Cannabis concentrates may be present in ancient human historical records, but it has only recently made a noteworthy resurgence. This could be due to the natural ebb and flow of popular trends or it could be a lasting thing resulting from the spreading legalization of cannabis.
Regardless of the longevity of this trend, the question today is how people are supposed to store their concentrates. These concentrated forms of THC and other cannabinoids are highly susceptible to heat and moisture.
Flavor and intensity can both be affected if optimal conditions are not maintained. This, therefore, gives us a very clear benchmark when it comes to comparing the various concentrate packaging options that are available.
Silicon containers
When it comes to the two factors that could potentially alter your cannabis concentrate, namely heat, and humidity, airtight silicone containers check both boxes. As a concentrate packaging option, they not only do this, but they also offer a couple of other advantages.
The first of which being that they are non-stick. This means that you will be wasting less concentrate due to residue sticking to the sides of the container. They are also very easy to wash. All you need to do is pop them in some hot water, and optionally add soap.
This form of concentrate packaging also offers users ease-of-access as you can take dabs straight from the container. The last item in the pros column here is that there is customizability with this type of concentrate packaging. These containers come in many different colors, meaning that you can match your containers to your mood or possibly your outfit.
If you are looking to achieve optimal results with silicone containers, then you should aim to buy a container that is closest in size to the amount of concentrate that you will be storing. In the case of waxes and shatters, these should be wrapped in parchment prior to placing them in the container.
PTFE paper or parchment paper
PTFE paper is a storage option that is more suited for short-term use. Theoretically speaking one could use it for a longer period of time, but a more durable container would be advisable in that case.
When it comes to the pros of PTFE paper, they can be summarized by saying this option is both cost-effective and non-adhesive. Most homes have at least some parchment paper in the kitchen making it an affordable and accessible option.
PTFE paper also has a thin layer of silicone, ensuring that your concentrate will not stick to the sides. This kind of paper should certainly not be confused with wax paper. These are two very different products, one which will preserve your concentrate the other will not.
Paper concentrate envelopes
Here we have another concentrate packaging option that is tailor-made for short-term and on-the-go use. These concentrate envelopes are almost indistinguishable from normal envelopes, one of the few differences being that they are thicker and more durable than your garden variety envelope.
This type of container is not naturally non-stick so it should be used in conjunction with parchment paper. But it is very easy to seal, and it will slide into any small spot making it a travel-friendly option.
Plastic and glass concentrate jars
Let’s first take a look at the containers themselves, before going into the alterations that can be made to improve the quality of this concentrate packaging option. The first thing that can be said about both glass concentrate jars and plastic concentrate jars is that they are both see-through.
This is somewhat dependent on the type of jar used, as polystyrene concentrate jars offer a lot more visibility than other types of plastic. This visual access is important because it means that you are able to see just how much concentrate is in the jar at any time, a useful thing if you tend to forget to buy more concentrate when you are running low.
The second pro with both of these options is that they are durable. They can be used for extended periods of time as opposed to concentrate envelopes and PTFE paper which may need to be thrown away after one use.
When it comes to glass concentrate jars, there is the added bonus of them being resistant to heat. This is not the case with every jar, but it is safe to say that most of the time the jars are made using glass that has been tempered making it heat resistant.
Plastic and glass concentrate jars: The downside
With all of this being said, there is one drawback with glass and plastic concentrate jars. This being that neither is non-stick. This may not present a major problem for users that stick to shatter.
But there are many cannabis concentrates that will very easily adhere to the sides of the container producing not only waste, but a bit of a pain to clean up. Luckily, this problem can be quite easily rectified by combing this packaging option with one of the other ones that have been listed.
The more popular of these alterations is to buy a silicone insert that goes into the jars. They are specifically designed for generic concentrate jars and thus they slip in and out of the container very easily.
This eliminates the problem of mess and adhesiveness in one go but it does decrease visibility. Silicone is not as see-through as glass so you would be trading in visibility for non-stick and easy cleaning.
The other option is to wrap you concentrate in PTFE paper prior to placing it in the containers. This is the same process that was described for silicone containers and also will result in a product that does not adhere to the sides, leaving a sticky mess to clean up.
In closing, glass and plastic concentrate jars can be a very handy storage option for your concentrate if you are looking for something that is relatively cost-effective and reliable. Most of these also come with customizable lids, meaning that you would be able to distinguish between the different brands and strains that you may have.
