The Rundown on All of Your Favorite Cannabis Concentrates

weed leaf

As the cannabis industry continues to grow, new weed concentrates are being
introduced on what seems like a daily basis. With this, it can be difficult to keep up with what’s available, and how each extract differs from the next.

If you’re confused about the difference between budder and crumble, or find it surprising that resin, rosin, and live resin aren’t the same product, we don’t blame you! With the wide variety of different names, structures, and potencies, the cannabis concentrate community can become a bit intimidating if you’re new to the world of weed extracts.

To help give you some insight on the individual concentrates the cannabis
industry offers, we’ve broken down some of the most unique properties each extract demonstrates and help explain what makes them stand out from the rest. From their different appearances to flavors and textures, you’ll be an expert on each type of marijuana concentrate by the time you’re done.

Butane Honey Oil (BHO) & CO2 Extract Oil

Butane Honey Oil, or BHO, and CO2 Extract Oil are practically the bases of all your favorite
weed concentrates. Once the natural oils, terpenes, and cannabinoids have been extracted from the plant using butane or CO2, what’s leftover is BHO or CO2 Extract Oil. Typically, it will come
in various shades of yellow or brown and have a viscous consistency similar to thin wax.

BHO and CO2 Extract Oil’s flavors are fully
experienced when dabbed or vaporized, though the distinct tastes will vary depending on which weed strains were used. In fact, what makes this type of extract so unique is its wide range of flavors. Most of the plant’s terpenes are kept intact when making BHO or CO2 oil, giving you quite the tasty high.

butane honey oil BHO

These types of extracts can be quite strong, with potencies ranging from 60% THC to all the way in the high 90s. Typically you can purchase a good gram of these extracts for about $30 or $40.

Budder

70% - 90% THC budder

This creamy form of cannabis concentrate is created after your BHO or CO2 Extract Oil has been mixed in a specific way. Once the marijuana concentrate undergoes it’s usual extraction process, the leftover substance is then subjected to a unique whipping motion, similar to that of mixing cake batter. With this, budder is formed.

As one of the softest forms of concentrate, it is only fitting that this concentrate’s consistency is similar to that of actual butter. Usually coming in golden-yellow colors, budder’s potent flavors and aromas combined with its distinct structure truly makes it a concentrate like none other.

Budder also tends to have THC levels on the higher end, being one of the purer concentrates available. Testing usually between 70%-90% THC, this cake batter-like extract is sure to give you an unparalleled experience. Though, it’s important to bear in mind that budder can cost you just a bit more than your regular concentrate.

Crumble Wax

crumble wax

Crumble wax, as the name suggests, is a more crumbly form of cannabis concentrate. Easily broken down, crumble comes in a structure similar to sand or even brown sugar. Just a bit more delicate than budder, this form of concentrate is also full of distinct flavors and aromas.

Unlike most weed concentrates, crumble is crafted at lower temperatures, preventing the destruction of terpenes and allowing for the novel structure. This interesting extraction process is exactly what makes crumble stand out from the rest, as most concentrates are created by utilizing extreme heat instead.

Also extremely potent, crumble has been tested at THC levels ranging from 60%-90%, creating both a powerful and enjoyable cannabis experience. Depending on where you live, you can probably purchase a gram of crumble wax for about $30.

Distillates, Isolates & Crystallines

Distillates, Isolates & Crystallines

Cannabis distillates, isolates, and crystallines are some of the purest forms of extracts on the market. These concentrates’ goals are to focus on and isolate one specific cannabinoid, whether that be THC, CBD, or THCA. Their potencies test as high as 99.9%, making them unparalleled to other concentrates.

Distillates, isolates, and crystallines can all look different. Distillates can come in the form of oils, isolates can appear as a powder, and crystalline, as suggested, come in small, delicate crystals. None of these forms have any taste, nor do they have color.

Again, you can purchase distillates, isolates, and crystallines that are 99.9% pure. This makes them best for only the most experienced cannabis connoisseurs, as they’re some of the most powerful forms of weed concentrate available. With high potency comes high prices, though: you can buy these cannabis concentrates for anywhere between $60-$120 a gram.

Hash

Hash is one of the oldest forms of cannabis concentrates. Coming from the plant’s resin glands and produced simply through heat and pressure, people have been utilizing this sticky form of weed for centuries.

Hash is typically darker in color, coming in shades of brown and dark yellow. It tends to come in either hard, packed forms, or an extracted oil version. Hash can have somewhat of a potent, unpleasant taste when directly smoked, but it’s worth it for its effective properties. More powerful than your traditional flower, hash usually has a THC level of around 50%.

If you want to buy for your own hash, you can probably find some for about $20 a gram, depending on where you reside and whether or not cannabis is recreationally or medically legal.

hash
Honeycomb Wax weed

Honeycomb Wax

Extremely similar to crumble, honeycomb wax is easily broken down, softer in texture, and filled with both psychoactive and medicinal properties. The biggest difference between honeycomb and crumble wax is that honeycomb tends to be more porous, typically coming with small holes
throughout. This, along with its golden color, gives you no reason to wonder where this concentrate got its name.

Other than its soft, delicate appearance,
honeycomb wax isn’t too different from other
marijuana concentrates on the market. Coming in similar
potencies and prices to crumble, honeycomb is a great form of wax that won’t break the bank.

Kief/Sift

kief and dry sift

Far different than your typical oily extract, kief or sift refers to the tiny
crystals that are formed at the end of the cannabis plant’s resin glands. Kief doesn’t have to be extracted like other marijuana concentrates and can be easily
collected using a three-compartment grinder or some screens and a sift.

This green, sparkly substance actually contains all the best properties of the cannabis plant, making it extremely tasty, potent, and easily enjoyed. When collected, kief is soft and has a consistency similar to fine-grain sand. This substance can be sprinkled onto bowls, added into a joint, or even put into cannabutter and used in cannabis edibles–versatile and powerful, kief is truly a novel extract.

If you want to purchase your own kief, you can typically buy a gram for around $20. Or, you can invest in kief-heavy strains and simply collect it yourself!

live resin

Live Resin

Live resin’s extraction process is exactly what makes this form of marijuana concentrate so unique. Instead of being left out to dry and cure, to make live resin, the cannabis plant is kept at sub-zero
temperatures before and during the extraction process. This is done exclusively to preserve more of the plant’s properties, specifically the aromatic terpenes and potent cannabinoids.

Live resin’s appearance is often described as
“crystals and juice,” with the THC crystals
containing most of the THC, and the juice
containing the wide range of terpenes. In fact, its high amount of terpenes makes live resin’s THC levels a bit lower than other weed concentrates.
However, terpenes and cannabinoids are said to work synergistically to produce a fuller, more well-rounded high overall. Because of this unique relationship, live resin tends to be a bit pricier, with grams going for around $40 typically.

Resin

Not to be confused with live resin, resin is the sticky substance that is produced from the plant’s glands, or trichomes. Sound familiar? That’s because when they’re dried and cured, this can be turned into kief.

It is believed that the cannabis plant produced resin originally as a defense mechanism to
protect its flowers from predators. This results in resin having quite pungent smells and an-almost bitter flavor, though its efficacy makes this easy to overlook.

Unlike most extracts besides kief, resin can
actually be accumulated directly from your bud. Ever notice the black, sticky substance inside your bowl or pipe? That’s resin, and if you need to, you can smoke this. Though, it’s usually
suggested to purchase resin at a dispensary
instead, and for fairly low prices, too.

resin