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CONCENTRATES
Concentrates are substances where the most desirable properties of cannabis - cannabinoids and terpenes - have been isolated. There are quite a bit of cannabis concentrates and in a variety of forms and textures. Non-active forms of concentrate still need to be heated in order to experience their effects. Concentrates with active cannabinoids, usually distillate, are infused into edibles, tinctures, and topicals to provide effects without using heat.
You’ve probably noticed the tiny, sticky, hairs that cover the cannabis plant, giving it a crystal-like sheen. These glandular hairs - also known as trichomes - produce and store the plant’s cannabinoids and terpenes. Cannabis concentrates isolate and accumulate these from the plant’s trichome glands. To put it simply, concentrates are packed with everything users love about cannabis. They’re also proven to be more potent than flower!
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Now - you may have heard the terms concentrate and extract used interchangeably, but there is a slight difference between the two. Extracts are a specific type of concentrate made using a solvent. All extracts are concentrates, but not all concentrates are extracts.
HISTORY OF CONCENTRATES
Hashish
The oldest method of making concentrates is in the form of hashish, or hash. It's hard to say the exact origin of creation of concentrates, but the oldest know record of making concentrates was found in 8th and 6th century CE Assyrian texts - and it was hashish. Now, how it spread from its origin of creation is unknown, but researchers argue that it most likely spread from Central to Southwest Asia through Persia or India. Hashish from this time would've most likley started off as kief, or cannabis sifted through a sieve or screen of some sort, to remove trichome glands. Kief is simply turned into hashish by applying heat and pressure, and typically pressed into bricks or rolled into balls. Charas (another form of resin formed from the flower head of the hemp plant), which also spread from Southern Asia, is made by hand-rubbing hashish into small resin balls.
Tinctures
A tincture is a concentrated extract contained in a liquid - most commonly alcohol or glycerin. Tinctures made from Cannabis became popular as a medicinal treatment in the mid-to-late 19th century. This was also when western medicine started to adopt the use of medical cannabis. During the 1890s specifically, medical cannabis actually reached its peak in Europe, the U.K., and the U.S.! Of course, in extract and tincture form. Since we hadn't yet mastered how to isolate certain compounds to achieve the desired effects and measurements; the use of tinctures declined in the early 20th century. This, the development of medicines such as morphine, and the new laws that were set forth to criminalize cannabis; pretty much wiped out the medicinal use of cannabis tinctures.
Tinctures are gaining their popularity back following legalization, decriminalization in many parts of the world, and the ability of users to administer consistent doses.
Extracts
Extracts are concentrates made by using a solvent. The first explanation of how to make extracts that was available to the public was D. Gold’s 1973 book, “Cannabis Alchemy: The Art of Modern Hashmaking.” Gold became interested in cannabis after learning about tinctures while they were popular in the late 19th century. Later Michael Stark gave a better detailed explanation in 1977 with, "Marijuana Chemistry: Genetics Processing and Potency". The Vaults of Erowid - a huge online gateway to psychedelic knowledge - was the next crucial event that didn't happen until almost 2 decades later - the late '90s. Indra Gurung added instructions to The Vaults of Erowid for how to “turn trash leaf to honey oil in minutes”. (See the original post here.) The method Gurung used is what we now call, "open blasting", and although this is extremely dangerous and should NEVER be performed at home, this was the first mention of butane as a solvent for extraction - creating Butane Hash Oil (BHO). Unfortunately Gurung didn't predict all the terrible accidents that would follow his contribution. Finally, Gurung patented his Oil and Fat Extraction Apparatus, making one of the first, "closed-loop systems" specifically made and designed for extraction of cannabis oils!
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Budder is just one of the many consistencies of cannabis extracts. This malleable, frosting-like concentrate gained popularity in the mid '90s when Canadian concentrate creator known as "BudderKing" created it. He then took his budder to the founder of Vancouver’s "Da Kine Smoke and Beverage Shop", Don Briere, and began distributing samples called “Butter Hoots.” In 2005, BudderKing shared his technique with Cannabis Culture! Now we have extracts such as budder, shatter, crumble, and sauce, all available in local dispensaries!
