April 24, 2025

A Complete Guide to the Different Types of Dabs

Home > Blog > A Complete Guide to the Different Types of Dabs

If you are familiar with the world of cannabis, you'll know that dabbing isn't a reference to a bad dance move. Dabbing is a way to enjoy cannabis concentrates (aka dabs) that has evolved from just an action to an art form.

But the real beauty of this highly potent universe is the sheer variety of different types of dabs. From THCA liquid diamonds to waxes to shatter, there is a spectrum of types of dabs to explore.

Whether you want highly flavorful live resin or old-school classics like hash, you have options. Get into the subtle differences between each of these dabs below.

What Are Dabs?

A dab is a concentrated cannabis extract that usually contains high levels of THCA. Available in a seemingly endless number of types, textures, colors, and profiles, cannabis concentrates are a highly potent way to experience this plant's effects. Most flower hovers around 20 to 30 percent THCA, but concentrates range from 45 to 99 percent purity.

As a quick reminder, concentrates are made by extracting the active compounds from the flower. There are many extraction methods, ranging from manual processing like hash all the way to advanced solvent-based technologies.

Technically, dabs are named after the action of "dabbing." Because most cannabis concentrates are a little messy to handle, people grab a small amount— a dab— on the end of a tool and then "dab it" onto the heated surface of a device.

The most common device is a dab rig, which functions like a hybrid between a vaporizer and a water pipe, with countless customization options. A second, much more convenient option is a dab pen, a portable vaporizer designed to work strictly with concentrates.

THCA vs. THC: Hemp Legality

If you’re familiar with hemp laws, you would know that hemp is cannabis with a ≤0.3% or lower concentration of Delta-9 THC (this definition extends to products with hemp-derived cannabinoids as well). Marijuana, on the other hand, is any cannabis plant or product with a concentration higher than this.

Whether you’re in a state that has free hemp laws or medicinal/recreational marijuana, the primary cannabinoid in most concentrates will be THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid). THCA is a separate cannabinoid from Delta-9 THC. THCA will convert to THC when heated.

In regards to hemp laws, THCA products with THCA derived from hemp with a dry weight concentration no greater than 0.3% are federally legal hemp products. The only difference between federally legal hemp THCA concentrates and marijuana concentrates is the concentration of actual delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

What Are All The Different Types of Dabs?

Enough about the basics, let's get into the meat of this: What are all the different types of wax dabs? From waxes to live resin to hash, here is the breakdown:

1. THCA Liquid Diamonds

Gold and Amber colored Cannabis Diamonds on a Glass Dab Tool

Potency: 80% to 90% THCA (≤ 0.3% Delta-9)
Appearance: Golden, amber, and translucent
Texture: Saucy with floating THCA crystals
Flavor: Exceptional flavor

THCA liquid diamonds are made through a solvent-based extraction, typically with live flower. This means that instead of working with dried and cured flower, the flower is flash-frozen immediately after harvest to preserve a more exotic spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes.

This rich and flavorful extract then goes through a post-extraction waiting game that allows the terpenes to separate from the cannabinoids. This is when the THCA crystals begin to form in the sauce for that liquid diamond experience. As the THCA liquid diamonds hit the dab nail, the molecules transform into THC for a powerful experience.

2. Shatter

Piece of cannabis oil concentrate aka shatter with smoke

Potency: 80% to 90% THCA (≤ 0.3% Delta-9)
Appearance: Golden to deeper amber, clear
Texture: Glass-like, solid state
Flavor: Moderate, although sometimes muted

Shatter may be the easiest cannabis concentrate to work with because it comes in a solid state. Visually stunning, this concentrate is translucent and glass-like, hence the name. It's easy to break off a small piece without making a sticky mess.

Produced using solvent-based extraction techniques, shatter is generally less flavorful than other options. But even if it's lower in terpenes, it makes up for it with a significantly higher potency than other dabs.

3. Wax

Potency: 60 to 80% THCA (≤ 0.3% Delta-9)
Appearance: Light yellow to amber, opaque
Texture: Soft candle wax, sticky ear wax, sometimes sugary
Flavor: Full-bodied and typical aromatic

Cannabis waxes make for some of the most popular dabs because they are easier to handle and balance potency with flavor. With a trifecta of traits perfect for the dag rig, waxes range in consistency from soft candle wax to sticky ear wax, and high-quality wax dabs are light yellow to golden amber in color.

Within this class of concentrates, there are actually many different types of wax dabs. Technically, everything from budders and batters to crumbles and sugar waxers fall into this category. But all waxes share a few core characteristics: They are made using solvent-based extraction; they have a thicker, more malleable consistency; and they turn out opaque.

