Cannabis Concentrates
The World of Cannabis Concentrates
If you love the effects of cannabis flower but wish it could be just a little more intense, welcome to the wide world of concentrates. A class of highly potent cannabis products, concentrates can deliver an intensely flavorful, powerful, and aromatic experience.
Different Types of Cannabis Concentrates
There are many types of concentrates available today, each with its own unique features and available in a range of textures and consistencies. But the main distinction between them is how they’re extracted—they’re either produced through a solvent-based or solventless extraction method.
Solvent-Based Extraction
Cannabis plant materials are exposed to solvents such as CO2 or butane to extract their cannabinoids—such as THC and CBD—and terpenes—the aromatic oils that give cannabis strains their unique scents. Afterward, the solvent is carefully purged from the resulting concentrate, resulting in a product that’s safe to consume and free of excess chemicals and other materials.
Solventless Extraction
Cannabis plant materials are concentrated using gentle heat and pressure. While this method generally results in a slightly lower potency than solvent-based extraction, some prefer this inherently simple, non-chemical process and believe it is closer to the plant’s true nature.
What are live concentrates?
Aside from the solvent-based versus solventless debate, you may have noticed the word “live” attached to some of the concentrates at your local dispensary.
What does it mean? When concentrates are accompanied by the word “live” in their name, it means they were made with just-picked, flash-frozen or fresh-frozen cannabis flowers. This type of freezing process preserves an unusually high proportion of aromatic terpenes. As a result, ”live” products can boast phenomenal flavor profiles, and they’re coveted by the more experienced concentrates fans or those who simply love a big dose of flavor with their overall concentrate experience.
Benefits of Cannabis Concentrates
What are cannabis concentrates good for? Plenty! Some reasons for their heightened popularity include:
Potency
No matter which style of concentrate you choose, concentrates are far more potent than ground cannabis flowers. While the strongest flower reaches roughly 35% THC, many cannabis concentrates can reach up to 80% – 90% THC, delivering memorably intense effects.
Aroma and Flavor
Especially notable in “live” products, concentrates tend to deliver far more intense aromas and flavors than any flower you’ll find on dispensary shelves—mostly due to the way they’re extracted and consumed. The way they’re created automatically boosts up their terpene profiles, adding a huge pop of flavor. Plus, since concentrates are mostly vaporized, the terpenes have less risk of being burned up before inhalation, as they would in a pre-roll or from lighting up a bowl.
Versatility
Smoke them, vaporize them, eat them … While many people use a specialized “dab rig” to consume concentrates, they’re not the only way to fly. Whether crumbled into a joint or bowl, baked into a brownie, or in a convenient dab pen, cannabis concentrates are ready to roll whenever and wherever you are.
How to Consume Concentrates
As you’ve seen above, concentrates are an incredibly versatile product. There are many ways to consume them—the only limit is your imagination! Here are a few tried-and-true methods for consuming all types of cannabis concentrates:
Dab Rigs
A dab rig is a high-tech variation on the standard bong or water pipe. While some rigs incorporate an electric heating element, others require the use of a hand-held butane torch.
Joints or Bowls
Concentrates, especially easy-to-work ones such as rosin, badder, or hash, can be added directly to your ground flower in your joints or bowls, adding a significant boost to your session.
Dab Pens and Other Vapes
Some specialized vapes, like the ones sometimes called “dab pens,” are made to accept cannabis concentrate in a special chamber.
Edibles
Concentrates easily infuse into fats like butter and oil due to their fat-soluble cannabinoids. Popular options like distillates, shatter, and wax provide precise, discreet dosing for homemade edibles.
Tips & Tricks for Using Concentrates
When you’re just starting to work with cannabis concentrates, it’s important to approach these highly potent products slowly and to keep these tips in mind:
Start low and go slow.
To avoid overwhelming yourself, begin with very small amounts, such as half a grain of rice for your first dab. Then, when you’re comfortable, you can try a larger dose in the future.
Store concentrates safely.
Due to their exceptional potency, it’s important to store these types of products safely and out of the reach of minors or others who shouldn’t be consuming them. We recommend using a locked drawer that blocks out sunlight, as prolonged exposure can degrade their potency.
Use the right tools.
Using the right tools, such as a dab rig, vaporizer, or electronic pen, will ensure safe and efficient consumption. Pay attention to the temperature—lower temperatures (300 - 400°F) enhance flavor and provide a smoother experience, while higher temperatures deliver more intense effects but may irritate the throat.
Read the lab reports.
Finally, be sure to only buy cannabis concentrates from a trusted source, such as Seed of Life. When you buy from unlicensed or black-market sources, you can’t be sure the product is chemically pure—or that the contents even match their label—it pays to play it safe!
Shop Premium Montana Cannabis Concentrates at Seed of Life Labs
From rosin to shatter and everything in between, cannabis concentrates have exploded in popularity—and there’s no end in sight to their huge following. Intrigued? You’re in the right place—we’ve got the state’s best selection waiting for you at Seed of Life.
No matter where you’re located in Big Sky Country, you can find quality concentrates right at your fingertips. Check out our menus to see what’s fresh:
From our premium cannabis concentrates and expertly cultivated flower to our handcrafted edibles and other exceptional products, we take pride in every item we offer. Visit us and discover the Seed of Life difference today!
Cannabis Concentrate FAQs
How are cannabis concentrates different from traditional marijuana products?
Since concentrates are extracted from cannabis flower, they contain far more cannabinoids—the main “active ingredients” in cannabis—than traditional products. In addition, they’re often consumed using a specialized “dab rig” to access their potent effects.
How are cannabis concentrates made?
There are two basic methods for making concentrates. With solvent-based extraction, solvents such as CO2 or butane extract the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material before being carefully purged. With solventless extraction, the cannabinoids and terpenes are concentrated using gentle heat and pressure. While it results in lower potency, some prefer the non-chemical process of solventless extraction.
Are cannabis concentrates safe for beginners?
While concentrates aren’t dangerous, their high potency means it’s easy to accidentally take more than you may have intended. When you’re just starting to consume cannabis concentrates, we recommend using a very small amount—perhaps the size of a grain of rice or less. Once you’re accustomed to the potency, you can increase the amount.
How potent are cannabis concentrates compared to flower?
While traditional cannabis flowers can reach potencies in the neighborhood of 35% THC, many cannabis concentrates reach 80% – 90% THC. So, if you’re just starting out, it’s best to exercise caution with these highly potent products.
What is the difference between wax, shatter, crumble, etc?
While the many names can be confusing, these products are similar in their high potency and are shelf-stable. The main difference is consistency, with products such as sauce and budder having semi-liquid or spreadable textures and products such as shatter having a hard candy-like consistency.
