In 2014 the cannabis industry took a giant leap forward when Washington and Colorado legalized recreational cannabis. Since then, many states have relaxed their cannabis laws. Currently, 36 states have legalized medical cannabis, while 19 states have legalized medical and recreational cannabis. Many more states are working on legislation to legalize cannabis as well.
The legalization of cannabis has created a huge demand for cannabis products. Flower sales still dominate the cannabis market. However, in 2020 concentrate sales increased by 40%. The types currently dominating the market include:
- Badder
- Crumble
- Terpene Sauce or HTFSE (high terpene full spectrum extract)
- Shatter
In this article, we’ll review the types of concentrates to develop so your dispensary can remain competitive by offering the latest trends.
Cannabis Plants for Concentrate Production
A good concentrate can do more than get you high. It should also smell and taste good. To make a good concentrate, you need to begin with a potent cannabis flower that also has a good flavor and smell. If you plan to manufacture your own strains, a cannabis manufacturing consultant can help you design your grow space.
Plants that produce the best flowers for concentrates will have a large, bulbous head, rich with trichomes. These flowers tend to be very oily, which allows them to hold more cannabinoids and terpenes. The more cannabinoids and terpenes the flower can hold, the more potent and flavorful the concentrate will be.
Types of Concentrates to Develop
Once you’ve grown or purchased your cannabis flowers, you can begin the extraction process. The types of concentrates you want to produce will determine what extraction process you use. A cannabis extraction consultant can assist you with different extraction techniques.
The process begins by extracting the cannabinoids and terpenes from a high-quality cannabis flower that contains a high count of trichomes. This is done using a combination of water and/hydrocarbon solvent.
Hydrocarbon extraction is a tried and true method that creates various types of popular concentrates. Butane and propane are the common hydrocarbons used as solvents during the trichome extraction process. Advantages of using these types of solvents include efficiency, high yield, enhanced flavor/aroma profiles, strain preservation, safety, and versatility.
Batter, and Budder
Batter and budder are all similar concentrates named for their consistency. Butter’s consistency is very smooth like butter. In contrast, batter’s consistency can appear more like a sauce. They also come in a range of colors, from light brown to gold.
Batter and budder can be made from live resin, cured flower, or trim. The trichomes are extracted by using hydrocarbons in a closed-loop system. The budder must then be whipped on a hot plate at about 100℉ and placed into a vacuum oven.
Different strains will require different temperatures and agitation. Most batters and budders can be purged of remaining solvent between 24 to 72 hours.
After you’ve successfully developed your batter or budder, you will need to store it properly. These concentrates are very sensitive to temperature, air, humidity, and light. To prevent the concentrate from degrading, you should store it in a dark, airtight container and place it in a cool room.
The primary method for consuming batter or budder is by dabbing, however budder and badder can also be used to infuse pre-rolls.
Crumble
Crumble wax or honeycomb wax gets its name from its texture that easily falls apart. Due to its texture, it is one of the most versatile concentrates. In addition to being dabbed, crumble can be added to:
- Joints
- Blunts
- Spliffs
- Bowls
- Pipes
It can be made from cannabis flowers that have been flash-frozen at a low temperature or from dried and cured flowers. A hydrocarbon solvent is used to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes. Once plant matter is removed, heat and/or pressure is added to remove the solvent.
Crumble can take a long time to develop because it has a long purging process. It is purged at a low temperature for a long duration to dry it out since the extract needs to be very dry to get its crumbly texture.
It should also be stored in a dark, airtight container and placed in a cool room.
Terpene Sauce
Sauce concentrate refers to high terpene full spectrum extract (HTFSE). Sauce is currently one of the purest forms of cannabis concentrates available. This concentrate strives to capture the true essence of the plant and keep the trichome ratios as natural as possible, and by providing customers with an experience of the full terpene profile of each individual strain.
Sauce one of the most expensive cannabis products because of how pure it is. It can take several days to weeks to make since the solvent is left in the crude extract longer as it is combined with heat and pressure. Cutting-edge technology is used to develop sauce, and the process is a well-kept secret.
However, part of sauce’s known extraction process includes using a light hydrocarbon and sub-zero temperatures to carefully remove the trichomes from the cannabis plant. Then a dewax might be used to remove the fats and lipids. Finally, very mild heat is used to carefully remove the solvent.
Sauce can contain crystal-like structures and is often referred to as “diamonds”. Additionally, terpene sauce is about 50% terpenes and can be used in vape cartridges, known commonly as Sauce carts, Live Resin carts, or Liquid Live carts.
Shatter
Just like other cannabis concentrates, shatter gets its name from its consistency. It is very brittle and breakable and is popular among dabbing connoisseurs.
It is made similarly to that of other concentrates; trichomes are removed from high-quality cannabis flowers via a hydrocarbon solvent. But, the process alters during the post-extraction phase. Here, shatter is purged using very low temperatures and can last 24 hours.
Achieving a delicate consistency for shatter can be difficult. If it is not processed or stored correctly, you can end up with more of a sugar, budder, or crumble.
Shatter must be stored correctly or it will melt into oil. Heat is shatter’s enemy, and shatter should always be stored in a cool room. As with other concentrates, shatter should be stored in a dark, airtight container.
When storing any concentrate, avoid using plastic or metal containers as they can degrade your products. Alternatively, glass and silicone containers are great for storing concentrates.
Begin Developing Your Cannabis Concentrates
As the demand for concentrates continues to climb, it’s important that your processing company offers the latest cannabis trends to stay in the game. M Consulting Experts can assist you with any component of running your California cannabis processing and manufacturing facility. Our experienced consulting team can help ensure that your business experiences long-standing success. Contact us today to get started.