Crumble wax starts off the same way as most concentrates. You pass a solvent through buds or trim to extract the resin. From there, the THC-rich solution can be made into shatter, budder, or cannabis wax—depending on how you purge the residual solvent.
No matter what type of concentrate is made, the potency will be about the same. The difference will be in the consistency and taste. Cannabis crumble wax is vacuum-purged at lower temperatures and for a longer time than anything else made using the same extraction process. As a result, it contains more terpenes and has a dry, crumbly texture that looks almost like damp sugar or feta cheese.
Sometimes, cannabis crumble wax is called honeycomb wax. This is because the concentrate forms a delicate honeycomb structure immediately after it’s purged. It’s way too fragile to hold this shape for long and soon falls apart, or crumbles, into small chunks.
Creating Crumble Wax
At the last count, there were over 300,000 concentrate items available. Extraction labs and manufacturers of equipment have had to develop sophisticated tools to produce high-quality cannabis concentrates. You might be surprised to learn that concentrates such as budder, crumble, and wax have a similar creation process.
The crumble wax creation procedure closely mimics that of budder and shatter. However, the pre-purged oils used to make crumble contain more moisture. They are also a thicker consistency with a slightly different temperature used in the process.
The result is the crumbling body that resembles cheese once the purging process is complete.
You can turn wax into crumble by purging for a more extended period at a lower heat. The result is a crumbly concentrate that contains lots of terpenes and tastes better than wax. The name gives a lot away. Working with the material is challenging. If you work with it by hand, it gets beneath your fingernails, and you can only remove it by thorough washing. If you’re trying to dab crumble, we recommend using a dabber’s flat end to scoop the crumble into a bowl.
Manufacturing Wax Concentrate
Before the substance ever becomes crumble, you first need to extract it from the plant. The first step is to take the buds from the crop after harvesting. Then the buds are weighed and transferred into vacuum-sealed bags.
If the harvested weed comes from an indoor facility, manufacturers will store it in a freezer around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If it arrives from an outdoor grow, the company places it in a cooler with liquid nitrogen or dry ice.
The key is to freeze the bud within two hours to lock in the chemical profile of the plant. It could also preserve the flavor and scent of cannabis that usually is cured and dried. Another benefit of freezing marijuana is that a company can immediately supply the market with a strain that has become scarce.
Whether the bud is frozen or not, you put in a special extraction system. You then separate the plant’s cannabinoids using a solvent such as butane. Some companies prefer to use CO2 extraction instead, in the belief that it is cleaner. However, when they use butane, all traces are removed long before they turn the extract into wax.
Larger organizations have developed some astonishing extraction devices. In Michigan, Precision Extraction has a system called The Judge. It can process a remarkable 80 pounds of weed per day; that’s 1,280 ounces!
If the weed is frozen, a company can put in a tall steel column where the butane or propane gas is added to the solvent chamber. A recirculating chiller first cools, then condenses, the vapor into liquid.
The Final Steps
Next, the solvent goes to the material column and saturates the weed and bonds with marijuana’s lipid, terpene, and cannabinoid molecules. Then the solution travels to another chamber, which cools it to a temperature as low as -120 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, the lipids become solid and separated from the solvent that carries the pungent items and psychoactive material. A filter traps the fatty solids, and the liquid moves into a heated collection chamber.
At this stage, the majority of the solvent is boiled off. The system can recover 99% of the evaporated butane, which travels through the system again. Now, the collection chamber contains a beautiful sticky resin that we all adore.
Degasification purifies the resin. A specialist pours the resin into trays and places them into a special vacuum oven. Hydrocarbons are removed as they are boiled off. This is tricky because some of the weed’s terpenes and cannabinoids have boiling points close to that of the solvent.
Did you know that the extract’s physical properties vary enormously depending on the strain?
For example, weed with a high terpene content will resemble motor oil. On the other hand, Blue Dream’s extract is hard and resembles glass in texture. It is at this stage that firms will tweak the extract to ensure it becomes shatter, wax, budder, or crumble.
