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Dab Concentrates

Dab Concentrates: Which To Choose?

By Products

Dab Concentrates: Which To Choose?

 

With the ever-expanding variety of cannabis extracts available on the market, choosing the right dab concentrates to smoke can be a daunting task for both beginners and experienced enthusiasts. In short, each extract type offers a unique combination of flavors, potency, and effects.

In this guide, we will explore the factors to consider when selecting the perfect dab concentrates for you.

1. Understand the Types of Cannabis Extracts & Dab Concentrates

Before diving into the selection process, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the various types of cannabis extracts available. Some common extracts include:

  • BHO (Butane Hash Oil): A potent and versatile extract that can vary in texture from shatter to wax.
  • CO2 Oil: Extracted using carbon dioxide, it preserves more of the plant’s natural terpenes and cannabinoids.
  • Rosin: Created by applying heat and pressure to cannabis flowers or hash, resulting in a solventless dab concentrate.
  • Live Resin: Made from freshly harvested, frozen cannabis plants, preserving a rich terpene profile.
  • Distillate: Highly purified and refined cannabis oil, often used for its high THC content.
  • Hashish: A traditional extract made from the resin of the cannabis plant, available in various forms.

Understanding these options will help you narrow down your selection of dab concentrates based on your preferences and needs.

2. Determine Your Desired Effects

Next, consider your desired experience. Different dab concentrates can produce various effects due to their cannabinoid and terpene profiles.

  • Indica: Extracts with a higher concentration of CBD and the terpene Myrcene tend to provide relaxing, sedating effects, making it ideal for evening use or relaxation.
  • Sativa: Extracts with a higher concentration of THC and uplifting terpenes like Limonene can offer energizing and creative effects, making them great dab concentrates for daytime use.
  • Hybrid: A balanced combination of both indica and sativa effects, offering versatility for different situations.

3. Assess Potency & Tolerance

The potency of your dab concentrates can vary significantly. Novices should start with lower-potency options, while experienced users might seek more potent extracts. Most importantly, be mindful of your tolerance and adjust your consumption accordingly to avoid discomfort or overconsumption.

4. Consider Terpene Profiles

Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in cannabis that contribute to its flavor and effects. Different strains and dab concentrates have distinct terpene profiles. Experimenting with various terpenes can enhance your smoking experience by tailoring it to your preferences.

Check out this article to learn more about terpenes and their importance.

5. Extraction Method Dab Concentrates

Each extraction method has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, solvent-based extracts like BHO and CO2 oil can offer high potency and purity, while solventless options like rosin prioritize preserving terpenes. To sum it up, it’s essential to choose your dab concentrates based on the method aligns with your priorities.

Lab Testing & Transparency

Always opt for cannabis extracts that undergo rigorous lab testing to ensure safety and consistency. Reputable brands provide test results with a product’s cannabinoid content, terpene profile, and potential contaminants. This information can help you make an informed choice.

Dab concentrates purchased at Smyth Cannabis Co., or any other licensed Massachusetts dispensary, are required to pass a third-party lab test and clearly list their active cannabinoids.

Check out Smyth Cannabis Co. For All Your Dab Concentrates & Supplies

Smyth Cannabis Co. in Lowell, MA offers the highest quality cannabis flower, pre-rolls, edibles, dab concentrates and more. So, whether you’re already experienced with dab concentrates lord or just getting started, our friendly budtenders will help you pick a concentrate and get you set up with any necessary rigs. Come visit us in Lowell to learn more about our lab tested products.

Above all, remember to always consume responsibly and in moderation to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey into the world of extracts and dab concentrates.

types of dabs and cannabis concentrates

Types of Dabs & Cannabis Concentrates — Which to Choose?

By Cannabis 101, Products

Types of Dabs & Cannabis Concentrates — Which to Choose?

 

What are Concentrates?

With so many types of dabs available, which one should you choose? Concentrates, oils and extracts, also known as “dabs,” are products that have been processed to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant while removing excess plant material. The process involves separating the trichomes from the rest of the plant. Because of this, concentrates have a much larger concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes than flower alone.

