Cannabis Concentrates - What's The Difference?
There's no doubt that cannabis concentrates have risen in popularity over the last few years. If you peruse cannabis content on social media then you've probably seen the high resolution photos of shatter, wax, rosin, and more - but what's the difference between them and...what are they? This quick little breakdown will turn you into a cannabis concentrate connoisseur in no time!
Not only is shatter one of the most common concentrates when it comes to dabbing, it's also one of the most purest and potent types of THC extraction. To make shatter you have to use a solvent like grain alcohol to separate the cannabis resin, using a double extraction method to remove plant particles and fats from the oil. Then you heat the solution to evaporate everything except for the concentrated cannabis, and leave it to dry. The end product is a glass-like sheet of hard concentrated cannabis resin, with an appearance and consistency similar to hard candy. You can heat it up to make it easier to work with, or just use your dab tool to break a piece off.
No part of the cannabis plant goes unused, which is why we have sugar wax. When making shatter, the cannabis resin is extracted with a solvent and then heated to evaporate the solvent and leave nothing but concentrated cannabis resin. Sugar Wax is made during that heating process when fats (lipids) aren't properly extracted. When shatter turns into Sugar Wax it's possible that the strain contained a lot of terpenes that held onto water molecules, or that the trichomes had a thicker lipid cuticle. Regardless, sugar wax is a crumbly, easy to work with concentrate that delivers a quick punch of THC.
Although it's quite similar to shatter, budder usually contains less THC content and more terpenes. The extraction technique is quite similar as well, however the end result is whipped into sticky goo that's sometimes referred to as "wax" because of its consistency. But, if you find that your budder is still a little too wet and gooey for your liking, you can always leave it in the freezer for a few minutes before your dab session.
Hash is made from collecting the trichomes off of cannabis plants or buds which can then be extracted into a powder. After applying high pressure, you can press the trichomes into a hash brick or ball. To collect the trichomes, people traditionally use a sieve or a screen, however you can do it with your bare hands and then use a hot knife to scrape off the trichome resin. Bubble Hash is created when an ice water extraction is added to the procedure. The most common way is to freeze fresh cannabis trimmings, leaves, etc. and then add them to a bucket with ice and cold water. Agitating the bucket of ice water and frozen cannabis extracts the trichomes which you can then harvest by straining out the water. The product is then left to dry overnight and the result is a compact, sticky powder.
Most cannabis concentrates require a somewhat complicated process to produce that takes a little practice to get right. Rosin however can be made easily in the comfort of your own home - all you need is heat and pressure. The trichomes melt and get pressurized into a sticky goo that leave you with a product very similar to shatter once you let it dry and harden - but most people like to enjoy it while it's still gooey and viscous. Simple take some cannabis buds that are high in trichomes, and press them into a parchment paper with a hair straightener. Use as much pressure as you can, repeat the process a couple of times, and you have your own home made cannabis concentrate!
A newer extraction technique that became popular in recent years, live resin packs a delicious punch. After a harvest, fresh marijuana buds and leaves are flash frozen which preserves a majority of the terpenes, trichomes, and cannabinoids before extraction. Expensive lab equipment is needed to get the best result, but extracting the cannabis compounds from fresh flower yields a much more flavourful concentrate.
Rick Simpson Oil / Phoenix Tears
Phoenix Tears have shown up over the years with a number of different names, but it's most commonly known as Rick Simpson Oil or RSO for short. This concentrate uses a solvent extraction method similar to shatter in order to separate the essential cannabis oils. The end result is a product with great healing powers that can be taken orally, as well as smoked or dabbed. It's been known to stop people from having seizures, reduce muscle and joint pain, and a plethora of other great things.
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Produced, Written, and Published by Steven Keith Leandro.
