What is Kief? 

The cannabis plant has many elements, one of which are its trichomes – the frosty crystals that can be seen on cannabis buds. Trichomes contain THC, CBD, terpenes, and other psychoactive compounds that help to explain cannabis’s effects and properties. Once these frosty trichomes break off of the bud, they become what we call kief. 

Kief can be most easily recognized as the remnants that collect in the bottom of jars or grinders. It tends to take on a darker color than the trichomes found on the cannabis plant. This is because once the trichomes are separated from the plant, they become oxidized, gaining a light gold to brown color. It has a powdery appearance and a texture that is somewhat sticky. 

Kief is a highly concentrated and especially potent form of cannabis. It is best suited for experienced smokers. If you haven’t smoked kief before, it’s best to start with small additions to your typical flower dosage. 

How to Collect Kief? 

Kief can be collected in a number of different ways. If you keep your weed buds in jars, you may notice a collection of kief at the bottom. The trichomes will naturally fall off the flower with time and agitation. Kief can be collected with a screen or filter. However, the most common and effective way to collect kief is with a kief catcher. 

A kief catcher is a separate chamber at the bottom of many grinders. Most 3 or 4-piece grinders will come with a kief catcher attached. As you grind weed in a grinder, the same process that shreds the bud into smokable pieces will also naturally knock off the trichomes. The trichomes will fall off your nugs into the kief catcher where they are safely collected and stored for future use.

If there is one thing to point out about kief, it is that it will take a sizeable amount of time to collect an amount worth putting to use. Once you do have enough kief collected, it can be smoked in a number of different ways for an enhanced and heightened smoking experience. 

Best Ways to Smoke Kief 

Here are the best ways to include kief in your smoke-sesh: 

1. Crown a bowl: The most common way to use kief is to simply sprinkle it onto a packed bowl of cannabis. With this method, it’s best to corner your bowl, lighting the edge of the bowl so it doesn’t burn so quickly. This will help savor the kief and lengthen the smoking experience. 

2. Sprinkle into a joint: Kief can easily be included with any joint by peppering the joint with a pinch of kief before it’s rolled. Be sure to sprinkle the kief evenly throughout the joint to ensure an even burn. 

3. Make hash from kief: To make hash from kief, the kief must be collected and pressed into bricks. It’s best to do this with a bit of parchment paper to avoid any kief sticking to your fingers. The hash can then be smoked in a pipe, bong, or other smoking device. 

    

It takes time and the right materials to collect, but once you’ve accumulated enough of it, kief can be used to enhance any smoking experience. Adding kief to your joint or bowl is a fantastic way to mix up a smoke-sesh and increase the psychoactive effects of cannabis.