The Cannabis Extract ABCs

From the many variations of cannabis wax to the evolution of distillate, learn about the different types of cannabis extracts.

Extracts have come a long way from the early days of hashish or even the alcohol-based tinctures that used to take several weeks. The big, wide world of cannabis extracts seems to keep getting bigger, and that’s exciting! 

It also means there are constantly new terms to learn. Sometimes, two (or more) terms can refer to the same thing. Other times extracts that sound the same are definitely NOT the same, etc. Basically, it can get overwhelming and fast.

Have cannabis trim or biomass and not sure what kind of extract to transform it into? Just trying to enhance your cannabis knowledge? Keep reading and learn all about the big, beautiful world of cannabis extracts and concentrates.

Cannabis Hash 

Hash, or hashish, is one of the oldest extracts, and it’s been around for thousands of years. Today, there are several different kinds of hash, but they all involve solventless extraction of cannabis trichomes.

Trichomes, those sometimes alien-looking glands, are gathered by agitating dried cannabis and sifting it through a finely woven mesh screen. This separates the sticky, resinous trichomes from the rest of the cannabis plant. Dry sift hash can easily be added to bowls or incorporated into joints or blunts to add potency. It can also be made into pressed hash by, you guessed it, mechanically pressing it until it forms a dense slab. 

Bubble hash, or ice water hash, involves adding cannabis material to ice water, which is then stirred or “washed.” Trichomes break off into the liquid, which is filtered through fine sieving screens. The resin is gathered, dried, and can be dabbed or pressed into rosin. The process of creating this extract is gentle and, in our experience, it preserves the flavor and aroma of cannabis more effectively than other concentrates. This makes it our preferred matrix for cannabis aroma testing, and it’s even what we chose to analyze for our recent Science of Exotic Cannabis research.

Freeze-dried bubble hash starts the same, but the drying process requires more advanced equipment. Instead of allowing the moisture to evaporate via air drying, freeze drying uses a combination of sublimation and vacuum technology to dry the resin in a much shorter time. This minimizes the loss of aromatic compounds while eliminating the risk of microbial growth.

Cannabis Kief

Kief is very similar to dry sift hash. They’re both solventless extractions that require the separation of trichomes from the plant. Because of this, “dry sift” and “kief” are often used interchangeably without too much trouble. However, while hash can be created using several different methods, kief is made from the dried, loose trichomes that break off of a cannabis bud. 

If you’ve ever collected the fine powder that gathers at the bottom of a three-chamber grinder, you’ve technically extracted kief. This is a simple, inexpensive way to gather your own extract. Making large amounts of very high-quality kief can be tricky, though. Kief can measure between 75 and 125 microns, so you’ll want to sift it through three to four layers of very fine mesh screens for the highest quality.

Cannabis Resin

We’ve mentioned resin once or twice already, and that’s because many other extracts use resin as their basis. The material gathered after washing plant matter to create bubble hash? That’s resin! This solventless extract contains various cannabinoids, terpenes, and other aromatic compounds from which concentrates are extracted. 

Cannabis Rosin

Rosin is made using solventless extraction. Technicians use a combination of heat and pressure to extract the trichome-rich resin, resulting in a concentrate with a butter, cake, or shatter-like consistency. This can be done with regular flower, trim, kief, bubble hash, freeze-dried bubble hash, and more. If the starting plant material has not been dried or cured, it’s considered live rosin.

Cannabis Distillate

Cannabis distillate involves extracting resinous trichomes from plant matter, winterization to remove unwanted compounds like fats and lipids, decarboxylation, and then the actual distillation process. Essentially, distillates isolate a specific range of compounds (often cannabinoids), which is why these concentrates frequently have impressive purity levels.

When done correctly, you’ll be left with a versatile product that’s potent and ready for immediate use in dabs, carts, and as an ingredient for edibles, topicals, etc. Since most aromatic compounds are stripped during the distillation process, distillate should be a relatively blank canvas. Manufacturers can use it as-is, add it to finished products, add terpenes, etc.

