Many people like to sprinkle some cannabis kief into their joints or onto their bowls as a way to boost the potency of their cannabis. But these aren’t the only ways to enjoy kief. Adding some kief to your edible recipe can have the same effect, resulting in more potent and hard-hitting edibles.
However, before adding kief to any edile recipe, it’s important that you take the time to decarboxylate it first so that your edibles will be as potent as possible. Here’s what you need to know about kief, how to decarb kief, and why it’s vital to take the time to do decarb kief.
What is Cannabis Kief?
Kief is made from the shiny and sticky trichomes that cover raw cannabis, which can be shaken loose from the plant material and collected. They may be small, but they contain a resinous substance that is loaded with cannabinoids and terpenes. While it’s less potent than most other extracts, kief is still much more potent than cannabis flower, making it a great addition for when you want to crank up the potency on your smoke, vape, or edible.
What is Decarboxylation?
Decarboxylation is the process of activating the cannabinoids in your cannabis, or in this case, in your cannabis kief. Think of it this way: If you were to eat a piece of raw cannabis flower you wouldn’t feel anything, but eating a piece of decarbed cannabis would make you feel that typical edible high.
This happens because raw cannabis doesn’t actually contain THC or CBD like most people think. Instead, it contains their precursor cannabinoids, THCA and CBDA. The decarboxylation process applies heat to these cannabinoids in order to convert them into active THC and CBD.
Edibles can be cooked without having to decarb kief beforehand, but this may result in less potent edibles. By decarboxylating your kief or cannabis buds before making the edible, you can ensure that as many cannabinoids as possible are activated and that nothing goes to waste.
How to Decarb Kief
There are a few different ways to decarb kief.
If you’re more of the hands-off type, using a decarboxylation machine like the Ardent Nova or FX can be a great way to decarb your kief or bud with as little hassle as possible. Decarboxylation machines will make sure that your plant material is decarbed at the right temperature and for the right amount of time, eliminating the risk of mistakes or the chance of ending up with improperly decarbed kief. When it comes to keeping things simple and quick, this is probably the best way to decarb kief.
If you don’t have a decarboxylation machine, you can always just decarb cannabis kief in your oven. Just set your oven to between 245℉ and 250℉ and spread your kief across an oven-safe pan that is covered in tinfoil. Once the oven is ready, place the pan in the oven for about 20 minutes before removing it, letting it cool, and collecting your decarbed cannabis kief.
Lastly, you can also use a sous-vide machine. Place your kief in a sealed silicon container and set your machine to 203℉ for about 90 minutes. Seal your container with a vacuum sealer and drop it in hot water. This is a less common way to decarb kief, but can be just as effective as using an oven.
Kief and Cannabis Edibles at Takoma Wellness Center
Whether you’re looking for some kief to add to your edibles, or simply for some edibles you can enjoy right now with no cooking required, make sure to drop by our dispensary today or check out our online menu right now to see how we can help you.