The basic building block of hash, kief is both the oldest and the simplest form of cannabis concentrate, and you can even harvest it yourself via a handy grinder. Collected from the resin-rich trichomes that cover cannabis flower, it’s a natural concentrate that has been used for centuries, and it’s still a favorite among cannabis enthusiasts today.
Kief at a Glance:
Kief is the fine, powdery collection of resin glands (trichomes) that give cannabis its potency, flavor, and aroma, and it’s one of the simplest, most natural concentrates you can enjoy.
Easy to collect with a grinder, kief can be sprinkled onto bowls, added to joints, or pressed into hash for a more potent experience. It offers a clean, solventless way to elevate your cannabis without complicated gear. Compared to other concentrates, kief is simple, versatile, and accessible—perfect for anyone curious about exploring concentrates or making their own hash at home.
What is Kief?
Kief refers to the collection of the powdery trichomes that are found on (and fall off of) cannabis flower buds. Kief may appear as a brown, yellow, tan, or gold “dust” that easily clumps and sticks together. Trichomes hold more THC than any other part of a cannabis plant, so kief tends to be highly potent, and when pressed, it becomes another classic cannabis concentrate: hashish (or hash).
Even the world’s most potent cannabis flower usually maxes out its THC content somewhere in and around 35% potency. But that’s where kief is just getting started. Most kief clocks in around 50% THC, while high-grade kief can top even that.
Related: What Are Cannabis Trichomes?
How to Make Kief
Kief is very easy to acquire, especially if you’re a flower fan. While you can always procure high-grade kief from your local dispensary, you can also harvest your own in a snap. All you need is a grinder with a kief catcher compartment at the bottom. Essentially, it’s a small wire sheet that allows kief to pass through while holding your ground buds back; it’s a refinement of an ancient technology that revolutionized the cannabis world.
The idea of a mesh screen sounds obvious today, but centuries ago, they weren’t so easy to come by. When early hash-makers hit on the idea of a multi-chamber system that filtered out the plant matter while preserving the potent trichomes, it changed everything. Now, cannabis products could not only be made much more potent, but also formed into shelf-stable blocks of hash that became an important trading commodity.
If you’re considering how to use and collect kief yourself, here are some pro tips before you start:
- Use cold flower to help the trichomes separate more easily
- Choose a high-quality grinder with kief catcher attachments to harvest the maximum yield
- Avoid over-grinding your flower to preserve those precious trichomes
How Is Hash Made From Kief?
Once you’ve collected enough quality kief, you can make your very own homemade hash. Here are two of the most common approaches:
- Hand-rubbed hash: Rub a spoonful of kief in your palms until a slightly moist ball forms. This is a “charas” style hash, believed to be the original style of hash before sufficiently fine mesh screens were available.
- Pollen or hash pressing: Using a simple device designed to concentrate flower pollen or other highly delicate botanicals, you can press trichomes to form your blocks of hashish.
Though these two solventless approaches are simple to try, we do not recommend making solvent-based concentrates at home. They require specialized tools and training, and should only be attempted in a laboratory or industrial setting.
What to Do with Kief?
Once you’ve collected kief, the next step is putting it to good use. Thanks to its potency and versatility, kief can enhance a wide range of cannabis experiences, from simple smoking sessions to homemade infusions. Here are a few of the most popular and effective ways to use it:
- Sprinkled into a bowl or joint: A pinch of fresh kief adds potency and rich, earthy flavor to these simple smoking methods. Do go easy, as kief is significantly more potent than even the strongest flower. Remember: You can always have more cannabis, but you can’t have less.
- Infused into edibles or tinctures: Did you know you can use kief to make your own tinctures or other edibles at home? When you carry out the simple step of decarboxylating the kief in weed (more on that in a moment), it’s ready to be infused into your favorite foods, beverages, or other products.
- Added to moon rocks: This powerful product combines a few of our favorite things: Fresh-ground flower, cannabis or hash oil, and kief. You can dampen a pre-roll in oil, and then roll it in kief to add the finishing touch and create your own moon rock experience.
However you choose to enjoy kief, always start low, go slow, and make space for a mindful, enjoyable time.
How to Smoke Kief
One of the best things about kief is its versatility. You can use it in many ways, including vaping, but smoking kief is by far the most common way to consume it. However, there are a couple of things to remember when incorporating kief into your smoking session.
First, you can’t just pack kief into a bowl or roll it into a joint and spark it up, as it’s too powdery and burns too quickly. Instead, kief is best used along with flower. Here are some top tips:
- Layer it: You can add cannabis flower to a bowl or joint and then sprinkle kief on top of it, but we also suggest making a “kief sandwich” instead by layering it with flower to foster a more even burn.
