Dabbing concentrates is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways of enjoying cannabis. In fact, THC concentrates have become so popular that they even have their own holiday now. But for those new to cannabis, the huge variety of different products with names like ‘live resin, ‘sugar, and ‘badder’ can be overwhelming and confusing. Stick with us as we dive into what concentrates are, how they’re made, and some of our personal recommendations for concentrate products in Michigan.
What Are Cannabis Concentrates?
Cannabis concentrates, sometimes also referred to as extracts, are cannabis products that contain extra cannabinoids and terpenes for extra potency and flavor. Concentrate products can be vaped or smoked in a variety of different ways, similarly to flower. They vary greatly in THC content and are a great alternative to flower buds for anyone looking for something more potent or flavorful.
How Are Marijuana Concentrates Made?
Cannabis concentrates are made by collecting the resinous trichomes that cover the cannabis plant. This can be done in several different ways, with some extraction methods requiring the use of solvents and others being solventless. To see what this looks like, let’s take a look at the making of two popular concentrates: kief and shatter.
Kief is the simplest concentrate around, made by mechanically shaking loose the trichomes from the plant material and physically collecting them, like in the crystal catcher of a grinder. This is a simple mechanical extraction process that is similar to how ice hash is made.
The process for making shatter is a bit more complicated. In order to remove and collect the trichomes, the plant material is run through with a liquid butane solvent. Then the liquid mixture is purged in an oven for a certain amount of time in order to remove any butane particles, leaving behind a potent concentrate.
Solvent-Based vs Solventless Marijuana Concentrates
Does the use of a solvent really matter? It does to some consumers. Even though extraction methods call for a lengthy purging process to rid the final product of any solvent particles, some health-conscious consumers prefer to know that no solvents whatsoever were used in the making of their extract.
The Many Different Types of Marijuana Concentrates
Nowadays dispensary shelves are stacked with a huge assortment of different concentrates and extracts. If you’re new to the world of cannabis, this can understandably be confusing. Here’s a short list of the most common THC concentrates that you’ll find at our dispensary:
Hash: Hash is a solid concentrate made up of trichomes that have been squished together. More potent than kief but not as potent as solvent-based extracts, hash is a natural concentrate that has been used for hundreds of years.
Live Resin: Live resin is an extra-flavorful concentrate made from cannabis flower that has been frozen after harvest, skipping the curing process. The result is an extract that is more rich in terpenes and flavor than most others.
Shatter: Shatter gets its name from its super fragile glass-like consistency that usually leads to it shattering into many little pieces. This BHO solvent-based extract may not be as terpene-rich as live resin but it is seriously potent.
Rosin: Rosin is a solventless extract made by literally squeezing the resinous trichomes out of plant material using a piece of equipment called a rosin press. Rosin is an extra-flavorful concentrate that is a good solventless alternative to live resin.
Budder: As you can probably tell by its name, budder has a very similar texture and consistency as butter. You can also find this wax concentrate in a couple of other different yet similar varieties called badder and batter, as well as in cured or live versions.
Sugar: Sometimes also called sugar wax, sugar is a solvent-based extract with a consistency that’s kind of like sugar in liquid goo. It’s a bit thicker than some other extracts like sauce, making it a bit easier to handle. Can come in a wide range of different shades of amber or yellow and has impressive terpene levels.
Sauce: Sauce is an extra gooey concentrate that gets its name from its consistency which resembles cooking sauces. Loaded with flavorful terpenes, sauce is a great choice if you’re dabbing for flavor as much as potency.
Consuming Cannabis Concentrates
Dab Rigs
Dab rigs are the classic way of consuming concentrates. Rigs are known to give more flavorful hits than wax pens or smoking. The downside is they require several pieces of equipment and some patience to do, as well as a stable flat surface.
Dab Pens
Another way to use concentrates is with a wax pen. Wax pens are cylindrically-shaped vaporizers that fit into the palm of your hand–kind of like a vape pen, but much thicker. The pen unscrews to reveal a chamber for placing your extracts. Once it’s screwed back together, you can simply press a button to fire up the battery and inhale through the mouthpiece. One of the main advantages of dab pens is that they let you do dabs on the go as long as the battery is charged.
Smoking Concentrates
Dabs don’t necessarily have to be vaped. Concentrates can also be put into bowls on top of flower and in joints alongside flower to give your herb a serious potency boost. Some concentrates (kief, hash, shatter, crumble, etc.) are easier to work with than others when it comes time to add them to a bowl or joint.
Shopping For Marijuana Concentrates in Michigan
Ready to kick things up a notch with some cannabis concentrates? Don’t miss out on these in-house brands offering a wide assortment of THC concentrates at great prices.
Concentrate Kings
Concentrate Kings provide dab lovers with a huge selection of premium concentrates and exciting strains to choose from. Their THC concentrates are sourced from top-shelf cannabis flower, extracted using cutting-edge technology, and third-party lab tested to ensure cleanliness and purity. The Concentrate Kings Michigan lineup features several different kinds of concentrates like their Bubba Kush live resin, JMO x Florida Kush sugar, and Lemon Train sauce.
Heavyweight Heads
If you aren’t experienced, then adding a sticky, oily dab to your rollies can be a frustrating (and sticky) trial and error experience–kind of like learning to roll a joint again for the first time. Luckily, if you don’t want to bother rolling your own, you can always just pick up an infused preroll instead. Heavyweight Heads offer a selection of infused prerolls alongside a variety of concentrates, award-winning flower, and cartridges. Enjoy unique strains like Purple Flamingo, Orangutan, Giraffe Head, and Cream Soda, all infused with a little something extra to give them some more juice.
Cannabis Concentrates at Exclusive
Stop by one of our many Michigan dispensary locations today or take a look at the online menu of your nearest location to shop a huge selection of cannabis concentrates and extracts.
