Substances in which the more desirable properties of cannabis, namely cannabinoids and terpenes, have been isolated. There are many cannabis concentrates in a variety of formats and textures. Non-active forms of concentrate need to be heated to experience their effects. Concentrates with active cannabinoids, usually distillate, are infused into edibles, tinctures, and topicals to provide effects without the application of heat.
We offer solvent free concentrates solely from a rosin press so you can be 100% sure the products you're buying from Montana Canna do not contain butane, ethanol or any other harmful chemicals.
You’ve probably noticed the tiny hairs that cover the cannabis plant, giving it a crystal-like sheen and sticky feel. These glandular hairs, or trichomes, produce and hold the plant’s cannabinoids and terpenes. Cannabis concentrates isolate and accumulate these compounds from the plant’s trichome glands. In other words, concentrates are packed with everything users love about cannabis. They’re guaranteed to be more potent than flower, thus accounting for their rapid rise in popularity.
Concentrates can be made from any part of the plant, which can be dried and cured or fresh. The three most common cannabis concentrate labels include trim-run, nug-run and live resin.
Trim is the excess leaves removed from cannabis buds to make the end product more attractive to consumers and create a less harsh smoke. This part of the plant generally contains fewer trichomes than cannabis buds, but accumulating the trichomes from trim makes use out of the cannabinoids and terpenes that were once discarded.
Nugs are high-quality cannabis buds that are also known as flowers. A nug run is a batch of concentrates extracted from dried and cured nugs. This type of concentrate uses the most trichome-rich part of the cannabis plant to produce one of the most flavorful and potent concentrates possible. The textures produced can range from shatter to sauce.
Live resin is a term used to describe a concentrate made from fresh cannabis plant material that was not dried or cured. This method is used to retain the most temperature sensitive terpenes that are lost during the drying and curing process. Products that have been extracted using live resin process — freezing freshly harvested cannabis plant material and extracting it — have been associated as high-grade and flavorful concentrates due to the high amounts of terpenes.
Concentrates are made in one of two ways: physically separating the trichome from the plant, also referred to as a mechanical separation, or using liquid solvents, which is sometimes referred to as a chemical extraction.
Physical separation, also known as mechanical separation, involves breaking and removing trichomes from plant material via a physical action such as shaking or pressing. Think of it like shaking a citrus tree to remove the fruit. Dry sift, for example, involves shaking cured cannabis through a series of screens in specific sizes to ensure nothing but trichome glands make it into the final product.
Physical separation methods use centrifugal action, gravity separation, and filtration to separate the trichome glands from the plants. The most common methods include:
Chemical extractions, also known as solvent-based extractions, utilize a chemical solvent to dissolve the trichomes from the plant. Solvent-based extractions are the most efficient methods in the removal of trichomes from the cannabis plant and are the preferred method for the commercial cannabis industry.
The main solvents employed are butane, propane, ethanol, and carbon dioxide.
These solvents are used in liquid form to essentially ‘wash’ the plant of its therapeutic compounds, after which the solvent must be removed from the solution before it is safe to consume. Processors seek solvents that have extremely low boiling points in order to maintain the full spectrum of compounds removed without denaturing or boiling them off during the process of removing the solvent from the solution.
Once the cannabinoids and terpenes have been removed from the plant material, the resulting solution can take a variety of forms. These forms allow patients and consumers to pick and choose their preferred texture of the concentrate product; they aren’t necessarily an indicator of how the concentrate will taste or affect an individual but they do dictate the tools required to use them. Different textures are the result of deliberate steps taken before or after the initial extraction process which is referred to as “post-processing techniques.”
To consume a cannabis concentrate safely and effectively, you must have the appropriate equipment in order to properly activate the concentrated cannabinoids and terpenes. Consumers have options for consumption methods, but those options all require attention to detail, equipment, and mechanics on the user’s part.
Concentrates can help increase the potency and improve the flavor of your flower. The next time you pack a bowl with cannabis flower, try sprinkling kief on top or add drops of concentrate oil to cannabis flower before rolling your joint. Adding powdered kief to your bowl, or wrapping wax around a joint, are the most cost-effective methods for using cannabis concentrates. For experienced dry flower smokers who are new to concentrates, this may be the best method to start.
Concentrates can be vaporized using a dab rig. This activity is referred to as “dabbing.” Quickly becoming one of the most popular consumption methods in the market, dabbing offers a potent high and flavor packed experience that makes the most of a plant’s rich terpene profile. A dab rig is a glass pipe, similar to a bong, designed specifically for concentrates. Dab rigs typically include a titanium, quartz, or glass nail that can be thought of as the bowl in the dab rig. Consumers use a butane torch lighter to bring the nail to a temperature that, almost instantly, vaporizes the concentrates.
Concentrates can also be vaporized using a portable or handheld vaporizer. The market is currently full of dry-herb vaporizers that also offer a wax or dab feature. With a vaporizer, you manually fill a chamber with any type of concentrate and attach the chamber to a battery. The chamber typically contains a heating coil that turns the concentrate into a vapor when the user presses a button. Unlike dab rigs, vaporizers seldom require any additional equipment.
Pre-filled concentrate vape pens have arguably become the most popular form of vaping. A vape pen consists of a pre-filled cartridge that attaches to a battery. The cartridge contains a heating element that comes in contact with the battery and heats the concentrate when activated. This battery-and-cartridge combination is collectively referred to as a vape pen.
Depending on the consistency, concentrates are typically stored in either a glass jar, a silicone jar, or parchment paper. Glass jars usually hold softer concentrates like budder and sauce. They’re generally your best bet for long-term storage. Silicone jars provide easy access and removal for virtually any concentrate consistency, but they don’t usually offer an airtight seal that is good enough for long-term storage. Parchment paper is another short-term storage solution used for solvent-based extracts.
The key to proper concentrate storage is minimizing the outside elements — heat, humidity, and air — all of which will change the texture, potency and taste. Concentrates should be stored in a cool, dark place. Concentrate containers should always be as small as possible to minimize excess air. Short-term storage typically doesn’t require more than a room temperature setting. For long-term storage, make sure to use an airtight container, and consider storing in the refrigerator or freezer. Freezing concentrates has its risks. Most commonly, frozen concentrates, when not adequately sealed, may accumulate moisture and become harsh when dabbed. But with the proper container, you’ll be able to minimize the risk of moisture contamination.
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