You’ve heard about flowers, cartridges, and edibles. But what are concentrates? In this blog you’ll learn what concentrates are, how to consume them, and the different types of concentrates. Follow along below to dive into the world of concentrates.
What are Concentrates?
Concentrates are yet another type of cannabis product [learn more]. Concentrates, also known as extracts, are produced from cannabis trichomes. They are made when you remove excess plant material and other impurities from the cannabis plant, leaving only the most desirable plant compounds, namely the cannabinoids, and terpenes. This process is what tends to make concentrates more potent than cannabis flower. It’s common for patients to express they enjoy concentrates because of the higher doses of tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”) that are in this form of cannabis.
Common Methods of Consuming Concentrates
There are a few different ways to consume concentrates. “Dabbing” is a method and term used to consume cannabis concentrates. Dabbing involves using a small amount of a cannabis concentrate and placing it on a hot surface and then it’s inhaled.
Most concentrates are dabbed through an oil dab “rig”, which is a type of water pipe that is specifically designed for dabbing concentrates. Some concentrates can also be added to the top of a bowl of flower or used to make edibles. Additionally, consumers can vape concentrates through an oil rig or a vape pen.
Types of Concentrates
Concentrates have different kinds of consistencies which are commonly described as “waxes”, “badder”, “shatter”, “kief”, etc. These types of concentrates are often consumed using a dab rig, hence why consumers use the term, ‘dabbing’. Below, we cover several different types of cannabis concentrates.
Hash
Hash, or hashish, is a concentrate produced by pressing or rubbing together the resin glands of the plant to form brick, slab, or rolled pieces. Hashish can be chocolate brown, greenish khaki, or sandy brown in color. Hash can be used to top your bowl of flower – which can make for a higher potency in your smoke.
Shatter
Shatter is a brittle, glass-like extract named for its breakability. It has a glassy appearance and tends to break, or ‘shatter’, like glass when snapped in two.
Terp Sauce
Terp sauce can be one of the most flavor-intense ways to enjoy concentrates. This type of cannabis concentrate contains high levels of terpenes, resulting in a runny, syrupy sauce-like concentrate. Terp sauce can be made using a variety of processes that extract terpenes from the cannabis plant and is then combined with other cannabinoid-rich concentrates like isolate resulting in a sauce-like concentrate. Because of the terp sauce’s runny “sauce,” it’s usually vaporized or dabbed.
Distillate
Distillate is an extract in which the final product has been systematically stripped of all materials and compounds except one specific cannabinoid. Distillates can be desirable due to their potency and versatility.
Crystalline
Crystalline, also referred to as crystals, or diamonds, is a type of concentrate that comes in a solid state. Known as the purest form of cannabis concentrate, this extract consists of a single type of cannabinoid.
Types of Concentrate Resins
In addition to the kind of consistencies of cannabis concentrates, there are different types of concentrate resins. Resins come in different forms such as cured resin, live resin, and rosin.
The difference between cured and live resin is mainly in the starting material: cured resin is made from dried plant material, whereas live resin is made from fresh frozen plant material that is kept frozen throughout the extraction process. Live resin is created by putting frozen cannabis plants through a solvent extraction, which uses a chemical such as butane or propane. Live rosin is solventless—the process involves the use of heat and pressure to remove trichomes from the plant, usually through a press.
Concentrates Potency
It’s important to note that concentrates should be treated with caution. Dabbing concentrates is vastly different from smoking flower. While flower potency tends to range between 10-30% THC, a concentrate typically falls between 50-80% and some can even push past 90%.
You can expect the highest quality of concentrates from our brand, MPX (learn more). To view our MPX line of concentrates, you can check out our menu here
A great place to start, if you are interested in trying concentrates, could be hash or tinctures [learn more here ]. Those methods of consumption tend to have lower THC content than other types of concentrates. So, you might consider steering toward those, before graduating to more potent oils. Just remember to always start with a low dose and work your way up, especially if you’re new to concentrates or have a lower tolerance.
Ready to Give Concentrates a Try?
Now that you know more about concentrates – including what they are, the different types available, and how to consume them, are you ready to give concentrates a try? If you’re still not sure where to start, our staff at MPX-NJ are here to help you! The next time you visit one of our MPX-NJ locations (learn more), ask one of our dispensary agents about concentrates and whether they are right for you.
