From the casual user to the hardcore enthusiast, Colorado cannabis culture has something for everyone. Are you looking to expand your horizons and upgrade your THC experience? If so, then dabbling with dabbing might be the natural next step for you.
Here at Greenfields Cannabis Co. in Denver, we want to help you become more familiar with the process. We’re here to answer your questions like, “What is dabbing?” and “What’s the difference between a dab pen and a vape pen?” Keep reading for your first crash course in dabs!
DABS 101
“Dabs” is a word commonly used to describe concentrated forms of marijuana, and “dabbing” refers to the method used to consume those concentrates. Whether you choose to tackle an elaborate dab rig or puff on a pre-filled vape pen, it’s essential to understand that concentrates pack a big punch that will affect you very quickly. These concentrates can boast impressively high THC percentages of up to 90%! That’s why we say, “Just a dab will do ya.” Dabbing involves the vaporization of cannabis concentrates, commonly referred to as wax, shatter, budder, live resin, rosin, or oil. Unlike traditional consumption methods like smoking flower, dabbing delivers a potent and flavorful experience by heating the concentrate up, typically on a nail or banger, and inhaling the vapor produced.
How To Use Dabs
Don’t let dabbing intimidate you just because you’re new to it. As with any process, it’s just a matter of having the right tools and learning how to use them. Dabs must be carefully prepared and can be vaporized at low temps for more flavor or higher temps for bigger clouds and you have several options when it comes to dabbing methods. Here are a few ways to enjoy dabs:
A Dab Rig
Similar to a water bong, a dab rig is used to inhale cannabis vapor through water. Instead of a bowl piece for flower, a dab rig has an attachment called a nail (or sometimes a banger), which is torched until it reaches the desired temperature. Then, a dab of your preferred concentrate is placed on the hot nail or banger with a dab tool, and the material gets vaporized and can be inhaled through the mouthpiece.
E-Rig
Short for “electronic rig,” an E-Rig provides you with a more portable, efficient and controlled way to dab. It has the same elements as a traditional dab rig but uses an electric or battery-powered heat source instead. This precision temperature control means you can always count on an E-Rig to provide an incredible flavor and consistent user-friendly dabbing experience.
A Dab Pen
For those on the go, a dab pen is a favorite choice because it is portable and discreet. These portable vaporizers consist of a battery, an atomizer or coil, and a mouthpiece. Dab pens are made to heat your choice of concentrate like wax, shatter, live resin, or rosin and allows you to switch up the strains/flavors between sessions. Whereas a vape pen is typically designed for live resins, rosins, distillates, or oils.
A Dab Straw
Sometimes known as a “nectar collector,” a dab straw is a handheld tube made of glass, quartz, ceramic or titanium. Once the tip of the straw is heated with a torch, you can dip it directly into your dab container and slowly inhale. They’re affordable, portable, and great for beginners!
Different Types of Dabs and Their Effects
Dab formulas go by many names depending on consistency and the extraction process. Some concentrates are drier and crumbly, wax, while others are sticky, like live rosin or water hash, or creamy, like budder. Some dabs are made using a solvent-based extraction process, known as hydrocarbon extraction, and others are solventless extractions which means it doesn’t use a chemical for extraction. Typically solventless material is made using Ice, Water, Heat and Pressure. All are highly potent and should be chosen carefully based on your experience and tolerance and preference.
Ask a Greenfields expert to help you determine which dabs might work best for you, including:
- Wax: Wax is a type of cannabis concentrate known for its sticky, wax-like texture. It is created through a process of extracting cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant using solvents or mechanical methods, resulting in a highly potent product.
- Shatter: Shatter is a translucent cannabis concentrate that resembles brittle glass. It gets its name from its tendency to break or “shatter” into pieces when handled. Shatter is prized for its high potency and clarity.
- Budder: Budder is a cannabis concentrate with a creamy, butter-like consistency. It is created through a similar extraction process as wax but with different post-processing techniques, resulting in a smoother texture and often a more robust flavor profile.
- Crumble: Crumble, also known as crumble wax, is a cannabis concentrate that has a crumbly, brittle texture. It is made using similar extraction methods as wax and shatter but with different temperature and pressure conditions, resulting in a more fragmented texture.
- Live Resin: Live resin is a cannabis concentrate made from fresh, flash-frozen cannabis plants. This freezing process helps preserve the plant’s original terpene profile, resulting in a concentrate with a robust aroma and flavor that closely resembles the living plant.
- Rosin: Rosin is a solventless cannabis concentrate produced by applying heat and pressure to cannabis flower, kief, or hash. This process squeezes out the cannabinoids and terpenes without the use of solvents, resulting in a clean and potent concentrate.
- Hash: Hash, short for hashish, is one of the oldest forms of cannabis concentrate. It is made by compressing trichome-rich cannabis resin into a solid block or paste. Hash can vary in texture and potency depending on factors such as production method and strain used.
Why dabbing over traditional methods of smoking?
If you need more reasons to dive into dabbing, consider the following:
Dabbing is one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to consume cannabis. The physical effects of dabs can be felt immediately and often last longer. Many people also feel that the vaporization process makes dabs easier on the lungs. Last but not least, dabs are available in a huge array of flavorful and aromatic formulas!
Dabbing Made Easy: Greenfields Cannabis Co. Offers User-Friendly Solutions
Ready to hit the dab rig? Visit either of our Denver dispensaries at Mississippi Avenue or Navajo Street to learn more about dabbing from one of our friendly budtenders. Don’t forget to ask us about our loyalty program and current specials!
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