The fine coating of trichomes adorning premium flower wards off predators, provides UV protection, and retains moisture. For cannabis consumers, weed trichomes are nature’s shimmering treasure chests, the receptacles that deliver the cannabinoids and terpenes responsible for the flavors, aromas, and effects of their favorite strains. Some trichomes are clearly visible in and around the flower’s calyx; others only come into view using a high-powered microscope.
When you handle dried flower, you might notice a light dusting of sticky residue collecting on your fingertips or clinging to the bottom of your grinder. You’ll want to resist any sudden urge to wash it off. That little bonus breaking away from your bud is called kief. Of course, the cannabis experts at Colorado’s Chronic Therapy Dispensary locations will be happy to answer any questions you may have about kief when we see you in person. Until then, knowing what kief is and what you can do with it is helpful.
What Is Kief?
Kief, also known as pollen or dust, comprises dried cannabis trichomes that dislodge from the flower. The color can range from blonde to shades of brown and feel somewhat tacky or sticky. Although the pollen-like particles may not look all that remarkable, kief weed is considerably more potent and flavorful than dried cannabis flower because that lingering dust is highly concentrated. Most cannabis flower is 30% THC or less. Kief, on the other hand, typically tests between 50% and 80%.
How to Collect Kief
The plump, swollen trichomes on top-shelf flower typically look like finely milled sugar. Product manufacturers harvesting mature flower and leaves for their trichomes typically wait for natural oxidation. Many reputable companies collect the dry, broken structures to make kief-enhanced smokables and edibles or use the pollen to make hashish or slow-burning rosin. Of the many methods cannabis consumers use to collect kief, the following examples are among the most popular.
Catch Kief in Your Grinder
Cannabis enthusiasts who understand the value of kief also collect the powdery byproduct. Those on a mission to optimize their stash use a grinder with a kief catcher to prep their flower before smoking. Some put a clean, dry, ridgeless coin in the middle chamber to help optimize their collection rate. The coin helps liberate the resinous glands from the flower.
Use Specialized Collection Tools
When collecting kief is your top priority, consider investing in specialized tools designed to get the most kief from your flower – a kief box, for example. It’s a small wooden storage box with a screen that allows the kief to fall through naturally. You can shake the box to accelerate the process. Micron screens work on the same principle but require catching the kief in a container placed beneath the screen.
Buy Kief-Infused Prerolls from Chronic Therapy
The only downside to collecting kief on your own is the amount of time it can take to build your stash, especially if you’re not in the habit of purchasing flower exclusively. If you don’t want to wait to experience the virtues of cannabis “dust,” consider trying kief-infused pre-rolls. Your Chronic Therapy budtender can suggest the ideal sativa, indica, or hybrid strain for the experience you’re looking for.
What Can You Do with Kief?
Once you’ve acquired a reasonable amount of kief, you have multiple ways to enjoy it. If you want to use your kief to make hashish, for example, you have several options. The easiest method requires a press to compress your pollen into blocks. To make rosin, you’ll need a preheated rosin press, parchment paper, and heat-resistant gloves to enjoy the essence of your favorite strains. You also have several ways to experience everything kief offers with minimal effort.
Make Moon Rocks
Moon rocks pack a significant punch. The process itself, however, is quite simple. First, coat a small nugget with hashish oil using a small brush. Once the exterior is well-coated, roll the oiled nug in kief and let the nug dry thoroughly. Break off a piece of your moonrock and smoke it with a pipe or bong.
Add Kief to a Joint or Bong
You don’t need to collect a significant stash of kief to enjoy it. You can always add a small amount to increase the potency of any cannabis strain by sprinkling a fine line of kief on top of your flower to make a kief joint or crown a bowl. You can also wet the outer tip of a pre-roll and swirl the end in your pollen.
Make THC-Infused Edibles
Once you’ve activated the THC, kief is a noteworthy addition to nearly any cannabis edible. The process is simple: Spread your kief on a lined pan and bake at 240°F for 45-60 minutes. Then, add your decarboxylated kief to an equal amount of melted butter or oil to use in your favorite recipes.
Discover Why Colorado Residents Choose Chronic Therapy Cannabis Products
Colorado cannabis consumers appreciate the expertly cultivated strains available in our Wheat Ridge and Cortez dispensaries. Our plants are grown in a perfectly dialed environment, and our buds are slow-cured to ensure each strain reaches its full potential. We also carry an impressive selection of products created by several other reputable brands, including Love’s Oven, TasteBudz, and dialed-in gummies.
If you have questions about collecting kief, want tips about what to do with kief, or have questions about the kief-infused prerolls on our diverse menu, submit a contact form. Each Chronic Therapy location offers a unique selection of strains and products and serves residents and visitors 21+.
Featured Image Credit: Dmytro Tyshchenko/Shutterstock