What is Crumble?

An extract identified by its malleable texture that falls apart, or “crumbles,” when handled. Crumble, sometimes called “honeycomb wax,” is quite versatile, and not limited to just dabbing; many sprinkle the extract over the top of cannabis buds in a bowl, blunt, or joint. The crumble texture results from elevated temperatures used during the solvent removal process or by whipping the extract under the presence of heat.

More about Crumble

What is Crumble?

Crumble is an Extract, a type of cannabis concentrate that’s produced using a solvent. Unlike other Concentrates, which are generally fluid in their consistency, crumble is the driest extract on the market. Crumble can be made with processes that include either trimmed, cured nugs or a freshly harvested plant. Crumble can be consumed on its own, or combined with flower in a variety of ways. This versatility, combined with its potency, makes Crumble increasingly popular.

How to smoke & consume Crumble

Crumble can be smoked in combination with flower in blunts, joints, and bongs, or is heated on its own to produce a vapor for dabbing. One option is to add Crumble to blunts or joints, increasing the effects. When the flower is flat on the rolling paper or tobacco leaf, add the Crumble, ensuring that as much of the crumble lays in the center as possible. Once it’s rolled up and ready, light one end and draw from the opposite end. When the smoke is inhaled, the flower and crumble combination produces a heightened experience of effects from both.

For flower smoked from a pipe, bubbler or bong, fill the glass bowl with flower and add crumble on top. Light the mixture with a lighter and, depending on the device, pull air into the lungs when the smoke is ready. The flower and crumble mixture will produce a smoke that’s more potent than flower alone.

“Dabbing” is another popular method of consumption. Dabbing uses a particular type of water pipe called a “dab rig,” or simply “rig,” as well as a flat bowl called a “nail.” Unlike glass bowls used for smoking flower, nails are designed to withstand higher temperatures. For Crumble, use a dabber with a spoon-shaped tip, as opposed to a flat-tipped dabber that’s used for most other extracts. To take a dab, preheat the nail with a gas-powered torch — typically butane.  Once the nail reaches the correct temperature, turn off the torch and safely set it aside. Use the spoon-style dabber to drop Crumble onto the nail. When the crumble comes in contact with the hot nail, the extract quickly vaporizes. As the vapor emerges from the nail, inhale through an opening on the opposite end of the rig.

As an alternative to using a gas-powered torch, an electric nail, or “e-nail,” can be used with a dab rig. An e-nail attaches to a dab rig just like a typical nail, but is heated using electricity rather than by a torch. When the e-nail has reached the optimal temperature, drop the Crumble into it using the spoon-shaped dapper. Draw in the vapor from the rig’s mouthpiece.

How to store Crumble

Properly storing Crumble helps maintain its aroma, flavor and potency, helping slow the natural degradation of this extract. Exposure to high temperatures, moisture, oxygen and light speeds up the degradation process, which can not only change the characteristics of Crumble, but also its effects as well.

Fresh Crumble is typically soft and dry with a yellowish color resembling mustard. If it’s not stored properly, Crumble can turn a darker color or harden over time. To ensure the longest shelf life possible, Crumble keeps best in an airtight and lightproof container. The ideal containers for storing Crumble are made of glass or silicone, rather than storing it in parchment paper. Temperature is a factor too: it’s recommended to store Crumble in a cool environment.

How Crumble is made

WARNING: THE MANUFACTURING OF CRUMBLE AND OTHER CANNABIS CONCENTRATES SHOULD ONLY BE PERFORMED BY PROFESSIONALS AS THESE PROCESSES CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL IN MANY JURISDICTIONS.

For safety and health reasons, producing Extracts should be left to professionals, as the setup and materials require precision and accuracy.

Crumble can be made with just about any solvent, but the most common techniques use liquefied petroleum gases — commonly butane or propane — or ethanol. Carbon dioxide (CO2) used as a solvent likely yields a watery solution or sap, especially if there is any remaining moisture in the plant material prior to the extraction process.

The extraction process for crumble is generally the same as with other Extracts. The most significant difference in producing Crumble is the post-extraction process. Crumble is typically produced as follows in special rooms that are specifically designed for large concentrations of flammable gases:

1. The processor selects a starting material.
2. The material column is packed.
3. The solvent is chilled.
4. The solvent passes over the material to create the solution.
5. Heat is added to the solution to promote the vaporization of the solvent.
6. The solvent tank is chilled to recondense the vapors.

At this point, the Extract is poured onto a pan and placed inside a vacuum oven to remove any residual solvents. The texture of the Concentrate produced by this process is typically Shatter and can be changed into Crumble by either using higher temperatures during the vacuum purge process or by whipping the slab on a hot plate prior to placing it into the vacuum. The exact vacuum temperatures and amount of agitation differ from strain to strain, but most Crumble is purged at a temperature range of 110 degrees Fahrenheit to 135 degrees Fahrenheit (43.33 degrees Celsius to 57.22 degrees Celsius) at a pressure of -29 inHg for 24 to 72 hours.