To enhance your dabbing experience, consider investing in the highest quality extracts that are within your budget and easily accessible. The quality of the extracts you use plays a crucial role in the overall taste, potency, and effects of your dabbing session.
In extracts, the key to quality lies in the starting material, so always look for reputable cultivators who use sound practices to produce high-terpene cannabis. Generally speaking, live extracts are higher in quality than their cured counterparts. Among connoisseurs, live solventless hash is especially sought after.
What are Cannabis Concentrates?
Cannabis concentrates are highly potent extracts made by isolating the most desirable compounds from the cannabis plant, such as cannabinoids and terpenes. Cannabis concentrates are potent extracts used in place of traditional weed products and they come in various forms, including wax, shatter, rosin, and live resin, each offering unique textures, flavors, and potency levels. Because concentrates cannabis products contain higher THC levels than traditional flower, they provide stronger effects with smaller doses. Whether you're using a dab rig, pen, or e-rig, cannabis concentrates offer a powerful and flavorful way to consume weed.
What are the Different Types of Cannabis Concentrates?
There’s no shortage of options when it comes to cannabis concentrates, and while they all share the goal of delivering potent, flavorful effects, they vary in how they’re made, the extraction process, how they look, and how they hit.
Here’s a quick overview of the most common types:
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Wax – Soft, sticky, and easy to scoop, wax is one of the most popular and approachable concentrate textures.
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Shatter – Known for its glass-like appearance, shatter breaks (or “shatters”) into pieces and tends to have a more stable, brittle consistency.
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Budder/Badder – These creamy, whipped textures are smooth to handle and often full of terpene-rich flavor.
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Live Resin – Made from fresh frozen plants, live resin preserves terpenes incredibly well, resulting in vibrant aroma and taste.
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Rosin – A solventless extract made using only heat and pressure, rosin is a favorite among purists who want a clean, chemical-free option.
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Diamonds & Terp Sauce – Crystalline THC-A “diamonds” sit in a terpene-rich sauce. It’s ultra-potent, often used by experienced dabbers.
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Crumble – Drier and more crumbly than wax, this type is easy to handle and works well in both dabs and bowls.
Each of these has its own vibe, and what works best for you might depend on your device, experience level, and whether you prioritize potency, flavor, or clean extraction methods. For a deeper dive, check out our full guide to cannabis concentrates.
Why use Cannabis Concentrates instead of Flower?
So, why choose concentrates over flower? For many users, it comes down to potency, purity, and efficiency. Here are some of the key benefits:
1. Higher Potency
Concentrates are exactly what they sound like — concentrated forms of cannabis. They often contain 60–90% THC (or even higher), compared to 15–25% in most flower. That means stronger effects with less material, which can be especially appealing for those with high tolerances or medical needs.
2. Faster Onset of Effects
Because you’re inhaling vaporized cannabinoids in a more concentrated form, the effects tend to hit faster than with smoking or edibles. This makes concentrates ideal for people seeking quick relief or a more immediate high.
3. Cleaner Consumption
Whether you're dabbing or using a vape, concentrates involve vaporization rather than combustion. That means no smoke, no ash, and fewer harmful byproducts. The experience tends to be smoother on the lungs — especially when used at the right temperature.”
4. Rich Flavor Profiles
Concentrates like live resin and rosin retain a high amount of terpenes, which are responsible for the aroma and taste of cannabis. With the right setup, you can really taste the nuances of different strains in a way that flower doesn’t always deliver.
5. Versatility
Concentrates come in many forms — wax, shatter, rosin, sauce, and more — and can be used in various ways. You can dab them, vape them, or even add them to flower for an extra kick. There’s a level of customization and flexibility that appeals to a wide range of users.
6. Less Odor, More Discretion
Vapor from concentrates doesn’t linger the way cannabis smoke does. That means less smell on your clothes, your space, and your gear — a big plus for anyone who prefers a more discreet experience.
How to Choose the Right Cannabis Concentrate for Dabbing
Cannabis concentrates, also known as cannabis extracts, are highly potent forms of cannabis produced by isolating the plant’s active compounds — terpenes and cannabinoids — from its impurities and extra plant materials. While concentrates can be enjoyed as topicals and edibles, they are especially well suited for dabbing, which provides a more intense and immediate effect.
With so many different cannabis concentrates on the market, from solvent-based varieties like butane hash oil to solventless varieties such as rosin, it can be tricky to choose the right concentrate for dabbing. Here’s what you should keep in mind to find exactly what you’re looking for.
What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing a Cannabis Concentrate?
When it comes to dabbing, the quality of your extract sets the foundation for a satisfying experience. To get the best possible results, prioritize the highest-quality product that fits within your budget. Other factors to consider include:
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Desired Effects
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Before selecting an extract for dabbing, consider the type of experience you desire. This initial step will help guide your choice of extract and ultimately lead to a more satisfying dabbing experience.
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Different extracts pack varying levels of cannabinoids and terpenes, which can produce a whole range of effects on the mind and body. For an elevated and euphoric sensation, try an extract with concentrated THC. If you're looking for a more mellow and therapeutic outcome, then an extract with higher CBD content may be the way to go.
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Consistency
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Consistency makes a world of difference in terms of dabbing. While diamonds are visually appealing and high in potency, shatter and wax concentrates are easier to handle and manipulate.
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Extraction Method
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The extraction method used to produce cannabis concentrates can impact its flavor, aroma, consistency, and more.
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Solvent-based methods can result in highly concentrated extracts with a wide range of consistencies, but solventless extraction is seen as a more natural and environmentally friendly process.
What’s the Difference Between Live Extracts vs. Cured Extracts?
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Choosing between live and cured extracts comes down to how you want to preserve your cannabis plant's unique qualities before extracting its goodness.
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Live extracts are created by capturing the cannabis plant's essence at its freshest. Freshly harvested cannabis plants are immediately flash-frozen, preserving their delicate terpenes to create an extract that's highly aromatic and flavorful.
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Cured extracts, on the other hand, are produced from cannabis that has been dried for a period of time. During this time, the buds undergo a natural breakdown and aging process that can lead to a smoother and more mellow taste.
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Overall, live extracts are considered higher quality than cured extracts, but the choice between the two ultimately comes down to personal preference.
What’s the Best Concentrate to Dab?
Cannabis concentrates come in many varieties, each with their unique potency, flavor, and effects. So, what is the best type of concentrate to dab? Live solventless hash has earned a reputation as a top choice among connoisseurs seeking a high-quality and flavorful experience.
Made from freshly harvested cannabis plants and extracted using a pure and natural method that does not involve the use of solvents or chemicals, live solventless hash is a preferred choice for those who prioritize purity and naturalness in their cannabis products. If you want to experience the best of cannabis concentrates, make sure to check out our collection of dab rigs and other cannabis essentials.
