Did you know kief was the original THC concentrate?
In fact, the term kief is derived from the Arabic word kayf, meaning pleasure or well being.
Today kief refers to the powdery resin collected from the trichomes of cannabis. Trichomes are the crystal-like hairs covering the buds, and they contain most of the plant’s medicinal compounds.
Kief is made by removing these trichomes from the flower, resulting in a fine powder that packs a punch.
As it turns out, there are far more uses of kief other than just smoking it. Here are 7 things you probably never knew about this ancient concentrate.
#1) Kief contains high concentrations of THC
Kief provides a powerful high. While most flowers contain 12-25% THC, kief typically tests at around 50%. Some purer forms of kief can even reach upwards of 80% THC!
But what makes kief so much stronger?
Kief is made from the trichomes of the plant. Trichomes contain the highest concentrations of cannabinoids. When trichomes are isolated, you’re left with a more potent form of cannabis.
Which is why kief is a great option if you want to medicate quickly and require a strong dose. Because kief is so concentrated, it provides a rapid dose of cannabinoids and terpenes.
This is great news for patients who need instant relief.
#2) There are different colors of kief
Did you know there are different shades of kief?
In fact, purer kief is lighter in color. Dark green kief indicates there’s a lot of plant matter in the mix. This is because the kief hasn’t been cleaned very well.
When kief is cleaned properly, it produces an off-white color. Kief that is extracted correctly separates the trichome crystals from the plant matter, leaving only the purest (and most potent) parts of the plant behind.
#3) Kief can be added to coffee
Consuming kief isn’t limited to smoking.
For coffee fans, kief can easily be added to a cup of Joe. Now, for first-timers, the idea may sound pretty far out. However, the heat of the coffee actually activates the kief’s cannabinoids.
Working its way throughout the body’s digestive tract, the effects are longer lasting. Drinking kief is similar to eating an infused edible.
If you’re not a coffee fan, kief can just as easily be incorporated into tea. Keep in mind it only takes a small amount of kief (1mg for 6oz) to create a potent drink.
#4) There are multiple ways to collect Kief
A 3-piece grinder is the easiest (and arguably) most well-known way to collect kief. A byproduct of grinding your buds, kief collection in a grinder is something most cannabis fans are already familiar with. But there are numerous kief collection methods around.
When collecting larger amounts of kief, people will often use something known as a pollen sifter box. These boxes are made up of trays and screens designed to collect kief at the bottom tray. By distributing the trichomes and breaking them off from the buds, sifters expedite the extraction process.
Regardless of the extraction method you select, store your kief in a cool, dark place. For best quality (especially if it’s a large quantity) stir the kief every few days to keep it fresh.
#5) Kief burns very quickly
When kief is heated it burns very quickly. To avoid unnecessary waste, space your kief over the outside lining of the bowl. This will keep the kief burning longer in between hits.
The easiest way to use kief is by sprinkling it over flower.
You can do this with any bowl, joint, blunt etc. When opting for this method, remember that a little bit of kief goes a long way. Kief is much more potent than flower.
#6) Kief can be used for making butter
Searching for a stronger infusion for your edibles?
Consider using kief. Kief can be used for making infusions just like flowers or hash oil can. Because you don’t need as much kief for the same potency, it’s less likely to affect the flavor.
To make kief butter you will first need to make sure that you’re working with decarboxylated kief. This means that the kief has been heated to activate the THC. You can learn more about how to decarboxylate kief here.
Once decarboxylated, the kief is now ready for cooking.
Simply place the butter into a saucepan over medium heat. Then, slowly incorporate the kief, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes until dissolved. Once finished, kief butter can be stored in an airtight freezer container for up to 6 months.
