Know What You’re Purchasing: What Are Concentrates?

So you’ve heard interesting stories about cannabis concentrates and want to find out for yourself if the rumors are true. Between shatter, crumble, live resin, and more, there are several concentrates variants, brands, and multitudes of ways of utilization that will spin your head in confusion.

But fret not. We’re breaking down facts into manageable parts before you head to that local dispensary.

What Are Cannabis Concentrates?

Before diving into what “cannabis concentrates” even mean, let’s start with what attracted cannabis consumers to these “it” products:

Cannabis concentrates do not have the word “concentrate” to mean nothing. These products have so much concentrated cannabis compounds that they’re stronger than your average flower joint.

Don’t believe me? Here’s what the data says – an average cannabis flower only contains 10 to 25 percent of THC (TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL – the main psychoactive cannabinoid of the cannabis family). On the other hand, concentrates have roughly 80 PERCENT or more of that precious THC. Most consumers would only need a dot to get their desired effects. How neat is that?

So concentrates, what are they? Cannabis concentrates or simply ‘concentrates,’ are potent and THC-rich cannabis products mostly consumed through the inhalation method. Aside from THC, beneficial compounds like CBD (cannabidiol) and aromatic ones like terpenes are present in concentrates too.

Depending on the type of concentrate, the product could resemble a smooth, golden-hued, buttery substance or an amber-colored brittle one.

What Are the Types of Cannabis Concentrates You Need to Know? 

Cannabis concentrates come in different shapes, sizes, and textures. Their differences in terms of effects, physical characteristics, compound composition, and even prices are dictated by how premium the sources are and the method of production used.

Here are some of the most common concentrates available in the market and general pointers on how to use cannabis concentrates:

Shatter

Mostly thin and brittle in texture, the shatter concentrate tends to break easily. Its powerful effects are attributed to its 60%–80% THC content.

Shatter gets the best of both worlds by providing consumers with a decent flavor and potency.

Shatter is used in several ways but the most common way is by dabbing. Dabbing uses a special rig that vaporizes the shatter. A dabbing rig resembles a water pipe with a nail attached to it.

Another way to use shatter is by “twaxing.” Twaxing is the act of adding powdery pieces of shatter to a joint or blunt rolled with a cannabis flower.

Live Resin

Consumers report live resin to have an intense flavor and smell. It’s great for those who love the intense flavor of cannabis terpenes when they dab.

This type of concentrate can reach as high as 70% of THC content and at least 50% THC.

In terms of how it’s used, live resin is also dabbed using a specialized dabbing rig. Add a dot to a joint, blunt, or cannabis flower bowl. There are vape cartridges that use live resin as well.

Rosin

Produced using the solventless extraction process, consumers like rosin for its tasty and terpy flavor. One of the most popular ways to utilize rosin is through a dab rig but rosin can also be smoked in a bowl, joint, or rosin-based vape pen.

Crumble

Also known as honeycomb wax, crumble has a solid and waxy texture that makes it a top choice for those who like to easily dose their concentrates. It’s a great option for beginners who like to add concentrates to joints, blunts and not worry too much about messing with the dosage.

Sauce

Sauce is a gooey concentrate that resembles an apple sauce. If you prefer a concentrate that favors flavor over potency, get a sauce type of concentrate.

You can smoke terp sauce as you would any other concentrate. For example, you can add sauce in a glass dab rig. There are E-rigs or E-nails that heat up the sauce extract by using some type of electric heating tool.

Other options include using portable and desktop vaporizers.

Badder/Batter/Budder

Budder’s buttery and waxy concentrate closely resembles that of crumble. The only difference between budder and crumble is the latter’s less creamy and thick. Like crumble, budder’s solid concentrate texture is good for adding it easily to joints and blunts.

Distillate

A distillate is a concentrated oil produced through the distillation process that separates THC from other compounds of the cannabis plant. Distillates are the MOST POTENT of all concentrates. They can clock in as high as 99% of THC content.

Distillates tend to be chill when it comes to terpenes so expect distillates to have less flavorful smoke.

Cannabinoid-based vapes and similar smoking devices use cannabis distillates as their vape juice base.

Hash

Hash looks like little bricks of cannabis’s trichomes. Hash can also look like kief. It’s a classic and can be considered one of the oldest concentrates since the discovery of cannabis’s recreational power.

In general, hash can be combined with smokable herbs like marijuana flower or is solely smoked through a vaporizer or dab rig.

Kief

Kief is made out of trichome crystals physically removed and collected from cannabis plant materials. It has a lower THC content compared to the rest of concentrate types but it can be easily handled. Hence, it’s a great option for smoking in bowls or joints.

Diamonds

Diamonds or THCa diamonds are crystalline-like diamonds from leftovers of the terpene sauce. Again, diamonds are less flavorful but have higher potency.

Diamond concentrates are best known to be consumed through dab rigs. E-nails are said to be a more efficient way of consuming crystalline products.

Diamonds are also typically added to other types of concentrates in bongs, pipes, joints, spliffs, and blunts to amp an extra THC potency.

How Are Cannabis Concentrates Made?

There are two types of extraction methods that produce cannabis concentrates – solvent-based extraction and solventless.

Solvent-based: The solvent-based extraction route uses a particular set of solvents to separate resinous trichomes from the cannabis plant material. These resinous trichomes contain all the goodies – cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and more.

Meanwhile, the solvents used are either a combination or sole use of ethanol, CO2, and butane

Solventless: This method employs zero solvents. Instead, heat and pressure are used to literally squeeze out cannabis compounds. Special equipment like a hydraulic press with heated plates are used. Other physical methods such as shaking and grinding may also be used.

Health-conscious folks prefer the solventless method because of the potential contamination solvent-based poses.

Final Thoughts

The concentrate world can be overwhelming, at first, but it’s something you have to try to complete your cannabis journey. With concentrates, you’ll find some of the most unique features and effects of cannabis. It’s safe to say that the concentrates industry introduces you to the world of cannabis where its potential is pushed furthest.

And what’s the best store that directly understands your needs as a Delta-8 THC beginner than the DD8 Shop. Be it dab concentrates (such as shatters, sauces, distillates, live resin, and more) or other specialty items, it’s impossible for you to not see something you’ll be curious to try.