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Looking for a guide on dabbing for beginners? You’re in the right place! Whether you’re completely new to cannabis, or an experienced weed aficionado who is ready to branch out into dabbing, you’ll find the info you need here– keep reading!
Are Dabs Good for Beginners?
Dabbing is a method of consuming concentrated cannabis products, such as hash oil or wax, by vaporizing them on a hot surface and inhaling the vapor. It is not typically recommended for beginners for several reasons:
- Potency: Dabs are highly concentrated forms of cannabis, often containing much higher levels of THC than traditional flower. This can result in a much more intense and potentially overwhelming high, especially for those with low tolerance or no prior experience with cannabis.
- Precise Equipment: Dabbing requires specialized equipment, which may include a dab rig, nail, torch, and dabbing tool. Learning how to use this equipment properly can be challenging for weed newbies.
- Temperature Control: Controlling the temperature of the dabbing surface is crucial to avoid overheating the concentrate, which can lead to harsh and unpleasant vapor. Achieving the right temperature may be tricky for newcomers.
If you are brand new to cannabis, it is generally advisable to start with less potent methods of consumption, such as smoking a bowl, eating an edible, or using a vaporizer. These methods are easy to use and are less likely to result in overwhelming effects.
But if you have prior experience with cannabis and you’re ready to take the next step into dabbing concentrates, then this blog post is for you! Keep reading to learn more about dabbing tips and different types of dabs.
Benefits of Dabbing
One benefit of dabbing is that you are inhaling vapor, not smoke. Why is dabbing healthier than smoking? The low vaporization temperature of concentrates means that no burned plant material, tar, or other carcinogens enter your lungs.
Dabbing also allows for more accurate dosing and a more customizable experience. The many types of potent concentrates available means you can opt for a personalized, well-rounded, strain-specific high with just one dab– and without lung irritation.
Dabbing Tips
The process of dabbing can feel overwhelming at first, but we’re here to help! Talk to the knowledgeable budtenders at your closest From The Earth dispensary– they can help you find all the necessary accessories for your dab rig and teach you how to use them.
What is the simplest way to dab?
With a dab pen! Dab pens allow you to forego the somewhat complicated process of using a dab rig and are very easy to use.
No matter what dabbing method you choose, make sure to always start with a small dab and work your way up slowly to determine your tolerance. Concentrates are quite potent, and it is easy to over-consume if you’re not careful.
Types of Dabs
There are several different types of concentrates. The consistency of the concentrate, along with the cannabinoid and terpene profile of the cannabis strain that it was extracted from, are just a couple of the factors that affect the taste, aroma, and effects of your dabbing experience. Some of the kinds of extracts used for dabbing include:
Cured Concentrates
Cured concentrates are cannabis extracts that are made from cannabis flower that has undergone a curing process. Curing is standard practice in the cultivation of cannabis plants, by which they are harvested, hung to dry, and then cured in jars.
After the flower is cured, it goes through a distillate extraction process using a solvent like CO2, which is then removed from the extract before packaging. Cured cannabis concentrates are known for their high THC percentage and are usually named for their texture & consistency. They include:
- Shatter – translucent, glass-like consistency
- Wax – softer, malleable texture like earwax
- Budder – creamy, butter-like consistency
- Crumble – texture similar to feta cheese
Live Resin Concentrates
Live resin is extracted with a solvent from fresh frozen cannabis plants, which helps preserve a broader range of terpenes. This results in a more aromatic and flavorful concentrate. Some types of live resin include:
Live Badder
Live badder’s texture is similar to cake batter or icing. It is creamy and smooth, making it easy to handle and consume. Live badder’s rich cannabinoid and terpene profile provides a well-rounded high.
Gary Payton Live Badder from Illicit Gardens is a potent and flavorful hybrid strain that’s perfect for dabbing!
Live Sugar
Live sugar gets its name from its granular, sugary appearance. It has a crystalline texture that can range from moist and saucy to more solid and crumbly. The texture is often the result of the high terpene content and the separation of cannabinoids from the mixture.
Try Illicit’s Violet Fog Live Sugar for a deeply soothing, skunky grape-flavored indica high.
Diamonds & Sauce
Diamonds and Sauce are two other types of live resin extracts that are often mixed together to create diamonds & sauce, which consists of pure, crystalline THC-A “diamonds” in a liquid “sauce,” or terpene-rich oil.
After crude cannabis oil is extracted from frozen weed plants, careful manipulation of temperature, pressure, and other factors creates crystalline chunks of THC-A, called “diamonds.”
The liquid portion of the concentrate that remains after the THC-A crystals are separated is referred to as the “sauce.” This sauce is rich in terpenes and other cannabinoids, and it contributes to the flavor and aroma of the concentrate.
To create diamonds & sauce, the THC-A diamonds are reintroduced into the terpene-rich sauce, creating a final product that combines the potent THC-A crystals with the aromatic sauce. Because diamonds are nearly 100% THC, diamonds & sauce is one of the most potent concentrates available.
Try Illicit Gardens’ Diamonds & Sauce for the ultimate in THC potency + full spectrum flavor & benefits!
Live Rosin Concentrates
What is the healthiest way to dab? Probably live rosin. Live rosin is similar to live resin in that it is made from terpene-rich, flash-frozen cannabis. The difference is that live rosin is a solventless concentrate– no chemicals like butane or CO2 are used in the live rosin extraction process.
Instead, the live rosin extraction process uses just heat and pressure to draw out the cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis flowers. Because of this, live rosin has a very robust flavor profile and is considered the cleanest cannabis extract.
Best Type of Concentrate to Dab
The best type of concentrate to dab depends upon your personal preferences. Some people prefer the high THC levels of cured concentrates for a more intense psychoactive experience, while others who prioritize flavor, aroma, and a well-rounded high gravitate toward live resin or live rosin extracts.
No matter which type of dab you choose, ensure that you only purchase concentrates from a reputable Missouri dispensary like From The Earth. We only carry concentrates from producers that prioritize quality and safety in their extraction processes. Shop extracts now!
About the Author:
David Craig is the VP of Marketing for Illicit and From The Earth. Craig has been on the ground floor of developing multiple lifestyle and retail brands in the cannabis, fitness, and entertainment industries from Las Vegas to New York City.
