Hemp Tea Smalls vs Shake vs Full-Size: What's the Difference?

Hemp tea smalls, shake and full-size pieces are the same kind of material, sorted by size and handling. Full-size pieces are the larger buds from a batch. Smalls are the smaller pieces from a batch, and shake is the loose material that collects through handling and packing. A smalls listing and a full-size listing of the same variety can carry the same aroma notes. What changes is how the pieces look, how they behave in the infuser and what you pay.

This guide covers what each one is, what stays the same, what changes, how to brew them and how to choose. Sweet Tooth is the worked example. It is listed both ways: Sweet Tooth in full-size pieces and Sweet Tooth Smalls in smaller ones. Smalls are sometimes called small buds.

Full-size, smalls and shake at a glance

Feature	Full-size	Smalls	Shake
What it is	The larger pieces from a batch	The smaller pieces from a batch	Loose material from handling and packing
What you see	Larger, well-trimmed pieces	Smaller, well-trimmed pieces	Fine, loose material rather than whole pieces
Variety	One named variety	One named variety	Often a mix, and it varies by batch
Brewing	Break larger pieces up evenly	Smaller pieces need less breaking up	Steeps quickly; an empty tea bag keeps it out of the cup
Best for	Larger pieces of one named variety	A named variety at a lower price	Regular brewing at a lower price

What are hemp tea smalls?

Smalls are the smaller pieces from a batch. They are still well-trimmed, whole pieces, only smaller than the ones sold as full-size.

Sweet Tooth Smalls shows how this works. The listing describes the same premium indoor Sweet Tooth in smaller pieces at a lower price. Both pages give the same aroma notes: sweet floral, soft berry and light spice. Both list Blueberry x Skunk x Afghan genetics and an A++ Grade label.

Smalls suit anyone who wants a named variety at a lower price and is happy with smaller pieces.

What is hemp tea shake?

Shake is the loose material collected through handling and packing. On our listing, it is the trim and smaller material from hemp tea batches. The aroma matches the batch it comes from, and it is often a mix of varieties.

Shake is fine and loose rather than whole pieces, so it steeps quickly. An empty tea bag keeps it out of the cup. It suits people who brew regularly and want a lower-priced option more than a single named variety.

Shake listings change with each batch. The Glasshouse, Smalls & Shake collection shows what is listed now.

What stays the same

Size changes how the tea looks. It does not change what the listing tells you about the variety.

• Variety and aroma. A smalls listing names the variety and gives its aroma notes, as a full-size listing does. Many plants get their scent from terpenes, natural aromatic compounds that the plant produces.
• Cultivation. Sweet Tooth and Sweet Tooth Smalls are both listed as premium indoor. Our guide to indoor, greenhouse and outdoor hemp explains what each label means.
• Testing. Every Calm Leaf batch is tested. Some reports are linked from product pages, and the team can send the report for a particular product. Reading a COA shows how to check one.

What changes

Size and appearance

Full-size pieces are larger. Smalls are smaller but still trimmed and whole. Shake is fine, loose material. The product title and the Product Details table on each listing say which format you are buying.

Handling and brewing

Larger pieces need breaking up evenly so the water can reach them. Smaller pieces need less. Shake is the finest and steeps quickly, so taste early and shorten the steep if the cup turns bitter. Our water temperature guide explains why.

Price and pack size

At the time of writing, smalls and shake are listed at lower prices than full-size varieties. Sweet Tooth Smalls is listed below Sweet Tooth, for example. Compare pack size as well as price. Our guide to comparing hemp tea quality covers what else to check.

How to brew smalls and shake

Use the same method as any hemp tea. Start with 1 gram of loose hemp tea per 250ml of water. Weigh it if you can and change one thing at a time. Our guides to brewing hemp tea and how much hemp tea to use cover the method in full.

• Smalls: Weigh the portion and use an infuser or fine strainer. Break up any larger pieces so the water reaches them evenly.
• Shake: Use an empty tea bag or a fine mesh infuser so loose material stays out of the cup. Our guide to loose-leaf vs tea bags explains the difference.
• Iced and cold brew: Brew finer material in an empty tea bag inside the jar and it is easy to strain. Five ways to make hemp tea has the measurements.

Which should you choose?

• Full-size if you want the larger pieces of a named variety.
• Smalls if you want a named variety at a lower price and are happy with smaller pieces.
• Shake if you brew regularly, do not need a single named variety and want a lower-priced option.
• A mix of several if you are not sure. Pick N Mix bundles let you try more than one variety in one order. Pick N Mix, explained shows how.

Where to find smalls and shake

Browse the Glasshouse, Smalls & Shake collection for smalls, shake and glasshouse varieties. Glasshouse describes a protected growing environment using natural light. For full-size indoor varieties, see the premium indoor hemp tea collection or the full hemp tea range.

Listings change as batches sell through, so any list of varieties is a snapshot. Why Calm Leaf hemp tea varieties change explains why. New to the basics? What is hemp tea is a good place to start.

Frequently asked questions

What are smalls in hemp tea?

Smalls are the smaller pieces from a batch of hemp tea. They are listed by variety like full-size hemp tea and are well-trimmed, whole pieces. Sweet Tooth Smalls is listed at a lower price than Sweet Tooth.

Are smalls the same as shake?

No. Smalls are smaller pieces that are still whole. Shake is loose, fine material collected through handling and packing, and it is often a mix of varieties.

Are smalls lower quality than full-size hemp tea?

On our listings, Sweet Tooth Smalls and Sweet Tooth carry the same A++ Grade label. The listed differences are size and price. To judge any listing, check the variety, aroma notes, cultivation and lab report. Our guide to comparing hemp tea quality shows what to check.

Do smalls smell the same as full-size hemp tea?

Sweet Tooth and Sweet Tooth Smalls carry the same aroma notes on their listings. Natural variation between batches still applies, so read the current listing for the batch you are buying.

Do I need a tea bag for shake?

A fine mesh infuser or an empty tea bag keeps fine material out of the cup. Fine material steeps quickly, so taste early.

Are smalls and shake lab tested?

Every Calm Leaf batch is tested. Some reports are linked from product pages, and you can ask the team for the report for a particular product. Our Product Testing & Transparency page explains how we review products.

How much smalls or shake should I use?

Start with 1 gram per 250ml of water and adjust from there. Weigh it if you can, because smaller and finer material takes up space differently from larger pieces.

Calm Leaf is based in Liverpool and delivers across the UK.

Adult use only. Please read all product labels before use.

Listings and prices checked on 27 October 2026.