Even if you’re not interested in the effects of their chemical compounds, the hemp and cannabis plants are quite beautiful to look at. The lovely shades of green, the glowing red-orange hairs, and especially that shimmering layer of snowy crystals that coats the outside of the buds are all exquisite.
But those shimmering crystals are not all for show. They’re actually the heart and soul of the cannabinoid experience.
The crystals on the outside of hemp and cannabis buds are known as trichomes, and they can be found on many more plants than just hemp and cannabis. Trichomes are the resin glands of the plant, and they contain the cannabinoids and terpenes present in hemp and cannabis.
In other words, trichomes really are what make cannabis what it is, and they’re what make all of the various hemp-derived cannabinoid products possible.
Trichomes are also what kief is made of. Kief is a fine powder containing a concentration of those cannabinoid crystals that can be found at the bottom of your grinder. They can also be purchased and sprinkled on top of anything you’re going to smoke.
The high concentration of trichomes in your kief makes for a potent and flavorful cannabinoid experience.