It’s nearly impossible to describe the world of cannabis with just one word, but if I had to narrow it down to one, I’d choose “innovative.” As markets have matured in the age of legalisation, industry pros have been creating products that reach beyond the simple joints of yore to meet consumer demand, and one such category is that of cannabis concentrates.
You may have heard of concentrates, an umbrella term that refers to any type of cannabis product that is refined from flower into a more pure and potent form. Flower products subdivide themselves into indica, sativa, hybrid, and then again into strain names, like Funk Master and Pink Kush, and concentrates do the same.
Many cannabis consumers turn to concentrates for their pure and potent cannabinoid delivery, sometimes up to 90% THC. In Canada, cannabis concentrates take up about 2.9% of the market, and that market size is only growing.
As the name suggests, concentrates are created by “concentrating” compounds like THC and CBD through extraction processes like solventless ice water agitation, or hydrocarbon, supercritical CO2, and alcohol/ethanol extraction. Even if you leave aside the science of extractions, if you are a consumer new to concentrates, the options and lingo alone can be a little dizzying, and it’s hard to know where to begin. So let’s take a look at what concentrates are available in Canada.
Live Resin
You’ve probably heard of cannabinoids and terpenes, but you may not have heard yet of trichomes. Think of trichomes as the house where cannabinoids and terpenes live. Cannabis plants naturally secrete resin, a sticky substance that comes from trichomes. To make live resin, cannabis plants are immediately frozen after harvest to keep the trichomes intact, making for a fragrant and flavorful consumer experience. With a more sauce-like consistency, live resin is often used in vape cartridges.
Hash
After thousands of years of human consumption, hash is finding itself at the top of the concentrate sales charts in Canada. Often used interchangeably with hashish, hash is compacted cannabis resin that is separated from the plant using screens or ice water and is often consumed in a pipe. At the end of the process, it has a brown colour and a potency range of 20-60%.
Distillate
When cannabis oil is refined through the process of distillation, which isolates specific cannabis compounds, a viscous and golden liquid called distillate is created that is often used in vape carts, edibles, and topicals.
Wax
This is a broad term that generally refers to cannabis concentrates that look, well, waxy. Often consumed by dabbing, it can be added to joints and bowls for extra potency. You may also hear wax referred to as “butter,” “honeycomb,” or more, based on the wax’s appearance.
Crumble
Ranging in colour from pale to deep yellow, crumble gets its name from its powdery dry consistency that, you guessed it, crumbles. Typically consumed by dabbing, crumble potency sometimes reaches up to 90% THC.
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Diamonds
If you leave a purified cannabinoid like THCA or CBDA under the right conditions (typically carefully balanced heat and pressure) for weeks at a time (in a process called “diamond mining”), they will become a crystalline solid, or diamonds, with a high cost and high level of purity.
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Moon Rocks
If Diamonds aren’t doing it for you, maybe a moon rock instead? Moon rocks are a cannabis concentrate that pulls out all the stops: cannabis flower covered in cannabis concentrate and dusted with kief. Moon Rocks are not typically dabbed. Instead, pieces are placed in a bowl of flower, in a joint, or smoked solo in a pipe.
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Rosin
Often considered to be the purest form of cannabis concentrate because of its chemical-free creation process, rosin is solventless and potent. Rosin is harvested using only ice water, and prepared using only heat and pressure. Due to the delicate nature of rosin, hash makers that attempt it must be highly skilled at quality control from seed to shelf, further adding to the artisan nature of this concentrate.
Shatter
Shatter is a gold or amber-colored concentrate that has a reputation as one of the most potent out there, regularly reaching 80-90% THC, and is named for its fragile, glass-like appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Brands of Concentrate Brands are Available in Canada?
Here at Friendly Stranger we offer a range of concentrate brands, including Kolab Project, Vortex, Highly Dutch, TRX, and more.
What is the Most Popular Type of Concentrate?
According to data, Canadian consumers prefer hash.
Can You Buy Live Resin With Diamonds in Sauce in Canada?
Yes!