If you can remember, the creation of crumble involves purging at low heat and whipping it for a long time. Not only does this preserve more flavor, but it could also be healthier. According to cannabis extract producer Moxie, lower temperatures produce fewer carcinogens. In contrast to the relative safety of crumble, the budder is created by pouring extract into a Pyrex container. This is then whipped while simultaneously increasing the heat. With this method, you lose terpenes and increase the risk of carcinogens in the final product.
Cannabis crumble
Weed crumble is a type of cannabis concentrate that is renowned for its unique texture and high levels of THC. It usually has a yellow color and a crumbly texture, hence the name. It is also known as crumble wax or honeycomb wax, since its appearance and texture share a lot in common with a honeycomb.
Just like other concentrates, weed crumble compresses marijuana into a more potent form for stronger effects. While your average strain of marijuana has THC levels between 15 to 25%, really good crumble can reach levels of up to 90%. You can expect some intense effects when you use it.
Crumble wax is made with a process quite similar to shatter and budder. But the pre-purged oils that are used for crumble wax usually have a different temperature, thicker consistency, and more moisture. These all help create the wax’s crumbling, cheese-like body.
Whether it’s for smoking, vaping or dabbing, weed crumble can be used in several ways. It has a honeycomb-like texture which makes it easy to crumble with your hands. All you need to use is a tiny piece to get the desired effects.
Crumble is known to have high terpene levels, making it one of the more flavorful and aromatic forms of weed concentrate. As long as you can manage the strong effects, you will enjoy weed crumble for both its recreational high and medicinal benefits. Such as relief from pain, stress, depression and other similar symptoms.
WHY IS IT BETTER TO USE LOWER HEAT WHEN PURGING?
If the higher heat used during a fast purge doesn’t affect potency, does it really matter what type of extract you consume? It probably doesn’t if your only goal is to get high AF, but if you’re medicating, it might.
Heat destroys most of the terpenes that remain after the extraction process. These natural compounds are not only responsible for the way cannabis smells and tastes, but for some of their health benefits as well. Over 100 terpenes have been identified to date, and some of these combine with cannabinoids like THC and CBD to either enhance their good properties (myrcene boosts the high) or reduce their less desirable side effects (α-pinene calms anxiety).
Excessive heat is also thought to convert some of the chemicals in cannabis into carcinogens, just like grilling meat until it’s charred is thought to do. Processing under lower heat should make it much less likely that your concentrate will contain any harmful materials.
HOW CAN I CONSUME CRUMBLE WAX?
· DABBING CRUMBLE WAX
You can vaporize crumble wax using a dab rig or electronic nail just like you would shatter or any other type of extract. However, if you want to preserve the terpenes for a tastier rip, you’ll have to dab at a lower temperature than you normally would. Don’t forget to clean the nail between dabs to remove any residual oils, or you won’t always get a full-melt experience.
If the crumble wax refuses to stick to your dab tool, heat it up just a little. A slight rise in temperature should help the crumble melt onto the tool so it’s easier to work with.
· PUT CRUMBLE WAX IN A JOINT
You can still enjoy crumble wax if you can’t get your hands on a dab rig. Simply sprinkle the crumble over the ground flowers before you finish rolling your joint or blunt. If you choose this method, proceed with caution. Not only will the potency be magically enhanced, so will the harshness. It can be really easy to get higher than you intended… or cough up your lung.
· USE CRUMBLE WAX IN YOUR EDIBLES
Ready to make some easy cannabutter or THC-infused coconut oil? Simply place the butter or oil in a saucepan, warm it gently, and add the crumble wax. It melts easily and will completely dissolve in the butter or oil within minutes.
If you purchase your crumble wax from a dispensary, the package should include a label that states the exact THC content. This makes it easy to precisely dose homemade brownies, cookies, or other baked goods. Just don’t use your infused oil to fry anything. The higher heat will degrade all the THC before you get a chance to sample the recipe.
CAN I MAKE MY OWN CRUMBLE WAX?
Not really. It’s dangerous, it requires special equipment and safety measures—and it’s DAMN dangerous. The dangerous part can’t be emphasised enough. The extraction process involves flammable gases. People have set themselves on fire, their friends on fire, and burnt down/blown up many, many buildings. It’s on the Walter White scale of hazardous, minus the drug lords and meth dealers.