Cannabis CannaClear

For an extract that’s a true blank canvas with maximum purity and no residual aroma or flavor, you’ll want CannaClear. CannaClear is created by taking an isolated, purified THCA powder and heating or “melting” it into active THC. Once complete, it looks like a flowable translucent liquid that will solidify as it cools to room temperature.

We’ve achieved 99% THC purity with a visual clarity level close to that of water. Ultimately, this is a flavorless, odorless concentrate that can be used in finished products the same way distillate can. Compared to distillate, which can have lower total THC levels due to higher concentrations of other cannabinoids, CannaClear isolates and concentrates THC to minimize minor cannabinoids. This creates a more consistent composition compared to distillate.

Cannabis Crumble

As the name suggests, cannabis crumble, also sometimes referred to as honeycomb, crumbles easily. This dry, powdery concentrate is made using a solvent such as butane, propane, or CO2. It can have THC levels up to 90%, it tends to be a yellow color, and over time, it usually hardens and can display discoloration. 

It can be made using dried buds or fresh frozen cannabis. Using the latter would technically make it a live resin crumble. The extraction process is similar to shatter, but it involves using a lower heat for extended amounts of time. The additional time in the vacuum makes it one of the driest concentrates.

Cannabis Shatter

Cannabis shatter is hard and relatively translucent, and it can crack or “shatter” like glass. It’s important to note that making shatter involves solvents like butane, which have flammable fumes. That being the case, BHO (butane hash oil) extracts should only be made by professionals with safe closed-loop systems. 

The process involves pushing solvents through cannabis material to strip desired compounds like THC and CBD. The oil is then gathered and can sometimes undergo additional refinement techniques like purging and winterization. The finished product is gold or amber-colored and often consumed in vapes or with dab rigs. Potency can vary depending on extraction techniques, equipment, and plant matter, but it can test upwards of 80% THC.

Cannabis Badder

This malleable cannabis concentrate has the thick consistency of cake batter and is usually golden or pale gold. Cannabis badder, or cannabis batter, is made using chemical solvents (usually butane or propane). The resulting oil is whipped during or after the purging process. This encourages the cannabinoids to crystalize, which helps achieve the desired consistency.

Subtle nuances in the extraction process can result in a concentrate that’s more viscous and frosting-like or creamy like dairy butter. When the consistency is firmer, it’s often referred to as cannabis budder. Either way, these extracts can have cannabinoid concentrations ranging from 70% to even 90%, robust aromas and flavors, and they’re simple to use in vapes or dab rigs.

Cannabis Live Resin

Live resin is made via solvent-based extraction and results in a sticky, syrupy concentrate with a potent aroma. Using plants that have been frozen immediately after harvest helps maintain the natural array of aromatic compounds. While different methods can cause aromatic variations, live resin can preserve aromas well over time and is very popular for vaping.

Due to the naturally high terpene levels in live resin, the overall experience for the consumer is often enhanced since terpenes are necessary for the entourage effect. In addition, their thinner consistency increases ease-of-use, making them ideal for vape cartridges.

Cannabis Sauce

Cannabis sauce is made using solvent-based extraction, which can take anywhere from several days to several weeks. That may seem a bit extreme, but the quality of the final product is well worth the wait. 

Instead of removing the solvents all at once, they’re left in much longer to encourage the crystallization of specific cannabinoids. Once all the solvents have been removed, you’re left with a yellow or amber-colored liquid with “diamonds” floating on the surface. The liquid portion will be extremely high in terpenes (aka “terp sauce”), while the crystals are rich in cannabinoids.

This high-terpene extract is ideal for consumers who want robust flavors and aromas. The aromatics are so well maintained that we often analyze sauce to develop some of our most popular terpene profiles.

Cannabis Sugar

While it doesn’t exactly look like the white, granular sugar you might be thinking of, cannabis sugar has some seriously sweet properties. Sometimes referred to as sugar wax, this extract can look like undissolved sugar that’s been mixed with a liquid. It can be made with fresh frozen cannabis (aka live resin sugar) or dried flower, and the semi-crystalline final product is usually golden, amber, or bright yellow.

