Cannabis extracts (also sometimes referred to by the term “concentrates”) can be intimidating and confusing for the newcomer. There are many different types, and they go in and out of style. It seems like there’s always something fresh popping up on the market! But don’t worry, we’ve done some of the background work for you. Below we’ve written a list of commonly found extracts with definitions. Treat this as a primer, and don’t be afraid to chat with our friendly Euflora budtenders for more guidance!
Wax – Wax is an extremely popular concentrate for dabbing. It is made by blasting plant material with solvent. Then, the material is heated at a low temperature while it’s whipped. Cannabis wax looks a bit like Cool Whip, but is a bit crumbly. It looks tasty, but don’t eat it!
Budder – Budder is very similar to wax but has more moisture in it. It isn’t whipped as much as wax when it’s being made, and has a more malleable and oily consistency.
Live Resin – This amazing innovation is made similar to how you’d make budder or wax, except your starting material is fresh-frozen plant. The flavor and aroma with live resin is fantastic, and this type of extract really captures the spirit of the live plant that it was made from. Ranging in color from light amber to yellow-gold, it often has a shiny, wet look to it.
Shatter – Shatter is one of the most popular types of extracts available today, and we believe that’s at least partly due to the way it looks… like shattered pieces of stain glass! Typically created by blasting plant material with butane, the extraction process used to make shatter removes the lipids and fats from the substance.
CO2 Oil – C02 oil is a type of concentrate that’s become popular over the years. It is viewed as a more natural substance since it’s made using C02 (which, of course, is a substance that occurs naturally and is produced by the human body). C02 oil is made with pressure and carbon dioxide to separate plant material. The finished product is usually an amber-colored oil. Typically, you’ll find C02 oil in vape cartridges.
Crumble – The process for making crumble is a lot like the way shatter is made, but the oils used to make crumble usually have a thicker consistency and more moisture, which contributes to giving this concentrate its cheese-like, crumbly body. When making crumble, lower heat is used (compared to shatter) which preserves more of the terpenes.
Bubble Hash – You don’t see it as often as you used to, but bubble hash is still popular with DIYers and the slightly older crowd. Using ice water to separate plant matter from the THC, bubble hash can be mixed into joints, crumbled over a bowl, or even smoked by itself.
Rosin – Rosin has been around for as long as people have been smoking cannabis. In some parts of the world it’s the dominant method of consumption. Considered to be one of the most natural types of extracts, all it takes to create rosin is pressure and heat. Folks at home even make their own rosin with hair straighteners or tortilla presses! It usually has the appearance of amber-yellow sap.
Consider the above list to be just a primer. The cannabis concentrates world is deep and varied, and there is always something new to try. Don’t be intimidated! Our friendly budtenders will help you navigate, just stop by any Euflora location to get started!
