What is Kief? (Everything You Need to Know)

By: Shakira Washington

There are various parts to the cannabis plant, such as the flowering bud, the fan leaves, and the stem. Each part has its purposes, properties, and uses.

You may be familiar with cannabinoids or active chemical ingredients of the plant, such as THC, which produces the high effect and CBD, used for medicinal purposes.

However, you may be less familiar with trichomes, which are crystal-like resin that covers the cannabis plant or commonly known as kief. You’re also probably wondering – what is kief?

What is Kief?

Kief, or scientifically known as trichomes, contains both terpenes, which are essential oils that give marijuana its distinct aroma and taste, and the cannabinoids THC and CBD.

Trichomes form on the leaves and bud of the cannabis plant and, when removed, creates a powdery substance known as kief, whose name derives from the Arabic word for pleasure.

Kief, also known as dry sift or pollen, is described as powder-like crystals, or in more familiar terms, it is the dusty build-up at the bottom of your grinder.

When harvested and consumed, kief produces a much more intense high than the traditional marijuana flower.

What to do with Kief?

Top bowl off with Kief

There are several ways to consume kief, and one of the most popular ways to enjoy it is to sprinkle your bowl with kief, also known as crowning a bowl.

Adding kief on top of your marijuana flower will increase the potency. Overall, you can smoke less to achieve the same high as just a standard marijuana bud.

Roll Kief into Joint or Blunt

Another popular way to consume kief is to sprinkle into your freshly ground marijuana and mix well before rolling into a joint.

If you want to be more creative or adventurous, you can dampen the outside of the joint with cannabis oil and then roll the joint into the kief.

The joint will be fuzzy on the outside, creating an effect sometimes called twaxed or tarantula joints.

Blend Kief into Butter

Kief butter is versatile and can be used to create a wide range of highly potent marijuana-infused edibles and baked goods.

The potency of butter depends on the amount of kief you use; however, it’s best to start with a little amount for your first batch and then adjust over time. See the steps below.

Using a crockpot, melt butter and set the crockpot to medium or low.
Combine kief and butter. Then stir kief every 15 minutes for 5 hours.
Let butter cool before covering and putting in the refrigerator to solidify

Add to morning coffee or tea

If you need a Saturday brunch pick me up, try adding kief into your coffee or tea to activate the kief’s cannabinoids.

Add a dash of kief powder into your morning beverage and stir well. You will ingest the cannabinoids before they enter the bloodstream; therefore, the effects will be delayed but stronger and longer.

How to get kief from the cannabis plant?

There are multiple ways to remove kief from the marijuana bud, however the most effective is to use a multi-compartment weed grinder with a kief catch.

The construction of the grinder allows the kief to be filtered through a metallic screen and caught in a detachable bottom compartment, also known as a kief tray.

The more marijuana you grind, the more kief droppings that will build up to eventually have enough to smoke on its own.

If you cannot get ahold of a multi-compartment grinder, there is a cost-effective way to separate the marijuana bud from the kief. All you need is a cheesecloth or silkscreen.

Grind the marijuana buds against the screen or cloth to sift out the flower from the kief. Make sure to grind over a container of plate to catch kief.

Since kief is sticky and delicate, gently remove the kief from your kief tray or container with a baby-sized spoon.

If you don’t have a baby-sized spoon, you can use a toothpick or a razor.

Be careful not to press down on the kief too hard, this will cause the resin to explode and the kief to stick to the bottom of the container.

Strains that have a lot of Kief

There are many strains on marijuana out on the market today; however, these will produce the best quantity and quality kief.

Hash Plant -is 90 percent Indica with a deep, rich aroma reminiscence of hashish.
White Widow -is a 50/50 hybrid that gives off a burst of euphoria and is very stimulating.
OG Kush – is a hybrid that offers bright, citrusy flavors and creates a happy effect.
Sour Diesel –is a Sativa strain known for its pungent aroma and stress relieving qualities.
Chemdog – the origin of this hybrid is unknown, but it is father to OG Kush and Sour Diesel. It is known for its high potency and cerebral experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kief

Is kief dangerous?

No, Kief is derived from the cannabis plant, so it herbal and natural like the rest of the plant.

Is kief legal?

Since kief comes from the cannabis plant, it would follow the marijuana legislation of your state, region, or country.

Does kief get you higher than bud?

Yes, Kief contains higher concentrations of THC and CBD, so it is more potent and will give you a quicker, long-lasting high.

How to smoke kief?

You can smoke kief out of a glass bowl, and it will keep flame once lit. Since kief is powdery, be mindful that you might inhale some loose kief.

Is kief and hash the same thing?

Yes, hash is created by pressing and compacting loose powdery kief together into solid bricks. Since hash is made of kief, it can be smoked, dissolved to use in cooking for resin extracted and made into oils.

What is a kief press?

A kief press is a device used to compress the kief into a solid form, known as hash. You can use the kief press to create kief discs, which are small hash circles.

Shakira Washington is a writer who focuses on cannabis culture and lifestyle.