Heard of cannabis concentrates and curious to try them out? If you’re wondering where to begin we may be able to help you out. Crumble, butter, badder, butter, Live Resin…..Rosin, there are a lot of different kinds. We are not here to give you a chemistry lesson, instead, we’re here to provide you with the basics. High quality concentrates require a high-quality battery, #teamTOQi has you covered.
First things first: Trichomes, Cannabinoids, and Terpenes
Cannabis contains several key components that are responsible for its effects, and are the building blocks of how concentrates work. Cannabinoids and Terpenes are a result of the marijuana plants being covered in ‘Trichomes’, these Trichomes when inspected under a microscope resemble a field of tiny mushroom-head-like structures. They act as a cannabinoid and terpene factory resulting in the uniquely euphoric effects that cannabis may produce. This also impacts the unique differences from one cannabis plant to another, and ultimately the type of effect it may have on you when consumed.
The primary psychoactive component in cannabis is a cannabinoid called THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), typical ranges of potency in the natural state of the plants are in-between 1-30% for marijuana flower-buds. If you want to read up more on this, we suggest you look up THCa and how it activates when heated, to transform into THC, completing the full THC serving per dosage. There are at least 113 cannabinoids identified in cannabis, another notable one which you probably have heard about is CBD (Cannabidiol), responsible for many positive benefits including anti-anxiety.
Great, so what are Concentrates?
As the name suggests, it is a more concentrated form of the marijuana plant. If you take dry flower buds and extract all the best parts, you are left with a more refined substance to consume, resulting in oils, concentrates and extracts. The effects can be drastically different to those produced from standard cannabis flowers, especially when vaporized. This is largely due to the concentrated formats having much higher THC levels, which can range from 50 to 90+ percent, far higher than the typical THC percentage range found in regular marijuana flower buds. Depending on how the plant is refined, you can begin to take all the best parts, some of them, or isolate just one specific cannabinoid and keep it or remove it. There are many different ways to do this, and various implications that should be considered.
Full Spectrum vs Distillate
Research has shown that cannabis is most powerful and effective when it is delivered with all of its cannabinoids and terpenes and other compounds that affect the experience the user feels. When this ‘Full Spectrum’ of compounds is modified, unfortunately the sum of the parts in this instance tends to not be as potent as the total full combined spectrum. For this reason many enthusiasts are looking for full spectrum concentrates, rather than a concentrate that has been ‘distilled’ down to its components. This form of concentrate typically comes in an oil format and is specifically called a distillate. Many standard 510 cartridges available today are distillate oil, but some (like Top Leaf) are broad spectrum oil keeping most of the compounds found in the original plant.
Concentrates vs Extracts
These terms are often used interchangeably, however they do have a difference in regards to the process in which they were created. Concentrates come in many forms (oil, wax) and refer to the concentrated form of something. Extracts are a type of concentrate that uses specific solvents in its reduction process.. Concentrates are created through mechanical processes (typically changes in temperature or pressure), with C02 (carbon dioxide) or refined with water, vegetable glycerin, vegetable oils, animal fats, isopropyl alcohol or ethanol.
Extracts are specifically made using hydrocarbon-based solvents, which involve chemical extraction of various components. There are various extraction methods, most commonly including chemicals such as butane, creating butane Hash oil (BHO). Some consumers prefer extracts over concentrates given hydrocarbon extracts tend to have higher THC % levels than concentrates.
Wax vs Oil
Wax is more potent, intense and comes in a semi-solid brittle substance, and due to the extraction technique can have THC concentrations of up to 90%. On the other hand, the oil may have different viscosity levels but are ultimately liquid. The production methods used to create oil end up diluting the concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes as it is cut up with other types of oil to maintain the liquid consistency.
Types
Live Resin: Solvent-based, BHO extract, produced from fresh plants, preserving much more of its original profile.
Budder, Badder/Batter: Solvent-based, BHO extract, Whipped under high temperatures, texture like butter and/or cake frosting. Fun fact, “Budder emerged onto the scene in the mid-’90s after its creation by a Canadian concentrate maker known as BudderKing.”
Shatter: Solvent-based, BHO extract, shaken and stirred as its left to cool (unlike wax) brittle amber-glass transparency, known to be among the purest and cleanest type of extract.
TCH Diamonds: Crystalline (Diamonds, sauce): Pure tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) crystalline, also known as “THCA diamonds” developed in terpene-rich sauce extracts or isolated by itself. Typically very high THC percentages.
Hash Rosin: Solventless, a result of high temperatures, pressure, and heat. Fun fact, cannabis can be pressed into Rosin with a hair straightener at home or professionally with an industrial press.
Pressed Hashish: Solventless, produced by rubbing or pressing the plant to form a slab, brick, or rolled pieces. Concentrate derived from resin.
Vaporizing concentrates & extracts with the TOQi 510 Dab Cartridge
High quality concentrates require a high-quality battery. Made to dab on the go, the TOQi 510 Dab Cartridge provides wax-type concentrate heating with its Quartz coil heating element and built-in dab tool. Optimized for best use with the TOQi 510 Wireless Vaporizer (will work with most 510 batteries), the 510 dab cartridge provides rich concentrate flavor at low temperature, and bigger hits at higher temperatures.
The cartridge is crafted in stainless steel and includes a dab tool built into the mouthpiece for easy loading and stirring. Compatible with wax concentrates; including Live Resin/Rosin, Hash Rosin, THCa Diamonds, Shatter, budder, badder, etc. The TOQi 510 Dab Cartridge, 3-PACK, is an essential tool for any discrete dabber.
Get in touch with us if you have any questions or want to know more about dabbing and concentrates with the TOQi 510 Dab Cartridge.