That’s why many places that have legalized growing your own cannabis still won’t allow people to legally make their own extracts—and it’s one thing we have to agree with. If you want to give crumble wax a try, we recommend that you travel to a legal dispensary to purchase some.
DIY Crumble
We’re assuming that you don’t have access to million-dollar equipment. Fortunately, it is possible to create your crumble at home. You will need the following items to do it correctly:
- Fresh or dry marijuana buds
- Pyrex tray
- A roller tube such as the Xtractor
- A pot of hot water
- Refined gas such as Colibri or Clipper
- A dabber
- Infrared thermometer
- A large silicone mat
- A desiccator
- A vacuum pump
- Some blades for scraping
Here is a step-by-step guide:
Step 1
Fill your roller tube with the marijuana buds and put it inside the Pyrex container. Pack it tightly and blow on the herb to ensure that no air gets through. Add the butane you plan to use and freeze for 24 hours.
Gas the roller tube, making sure you do so in an area with lots of ventilation. Wait for the gas to evaporate completely, at which point you should see a paste. As you are using gas, it is a good idea to leave the room until the gas fully disperses.
Step 2
Place the water on a ceramic or electric hob; a gas hob’s open flame is far too dangerous. Switch on the hob and set it to low heat. Once the water has heated up, put your Pyrex tray on top of the pot of water to ensure the vapor directly hits the tray.
Step 3
Use your infrared thermometer to ensure the mixture’s temperature does not exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Once you go above this point, you risk the evaporation of terpenes. If the heat comes close to that level, take away the tray. Wipe away any moisture, wait for it to cool, and put it back on the pot.
Step 4
Use your dabber for popping bubbles that appear. When the mixture is getting dry, and no bubbles appear, start scraping the bottom of the tray with the blades.
Keep an eye on the temperature to ensure it remains below 104 degrees. After a few hours, you should have a paste with a cookie-like texture, as opposed to the transparent and gloopy mess you had earlier.
Use the blades to remove everything from the tray and place it on the silicone mat.
Step 5
Stick the mixture in the desiccator and connect it to the vacuum pump. Do not open the desiccator or stop the vacuum until the mix is ready. If you must, program the pump with a 15-minute timer to allow you to check progress. Do not remove the mixture until it is completely dry.
It is a good idea to take before and after pictures to help you decide if the mix is dry.
Step 6
Finally, let the air into the vacuum slowly, and be patient when removing your crumble. When you make it successfully just once, it should be far easier to create subsequent crumbly masterpieces.
It is even easier to make crumble if you have extracted cannabis oil. After it has been purged of solvents, whip the oil and place it back under vacuum at the same temperature it was purged.
Crumble has among the highest terpene levels of any concentrate. As a result, it is ideal for users who value flavor and aroma above all else. To retain terpenes, perform a lengthy vacuum purge for several days if possible, and keep the level of heat down.
Crumble is also the driest concentrate, and you can break it down quickly to enjoy a tiny amount per session. You can dab it in a rig, add it to a bowl, or use a vaporizer pen. It is potent, so be careful with the amount you use!
Crumble wax is a special type of cannabis extract that’s vacuum-purged for a longer time and at a lower temperature than other extracts. If you compared it to any other type of extract made from the same weed, it would be equally potent, but the low-heat processing preserves more aromatic terpenes than any other method. As a result, more flavour and health benefits are retained. Crumble wax can be dabbed, added to a joint, or blended into edibles, but don’t try to make your own at home. Again, the extraction process IS dangerous and requires expensive, specialised equipment. So, you better wait until you have the chance to visit a legal retail location to give crumble wax a try!
Speaking from personal research and testing – crumble has among the highest terpene levels of any concentrate. It is ideal for people who value flavor and aroma above all else. Crumble is also the driest concentrate, and you can break it down quickly to enjoy a tiny amount per session. You can dab it in a rig or use a vaporizer pen. It is potent, so be careful with the amount you use!
I use cannabis wax in my bong, and it has always worked amazingly well and is my preferred way of enjoying the plant! Thanks for this article, super helpful.