Today is every stoner’s second favorite holiday, and to celebrate, the team at 22Red, Gelato Canna Co. and Muha Meds invited us to review some of their concentrate products. July 10th, or 710, is becoming more popular each year with the rise of more concentrate innovations and more brands developing their own “all-in-one” devices. Why 710? Well, when you flip the number upside down, it (roughly) spells out “oil,” from which concentrates are created. Stoners are nothing if not creative.
For those who stick to flower and edibles, or who are new to cannabis culture, concentrates are created from the cannabis trichomes that contain compounds like cannabinoids and terpenes. Since there are a variety of ways to harvest these compounds with the flower, like water extraction and pressure extraction, concentrates can come in a few different forms, like shatter, badder and oil. Due to their nature of being semi-liquid and oil, concentrates need to be vaporized to be used, so they are often found in dab rigs or turned into cartridges for electronic pens.
For this review, we tested the sativa strains “Mimosa” and “Pink Lemonade,” and the hybrid strain “Tire Fire.” Time to get lit.
22Red’s “Tire Fire” badder:
Appearance – A very dense badder that is not ideal for handling. Unlike the later reviewed “Mimosa”, it is a very jagged looking lump, almost as if it was pushed through a small extruder to make its way into the packaging. Chunks do not mesh together very well when trying to roll it into a cohesive shape, rather falling apart as it is manipulated. This one is best suited for using a utensil to transfer the oil if you're using a traditional banger in a bong, or just hitting straight from the container with the ever popular straw styled portable rigs.
Smell – This badder surprisingly smelled a little spicy, which definitely came through with the taste. The rich, spice-like nutty scents were complemented by earthy undertones that made it come off with a very natural and organic vibe.
Taste – In our experience, many 22Red products taste very similar to how they smell, and “Tire Fire” was no different. The nuttyness really came out when inhaling the badder, but did not linger into any aftertaste aside from the typical marijuana aftertaste. The nutty taste was a little unusual at first, but with the earthy and robust undertones, it grew on us.
Experience – This is another great product from 22Red, not only thanks to the taste, but the high as well. After only a few hits, we immediately felt it taking effect and bringing us down from the high stress and energy of a busy week. Despite being very relaxing, it did not make either of us lethargic or tired; instead it helped us decompress, stop running a million thoughts through our head and enjoy whatever was happening in the moment.
Rating – 🌵🌵🌵🌵
Gelato Canna Co.’s “Pink Lemonade” cartridge:
Appearance – As with most cartridges, the oil itself is a translucent golden/amber color. The consistency didn't notably seem to be any more or less viscous in comparison to other cartridges. The mouthpiece is also a little shorter than some other brands, which we feel is a nice touch because it helps the cartridge from getting clogged up as easily.
What really impressed us was the cartridge’s packaging. Not only does each box come with a collectible enamel pin and scratch and sniff sticker (they clearly know their audience), but the box also encourages you to rip it open for a surprise, which is a decent percent off your next purchase of their products. This immersive experience really took everything to the next level.
Smell – You definitely will not mistake this cartridge for another, as it smells very strongly of pink lemonade (but it is delicious). The smell is more faint when the cartridge is out in the open or on a pen, only noticeable if you make an effort to smell it, but when it turns into a vapor it is there, and instead of being overpowering and way too artificial or sweet, it is surprisingly refreshing.
Taste – In another surprising twist, this concentrate tastes almost exactly like real pink lemonade, with a very minimal and almost unnoticeable marijuana taste. Some people enjoy the marijuana taste more, and think that cartridges with strong flavors like this one take away from the experience, but from our experience, the rich taste enhanced everything, and we found ourselves reaching for it more than some of our favorite cartridges on hand.
Experience – This product definitely got us in the zone (or as Gen Z says, “locked in.”), and helped us stay there with the convenience of this product being a cartridge for a pen that can easily be used in smoking areas or even inside a building (within reason–we are not recommending any illegal behavior here). After a few hits and a short time to sit back to let it really kick in, we were feeling very inspired and driven, and were able to knock out a ton of work.
Rating – 🌵🌵🌵🌵
Muha Meds’ “Mimosa” hash rosin badder:
Appearance – A smooth, blonde caramel colored badder that stays structural enough to pick up and handle with your fingers lightly without the worry of half of it needing to be scraped off. Ideal for rolling into a snake to make your own infused joints.
Appearance of the actual product aside, Muha Meds also goes hard with their packaging. Not only was the box that the jar came in decorated on every side with branding, foil elements and cool graphics, the jar also had some cool graphics and foil effects, which was a surprise. It also notes that it is a Sativa on the lid of the container. It is always nice to see a brand go the extra mile to make their products stand out and be memorable and functional.
Smell – This badder smells incredibly floral, and somewhat similar to 22Red’s “Jack’s Cleaner.” The smell is strong, but not overpowering, and we enjoyed being graced with it every time we opened the jar.
Taste – A very light but pleasant flavor that is mostly a savory floral note with some hints of sweetness on the exhale.
Experience – Despite being an incredibly smooth hit (like, the smoothest we have ever experienced. We could take a dab at ultra high temperatures and not get thrown into a coughing fit, which is highly rare.), this badder hits hard. So much so that it had us thinking the dog was a friend we had over that we somehow forgot we invited over (although Sako is a friend). Silly moments aside, the high was very fun and relaxing. It helped us get relaxed and laid back, enjoying non-stoner movies but making incredibly funny jokes and good memories all the same.
Rating – 🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵
Our Thoughts:
It seems like concentrates are becoming more and more popular, and we can see why. With the ease-of-use and convenience of cartridges and pens, and the strong and quick (but long lasting) effects of products like badder, it seems that concentrates are a go-to for people who need or like stronger effects and for those who do not care or seek the social elements of smoking. Plus, it is always fun to find a new cartridge that tastes good and has a good high. These are great products year-round, and we look forward to more innovations from these brands.
We hope you all have a fun and safe 7/10.
While Desert Sounds Magazine received the concentrate products from 22Red, Gelato Canna Co. and Muha Meds in exchange for a review, all opinions, experiences and feedback are entirely our own. We do not receive any commission on any sales made as a result of this product review.
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