- Careful with the light: Smoking kief demands caution as it burns quite readily. Be aware as you light and draw, otherwise your kief could burn up before you know it.
For a refresher on smoking techniques, revisit our how-to guides on smoking a bowl and smoking a pre-roll.
How to Decarb Kief
If you want to use kief weed in other products such as edibles or tinctures, you’ll need to use decarbed kief. Decarbed (or decarboxylated) kief has been exposed to gentle, sustained heat to convert the inactive THCA into THC, the cannabinoid that imparts the bulk of the cannabis plant’s euphoric and psychoactive effects. Here are the steps involved:
- Preheat your oven to 240°F
- Spread the kief evenly on parchment paper
- Bake for roughly ~30–40 minutes; it should go a stage or two darker, but stop before it turns dark brown
- Let the kief cool, then store it in an airtight container
After decarboxylation, kief is ready to be used in tincture, edibles, or any other format that doesn’t involve smoking. For more information and tips, start with our in-depth guide to making edibles.
How Does Kief Compare to Other Concentrates?
Although kief consists of nothing more than dried trichomes, it remains a refined and concentrated form of cannabinoids and flavorful terpenes. Here’s a side-by-side with some other popular concentrate formats:
Kief vs Bubble Hash
While it’s made of cannabis kief, this special hash format is quite unusual in that it uses icy water and a system of fine mesh filters to separate and then concentrate the kief from fresh flower. It’s more refined and thus more potent than pure kief.
Kief vs Rosin
Created by concentrating either kief or fresh flower under gentle heat and strong pressure, rosin takes the form of a slightly moist solid. More shelf-stable than kief, it also offers the benefit of being easy to transport and use in various ways.
Kief vs Solvent-Based extracts
Since they require compounds such as CO2 or butane to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes from fresh flower, solvent-based concentrates are significantly more challenging to make. That said, they can take nearly an infinite number of forms and varieties with exceptionally high potency levels.
How to Store Kief Properly
Since kief is a delicate, natural product, it’s best not to sit on it and try to use it within six months of purchase. Here are some tips to help you get maximum satisfaction from your kief weed:
- Use an airtight, UV-protected container: Store kief in a sealed glass jar that blocks light exposure. UV-resistant containers are ideal, and storing them in a cool, dark place like a drawer or cabinet helps maintain potency over time.
- Keep it cool—but not cold: Avoid storing kief in the refrigerator or freezer. The fluctuating moisture levels and temperatures can cause trichomes to degrade or clump, thereby reducing quality and increasing the risk of mold growth.
- Protect it from moisture: Humidity is one of the biggest threats to kief. Even small amounts of moisture can lead to mold growth and spoil the product. Always store your container in a dry environment, and avoid opening it in steamy or damp areas like kitchens or bathrooms.
- Label and track your stash: If you collect or buy kief regularly, keep track of when each batch was harvested or purchased. Labeling your container helps ensure you use older kief first and avoid letting any go to waste.
Proper storage can make a significant difference in your kief experience, preserving both its potency and flavor. A little attention to storage conditions goes a long way toward keeping your kief fresh, effective, and ready when you are.
Explore The Power and Potential of Cannabis Kief with Mission
A potent and versatile concentrate, kief is made from dried and sifted trichomes, the part of the cannabis plant that contains the highest concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes. Easy to collect and use, it’s perfect for those who love to tinker with cannabis, including microdosers, experienced cannabis connoisseurs, or even beginner-level fans.
Ready to collect your own kief? Start with some fresh strains from your local Mission Dispensary in Illinois or Massachusetts. Browse our menus online or stop by in person to see what we currently have available.
Quick Kief FAQs
What is kief made of?
Kief is made of the dried and sifted trichomes of the cannabis plant. It’s a simple concentrate that’s easy to collect and use.
Is kief legal in my state?
Since cannabis kief is technically a concentrate, you’ll want to check your local laws to see if these potent cannabis products are permitted where you live.
Can you eat kief raw?
If you eat kief that hasn’t been decarboxylated, the THC it contains won’t be in its active form. Instead, decarbed kief has undergone a simple heating process that makes it ready to consume or use in edibles and similar products.
What’s the difference between kief and hash?
Kief is made of dried and sifted cannabis trichomes, and it’s the essential building block of hash. Once it’s been collected and pressed into blocks, it becomes the shelf-stable format known as hash (or “hashish”).
What grinder is best for collecting kief?
A three-piece or four-piece grinder with a built-in mesh screen and kief catcher is best for collecting kief. Look for grinders made from durable materials like aluminum or stainless steel, with a fine micron screen to efficiently separate trichomes from the ground flower.
