Cannabis concentrates are highly concentrated extracts from the plant’s trichome that contains the highest level of cannabinoids, and terpenes, and other essential compounds that make them extremely potent, and highly aromatic.

Typically, cannabis concentrates are made by isolating the most desirable compounds from the cannabis plant in a highly concentrated form, that’s why it goes by the umbrella term cannabis concentrates.

But there’s more to it, and to help you learn and fully understand what are cannabis concentrates, this article expands into the details, and discusses 14 types of cannabis concentrates, along with suggestions on what type of cannabis concentrates should you consider.

What are Cannabis Concentrates?

Did you ever squeeze an orange to extract the juice? Notice how you only get the concentrated juice while the fruit itself is later thrown away? Cannabis concentrates are something very similar as it specifically contains extracts from the cannabinoids which are the mainly the THC, and CBD, and the rich aroma from the terpenes.

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the psychoactive compound in the cannabinoid that’s responsible for the euphoric effect, whereas the CBD is the therapeutic compound that helps you alleviate pain and feel relaxed.

Just like you throw away the orange after extracting the juice, the cannabis flower is also thrown away after extracting the desired compounds. Typically, cannabis concentrates include a much higher volume of THC than the flower itself.

According to the DEA, the cannabis flower contains a THC level of 15% to 20%, whereas cannabis concentrates have an average THC level of 40% to 80%. There are highly refined cannabis concentrates known as isolate which have THC content of 90% to 99%.

There are a multitude of ways cannabis concentrated are consumed which includes smoking, vaping, dabbing, or adding it to Cannabis edibles.

The texture, and potency can significantly vary based on the type of cannabis concentrate, and how it’s made.

Here at Dispo, we have a huge collection of high-quality cannabis concentrates for various needs and preferences. So, feel free to check them out if you’re looking for a variety of concentrates.

14 Types of Cannabis Concentrates

You may have heard street names of cannabis concentrates like shatter, wax, budder, honey oil, butane hash oil, butane honey oil, dabs, black glass, err, 710 (oil spelled backwards), and many more.

If you’re familiar with these names, you can already relate to the different types of cannabis concentrates. Apparently, there are 14 types of common types of cannabis concentrates which comes in different textures, and shapes which are specified and explained in the following.

1. Shatter

Shatter is one of the purest cannabis concentrates with a THC concentration level of 80% to 90%. It literally looks like an amber or golden-brown broken glass, so based on its shattered like glass appearance this cannabis concentrate is popularly known as shatter. Also, this concentrate is really brittle, so when it’s pressed it literally shatters into pieces. Shatter is mainly consumed by heating it up on a hot surface and inhaling the smoke as the concentrate melts. It is also used for dabbing, vaping, and in edibles as well.

2. Wax

Wax is a super sticky golden-brown cannabis concentrate with a high THC level of 60% to 90%. It is popularly known as wax because it is the stickiest of all cannabis concentrates, and that’s why it’s mostly consumed by dabbing it. Other methods of consuming the wax include vaping, mixing it with food and smoking it in pre-rolls or joints.

3. Crumble

Just like Shatter, the crumble also has a very high concentration of THC content of up to 90%. The crumble is a dry and brittle cannabis concentrate which literally breaks with the slightest bit of pressure as if it’s crumbling. Its dryish texture makes it easy to crumble the concentrate into tiny bits and smoke it with a joint. It can also be dabbed or vaped but that can take a bit of time and effort.

4. Honeycomb

The cannabis concentrate honeycomb is a variation of the concentrate crumble, the only difference here the appearance which resembles a honeycomb lookalike. That’s why the honeycomb cannabis concentrate is also called crumble wax. Like the crumble, the honeycomb concentrate is extremely potent with up to 90% THC. It is also consumed by infusing it with a joint, mixing it with food, vaping and dabbing.

5. Rosin

Rosin is one of the most popular cannabis concentrates especially because it’s made using a non-solvent method. This means it is organically made using no chemicals with a THC concentration of 75% to 90%. Another unique thing is rosin concentrates have a variety of textures, while some are solid, others are runny oil-like paste. Its color varies from off-white to light golden. Similarly, like other concentrates, rosin can be smoked, dabbed, vaped, and infused with edibles.