Similar to making budder, nuances in heat and agitation techniques during the extraction process will influence how cannabinoids crystallize, changing the resulting texture. Extractors will adjust a wide variety of variables during the process to achieve their desired consistency.

The granular texture is practical for use in dab rigs and vapes, it’s easy to incorporate into edibles, and it retains much of its aromatic profile. However, sugar can quickly degrade if not stored properly.

Cannabis Wax

Cannabis wax can take many forms (badder, shatter, sugar, etc.), so it’s really more of an umbrella term than a specific type of extract. The differences are mainly textural and aesthetic. 

On one end, you have shatter with its glass-like consistency. On the other end, you have more malleable extracts like sugar. On a chemical level, they’re relatively similar. Their molecular structures, however, are different. This makes some of them more suitable for vape cartridges, while others would be easier to consume with a dab rig.

Transform Trim and Biomass into the Highest Quality Extracts with Abstrax Toll Processing

At Abstrax, we’re committed to cannabis excellence. Whether through our peer-reviewed research or the development of the world’s biggest cannabis hydrocarbon extractor, we’re always searching for the next breakthrough in cannabis science and technology.

"At Abstrax, we're not just pushing the envelope; we're redefining the boundaries of what's possible in cannabis extraction," said Max Koby, Co-Founder and CEO of Abstrax. "Our new hydrocarbon extractor is a game-changer for the industry, enabling us to deliver unparalleled quality and efficiency for our clients."

Our California customers can now skip the headache of in-house processing and transform trim and biomass into high-quality extracts within fifteen days of placing an order. Through our comprehensive post-processing techniques, we produce the finest quality live resin and cured concentrates from CannaClear and sugar to budder, batter, wax, and more.

Our toll processing services may only be available in California right now, but rest assured that we’re ready to grow and expand right alongside the cannabis industry.

Interested in our toll processing services? Contact us today, and let’s get started.

Enhance Your Cannabis Extracts with the BEST Terpene Profiles and Blends

SHOP GMO

As the first to benefit from our breakthrough discovery, GMO is kicking off the next era of botanical aromatics. Flavorants Skatole and Indole multiply its notoriously savory and funky notes for a loud, gassy, and undeniably pungent finish.

SHOP Orange Apricot

Revel in the next evolution of botanical aromatics with bright petroleum-fueled Orange Apricot. Tropicannasulfurs create an exhilarating medley of Tangie-forward citrus with deafeningly loud notes of sweet gas. Welcome to the future.

SHOP King Louie XIII

Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Indeed, this monarch carries the traditional OG impact concentrated in a pleasantly cranial direction. This profile is just straight gas. If you want to get loud, look no further. The king is here.

SHOP Jack Herer

Born from thousands of hours of research and development, the Signature Series represents a brand new age of authenticity in cannabis. Made in full collaboration with the cultivator themselves - this is the definitive Jack Herer.

SHOP Blue Dream

After years of searching, we’ve discovered the best version of this cultivar and modeled it from a particularly juicy sauce. This invigorating blend of sweet blueberries captures the sexiest, most iconic version of Blue Dream.

 

SHOP Durban Poison

The name may sound ominous, but Durban Poison is the dank wake-n-bake option you’ve been waiting for. The sweet pine and citrus provides a jolt of cerebral stimulation that heightens the senses and sharpens focus.

SHOP Ghost Train Haze

Notorious for its ability to send users deep into the spirit realm, Ghost Train Haze does so in an amazingly gentle fashion. Hailing from a cross between Neville’s Wreck and Ghost OG, this sativa is best for veteran stoners.

SHOP Lemon Cherry Gelato

As the drool-worthy descendant of beloved cultivars Sunset Sherbet and Girl Scout Cookies, Lemon Cherry Gelato is deliciously decadent. Citrus and sweet berries swirl together for an aroma that’s fruity, dank, and indulgent.