From 2010 forward, the concentrate industry has been constantly changing. From about 2010 to 2014, shatter became the dominant form of concentrate. Distillate made its debut in 2013, and is now used in the majority of vape cartridges. From 2014 to 2015, badder became the most popular concentrate. Present-day full spectrum extracts, sauce, distillate, and crystalline (also known as diamonds) have caught the attention of cannabis connoisseurs. Within the space of a few years, consumers have become more educated and more aware of the subtle differences in all concentrates.
WHAT'S IT MADE OF?
Although concentrates can be made from any part of the plant, the most common cannabis concentrates include trim-run, nug-run and live resin.
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When using the term "trim"- they are referencing the excess leaves that get removed from cannabis buds to make the end product more alluring to the consumers eye. The trim usually contains fewer trichomes than cannabis buds, but collecting all the combined trichomes from trim makes great use out of the left-over cannabinoids and terpenes.
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"Nugs" are basically manicured flower buds from the cannabis plant. Also, nug is mostly used when talking about high-quality cannabis . A "nug run" is a batch of concentrates extracted and created from dried and cured nugs - extremely high-quality cannabis. These concentrates use the most trichome-rich part of the cannabis plant which creates one of the most flavorful and potent concentrates available today.
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Live resin refers to concentrate that was created from fresh flower off the cannabis plant - meaning it was not dried out. This type of concentrate is considered high-quality and pretty much connoisseur-level since creating concentrate this way retains the terpenes that get lost in the drying process. Essentially they flash-freeze freshly harvested cannabis plant material and then extract it.
HOW TO CONSUME
With Flower
Adding a concentrate to your flower can help increase the potency and improve flavor. Try sprinkling kief on top of a bowl or try adding a few drops of concentrate oil to cannabis flower before rolling your joint. For even experienced dry flower smokers who are new to concentrates, this may be the best method to start. Remember to always start off small.
Dab
Another way to consume concentrates would be through a dab rig. This is where we get the term “dabbing.” Dabbing quickly became popular because its highly potent packed with flavor. Not to mention that it makes the most of a plant's rich terpene profile. A dab rig is a glass pipe - similar to a bong - that is specifically designed for concentrates. Dab rigs typically include a "nail" that can be thought of as the bowl in the dab rig. Smokers use a butane torch lighter to bring the nail to a temperature that almost instantly vaporizes the concentrates.
Vape
Of course, concentrates can be vaporized using vaporizer or vape pen. With a vape - you manually fill a chamber with any type of concentrate and then attach the chamber to a battery. The chamber for the concentrate typically contains a heating element that vaporizes the concentrate at the touch of a button.
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The most popular type of vaping has become pre-filled concentrate vape pens. The chamber doesnt have to be manually filled and just connects to the battery part of the pen. The pen then works the same way as the manually filled one - the heating element vaporizes the concentrate once again at the touch of a finger. The pre-filled vape pens come with the benefits of concentrates along with ease.
HOW TO STORE
Concentrates can be stored in either a glass jar, a silicone jar, or parchment paper, depending on their consistency and desired storage length. Glass jars are typically used for softer concentrates like budder and sauce and are also the best option for long-term storage. If you're looking for ease of access and removal then look no further than a silicone jar! The only downside of silicone jars is that they are usually not airtight - like a glass jar - therefore not the best for long-term storage. Parchment paper is also used short-term storage, but parchment paper is only best for solvent-based concentrates.
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Just like anything else - decreasing the concentrates contact with any outside elements, such as: heat, humidity, air, etc. is the best option. Outside elements will change the texture, potency and taste of a concentrate. When using any container, it should always be as small as possible to minimize excess air and should be stored in a cool and dry area. For short-term storage, a room temperature space should be sufficient - but for long-term consider storing in the refrigerator in an air-tight container. You can also freeze it, but freezing concentrates is tricky. When the concentrate isn't sealed properly, it might start to accumulate moisture and become harsh when dabbed. Make sure you have a proper air-tight container before freezing to minimize this risk.