What is CBD Kief and What Can You Do With It?

IMPORTANT: any statements or claims about the possible health benefits conferred by any foods or supplements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease. This page contains affiliate links.  We earn commissions for referring traffic to these sites.  While we are careful to only recommend products we actually use and like, you should know of our relationship with these companies.

You may have noticed soft and sticky powder build up in your grinder over time as you use CBD flower, but don’t toss it – this kief has real value to offer.

CBD kief is a collection of trichomes, the colorful, “sparkly” bits that sit on CBD hemp flower buds, that form into a light, but powerful, powder. This powder contains all sorts of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other parts of the plant that can help enhance your CBD experience.

But how exactly can you use your kief to bring out the best in your other CBD products, and is it necessary to combine the two at all? What are the best ways to use CBD kief and maximize its potential? We’ll answer these questions and more below as we break down all things CBD kief.

What is CBD Kief?

Kief is a fine, powdery substance that’s made up of the trichomes of hemp flower and is rich in cannabinoids, terpenes, and other organic compounds.

CBD kief is simply kief that comes specifically from CBD hemp flower rather than another type of cannabis. It’s different from regular “kief” that comes from marijuana because it carries little to no THC.

How Potent is CBD Kief?

Potency can vary from one individual product to another, but in general, CBD kief has a much higher potency than CBD flower, usually around 20-30%. 

There really is no one set limit for how strong kief can get, though; potency levels for some CBD kief can go as high as 40%.

Can You Get High From CBD Kief?

You can’t get high from CBD kief because CBD is not a psychoactive cannabinoid, unlike THC. That means CBD won’t alter your cognition, coordination, reaction time, etc.

So, the only reason you would get high from kief in general is the presence of THC. CBD kief may have trace amounts of THC in it, but these amounts are so insignificant that they do little more than add some depth to a user’s experience. 

It is possible to use CBD kief that has more than trace amounts of THC, but this is usually only the case when using CBD products from an approved medical marijuana program, where legal (but still small) doses of THC may be present to enhance the product’s effects.

CBD Kief Effects

The effects of CBD kief closely mimic those of other CBD products, but they tend to be much more intense and may be slightly longer-lasting. 

Common benefits associated with CBD kief include, but are not limited to:

  • Lessened anxiety
  • Better sleep
  • Improved mood
  • Lowered levels of inflammation
  • Improvement of pain symptoms

What is CBD Kief Used For?

Usually, CBD kief is used as a cost-effective way to add potency to flower. You can think of it almost like a flavor enhancer: when added to the bulk of regular CBD flower, kief strengthens what’s already there and brings in some elements of its own.

Kief can make a regular bowl more intense, make pain relief last longer, or even bring some flair to your next snack. CBD kief can essentially be used for whatever you want it to.

What Can You Do With CBD Kief?

The easiest way to use CBD kief is usually to smoke or vape it in some way, but that’s not your only option. From CBD moon rocks to baked goods, there are all sorts of options for making kief work for you.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box a bit to find fun and practical ways to use your CBD kief to your advantage!

Smoke It By Itself in a Bowl or Bong

Though it’s often combined with other CBD products, kief can function just fine on its own. In fact, smoking it by itself in a bowl, bong, or another piece may be one of the most ideal ways to use it. 

This method allows you to easily measure and visualize your CBD kief use, and you’ll get fast, hard-hitting results.

Sprinkle It On Top of a Bowl

A more mild approach to smoking your kief is sprinkling it on top of a bowl of CBD hemp flower. This trick enhances your entire bowl and sets you up to receive much more in terms of benefits than you would otherwise.

Sprinkling your kief also makes it easier to slowly test the waters. Instead of exposing yourself to pure, uninhibited kief, you’ll likely end up consuming it more slowly and in smaller bursts.

This is especially true if you layer your kief (that is, add some flower, a layer of kief, then more flower, etc.), which is also a great way to make your bowl last longer.

Mix It With Flower and Roll a Joint

Not a fan of smoking your CBD flower out of bongs or other pieces? Try adding some kief to a joint by adding a thin line of product on top of your flower.

