand why some flower feels rough even when it tests nicely? Read Why Some THCA Flower Smokes Harsher – And How to Fix It.

Step 4: Hardware & Oil Testing (Vapes)

When it comes to THCA vapes and live resin carts, we test both the oil and the hardware before we stock anything in our live resin collection or live rosin collection.

What we look at in the oil:

• Color & clarity: Consistent with quality live resin or live rosin; not murky or suspiciously clear
• Viscosity: Thick but not unworkable—no sketchy thinners
• Flavor: Terpenes taste like the strain description (gas, citrus, dessert, etc.), not artificial candy or perfume
• COA alignment: Terpenes and cannabinoids in the lab report match the experience

What we test in the hardware:

• Clogging: Does the device clog easily after a few pulls?
• Leaking: Any leakage during storage, shipping, or regular use?
• Coil performance: Even heating without hotspots or burning the oil
• Draw: Comfortable airflow—not too tight or too airy

If a device clogs up constantly, tastes burnt, or feels cheap, we drop it—no matter how pretty the branding is.

To see how we break down hardware more deeply, check out Are All THCA Vapes Created Equal? Breaking Down Hardware Quality and Why Some THCA Vapes Clog — And How to Fix It.

Step 5: Edibles & Live Resin Gummies

For gummies and other edibles—like our live resin Delta-9 options in the gummies collection—we evaluate both the formulation and the experience.

We look for:

• Real infusion: Cannabinoids blended into the gummy, not sprayed on the outside
• Flavor balance: Cannabis character that blends with the flavor, not overpowering bitterness or chemical taste
• Texture: Stable chew—neither rock-hard nor melty at room temp
• Dose consistency: Effects feel predictable from piece to piece

We cross-reference label claims with COAs and real-world dosing. If something says “10 mg” but feels like 2—or 40—that’s not a product we want on the site.

If you’re curious how the lab math connects to real-world dosing, you might like Potency Math 101: From THCA % (Flower) & mg (Gummies) to Real-World Doses and How Hemp-Derived Delta-9 THC Is Made.

Step 6: Ongoing Checks, Not One-and-Done

Quality isn’t a single moment—it’s a moving target. That’s why our testing process doesn’t stop when a product goes live.

We:

• Spot-check batches periodically to ensure consistency over time
• Monitor customer feedback for patterns (clogging, harshness, off flavors, etc.)
• Rotate inventory so you’re not getting stale or overly aged product
• Pull SKUs if a brand changes process or quality in a way we’re not okay with

If something doesn’t feel right—even if the COA looks fine—we investigate. If it still doesn’t pass the gut test, we discontinue it.

What We Flat-Out Refuse

There are some non-negotiables. We won’t list products that:

• Only provide potency-only COAs with no safety testing
• Use fake, recycled, or mismatched lab reports
• Show dangerously high residual solvents or fail pesticide/heavy metal screens
• Come from brands that dodge basic questions about sourcing and process
• Clearly chase numbers over experience (e.g., 40+% THCA but smoke quality is mid or harsh)

We’d rather have a smaller menu we stand behind than pages of products we don’t personally trust.

How You Can Vet Products the Way We Do

We encourage you to apply the same level of skepticism and care we do—no matter where you shop.

Start with these three guides if you want to think like a buyer instead of just a customer:

• How to Read a Hemp Label Like a Pro
• How to Buy Hemp Products Online Without Getting Burned
• The Truth About “Premium” Hemp

Those walk you through the same red flags and quality signals we look for every day.

Why This All Matters

Anyone can throw “premium” on a label. Not everyone is willing to reject product, eat cost, or walk away from a deal because the quality just doesn’t feel right.

Our process is simple:

• Lab results first to prove safety and compliance
• Hands-on testing to confirm flavor, smoothness, and hardware performance
• Ongoing monitoring to make sure quality stays steady, not just good once

When you see something on thisthat, it’s there because it earned its spot—not because a brochure looked nice.

Want to see what made it through the gauntlet? Explore:

• All THCA Flower
• THCA Live Resin Vapes
• THCA Live Rosin Dabs & Vapes
• Live Resin Delta-9 Gummies

Then, if you’re curious, pull up the COA and taste the difference for yourself.