Have you ever wondered what the sticky, crystal-like coating was that blanketed your flower? You’re probably aware of how sticky this can make your fingers, making the joint impossible to roll. You might even know that the strains that are thickly coated with these crystals tend to have more potent effects. But, what are these crystals and what purpose do they offer the cannabis plant.

This crystal-like coating is known as kief which is basically the pollen of the cannabis plant. Not only does kief attribute to the overall attractive appearance of cannabis, but provides cannabis lovers with a range of uses and benefits. So, what is kief? This article seeks to explore the world of kief and unveil the many different ways you can use it.

What Is Kief?

So, what is kief? When discussing kief, you’re referring to the resin glands containing the terpenes and cannabinoids that contribute to cannabis’s noteworthy abilities. More specifically, kief is the crystals (or trichomes) blanketing the tip of the gland. While there are other places where cannabinoids are present, the kief or resin glands produce the strongest punch.

Marijuana is a unique and magical plant but does share similar properties that most plants share. All plants must find ways to protect themselves against herbivores or pests. For example, there are plants out there that rely on sticky substances to ensnare their prey as a means for defense. Cannabis, on the other hand, uses the sticky, crystal-like coating as a deterrent. As most stoners are aware, the kief produced from the cannabis plant offers the most potent psychoactive experience. This substance is used to disorient herbivores attempting to eat the cannabis plant, preventing them from consuming the whole plant, and effectively acting as a deterrent.

This kief also produces a powerful aroma that attracts pollinating insects to ensure future generations for the cannabis plant. While cannabis connoisseurs utilize the effects of kief for their own uses, kief was developed as a defense mechanism to protect the cannabis plant out in the wild.

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How Do You Gather Kief? 

So, now that you know what kief is, it’s time for the fun part! How do you extract kief? It’s pretty simple. If you use a grinder, most contain one or various chambers that are designed to specifically catch kief. These chambers are located below the main chambers that catch the ground cannabis. After a few uses, you’ll be able to gather up the kief for use.

If you choose to break your flower down by hand, you’ll notice the tips of your fingers will become sticky. This could make rolling difficult, so be mindful of that. However, you will also notice that you can shake off the kief and sprinkle it onto whatever you are rolling. You might also start to see kief building up on your rolling tray after some time.

It’s important to note that certain cannabis strains produce more kief than others, so if that is something you are interested in, make sure to do your research to find the strains that produce large amounts of trichomes. You can also purchase extracted kief from dispensaries. Rule of thumb: the lighter the color, the purer the kief.

How Can You Use Kief?

Now that you’ve collected enough kief, it’s time to use it. There are various ways you can use kief. You can make it into hash or you can add some kief into your blunt or joint to enhance the potency of your smoking experience.

One of the first, most popular ways to use kief is to smoke it entirely by itself. It does take some time to gather enough kief to roll a blunt or joint with, but that depends on your smoking habits and the quality of your cannabis. If you stick with strains that produce large amounts of kief, then you’ll have a regular supply of kief to use.

Another way to use kief is to sprinkle it into your joint or blunt. After you’ve broken down your tree and prepared your rolling paper of choice, you can top it off with some kief before finishing your roll. If you’re feeling daring, you can add multiple layers and ascend your high to the next level. If you really want to ascend to another dimension, sprinkle some kief into your ground cannabis before you start to roll your blunt or joint to increase the potency even more. Rather than just sprinkling some kief into the joint or blunt, you can also wrap the outside in a thick layer of kief. To do this, you need to lightly apply the outside of the joint with cannabis oil so that the kief can stick to the joint.

You can also infuse the kief with butter to make edibles. There are various types of edibles you can make, so the choice is completely up to you if you go this route. Stick to things you like and be creative with it. Kief can also be used to make hash which is stickier and darker than kief.

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What Strains Produce Large Amounts Of Kief? 

If you are someone who enjoys smoking kief or uses it to make edibles, it is important to know which strains produce the largest amounts so you get the most bang for your buck. You can, of course, purchase extracted kief at dispensaries, but there is some fun and excitement with the cocktail you create at the bottom of your grinder, mixed in with kief from multiple strains. The choice is yours, but here are some strains below that produce large amounts of kief.

The first strain is White Widow. White Widow is an indica that produces white buds, coated with crystal resin. Just by looking at the buds, you can start to imagine the type of potent high it produces. This strain is known for producing bouts of euphoria and energy which makes socializing easy and expression, freeing.

Another strain that produces a significant amount of kief is known as Chemdog. This is an extremely popular yet mysterious strain. Chemdog’s origins are ambiguous and there is still much that is not known about it, but it has produced several successful cannabis strains. This strain has forever cemented itself as a staple in the cannabis industry. This hybrid strain is known for its pungent, diesel-like aroma. You can’t miss it.