Joints can be a bit harsh on the lungs and throat, so the addition of kief can be a real lifesaver. A more intense smoking experience means you may not need to smoke as much to feel the same effects.

Mix It With Flower and Vape It

Another option for inhaling your CBD kief, and perhaps the most lung-friendly course of action, is mixing your product in with some CBD flower and vaping the two together.

Vaping slowly heats up flower and kief rather than combusting (burning) them, so many of the irritants that are present in smoke simply are not created as you use your product.

Cook With It

Smoking and vaping aren’t for everyone. If you’re not a huge fan of inhalation as a method of consumption, CBD kief can still be an option for you: oral consumption is possible.

The easiest way to eat your CBD kief is by cooking it into a meal, snack, beverage, etc. 

To activate the cannabinoids within your kief, you should decarboxylate it by baking it at a low heat (usually around 250℉) for around an hour or so. 

This process creates kief that you can essentially do whatever you want with – you can sprinkle it on top of food, mix it into the batter of a cake, or even add it to your coffee.

Conclusion

Clearly, CBD kief is very versatile, which understandably makes it quite a popular staple for many cannabis aficionados. 

You can take control of the benefits that CBD kief has to offer in all sorts of ways; add it to your next bowl or joint for a quick and easy boost, or take a more complex route and create kief that can be added to your foods and drinks.

No matter how you decide to use your CBD kief, it’s a good idea to start out small and go from there. 

The higher the potency your product is, the easier it is to accidentally take too much and overwhelm yourself.

CBD kief can get the job done on its own, or it can work with other CBD products. 

Our directory lists a myriad of options that you can use in conjunction with or in addition to CBD kief to manage chronic health symptoms, boost your mood, and keep negative experiences at bay.

If you’re specifically looking for CBD kief, click here for our personal favorite product, Plain Jane CBD Kief.

Click to Read Review

Plain Jane CBD Kief

Review Breakdown

4.9/5
4.9/5

Quality 
Flavor 
Price vs Value 
Experience 
Company Reputation 

5/5
5/5
5/5
4.5/5
5/5
Click to Read Review
4.9/5
4.9/5

Pros:

✔️Highly Concentrated

✔️Cost Effective Way to Add Potency and Flavor to Any Flower

✔️Contains Multiple Beneficial Compounds Besides CBD

✔️Can Be Smoked Alone or Sprinkled On Top of a Bowl / Mixed Into a Joint for Added Relief

✔️100% Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee

Cons:

✖️No Option to Pick Specific Strains

Picture of Josh Murdoch

Josh Murdoch

I was born with Cystic Fibrosis, and although it is incurable, cannabinoids have been allowing me to live my life as a healthy adult now for years. For that reason, I’ve dedicated my career to spreading the good news about cannabinoids. Currently, I work for a cannabis distribution company called Humble Cannabis Solutions which operates in California. Previously, I worked on two cannabis farms in northern California, one of which was located in the famous Humboldt County. I’ve also managed a medical cannabis delivery service in Marin County, California. I created CBD Facilitator to share what I’ve learned, and to recommend the best products that I have found in this chaotic market.

Share this….

Our Mission

Our goal is to educate you on all things CBD, enabling you to navigate this vast unregulated industry like a pro. We know all too well how overwhelming it can be to find trustworthy brands in this crowded market, so we’re here to help!

Shop CBD Products

Our Favorite Brands

FACILITATOR25
(25% Off)

CBDFACILITATOR
(15% Off)

CBDFACILITATOR
(15% Off)

FACILITATOR
(10% Off)

Topical Cream

Perfect for Localized Pain and Inflammation Relief!

Our Mission

Our goal is to educate you on all things CBD, enabling you to navigate this vast unregulated industry like a pro. We know all too well how overwhelming it can be to find trustworthy brands in this crowded market, so we’re here to help!

Shop CBD Products

Our Favorite Brands

FACILITATOR25
(25% Off)

CBDFACILITATOR
(15% Off)

CBDFACILITATOR
(15% Off)

FACILITATOR
(10% Off)

Topical Cream

Perfect for Localized Pain and Inflammation Relief!