Marijuana extracts are also known as concentrates. They are created by extracting cannabinoids (like THC and CBD) and terpenes from the cannabis plant through a complex chemical and physical process. Extracts come in various forms, textures, and potencies, each offering a unique experience.
Here’s a breakdown of the most popular types of cannabis extracts. We are going to look at what makes each one unique and why some users prefer one over the other. Of course, personal choice is the main driving factor—but what influences this choice?
1. Shatter
Texture: Glassy, brittle
Potency: High (70-90% THC)
Appearance: Amber, translucent
Shatter is known for its hard, glass-like texture that “shatters” when broken apart. It’s made through a solvent-based extraction process, typically using butane. This results in a highly concentrated and pure product. Shatter is favored for its potency and clean effects even though it’s not as rich in flavor as some of the other cannabis extracts. Terpenes are responsible for the flavor in cannabis products, and the shatter extraction process reduces the terpene content.
2. Wax
Texture: Soft, waxy
Potency: High (60-90% THC)
Appearance: Yellow to amber, opaque
Wax is a popular marijuana extract with a consistency that ranges from soft and crumbly to sticky and oily. It’s easier to handle than shatter. It comes in several subtypes, such as budder (buttery) or crumble (drier and flakier). Like shatter, wax is typically made using solvents, but the softer texture makes it easier to manipulate for dabbing.
3. Live Resin
Texture: Sticky, terpene-rich
Potency: Moderate to high (60-80% THC)
Appearance: Golden to amber, glossy
Live resin is known for its exceptional flavor, making it a favorite among cannabis connoisseurs. Unlike other cannabis extracts, live resin is made from fresh, flash-frozen cannabis flower. This helps preserve most of the plant’s natural terpenes and cannabinoids, giving live resin its distinctive aromatic and flavorful profile. It’s a sticky, oily concentrate best used for dabbing or vaping.
4. Rosin
Texture: Sticky or thick, sap-like
Potency: Moderate to high (50-70% THC)
Appearance: Amber to golden, clear
Rosin is a solventless concentrate. It is made by applying heat and pressure to fresh, flash-frozen cannabis flower, kief, or hash to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes. Rosin is produced without chemicals and is valued for its purity and clean flavor. Its texture is typically sticky and sappy—perfect for dabbing or adding to joints.
5. CO2 Oil
Texture: Thick oil
Potency: Moderate to high (50-80% THC)
Appearance: Amber to brown, translucent
CO2 oil is made using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a solvent. This helps to create a clean and potent cannabis extract with fewer impurities. This oil is often used in vape cartridges. Its consistency makes it easier to work with in pre-filled pens. CO2 oil is typically mild in flavor, but offers a powerful and smooth experience when vaporized.
6. Distillate
Texture: Thick, clear oil
Potency: Extremely high (up to 99% THC or CBD)
Appearance: Clear to amber, syrup-like
Distillate is one of the purest forms of marijuana extracts. It often contains up to 99% THC or CBD. The distillation process removes all plant matter, impurities, and even terpenes, leaving a flavorless and odorless product. Distillates are versatile, commonly used in vape cartridges, topicals, and infused edibles. It is sometimes also added to other concentrates to help boost potency.
7. Crystalline (Isolate)
Texture: Powder or crystals
Potency: Nearly 100% pure cannabinoids (THC-A, CBD)
Appearance: White or translucent crystals
Crystalline refers to the isolated form of cannabinoids which are refined to their purest form. They are either THC-A (non-psychoactive until heated) or CBD. These types of cannabis extracts are often used for dabbing, mixing with other concentrates, or adding to food and drinks. Since it contains only one cannabinoid, crystalline is often flavorless and odorless, but extremely potent.
8. Kief
Texture: Powdery, dry
Potency: Moderate to high (up to 50% THC)
Appearance: Greenish or brownish, powdery
Kief is the simplest form of concentrate. It consists of the trichomes that fall off the cannabis flower when it’s ground or sifted. It is typically less refined than other concentrates, but offers a more potent experience than you can get when smoking flower alone. Kief can be sprinkled over flower in a bowl, rolled into a preroll, or pressed into hash.
9. Hash
Texture: Soft, pliable to hard and crumbly
Potency: Moderate to high (20-60% THC)
Appearance: Brown or black, compacted
Hash is one of the oldest cannabis concentrates and is made by compressing kief or trichomes into a dense, sticky block. It can be produced through various methods, including the traditional hand-rolling, dry-sifting, or using water and ice (bubble hash). Hash is usually smoked in a pipe or added to joints for a more intense high.
10. Sauce
Texture: Runny, syrupy, rich in terpenes
Potency: High (50-80% THC)
Appearance: Amber, wet
Sauce is a flavorful cannabis extract that contains high concentrations of terpenes and cannabinoids. It has a sticky liquid consistency. Since it contains a variety of cannabinoids and terpenes, rather than isolated THC, sauce delivers a full-spectrum experience. Sauce is often just a combination of THC crystals with a terpene-rich liquid, making it a favorite for dabbing.
How to Choose the Right Type of Cannabis Extract for You
Marijuana extracts offer a wide range of options for consumers seeking different experiences. Whether you’re looking for pure potency, rich flavor, or a more traditional cannabis experience, there’s a type of concentrate for you. Select an extract that suits your preference using the following guideline:
- For maximum potency, try distillates or crystalline extracts.
- For rich flavor, live resin and sauce are the way to go.
- For solventless purity, rosin and hash are excellent options.
Each type of cannabis extract delivers its own unique effects and flavors. Don’t hesitate to explore different options until you find the one that fits your needs. HerbNJoy California dispensaries offer a wide selection of marijuana extracts from reputed brands. View our menu to find the right one for you:
Just remember: cannabis extracts are much more potent than flower due to their high THC content. Start slow and find your preferred dose!
