

#Budder vs shatter update
(So many, in fact, that we just decided to update this response to Michael B's question.) Most budtenders are good at explaining the differences among them, but the majority of us aren’t comfortable listening to fifteen minutes of pot talk while those waiting in line get more and more impatient. This question pointed up one of the major developments on the recreational pot scene: There used to be just a few varieties of concentrates, and now there are many, many more. But some queries demand more time and attention, including this one, which we received last fall from Michael B: “Could you explain the differences - and why I should care about them - between budder, crumble, shatter, CO2 oil, rosin, live resin, bubble hash and sift?” To answer those questions, we created our weekly Ask a Stoner column. The final product is a gold flake or powder, and will sometimes melt in warm environments.Even before Colorado allowed the first sale of recreational marijuana in January 2014, people had lots of questions about what was in store for the state. Due to the dramatically cold temperatures, the trichomes are very cleanly separated from plant matter, and the product is usually rather pure. To make this concentrate, dry ice is shaken with plant material and the trichomes are allowed to fall through screens. Products made: Gold Dust, Moon Rocks, etc. However, the end result is extremely pure and potent while the smell and taste are left completely intact, leaving out useless plant matter and chemicals. The butane process, unlike the water and ice method, is non-organic.


These concentrates will turn to a clear or yellowish amber marijuana oil when heat is applied. On occasion, the result will be as hard as glass, a concentrate known as shatter. When done correctly, the resulting product will be light-colored with a consistency similar to earwax. Most commonly known as BHO, this is made using a complicated process that involves passing butane over plant material. Products made: Goo, Earwax, Honey Oil, Shatter, etc. Beware of liquid or strong fume smells in this product, as they are caused by leftover chemicals that were not evaporated during the extraction process. When heated, this product should turn completely to oil. Waxy Oils should look like wax, but should be hard as rock when touched. As with Bubble, the purity is determined by the color lightest being the most pure. The longer the plant matter soaks, the darker the extract will be. These are made by soaking plant matter in acetone for a certain amount of time. Products made: Honey Oil, Black Gold, etc. When heated, this concentrate may bubble slightly due to small amounts of water that tend to get trapped when the oil glands burst. The extraction process is tricky and tedious, making this a relatively rare product.

Ice Wax is extracted using screens and ice-cold water, making a much purer product.
#Budder vs shatter full
Lower-grade Full Melts are soft, moist, and have the consistency of silly putty, while the “good stuff” looks and feels like beach sand and is usually made from sativas since indicas don’t usually melt completely. The purity of the product is easily determined by its color light colors are the purest, while dark colored concentrates usually contain plant matter and contaminants. This type of concentrate comes in many grades, ranging from light beige to golden to dark black. If it doesn’t melt 100% to liquid, it’s not a full melt. Ice Wax, Bubble, and Full Melt commonly refer to a type of concentrate that melts completely and leaves little to no ash. Ice Wax is a full melt concentrate that gets its name from the extraction method used. Products made: Ice Wax, Bubble, Full Melt As far as which method to use, it usually comes down to the preference of the extractor and what they enjoy smoking. There are a number of different extraction methods, and the end result is usually a bit different.