Here is a guide: How to Store Cannabis Edibles Properly?

6. Live Resin

When it comes to the texture of the live resin concentrate it can significantly vary. While some are sticky and soft pastes, others can be fluid like oil, or sauce with a variation in colors ranging from yellow to almost off-white. Live resin concentrates also have a very high potency with 80% to 95% THC content. As live resin concentrate is super sticky, it is popularly consumed by dabbing it. 

7. Hash

Hash concentrates are dark brown cannabis concentrates that are mainly popular for its oily texture, but it also has dry composures which makes it a versatile concentrate. Hash concentrates are very potent with a THC concentration of 70% to 90%. While the oily hash concentrate is popularly used for dabbing, the drier hash can be easily crumbled and smoked in a joint or used for making edibles. The high potency and diverse consumption options make hash concentrates a top choice among consumers.

8. Kief

Kief is among the popular dry cannabis concentrates, and it's also known as dry hash, or hashish. Its texture is a clump of powdery dust that sticks together. Its appearance varies in different colors such as gold, yellow, tan and brown. When it comes to potency its THC content can significantly vary ranging from as low as 30% to as high as 80%. But in general, the THC content varies from 50% to 70%, which makes kief relatively less potent than other cannabis concentrates. As it’s very powdery it’s mainly consumed by vaping or infusing it with edibles.

9. Budder, Badder and Batter

Budder, badder and butter are a very similar set of cannabis concentrates which is why these terms often used interchangeably. Badder and batter are actually the same types of concentrates, while some companies brand it as badder, others use the term batter. When it comes to texture, budder is more like butter or cake frosting, whereas badder/batter has a more crumbled and bumpier texture. The appearance of these concentrates can be bright blond, buttery gold and greenish brown. These concentrates are mainly consumed by dabbing or vaping, but they can also be infused with joints in a small amount. The budder, badder and batter are also high potency cannabis concentrates with THC content of 70% to 80%.   

10. Sauce

Just like the ketchup in your fridge, or any other sauce, the sauce concentrate resembles a similar texture. Its texture is a runny, thick and slightly sticky liquid consistency with an appearance like marmalade. The sauce concentrate is basically terpene rich oil with a high THC concentration ranging from 60% to 90%. It is consumed by dabbing, vaping, and by infusing it with edibles. It’s mainly popular for its strong fragrance, and robust flavor.

Here is a guide: How to Make Cannabis Brownies with Flower?

11. Jelly

Jelly is a unique cannabis concentrate that contains a combination of solvent and solventless concentrates which gives it a jelly like texture. It’s basically the fusion of 80% bubble hash, and 20% hash oil. So, the jelly concentrates also goes by the name jelly hash. The jelly concentrates are very potent with a THC level of 72% to 84%. It is mainly consumed by dabbing, and vaping, but it can also be smoked in a joint or infused with edibles.

12. Diamond

Diamond concentrates are relatively new in the market, and it's commonly known as THC diamonds. It is apparently one of a kind as it looks very similar to diamonds which resemble a very elegant texture. It is extremely potent with a THC concentration of 99%. Based on its hard crystalline structure, it is often consumed by dabbing, and vaping, but it can also be smoked by mixing it in small bits in a joint. Apart from that, THC diamonds can also be infused in edibles. 

13. RSO (Rick Simpson Oil)

The RSO is a cannabis concentrate that comes in a thick tar like consistency with a very high THC composition of 80% to 90%. It’s especially made for boosting an extra punch for enhanced potency. It’s mainly famous for its oily tar that contains a full spectrum of both cannabinoids, and terpenes in the cannabis plant. It is consumed in various ways which includes smoking, vaping, and mixing with edibles. Plus, it’s also taken sublingually, and by swallowing RSO capsules.

