If you’re new to using cannabis, then it can be confusing to learn the different terms associated with weed and how they affect you. Hash and kief have many similarities and can be used to help you get the therapeutic effects of the cannabis plant.
However, there are also several differences between hash vs kief that you should be aware of. In this guide, we will describe the difference between hash and kief, including how and when to use each. We will also highlight some of the best hash vs kief concentrates to use.
Kief vs Hash: What’s The Difference?
Hash is a very old, concentrated version of marijuana. It’s made from trichomes, which are the resin glands that line the surface of the cannabis plant. For centuries, many cultures have used processes to separate the resin from the marijuana plant. However, since it has become legal in many parts of the world, many new ways to prepare hash have taken the industry by storm.
Kier, also known as dry sift or pollen, refers to the resin glands of the marijuana plant. They look like tiny, sticky crystals that cover the cannabis flower. The plant’s resin glands contain cannabinoids and terpenes, which are the bioactive compounds that give marijuana its medicinal powers. Marijuana without kief still contains cannabinoids. However, the restin glands that grow on the flower buds carry a larger amount of these compounds.
Kief specifically refers to the crystal formation on the tip of the gland. The substance itself is just a hair – also known as a trichome. The marijuana plant contains trichomes to protect itself from bugs and other pests from eating it. They produce an intense psychoactive experience that disorients the predator and prevents it from eating the rest of the plant. The resin has a strong and unique odor that tells predators to stay away.
So, what’s the difference between hash and kief? Hash is made by extracting kief. It’s basically just kief that has been pressurized and heated to form a soft, green substance. Heating and applying pressure to kief ruptures its resin glands, changing its composition and color. Once the resin glands are ruptured, it changes the taste and effects of the plant. Pressurizing it also causes a darker color. Generally, the more pressure you apply, the darker the color.
Here are some of the primary differences between hash and kief:
- Hash is essentially kief that has gone through a heating and pressure process that turns it into a ball or brick
- Kief is the resin that is made from the hairs or trichomes of the plant
- Hash tends to be more potent than other types of marijuana products, meaning that you can buy less of it and still get an incredible high – making it a better bang for your buck
- Kief that is heated and pressurized causes the resin glands to rupture, causing the kief to change color – the more pressurized it is, the darker the color
How To Use Kief and Hash
There are several ways you can use kief and hash. Hash is best used in oil or wax form because you can put it in a vape. On the other hand, kief is in powder form, meaning that you can do just about anything with it. Here are some ideas:
1. Sprinkle kief into a bowl of cannabis.
This is also known as crowning a bowl. A dusting of kief on top of your bowl can increase the potency of your bowl and provide a more intense high.
2. Sprinkle kief into a rolled joint.
You can sprinkle kief into a rolled joint to add to the intensity, giving you a more intense high. The kief should stick to the ground cannabis nicely.
3. Make hash or moon rocks.
You can use your kief to make hash by extracting the kief then applying heat and pressure to it. You can also make moon rocks, which are nuggets covered in oil and rolled in kief. They are easy to make at home if you have all the right materials. Start by heating the oil of your choice and coating the buds in it. Sprinkle the kief over the buds when they are still warm and let them harden. Then break them up by hand and sprinkle them into your bowl.
4. Sprinkle it into a latte or baked goods.
Adding kief to your baked goods or latte can help give you the kick you desire. Here are some of the best hash and kief products available:
- Moon Rock Pre-Rolled Blunt
- Tropical Smash Melon Hash
- Flavored Moon Rocks
- Jokerz Hash
- Old School Black Hash
- Blonde hash
Although kief isn’t as popular as other marijuana products, it’s still a great product that cannabis users all over the world can enjoy. Extracting kief requires a three-chamber herb grinder to grind the plant, allowing the crystals to fall through. The process is simple, and can be done at home using a silk screening material, such as a sifter using layered screens.