Guide to Buying The Best Dabs

My Personal Guide to Buying the Best Dabs

As a concentrate enthusiast, I can immediately tell the difference between a high-quality dab and a low-quality one. But I know that if you’re new to concentrates, it might be difficult to figure out what the best dab is for you. So, I’ve put together this guide to help you buy the highest-quality dabs within your budget. Let’s get started!

Consider your experience and tolerance when choosing potency

To purchase top-notch dabs, you first need to think about your tolerance level and how often you use concentrates. If you’re a beginner, I recommend starting with CBD isolates like CBDA crystals or a low or THC-free dab to slowly build up to the desired effects. For newbies, a gram of concentrate can last a couple of weeks or even longer, depending on the dose size and frequency of use.

Factor in your budget

If you’re used to buying flower, you’ll notice that cannabis concentrates have a higher price per gram. That’s because concentrates contain a significantly higher percentage of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Prices vary depending on the product and market, but concentrates can range from $25 to $70, or even higher for some dabs.

Here’s what to look for when buying dabs:

1. Aroma

We all know that cannabis flower has a strong aroma, featuring citrus, diesel, earthy, floral, or fruity notes. Dabs can retain a considerable amount of these aromatic terpene compounds, although some extraction methods can degrade terpene concentrations more than others. If you’re looking for the most complex-smelling concentrates, try high-terpene full-spectrum extracts (HTFSE) like terp sauce or the less refined live resin, which isn’t technically an HTFSE. However, most extracts still retain the strain’s original array of smells.

2. Texture

Extracts come in various consistencies and textures, depending on the extraction and post-processing methods used. Popular options include the hard, glass-like shatter or wax extracts. If you prefer something a bit softer, go for budder, crumble, or cannabis oil. Some concentrates, like terp sauce, have a mix of cannabinoid crystal formations and liquid terpene sauce. Some textures are easier to work with than others, but there are handy dabbers available for different dab textures.

3. Appearance

While they say not to judge a book by its cover, I do believe that concentrate consumers should base their purchasing decisions on key characteristics of concentrate color and appearance. For instance, premium shatter should be translucent amber, not dark and soft. Pull ‘n’ snap should have a glossy sheen and pliable consistency, not look flat and be hard. Avoid irregular colors or dubious consistencies.

4. Flavor

Flavor is crucial when choosing the best concentrate to dab. Concentrates might look good on the outside, but their taste can vary. Always make sure you buy cannabis concentrates from a reputable and licensed dispensary or delivery service, and ensure the product has been lab-tested for potency and purity. Some brands even opt for terpene testing, which can reveal the source of the strain’s smells. Additionally, the type of extraction used to obtain the resin can also affect a concentrate’s flavor.

In the end, it’s up to you to decide which brands, strains, and flavors you like. We all have different preferences when it comes to concentrate types and quality. Experienced users might have more expensive taste and go for top-of-the-line HTFSE, while novices may experiment with cannabis oil, shatter, and vape pens with distillate oil. As a concentrate consumer, just remember to consider the factors I’ve listed above for a personalized and safe experience.