4. Budders, Badders, Batters

Potency: 60 to 80% THCA (≤ 0.3% Delta-9)
Appearance: Light yellow to deep amber, opaque
Texture: Thick, whipped, and malleable
Flavor: Full-bodied and typically aromatic

As a subcategory of waxes, cannabis budders, badders, and batters are thick, creamy, and malleable concentrates. This beautiful texture comes from a post-extraction process that physically whips the extract (like cake batter) to get a smooth, soft texture. Some products in this category may also have a sugary texture, like cookie dough.

Again, waxes are made using solvent-based extraction tech. In most cases, budders, badders, and batters preserve a rich terpene profile for a highly flavorful dab.

5. Crumble

Potency: 80% to 90% THCA(≤ 0.3% Delta-9)
Appearance: Semi-translucent to opaque, light yellow to amber
Texture: Soft and sugary, crumbly
Flavor: Mild to moderate

It shouldn't come as a surprise, given how cannabis concentrate naming conventions work, that crumble is a type of dab with a very crumbly texture. This is yet another subcategory of cannabis wax, but one that is typically less creamy and wet and more sugary and dry.

Crumble is another solvent-based extract, but unlike badder and budders, it isn't whipped post-extraction. Instead, it's usually allowed to cure through an advanced process to set it up into a more solid and crumbly state.

6. Oil

Potency: 50% to 90% THCA(≤ 0.3% Delta-9)
Appearance: Dark yellow to black
Texture: Thick, sticky, oily
Flavor: Can vary, depending on source and extraction type

Oil is a broad category of concentrates, including homemade Rick Simpson oil (RSO), butane honey oil (BHO), and any other extraction with a loose, sticky consistency. Generally, oils are used in vape pens and carts, but they can also be dabbed.

Cannabis oils are often dark golden to black in color and contain a full spectrum of active ingredients. As the name suggests, BHO is extracted using a solvent-based process with butane (or another petrochemical), while RSO is made with ethanol.

7. Live Resin

Potency: 65% to 95% THCA (≤ 0.3% Delta-9)
Appearance: Bright golden yellow, translucent
Texture: Crystalized honey

Flavor: Exceptional flavor

Not to be confused with live rosin, live resin is a solvent-based extraction made exclusively with fresh, flash-frozen cannabis flowers. This process captures the flowers at the peak of their potency to preserve a diverse range of cannabinoids and terpenes. The result is a flavorful, aromatic extract that still hits incredible levels of THCA.

Live resin is not fully a liquid but has a stickier consistency, much like crystallized honey. Like honey, it's bright yellow to gold. Live resins are often made to highlight the profiles of cannabis-specific strains.

8. Hash

Potency: 40% to 60% THCA(≤ 0.3% Delta-9)
Appearance: Dark brown to black, Opaque
Texture: Soft to firm, pliable, moldable
Flavor: Rich, earthy, full-bodied

The original cannabis concentrate is hash. Made by hand for millennia and now made with simple water, ice, and physical agitation, this is the purest, cleanest type of extraction. Although hash is more commonly smoked, it also makes for a great dab with a nice earthy flavor.

Hash can also serve as a great entry point into concentrates. First, it's less potent, usually between 40 and 60 percent THCA. Second, it’s very clean to handle and won’t leave a mess. If you end up with any hash leftover, you can throw it into a joint, vaporizer, or pipe.

Dabbing Tools and Methods

There are two ways to dab: with a dab rig or a dab pen. Dab rigs function as specialized water bongs explicitly designed for concentrates, used in combination with a series of fun accessories: bangers or nails (the heating element), carb caps (to control airflow), and dab tools for handling sticky concentrates. Dab rigs are easy to customize to suit your dab preference, personal style, and concentrate type, but aren't very portable or discreet.

For those seeking a travel-friendly option that fits into a pocket or purse, the go-to option is a dab pen (sometimes called an electric dab pen or nectar collector). These are more like portable vaporizers than complicated water bongs, and they rely on batteries to vaporize the concentrate.

Don't Forget! Dab Responsibly

People love to dab because of its intensity, but it's this same intensity that means you want to take it easy. Remember the old adage to start low and go slow, especially if you've never tried cannabis concentrate before or used a dab device.

Your first dab should be no larger than a small grain of rice, and wait at least 30 minutes before going back for a second serving. These rules will help you keep the experience in a pleasantly euphoric pocket.

The Future Is Dabbed

G13 - 2g THCA Diamonds + Live Resin

indica

EXPLORE

Pink Panther - 2g THCA Diamonds + Live Resin

sativa

EXPLORE

Cereal Milk - 2g THCA Diamonds + Live Resin

hybrid

EXPLORE

Fresh Melon - 2g THCA Diamonds + Live Resin

sativa

EXPLORE

Join the dabbing revolution with our new Live Resin + Crushed THCA Diamonds concentrates. Combining two of the most flavorful, powerful types of dabs into one, our hemp-derived extracts allow you to explore novelty flavors or strain-specific experiences, from Cereal Milk to G13, in a highly potent format.

Ready to dive in? Until next time, Mind Your Mind.

FDA Disclaimer: The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires this notice.