14. HTFSE (High Terpene Full Spectrum Extract)

High Terpene Full Spectrum or HTFSE is unique, and significantly different from all other concentrates, this is because it contains 50% of terpene extracts compared to cannabinoids. Also, HTFSE concentrates have 90% of THCA content, but by applying heat you can activate up to 43.85% THC. So, this makes HTFSE a relatively moderate concentrate when it comes to potency, but it’s something closer to the raw flower. HTFSE concentrates comes in a fluid form, so it’s consumed by dabbing or vaping.

What Type of Cannabis Concentrates Should You Consider?

Well, when it comes to choosing the type of cannabis concentrates, it mainly depends on how experienced you are. This is especially because most cannabis concentrates have extremely potent with a high THC concentration of 60% to 90% or more.

Even by consuming a small dose, you can experience highs that can last for several hours. It depends on how you are consuming it, if you are smoking, dabbing or vaping the cannabis concentrates it can affect you within a few minutes.

Whereas, if you are consuming it sublingually it can take a few seconds to hit a strong effect. Edibles take a few hours for the effects to kick in, but it can also last for a few to several hours depending on the dose.

The problem mainly lies with unwanted effects, especially if it’s overdosed or overconsumed. These effects can include vomiting, blurred visions, passing out, and the worst is not remembering anything while you were high.

So, as a beginner, you can start with concentrates that are easier to consume and have a proportionately balanced THC content such as HTFSE, Kief, Jelly, Wax, Sauce, and RSO. If you’re experienced, then you can go for more potent concentrate options like Shatter, Diamond, Crumble, Honeycomb, Live Resin, Rosin, and more.

Additionally, to stay on the safe side, it’s best to start with a minimal dose, and gradually increase it based on acquired experience. For starters, it’s recommended that you consume 2.5mg to 5mg of concentrates.

Also, when it comes to choosing cannabis strains, here’s something that you should also look into. The potency of the cannabis concentrate mainly depends on the strain of cannabis.

In general, the sativa strain has a much higher concentration of THC, whereas the indica strain has a THC to CBD ratio of 1:1. So, this means that THC levels are more balanced in the indica strain, so choosing cannabis concentrates that uses indica strains can be a safer option for beginners.

Ultimately, it totally depends on individual needs and preferences to determine which type of cannabis concentrates best suits your preferences, and needs. But keeping all these factors in mind should help you make the best choice.

Wrapping Up: What are Cannabis Concentrates?

In a nutshell, cannabis concentrates are highly refined extracts of the cannabinoid that contains high levels of THC which makes it extremely potent, and the terpenes that contribute to its rich and refreshing aroma.

The interesting thing about cannabis concentrates is, it has a huge diversity. So far, you have learned about the 14 types of cannabis concentrates which have different texture, and a varying potency. Typically, the differences mainly depend on how these cannabis concentrates are made, and the combination of ingredients that were used.

By now you should have a clear idea of what cannabis concentrates are, and how they are consumed. So, if you are interested to try out cannabis concentrates, it should help you explore your options, and determine which ones are the best fit for your needs and preferences.

FAQs

What's the difference between dabs and concentrates?

Dabs specifically refers to cannabis concentrates that are made exclusively using butane hash oil (BHO). So, dabs are cannabis concentrates from regular concentrates it is called dabs, but often dabs are also called concentrates. These terms are often used interchangeably.

Are concentrates the same as edibles?

No, concentrates are decarboxylated, and highly potent THC extracts that come in solid, semi-solid and liquid forms. Edibles on the other hand are cannabis infused food, or beverages. So, cannabis concentrates are not edibles, but it can be a key ingredient used in edibles.

What is another name for cannabis concentrate?

Cannabis concentrates go by various names based on its type which includes shatter, wax, crumble, honeycomb, rosin, live resin, honey oil, badder etc. Weed dispensaries often incorporate specific brand names to make their product seem more unique.

What concentrate gets you the most high?

It depends on the potency level of the cannabis concentrates, but in general Shatter, Diamond, Crumble, Honeycomb, Live Resin, Rosin should get you most high as these concentrates contain the highest level of THC.