The oldest type of concentrate is hash, or dried blocks of packed kief. People have been making it for thousands of years. Originally, the technique involved hand collecting and separating the hash. While some small shops still incorporate traditional solvent-free methods, most producers have moved to solvent-based extraction.

Solvent-Based Extraction

During solvent-based extraction, essential oils within the cannabis plant are separated using chemical solvents such as butane, propane, alcohol and CO2. Solvent-based extraction will make many different consistencies, depending on how the product is treated. Today, most concentrates and types of dabs are identified based on their consistency.

Usually, the harder a dap is, the less terpenes it contains. Concentrates with gooey and saucy consistencies tend to have the highest amounts of terpenes. However, if the concentrate is too runny, it will be difficult to smoke. To sum it up, concentrate consistency is a matter of personal preference.

And while the terms concentrate and extract are often used interchangeably, they are not actually the same. Extracts are a specific type of concentrate made using solvents. In short, all extracts are concentrates, but not all concentrates are extracts.

Types of Dabs & Cannabis Concentrates

cannabis shatter

Shatter

Brittle, see-through concentrate made with solvents

smyth cannabis terp sauce pod

Terp Sauce

Terpenes are concentrated into a runny liquid, oil or “sauce”

bubble hash water hash

Bubble/Water Hash

Trichomes are separated using only ice, water and filters

cannabis concentrates crumble

Crumble

Dried oil with a texture similar to honeycomb

crystalline sugar cannabis

Crystalline/Sugar

Isolated cannabinoids in their pure crystal form

wax dabs

Wax

Sticky and sappy type of concentrate for dabbing

smyth cannabis distillate pod

Distillate

Refined cannabinoid oil free of taste, smell and flavor

types of concentrates budder

Badder/Budder

Whipped under heat into a cake batter-like texture

marijuana rosin

Rosin

Solventless concentrate made using heat and pressure

What are the Benefits of Concentrates?

  • Most types of concentrates do not need to be smoked. For example, most consumers choose to go smoke-free by vaporizing or even eating them.
  • Cannabis concentrates are potent and effective. So, it takes less product to get the results you’re looking for.
  • Extracts are refined. Essential oils and cannabinoids are separated from plant material to create a smooth, clean flavor-forward experience.

Smoking Dabs

You don’t need to have a fancy dab rig set up to enjoy smoking concentrates because you can get an extra boost of potency just by simply mixing your flower with powdery kief or wrapping some wax around your joint.

If you are looking to further explore the world of dabs, you’ll want to invest in a dab rig. Dab rings are usually made of glass, ceramic, titanium or quartz and are equipped with a “nail” (the equivalent of the bowl of a bowl), which is heated up and applied directly to the concentrate, creating vapor which is then inhaled. Traditional methods require a high-temperature torch to heat up the nail, but electric nails are also on the market.

In addition, most weed stores carry a selection of vape pens. A vape pen is a discreet and portable option for smoking concentrates. Although it will not produce vapor as potent as a dab rig, it is an excellent choice for convenience.

Vape pens consist of a battery-operated heating element that is activated either by a button or by taking a drag, and a cartridge which is then heated up and vaporized. While some cartridges can be refilled and reused, you’ll find a selection of pre-filled vape cartridges at your local dispensary. Most of these are designed to fit most vape pens using universal 510 threads.

Different types of concentrates require different levels of heat in order to burn properly. Therefore, you should check with your budtender to make sure your rig is compatible.

Check out this article for some other factors to consider when choosing your dab concentrates.

How Else Can Concentrates be Consumed?

Most people are familiar with “dabbing,” or heating up a concentrate and inhaling its vapors. But you do not need to dab in order to consume concentrates. Other options include tinctures, topicals and edibles.


 

Visit Smyth Cannabis Co. For All Types of Dabs & Concentrate Supplies

Smyth Cannabis Co. in Lowell, MA offers the highest quality cannabis flower, pre-rolls, edibles, concentrates and more. Whether you’re already a dab lord or just getting started, our friendly budtenders will help you pick a concentrate and get you set up with any necessary rigs. Come visit us in Lowell to learn more about our lab tested products.