From Plant to Puff: Your Guide to Dabs

Dabs have taken the cannabis world by storm, offering a potent and flavorful way to experience cannabinoids and terpenes. But what exactly are dabs? How are they made? And why are they so popular? Let’s dive into the fascinating world of dabs and explore everything you need to know.

What Are Dabs?

Dabs are highly concentrated cannabis extracts, typically containing 70% or more THC. They come in a variety of forms, from sticky waxes to brittle shatters, each with its unique texture and flavor profile.

Dabbing vs. Smoking:

While both methods involve consuming cannabis, dabbing offers distinct advantages:

Potency: Dabs are significantly more concentrated than dried flower, offering a powerful experience.
Flavor: Terpenes are preserved during extraction, resulting in a richer and more nuanced flavor profile.
Cleanliness: Vaporizing extracts eliminates harmful byproducts generated by combustion, making it potentially gentler on the lungs.

Dabbing Equipment:

A typical dab rig resembles a bong with a water chamber and a nail instead of a bowl. The nail is heated using a torch to vaporize the dab. Electronic rigs (e-rigs) offer a more automated and temperature-controlled experience.

How Are Dabs Made?

Two main methods dominate the dab-making process:

Solvent Extraction: This involves using solvents like butane or propane to dissolve the cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis plant material. The solvent is then evaporated, leaving behind a concentrated extract. Different refinement techniques like dewaxing and winterization are often used to create specific textures and purities.
Solventless Extraction: This method relies on physical manipulation and temperature changes to isolate trichomes, the resinous glands that contain cannabinoids and terpenes. Popular solventless extraction methods include:
- Rosin: Using heat and pressure to extract oil from cannabis flower or kief.
- Bubble Hash: Immersing cannabis in ice water to separate frozen trichomes from plant matter.

The Dabbing Experience:

Dabs are typically consumed using a specialized device called a dab rig. The heated nail of the rig is touched to the dab, vaporizing it instantly for inhalation.

Here’s a list of the many dabs on the market and what distinguishes one from another. Concentrates are sorted according to how they are produced: Solvent extracts are made with solvents or chemicals; solventless extracts are made without them.

Wax: Made using a variety of techniques, commonly made with butane, and added to bowls, joints, or blunts for potency.
Pull ‘n’ snap: A glossy, flat concentrate with a soft, taffy-like texture, often resulting from hydrocarbon extracts left undisturbed during purging.
Budder/Batter/Badder: A type of wax with the consistency of cake batter, easy to handle, and often gold or blond in color.
Sugar: A semi-crystalline concentrate with a consistency like wet sugar, slightly looser and wetter than badder.
Crumble: A loose and dry extract that breaks apart easily, usually dark yellow in color, and made by drying the extract further than shatter.
Live resin: Made from frozen cannabis plants, retains more terpenes, and has a saucy consistency, ideal for vape cartridges.
Diamonds (isolates): Primarily made of one cannabis compound (e.g., THCA or CBD), forming a crystalline solid with little terpenes or flavor.
Sauce (terp sauce): A goopy solution of cannabinoids and terpenes, often containing diamonds, and known for its strong flavor.
Solventless extractions: Not made with chemicals, but using physical manipulation and temperature changes, often more labor-intensive and expensive.
Rosin: Made using heat and pressure, can be live rosin (made from frozen plants) or traditional rosin (from dried plant material), considered one of the purest types of concentrates.
Hash (dry-sift): Cannabis resin or kief packed or pressed together, often smoked but can also be dabbed or vaporized.
Bubble hash (ice water hash, ice hash): A solventless extract made with ice water, frozen trichomes are broken off and filtered to remove plant matter.

Safety First!

When dabbing, always prioritize safety:

Start Low, Go Slow: Begin with a tiny dab and gradually increase the amount as needed. Observe your body’s response and don’t push beyond your comfort zone.
Choose Trusted Sources: Purchase dabs from reputable dispensaries in legal markets that provide lab testing results for purity and solvent content.
Safe Environment: Dab in a familiar, comfortable environment where you feel relaxed and safe.
Have a Buddy: Dabbing with a friend can be safer and more enjoyable. They can help monitor your experience and ensure your well.

Dabs offer a powerful and flavorful way to experience cannabis, but it’s essential to approach them responsibly. By understanding the process, types of dabs available, and safety precautions, you can embark on a rewarding dabbing journey.