Kief is a type of marijuana product, and it’s also arguably one of the most interesting parts of the cannabis plant. It contains cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that create an experience unique to you and your body. So what is kief? Let’s get into the details:

• What is Kief?
• How Do You Make Kief?
• How Do You Use Kief?
• Answering Kief FAQs

Have you ever looked at a cannabis flower bud and noticed the shiny hairs or crystals on the flower? Then, after handling it, your fingers feel a little sticky? Those glossy, sticky particles are kief.

If you know anything about trichomes, you know they’re packed with cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that give each strain of marijuana their unique flavors, aromas, and effects. Trichomes retain much of these characteristics when they become kief, and because of this, kief is prized by cannabis enthusiasts who love to add potency and flavor to their cannabis flower.

Learn about the entourage effect and why the effects of marijuana are unique to you.

The process of collecting kief is actually pretty straightforward. Most grinders contain a screen that allows you to catch the kief from your bud in a chamber. If you’re looking for a more expert tool, there are products called kief boxes that let you filter different grades of kief until you’re left with only the trichome heads. This process can take some time to perfect but it’s worth it if you love potent cannabis.

Learn everything there is to know about how to use a grinder in our guide..  

Kief isn’t typically consumed by itself. In fact, most cannabis consumers add kief to a cannabis product, like flower or concentrates, rather than enjoying it on its own. Some

• Add it to your pipe. The slang phrase “crowning a bowl” is one frequently used by experienced cannabis consumers. It simply requires sprinkling kief on the cannabis in your glass pipe.
    
• Roll it into your cannabis “joint.” If you tend to roll your own product, you can add a pinch of kief before closing the roll. There are also some people who will dampen the outside tip of the joint and roll it in kief.
  
  
• Create hash. Hash is simply kief that has been heated, pressurized, and rolled into a soft ball or pressed into a brick. Experienced consumers can do this themselves, and you can also purchase hash in some states from licensed dispensaries.
  
  
• Coat your flower bud. Marijuana flower that has been rolled in kief is referred to (in slang terms) as “moonrocks.”The process of creating these is fairly easy. Simply heat cannabis oil, coat your flower, roll it in kief, and let it dry. Then, break the bud apart for smoking or vaping.
  
  
• Create your own cannabutter. Cannabutter is butter infused with cannabis flower, oil, or other concentrates like kief. You can make your own at home, and if you do, be sure to try these DIY marijuana brownies. They’re a delicious way to consume your kief.  
  
  

The best part about kief is enjoying it is only limited by your imagination.

For those cannabis enthusiasts who are unfamiliar with kief, you may have a lot of questions. We’ve put some of the most frequently asked—and answered—questions here:

Why is kief more potent than flower?

You might be wondering how a tiny trichome could possibly be more potent than the cannabis flower. While cannabis flower buds contain trichomes that are packed with cannabinoids (like THC), they are also made up of bracts, calyxes, and sugar leaves. So when you enjoy marijuana flower, you’re typically consuming a less concentrated product. Kief, however, is made up only of the trichomes. This means that they are a concentrated form of cannabinoids– specifically, THC.

How is kief different from hash?

Kief and hash aren’t all that different from one another and that’s because hash is made from kief. Kief is collected, processed with heat and pressure, and turned into one of the many types of hash you can find in your favorite local dispensary. Want the details? Check out our kief vs hash guide. 

Is kief potent?

Yes, due to the heavy concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes, kief can be quite potent.

What is kief useful for?

In addition to adding kief to your cannabis flower, you can also use kief to give your cannabis edibles some extra potency.  

What is the point of kief?

In general, most people enjoy kief for its flavor and potency. It adds a little extra kick to their favorite product, or it can be enjoyed on its own as hash. Ultimately, the reasons for enjoying kief depend on the cannabis enthusiast.

If you’re ready to give kief a try, head on down to your local dispensary. The budtenders—aka cannabis experts—are available to help you find anything from grinders with kief catchers to hash and other kief-related items. Plus, they’ll answer any questions you might have about this potent product.