Cannabis Concentrates – The Essential Guide – 10buds.com

We cover everything you need to get started with concentrates – including our list of the best cannabis concentrate brands.

In recent years, cannabis concentrates have skyrocketed in popularity. Delivering an unsurpassed level of purity and potency in an efficient and discreet package, this comes as no surprise to cannabis concentrate connoisseurs. But their numerous, creatively-named formulations, unusual new gear, and reputation for being out-of-this-world strong can make marijuana concentrates seem intimidating at first glance.

In this article, we de-mystify cannabis concentrates – describing each type and what to expect from it, as well as popular consumption methods, pros and cons, and our recommendations for today’s best cannabis concentrate brands.

What are Cannabis Concentrates?

Cannabis concentrates are, as the name implies, highly concentrated cannabis extracts that produce incredibly efficient and potent effects. Concentrates are made by separating resin from the cannabis plant, using either a solvent, heat, cold, or pressure. The consistency and potency of cannabis concentrates vary depending on the processing method used, but all of them offer a high concentration of cannabinoids in a very small, quick-onset dose.

The sheer number of cannabis concentrate options available may seem overwhelming at first, but each type has a unique set of characteristics and offers a different user experience.

Types of Cannabis Concentrate

The sheer number of cannabis concentrate options available may seem overwhelming at first, but each type has a unique set of characteristics and offers a different user experience. Here’s a look at what each type of cannabis concentrate has to offer.

Wax Concentrates

Cannabis wax is a dense, waxy, sticky substance, created by using a butane solvent to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from the marijuana plant at a high temperature. Wax concentrate somewhat resembles cake frosting and can range from light yellow to dark brown. Since the terpenes are well-preserved, cannabis wax concentrates tend to retain a good amount of flavor and aromatics, and they are one of the least pricey concentrate options.

Budder and Badder

Budder and badder are very similar to cannabis wax concentrate. The primary difference is that budder and batter are whipped longer than wax, giving them a somewhat softer consistency. As one might infer from the names, budder’s consistency is similar to butter, and badder’s is similar to cake batter.

Budder and badder are very similar to cannabis wax concentrate. The main difference is that they are whipped longer, giving them a somewhat softer consistency.

Crumble/Honeycomb and Sugar

Crumble (also known as “honeycomb”) and sugar are similar to budder, but more brittle, due to being extracted at a lower temperature. Both of these concentrates resemble clumps of sand or sugar – with crumble being a bit drier than cannabis “sugar.” Both varieties tend to be incredibly flavorful.

Shatter

Shatter is one of the most popular weed concentrates, largely because it’s one of the purest and most potent types on the market – typically upwards of 80% THC. Shatter tends to be slightly sticky and resembles a translucent, amber-colored sheet of broken glass.

Crystalline

Resembling clear or yellow-tinged quartz crystals, crystalline is the purest cannabinoid isolate possible. Since THC doesn’t take a crystalline form, most products advertised as “THC Crystals” are actually THCA isolates – which convert to THC when heated. Crystalline CBD concentrates (often called CBD isolates) are also widely available. These concentrates can be quite potent. However, they lack the full-spectrum “entourage effect” benefits of terpenes and other plant material, and they are virtually flavorless.

Resembling clear or yellow-tinged quartz crystals, crystalline is the purest cannabinoid isolate possible.

Diamonds and Sauce

Sometimes called “terp sauce.” this concentrate is a sticky, syrupy blend of terpenes and THCA cannabinoid crystals. “Diamonds” refers to THCA crystals that remain suspended in the sauce. Sauce is translucent, flavorful, and can range from clear to brown in color.

Live Resin

Somewhere between sauce and wax, live resin is a shiny, sticky, aromatic, and quite potent concentrate solvent extracted from cannabis that was frozen immediately after harvest – preserving the “live” plant compounds and thus delivering the full-spectrum entourage effect and strong, smooth flavor.

Rosin

As with live resin, cannabis rosin is extracted from plants that are immediately frozen upon harvest. The difference is that rosin is extracted using only heat and pressure – no solvents. While this form of extraction does not allow for the targeted isolation of specific compounds, it does offer a completely pure plant extract and retains all of the whole-plant benefits. Thus, cannabis rosin tends to be one of the most expensive concentrate options.

As with live resin, cannabis rosin is extracted from plants that are immediately frozen upon harvest. The difference is that rosin is extracted using only heat and pressure – no solvents.

Hash and Bubble Hash

Hash or “hashish” is another solventless and flavorful cannabis extract, created by placing cannabis buds under pressure to extract their resin and trichomes. Ice hash or “bubble hash” is similarly made with extracted trichomes and weed resin, but instead, ice water is used as the separating agent. Hash resembles a sticky powder, which is then pressed into discs or bricks to be sold. Bubble hash’s consistency more closely resembles brown sugar.

How to Use Cannabis Concentrates

• Dab Rig – “Dabbing” is the best-known way of consuming cannabis concentrates. This requires the use of a glass or silicon dab rig, a tabletop device similar to a bong. A butane torch is used to heat a small glass or metal piece (known as a “nail” or a “banger”). Next, the concentrate is added, creating inhalable vapor once the cannabis comes in contact with the hot nail. Popular variations to full-sized dab rigs include mini dab rigs and electric dab rigs, which rely on electricity to heat the nail instead of a handheld torch.

“Dabbing” requires the use of a glass or silicon dab rig, a tabletop device similar to a bong.

• Dab Pens – For a dabbing experience on the go, or for extra discretion, dab pens are essentially a cross between a dab rig and a vape pen. However, unlike vape pens, dab pens involve placing the concentrate directly on a heated coil inside the pen, instead of inserting a pre-filled cartridge. Both disposable dab pens and multi-use pens are available.

• Vaping – Some portable electronic vape pens are compatible with specific types of cannabis concentrates (a popular example is live resin carts), making them easy to enjoy on the go and with discretion.

• As an Enhancement – Cannabis concentrates are sometimes added to edibles or sprinkled or spread atop pre-rolls or loose flower to boost their potency.

Benefits of Cannabis Concentrates

Here are some of the biggest benefits weed concentrates have over other cannabis formulations:

• • Purity – Cannabis concentrates are known for delivering a “clean” high, as they are composed of no ingredients other than pure plant compounds.

Cannabis concentrates are known for delivering a “clean” high, as they are composed of no ingredients other than pure plant compounds.

• Fast Onset – The effects of inhaled concentrates can be felt near-instantly, unlike edibles, which can take hours to kick in.

• Flavor – While some concentrates (such as isolates) are virtually flavorless, others, like live rosin or shatter, impart a particularly pure, plant-like flavor that many connoisseurs greatly enjoy.

• Potency – For high efficiency in a small dose, nothing quite compares to cannabis concentrates. Using a tiny amount of product, you can achieve a strong high and/or superb pain relief in a single dose.

• Light Aroma – Unlike smoking flower, dabbing cannabis concentrates won’t fill the room with a lingering, unmistakable odor – which can help you stay discreet if you live with roommates and prevent exposing pets or children to secondhand smoke.

• Discreet and Clean – Cannabis concentrates generally do not require an elaborate stash box, as they are typically packaged in flat plastic bags or small containers that seal in any odor. While dabbing generally does require some equipment setup, there is very little cleanup involved afterward – unlike the aftermath of grinding and rolling your own joints.

While some concentrates (such as isolates) are virtually flavorless, others, like live rosin or shatter, impart a particularly pure, plant-like flavor that many connoisseurs greatly enjoy.

Our Favorite Cannabis Concentrates