The cannabis concentrate market is a rapidly growing industry with new products and brands being introduced all the time. If you’re new to cannabis, you may be wondering what all the different types of concentrates are. From crumble to kief to distillate, there are a lot of different names and products to learn. This beginners guide will teach you about the five most common types of cannabis concentrates. You’ll also learn how to consume them and the benefits of each type. The goal is to find a product that can help you achieve a positive state of mind, so you can get the most out of your money spent on cannabis concentrate products.
What are Concentrates?
Think about the last time you smoked or vaped cannabis. What was in it? Most likely, the bud you consumed had been dried and cured for weeks before use. While this process is necessary to make cannabis enjoyable, it also reduces the concentration of cannabinoids like THC and CBD.
Concentrates are cannabis extracts that have been concentrated through various methods, resulting in varying levels of potency. Concentrates give you an intense experience while being less heavy on your lungs.
By using extraction methods, like CO2 or butane hash oil (BHO), cannabis concentrates can be created that are up to 80% pure THC.
Types of Concentrates
There are a variety of different types of cannabis concentrates available on the market today.
- Crumble
Crumble, aka honeycomb,” is one of the driest forms of concentrate. It’s produced through an extraction process similar to shatter, using a chemical solvent such as butane or CO2 in combination with heat and pressure. It can have up to 90% THC content with some health-related benefits such as pain and anxiety relief properties.
- THC Distillates
THC distillate is a highly purified cannabis extract that solely contains THC without all other cannabinoids or terpenes, making it highly potent. Distillate can be consumed in a variety of ways; You can smoke, vape, dab it, cook with it or make THC-infused creams.
- HTFSE
HTFSE, or high terpene full spectrum extract, is a full-spectrum extract containing a high concentration of terpenes, ranging from 13% to 40%. Given that HTFSE is low in cannabinoid level, why would anyone choose HTFSE over other cannabinoid-rich extracts?
The best way to consume HTFSE is through dabbing because the combustion process of smoking may ruin the terpenes. Some studies suggest that different cannabis compounds work together in a team to produce a more potent and therapeutic effect than a single cannabinoid, like THC, working alone.
- Kief
Kief is a powdery substance of dry trichomes collected by grinding cannabis flowers. These sticky resin glands contain the highest concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes which give cannabis its unique characteristics. Kief is versatile. You can sprinkle some onto a bowl of cannabis, also known as “crowning a bowl,” to increase the potency or into your joint for an extra kick. You can also add kief to butter, oil, honey or tea/coffee for a relaxing experience to start your day. Make sure to decarboxylate your kief to activate the THC before using it in edibles.
Kief is also used to make other forms of concentrates: hash and moonrocks. Hash is made by pressing kief into condensed bricks which are then smoked. Moonrocks are high-quality cannabis flowers covered in oil and rolled in kief until fully covered. They can be broken up and smoked like regular flowers, providing a very potent high.
- Shatter
Shatter, a subtype of BHO (butane hash oil), is one of the first and most popular concentrates on the market. It has a glass-like appearance and solid consistency and will “shatter” into pieces when broken apart.
The production of shatter typically involves butane or hydrocarbon solvents that strip away cannabinoids like THC and CBD from the cannabis plant. Unfortunately, making shatter at home is very dangerous because butane fumes are extremely flammable and may cause an explosion.
Conclusion
We have provided an introduction to five different types of cannabis concentrates, as well as a deeper dive into what makes them so unique. We hope you’ve found this information useful and that it will help guide your next steps in making a purchase decision.
At Weedcargo.co, we offer a wide range of concentrate products that are tested by each one of our team members to ensure quality and efficacy. If you have any questions or would like more personal guidance on which product is right for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are happy to help!
