Kief: 5 FUN USES!
SEE THOSE STICKY WEED CRYSTALS COLLECTING IN YOUR GRINDER?
EVER WONDER WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THOSE?
HERE’S 5 IDEAS!
CRYSTALS OF CANNABIS
So what exactly are those kief crystals? All over the surface of a marijuana bud are what are called trichomes, or resinous glands that contain a higher concentration of terpenes and cannabinoids than any other part of the cured plant. After repeated use of your grinder or at the bottom of your stash jar, you’ll notice the accumulation of this essence of ganja, and this is known as kief. Don’t be tempted to clean it out, on the contrary, save up as much as you can! The more refined or sifted these crystals are, the better. If your grinder contains a screen at the bottom, the kief will be ready for use. If you’re a seasoned bud smoker, you should already have plenty to work with!
HOW CAN I USE KIEF?
SPRINKLE ON YOUR BOWL
A little kief on top of your green bowl can add an extra bit of of punch to your high. Additionally, it’s pretty likely that your grinder has seen a number of different strains over the course of time. The kief crystals contain all the various terpenes and cannabinoids unique to those strains, giving you a one of a kind experience with every toke.
KIEF COFFEE
Can you simply toss kief in your cup of hot coffee for an added perk in the morning? No, but it’s nearly that simple! Just as you can’t just eat a nug of cannabis to get high, kief too must be heated to activate the THC. This process is known as decarboxylating. Don’t be intimidated by the science term, ‘decarbing’ is an easy process. Spread your kief on a sheet of parchment paper, and place into an oven at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from the oven after 30 or so minutes. You’ll know it’s done when it’s turned a light-brown color. After that, you can either sprinkle a bit into your black coffee, or even blend it with milk for a latte!
COOK WITH KIEF
Just like with our kief coffee tip, remember to first decarb your kief before adding to to any dish. Make a Special version of your favorite condiment: Fill an 8oz. squeeze bottle with a blend of 1 gram of kief and whatever your heart desires: Chocolate sauce, Sriracha, honey, hot sauce. What you’ll have is an easy way to get a buzz while enjoying your favorite snack. Just make sure to label the bottle and keep in your highest kitchen cabinet!
ADD TO YOUR JOINT
Add kief to ground bud while rolling your own joint. Alternatively, paint the outside of a preroll with your favorite concentrate or oil, then roll in a small amount of finely sifted kief. That extra pop and crackle when you light the joint will make your high all the more intense and flavorful.
HAVE TONS OF KIEF? MAKE HASH!
Kief, or highly-refined crystals is the very foundation of hash making. While there are several methods to form hash from your kief at home, the simplest involves nothing but a bit of time and elbow grease. It’s important to note that your kief should be as free of excess weed flower as possible or it may be difficult to mold. Using a pair of nitrile or latex gloves, begin to knead and press your kief into a small ball, adding more kief as it begins to bond and shape in your palm. Continue to press and and knead your ball of kief for 10 minutes and it will begin to take on a more solid consistency. Work the ball of newly formed hash until its solid and resistant to crumbling.
We recently visited Sitka Hash Co in Seattle and saw this process on a grand scale. They use state of the art tools and techniques to form some of the best hash balls available today. Check out the video!