The more cannabis products become available, the more cannabis enthusiasts try to find the best way to consume them. Meet the nectar collector, a preferred tool for many cannabis consumers when it comes to vaping concentrates. In this guide, we’ll teach you all about this strange looking pipe by answering the questions:

• What is a Nectar Collector?
• How Does A Nectar Collector Work?
• What Are The Different Types Of Nectar Collectors?
• How Do You Use A Nectar Collector?
• How Do You Clean A Nectar Collector?
• Answering FAQs About Nectar Collectors
  
  

A nectar collector, aka honey straw or dab straw, is a portable dab rig with a distinct difference—with the nectar collector, you heat the tip and apply it to the concentrate to vaporize it, and with a traditional dab rig, you put the concentrate on a hot nail.

Because of the way the nectar collector operates, it looks a lot like a straw, but it’s made from either glass or silicone, though there are also electric options too. While the former requires a torch to operate, the latter only needs battery power. All types of nectar collectors have a titanium or quartz tip that can withstand the heat applied to it.

Prefer to smoke concentrates? We've got that guide for you too.  

If you’re a fan of consuming concentrates, you’ll likely want to give a nectar collector a try. Many cannabis enthusiasts insist they’re better than a traditional dab rig and just as easy to operate—once you know what you’re doing. With a nectar collector, you place your concentrate on a heat-safe surface. Then, you heat the tip of your honey straw with a butane torch (a lighter isn’t going to cut it). Once the tip is hot, you touch it to the concentrate and voila, vapor is produced that you can inhale through the straw-like nectar collector.

As with most cannabis consumption tools, you have options. It just comes down to the sort of experience you’re looking to have and your budget. Here are your top three options:

Silicone Nectar Collector: If you’re new to the nectar collector, and you want a budget-friendly option to practice with, a silicone honey straw is a great option for you. Plus, it’s easy to clean and operates pretty much the same as the glass option.

Glass Nectar Collector: If you already have experience with a traditional dab rig, and you like that experience, you should opt for a glass nectar collector. The vapor produced stays clean (provided you keep your nectar collector clean), and you can take it on the go. While glass dab straws can get pricey, there are typically affordable options available that are only slightly more expensive than silicone.

Electric Nectar Collector: We talked about budget-friendly and middle-of-the-road options, and now, let’s talk about the premium option. This is for the experienced cannabis consumer that’s looking for ease-of-use without concerns about how the price tag hits their wallet. With an electric nectar collector, the work is done for you. You turn it on, your tip heats, and you’re ready to go. You get all the same experiences with the other options, but you don’t have to carry a butane torch with you to use it.

A nectar collector works by heating up and vaporizing concentrates. Once the hot tip of the nectar collector meets with the concentrate, the concentrate melts and can be inhaled by sucking through the straw. 

To use a nectar collector, you’ll need the following items:

• Marijuana concentrate (e.g. budder, crumble, wax, etc.)
• Silicone or glass dish to hold the concentrate
• Butane torch 
• Heat-proof surface to place the nectar collector when finished  

Now that you have your tools, here are the steps to using your nectar collector:

Step 1: Place your concentrate of choice on the silicone or glass dish.

Step 2: Heat the nectar collector’s tip with the butane torch for about 40 to 50 seconds. The amount of time it takes to heat the tip of the nectar collector will vary depending on the type of torch that you use.

Step 3: Once the tip of the nectar collector is heated, you’ll want to let it cool for about 15 to 30 seconds. You can use an infrared temperature gun if you want to get the tip to a specific temperature to avoid burning or underheating the dab.

Step 4: Once the tip has cooled to your desired temperature, place your mouth on the straw and slowly inhale as you lightly apply the heated tip to the concentrate in the dish.

Step 5: Continue to inhale as the vapor forms and remove the dab straw from the dish once you’re finished. You can place the tip on the concentrate container as it cools.

Remember, the nectar collector will be hot! Be careful while using it and be sure to place it on a heat-proof surface until it’s cool. 

Keeping your cannabis tools clean is essential to ensuring you are enjoying your products to the fullest extent. As for cleaning a nectar collector, this process is also quite simple. You’ll need the following items:

• Plastic resealable bag
• Hot water
• Salt
• Cleaning agent with 91% or higher alcohol content  

To clean your nectar collector, you’ll want to start by taking apart the mouthpiece, tip, and body, then blowing into the mouthpiece to remove any water inside. You can then get rid of any leftover concentrate inside with a cotton swab.

Then, place the tip, mouthpiece, and body into separate resealable bags and submerge them in the cleaning agent. Add a ratio of 2:1 alcohol to salt and close the bag tightly. The pieces can soak for at least 30 minutes, depending on how dirty they are. After 30 minutes have passed, shake the bags to clean each component thoroughly. If they still aren’t clean enough, you can keep the parts soaking for however long is needed to get them clean. Once they’re at your desired cleanliness, rinse the parts with water, and repeat if necessary.

Any time a product looks a little different than a traditional vaporizer, hand pipe, or water pipe, we get questions. Of course, our budtenders are always happy to answer them. Here are a few we get on the reg:

What’s the difference between a nectar collector and a dab rig?
The difference between a nectar collector and a dab rig is that the concentrate is placed on the hot nail in a dab rig. With a nectar collector, the tip of the straw is heated with a butane torch (assuming you don’t have an electric honey straw) and applied to the concentrate.

Can I use a nectar collector without a torch?
The only dab straw you should use without a torch is the electric nectar collector. The electric option heats the tip of the straw itself, requiring no torch. If you have a silicone or glass nectar collector, you want to have a butane torch to ensure a clean, super-hot flame.

Can you smoke wax with a nectar collector?
Yes, you can smoke wax with a nectar collector, and for our cannabis concentrate connoisseurs, the nectar collector is actually the preferred way to vaporize marijuana wax. This is because you decide how much wax you use with a honey straw. This allows you to avoid clogging your dab rig with wax, creating a mess you have to clean up, and ultimately, wasting wax.

Ready to give a nectar collector a try? Head down to your local dispensary and talk to a budtender. They’ll share the options of nectar collectors they have in stock, and they can even show you how to assemble and use them. Then, you just need to pick out your favorite marijuana concentrates and head home to enjoy.