What is Kief? How do you collect it? What to do with it? How to store it? If these are your questions, keep an eye out as we will discuss all these and more in our article about the magical cannabis dust called Kief. Read more, and you will find out.
What Is Kief?
Imagine this, you are using a multi-chamber cannabis crusher with a dedicated lower chamber that collects a powdery substance that looks a lot like powdered-up cannabis. This can be best explained as cannabis dust. It is a pretty amazing thing with several usages. In fact, users claim that this is more potent and valuable than your premium strain itself.
Scientifically speaking, kief refers to tiny crystal-like structures that riddle the surface of the cannabis flower. Some scientists believe that kief is nothing but ground-up trichomes and glandular hairs that produce and store the plant’s cannabinoid profile, terpenes, and flavonoids.
Kief is essentially the ground-up cannabis dust that remains after you are done crushing your bud. Therefore, Delta 9 THC is the primary cannabinoid that can be found in kief. Hence, Delta 9 is the primary psychoactive element present in the substance. As for the sativa or indica debate, it wholly depends upon the strain you decide to grind.
How To Collect Kief?
The chemical and scientific component of the kief is pretty simple to understand. Kief is not a wholly new cannabis substance. In fact, it is the result of finely crushing cannabis buds. You can only collect kief and not grow it. As a result, here are a few of the best ways to collect kief.
Grinding
Most of the metal grinders come with a dedicated chamber called the kief chamber. What is it? Well, a kief chamber is a bottommost chamber that collects all the cannabis dust or kief that sifts through the metal mesh separating the crushed weed and kief chamber. As you keep grinding your cannabis, the trichomes and other crystalline structures from the leaf surface fall through and get collected.
The Kief Box Method
Apart from grinding, there is another more productive and convenient method for collecting kief. Consider buying a Kief box If you want to process larger quantities of Kief at home. This box’s sole purpose is to sift cannabis flowers and collect kief. Just take your cannabis flowers, put them into the box, and shake it well. Shake it like you are making a milkshake. As you keep shaking the flowers, trichomes start falling off of leaf surfaces. Subsequently, you will see that the kief is getting collected on the kief side of the contraption. Personally speaking, this is the better alternative as you will have enough substance to go forward.
How To Use Kief?
With the collection part out of the way, I think it is time we proceed to the next stage. Kief is primarily ground-up cannabis. As a result, it is a highly versatile substance that can be used for various different projects and recipes. In this section, we will explore some of those projects and usages in order to understand the true versatility of the substance.
Topping A Bowl
This is a personal favorite. I personally like crowning my bowl with a dash of kief. This greatly enhances the THC and terpene content of the cannabis. Moreover, I have noticed that adding kief helps burn the bowl better.
Rolling An Infused Joint
I am pretty sure you have smoked a joint. Otherwise, why else would you be here? But have you ever smoked a honey kief joint? Make a normal joint by following all the necessary steps that you need to follow. If you are done, do not light it up just yet. Take a very small amount of honey. A single drop would be enough as well. Use a cotton ball and coat the outer part of the joint with a thin layer of honey. This will work as an adhesive. Now take some kief and sprinkle it onto the honeyed part. Your honey kief joint is ready.
Homemade Hash
This might be a little complex for a beginner, so approach it carefully. Take the desired amount of kief and wrap it up in some parchment paper. Furthermore, once you are done wrapping, apply some heat and pressure to the paper. Use an iron or a curling rod to apply the desired heat and pressure. As a result, This will turn the kief into hash. Even though the process sounds easy, we will suggest that you stay away from it. Making hash sounds easier than it actually is.
Edibles
Last but not least, edibles are a great way of using Kief. In fact, if you ever tried making edibles, you will understand that it is not the easiest thing to do. However, if you have some kief, all you need to do is decarboxylating it effectively. Once you are done decarbing your cannabis, add it to a form of fat like butter or oil. This will ensure even distribution of THC and terpenes.
Storing Kief
Collecting and usage of kief are simple things to do. However, when you are dealing with a fine substance like kief, you need to take special care in order to store it properly.
Airtight containers are my personal go-to when I am storing my cannabis. Airtight containers keep the humidity out and keep the cannabis fresh and potent. Line up the walls with parchment paper and keep your kief in there.
Along with the container, you need to keep it away from elements like humidity and sunlight. Therefore, try storing the kief in a place where it remains away from heat and sunlight. Both of which can be detrimental to the health of the cannabis.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, all you need to know about the magical cannabis dust called kief. Kief is like ham, it has no discernable feature of the substance it resembles, yet it packs all the goodness. Next time you have some cannabis dust gathering at the bottom of your crusher, do not throw it away. Hence, keep it for further usage.
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