Special 710: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to the World of Dabs
Flipped upside down and backward, the number 710 spells out ‘OIL’—the inspiration behind the recreational cannabis community’s official annual celebration of extracts and dabs. Photo by Christopher Ott on Unsplash
If you’ve spent any time exploring modern recreational cannabis dispensaries, you’ve likely noticed a vibrant, high-tech, and incredibly aromatic corner of the market dedicated to extracts. You might have also heard the term “710” thrown around with the same reverence usually reserved for 420.
But what exactly is 710, and why is the world of dabbing taking over the recreational scene?
If you flip the numbers 710 upside down and backward, they spell OIL—the universal shorthand for cannabis concentrates. What started as an underground insider secret has transformed into a global celebration on July 10th (the National Dab Day), highlighting the cleanest, most potent, and flavor-packed products the cannabis plant has to offer.
If you’ve been curious about dabs but intimidated by the jargon, the gear, or the potency, welcome. This is your completely accessible, beginner-friendly guide to mastering the concentrate counter, featuring a look at the hottest trends hitting the shelves this summer.
Concentrates 101: Demystifying the Textures
At its core, a “dab” is simply a flash-vaporized dose of cannabis concentrate. Concentrates are made by isolating the plant’s trichomes—the tiny, resinous crystals on the flower that contain all the cannabinoids (like THC and CBD) and terpenes (the compounds responsible for aroma and flavor).
When you strip away the raw plant material, you are left with a pure, highly potent product. Because of how these extracts are processed and cured, they take on vastly different textures. Here is your cheat sheet for dispensary menus:
- Shatter: True to its name, shatter is a translucent, glass-like extract that is brittle to the touch. It has a classic “snap-and-pull” texture and is highly stable, though it can sometimes be tricky for beginners to break into precise doses.
- Budder / Badder: If you want an easy starting point, look for badder. It has a creamy, whipped consistency reminiscent of cake frosting or cold butter. It stays perfectly on the end of a dabbing tool, making it incredibly user-friendly.
- Crumble: This extract is dry, matte, and easily flakes apart, looking a bit like a honeycomb or dried brown sugar. It may work excellent for sprinkling on top of regular flower in a joint or bowl, as well as dabbing.
- Sugar / Sauce: These are two sides of the same coin. “Sauce” is a liquid rich in aromatic terpenes, while “Sugar” features a grainy, wet-sand texture where tiny THC crystals sit suspended in that flavorful liquid.
In the Spotlight: What’s Trending Now
While some users still find excitement in chasing the highest possible THC percentage, today’s concentrate culture is increasingly shifting to a terpene-first mindset. Discerning buyers are looking for complex flavor profiles, smooth vapor, and a clean, full-spectrum high.
If you want to walk into a dispensary this season and ask for the absolute best of the best, here are some of the dominating trends:
1. Live Rosin (The Solventless King)
While classic extracts use solvents like butane or CO2 to separate the active compounds from the plant, Live Rosin uses absolutely zero chemicals. It is made purely through ice water, heat, and intense pressure. Because the process is entirely mechanical, it preserves the living plant’s exact genetic profile. It commands a premium price tag because it represents the pinnacle of clean, artisanal cannabis craftsmanship.
2. Cold Cure Badder
Walk into any high-end sesh and chances are you’ll hear people talking about “cold cure.” After extraction, processors allow the rosin to cure in sealed jars at cool room temperatures for days or weeks. This causes the natural oils and terpenes to separate and then whip back into a beautifully creamy, shelf-stable wet badder. It locks in volatile, fruity, and gassy aromas that would otherwise degrade in heat.
3. THCA Diamonds in Terp Sauce
The ultimate visual showstopper on modern menus. These look like literal gemstones submerged in a golden syrup. The “diamonds” are pure crystalline THCA (which converts to intense THC when heated), while the “sauce” provides a massive burst of strain-specific flavor. It allows users to customize their dab by scooping a perfect balance of pure potency and pure flavor.
The Modern Ritual: No Blowtorches Required
Looking back, one of the biggest barriers to entry for dabbing was the gear. A traditional setup would typically require a glass rig, a quartz or titanium “nail,” and a high-powered propane blowtorch to heat the surface to scorching temperatures. To an outsider, this would look more like a science experiment than a relaxing recreational pastime.
Thankfully, the technology around dabbing has evolved big time.
Enter the Smart E-Rig
Devices like the Puffco Peak, Focus V Carta, and various pocket-sized wax pens have fairly enough democratized dabbing. These electronic rigs replace the open flame with an internal, battery-powered heating element. With the press of a button, you can select an exact temperature down to the specific degree.
The Golden Rule: Low-Temp is Key
The biggest mistake beginners make is dabbing at temperatures that are far too high. Red-hot dabs burn off the delicious terpenes, scorch your throat, and may cause intense coughing fits.
These days, dabbing is all about low-temp enjoyment (ideally between 450°F and 550°F). Low temperatures preserve the intricate flavor profiles—allowing you to taste notes of bright citrus, ripe berries, or earthy pine—while delivering an incredibly smooth, smooth vapor stream.
Dosage & Etiquette for the First-Timer
Because concentrates routinely test between 60% and 90%+ THC (compared to the 15% to 30% found in regular flower), a little goes an exceptionally long way.
- The Grain of Rice Rule: For your very first dab, aim for a portion about the size of half a grain of rice. It will look surprisingly small on your tool, but it is more than enough to deliver a robust, immediate effect. You can always take another turn later once you understand how the potency lands.
- The Cotton Swab Rule (The Ultimate Etiquette): Whether you are using a friend’s luxury e-rig or your own brand-new device, there is one golden rule of concentrate etiquette: Always Q-tip your chamber. After you finish drawing your vapor, a small puddle of dark residual oil will remain. Take a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol and wipe the chamber completely clean while it’s still warm. This ensures the next hit tastes perfectly fresh, preserves the integrity of the heating element, and keeps your gear looking pristine.
710 is no longer a hidden subculture—it is the cutting edge of cannabis enjoyment. By starting low, focusing on flavor, and embracing new and modern smart tech, anyone can confidently step into the world of dabs and experience the plant in its purest form.
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Disclaimer: This article is intended strictly for educational and informational purposes for adults of legal consumption age in their respective jurisdictions. Cannabis concentrates are highly potent products and should be consumed responsibly. Always consult with a qualified professional or budtender, and adhere to local laws and regulations regarding recreational cannabis use.
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Stephen Andrews
