Thanks to growers’ creativity, new cannabis flower strains are regularly introduced to smokers everywhere—citrusy sativas. Earthy indicas. Fruity and gasoline-like hybrids. But there’s another form of cannabis that has taken the cannabis world by storm: concentrates. Concentrates come in a wide variety of strains. Plus, many contain high levels of terpenes, making them very flavorful and fragrant.
Since they’re not as well-known as other products, cannabis concentrates can be intimidating for beginners. Don’t know where to start shopping? Continue reading to learn more about concentrates and why they’re worth trying!
Weed Concentrates Explained
What are weed concentrates? To put it simply, for beginners, cannabis concentrates are extracts derived from the buds of flowering cannabis plants. They can be extracted in various ways, but the two most common are solvent and solventless extraction. The former uses solvents like butane and CO2 to separate trichomes (the “hair” on cannabis plants that produce THC and CBD) from the rest of the cannabis plant. Other concentrates are extracted without solvents. Need an example? Live rosin is produced by blasting cannabis with high levels of heat and pressure with a particular machine.
Cannabis Concentrates for Beginners
One thing to know about concentrates? They’re potent – like really potent. Take cannabis flower, for example. Potent flower strains can have an average of around 30% THC. But concentrates take things to extraordinarily high levels; they can contain anywhere from 40 to 90% THC. That makes them two to three times stronger than the most potent flower strains!
But that’s not all they have to offer. Why else are cannabis concentrates excellent for beginners and longtime enthusiasts? They’re incredibly flavorful and aromatic. That’s all thanks to their extraction process. Besides cannabinoids like THC, terpenes are extracted and isolated. The end product is further crafted to achieve a desired flavor profile. With their high potency and rich flavors, it’s no wonder so many enthusiasts are turning to weed concentrates!
Pick Your Concentrate
They use different extraction methods, which offer you a different experience. This makes it tricky for beginners to pick the best cannabis concentrates for their needs. The common weed concentrates are explained below, including how they’re made and the benefits of each type.
Shatter
Shatter has a hard, amber glass-like appearance. It also has high THC (around 80%) levels, making it a popular concentrate. It’s made by breaking cannabis flower buds with solvents like butane to extract cannabinoids from the plant. That creates a concentrated oil. The oil is then refined to remove any remaining solvents and left to harden into a thin glass-like pane. They’re easy to melt and break into small pieces, making them excellent for vaping or dabbing.
Wax
Wax is also made using solvents. However, it undergoes a cleaning process to clean the extracts and produce its wavy, waxy texture. These cannabis concentrates are great for beginners because of their flexibility and how easily they melt. Scooping dabs of wax for vaping is virtually effortless with a dab tool. Wax is another concentrate with a high THC level – 70+ percent.
Live Rosin
Live rosin is one of the best concentrates if you’re looking for unparalleled flavor. Here’s this weed concentrate’s process explained: freshly harvested cannabis buds are put under high heat and pressure in a particular machine called a rosin press. This produces a sappy, shatter-like substance you can dab or vape. It doesn’t require any cleaning process like wax because it’s already pure!
Rosin is a full-spectrum concentrate, which means it contains the full profile of cannabinoids and terpenes. It also means it’s full of flavor!
Live Resin
This is another cannabis concentrate for beginners who want a flavorful experience. Instead of drying and curing, freshly harvested cannabis is flash-frozen. Only then are solvents used to extract the THC. This unique process ensures the preservation of terpenes to deliver the most flavorful products possible. These concentrates are typically added to vaporizers or dab rigs.
Badder, Batter, and Budder
These concentrates have varying textures. Budder’s consistency is almost like cake frosting. Badder is thinner, like a sauce. Other bidders and batters are slightly drier or even crumbly. The color can also range from an olive oil hue to bright yellow-gold. The one thing that remains is its high potency and smooth flavors.
These are all solvent-based concentrates, but they receive their unique textures post-extraction. They’re whipped on a hot plate at around 100°F before being placed into a vacuum oven. Time varies with this process, which is why they end up with distinctive consistencies. These cannabis concentrates are mostly for beginners who prefer to dab, though they can also be vaporized.
Consumption of Weed Concentrates Explained
Concentrates are either dabbed or vaporized. It depends on your preferred method of consumption. Others get a little creative with their weed concentrates by making them part of their smoke or edibles experience. Here are a few common ways they’re used:
- Dabbed using dab rigs and dab pens
- Vaporized using vape pens and other vaporization devices
- Concentrates are added to joint rolling papers
- Added to homemade edible recipes
- Pre-rolled joints are dipped into melted cannabis concentrates
- Live rosin and other concentrates are sprinkled on top of bong bowls or joints
Cannabis concentrates aren’t typically recommended for beginners who want to smoke. They don’t always burn smoothly and may stick to your devices and rolling paper. Some enthusiasts break their concentrates into smaller pieces or mix them with flower to address these issues.
Invest in High-Quality Concentrates
We’ve explained weed concentrates. Now you can start shopping! Remember to consider your preferred method of consumption, terpenes, and potency before you pick the cannabis concentrates that are best for you as a beginner. Smokeless and potent, cannabis concentrates are created by extracting all the desirable compounds from cannabis, so the final product is rich in cannabinoids and terpenes. This also means they’re much higher in potency. Whether you prefer dabbing or vaping, DNM has quality-sourced cannabis concentrates to meet your unique needs. As always, shop with a trusted supplier like Dispensary Near Me. This will help you enjoy high-quality products that deliver your desired flavor and experience.
