If you’re a fan of the cannabis plant, you’ve no doubt already heard the term “kief.”
But if you’re new to the name and have no idea what it is, no worries! Kief is the dried resin glands of the cannabis plant. Thanks to its potency and versatility, cannabis enthusiasts often separate the kief from the plant for their personal use.
One of the best ways to utilize this cannabis “pollen” is by cooking with it. Why? Because it retains lots of taste and aroma, thanks to its high amounts of terpenes, kief can add a distinct cannabis flavor to your meals.
And, due to its high concentration of cannabinoids, you will get the full effect of both its CBD and THC compounds. That is, if you utilize it correctly.
Up ahead, we’ll discuss the five tips to keep in mind when cooking with kief.
1. Kief is Activated by Heat
So you have some kief on your hands and you’re ready to use it. The first tip that you must always keep in mind is that the kief is activated by heat.
You cannot toss it into something that is already cooked, for instance. When you do, you will not feel the effect of its compounds. Which, let’s face it, is pretty much the reason why you’re interested in cooking with kief in the first place!
Before you can use kief, you must follow the steps to decarb it. And we describe exactly how to do so next.
2. You Must Decarb Your Kief Correctly
Decarbing kief is an essential step in using it. The decarboxylation process allows for a chemical reaction to happen, thereby rendering the kief’s compounds as potent as possible.
To decarb kief correctly, try the following:
- Preheat your oven to 250℉
- Spread your kief evenly across an oven-safe dish
- Bake the kief for about 20 minutes
After it’s done baking, the kief is ready to use! Bake times and temperatures vary based on your oven, the amount you’re baking, and the strain. So see how this turns out for you and adjust the numbers in the future if the kief’s potency is less than desired.
3. Keep it Simple and Stir it in Your Coffee
Not in the mood to go through the decarboxylation process? That’s okay. You can still use the kief you have on hand by stirring it into a hot beverage, such as tea or coffee.
As mentioned, heat activates kief’s cannabinoids, so you will feel the full effect of the cannabis by stirring the kief in a hot (but not boiling) drink.
4. You Can Use Kief to Make Hash
Hash is the pressurized, heated version of kief. It’s the sticky resin that cannabis enthusiasts love, due to its strong potency and maximized flavor and aroma.
If you want to use your kief to make hash, it’s pretty simple to do. First of all, you need a lot of kief, so we’ll go ahead and assume that’s the case for you.
Then, you’ll need to grab the following tools:
- A mason jar with a lid
- A small sheet of parchment or wax paper
- A kettle of boiling water
Put your kief in the center of the parchment paper and fold the paper around it like you’re folding a letter. Ideally, you want to ensure your kief is fully covered and secured tightly, without excess paper hanging off.
Next, pour some boiling water into the mason jar. Filling it about halfway ought to do it. Place the lid tightly on the jar and with a pair of oven mitts, gently roll the sealed mason jar over the sealed pack of kief. Apply pressure as you roll the jar back and forth.
Do this for about 10 minutes. Then, place the kief-filled parchment square in your freezer for about an hour. At that point, it will be cooled and easy to use.
You can use this hash to make cannabis butter, cannabis oil, and of course, the stoner favorite, hash brownies.
5. You Don’t Have to Ingest Kief
Though kief tends to contain a potent amount of THC, it does still contain CBD. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that may provide many wellness benefits.
You can use your kief to make homemade wellness products, such as body butters, lotions, and salves. Simply mix your kief with an oil or butter of your choice, such as coconut oil, argan oil, or shea butter. Then, add aromatic and soothing essential oils, like lavender, sweet orange, or tea tee oil.
Voila, you have a boutique cannabis body product that will feel great on your skin and keep it smooth and hydrated.
Conclusion
These are just a few tips to keep in mind when cooking with kief.
Kief tends to have an immense amount of THC, so always use it with caution.
