Moon Rocks and Caviar: Are They Worth the Price?

Imagine for a moment that cannabis consumption could be likened to a multi-course meal in a fine restaurant. The appetizer or starter salad would be a microdose; the main course could be a moderately-dosed edible or some nice flower; and for dessert – envision a layered and decadent confection of your choice, like chocolate lava cake or a hot fudge sundae. And then, think about cannabis moon rocks, a luxurious nug dipped in cannabis concentrate and dusted with even more concentrate in the form of kief. 

Moon rocks are often thought of as decadent because of their layers and potency. Given the trio of cannabis, concentrate, and kief, moon rocks often reach more than 50 percent THC. 

Often confused with another cannabis decadence called caviar, there is one defining difference. Moon rocks always have both concentrate and kief, while caviar may, or may not, also include kief. 

One could say moon rocks are always caviar, but caviar isn't always moon rocks.

Given the high potency of moon rocks, a high price tag is a practical inevitability. In the early days of the legal market, some offerings would sell for up to $1,400 an ounce. Today, moon rocks cost a little more than your top-shelf flower, around $25-35 a gram depending on where you live and the quality of the product. It’s true that moon rocks are beautiful to look at and contain layers of epic potency, but is the extra cost actually worth it? 

It’s nearly impossible to know what percentage of sales moon rocks take up in the legal market, but in general, cannabis consumers enjoy trying out different and innovative methods of consumption. However, moon rocks are not so user-friendly. Because of their stickiness, they will gunk up your grinder, can’t be rolled into joints, and take much longer to light, leaving you to inhale a lot of butane while you wait for the flame to catch. 

In other words, moon rocks take a lot of work, which makes them impractical for medical consumers and people who have difficulty using their hands. Even for those that are neither, finding a highly efficient way to consume moon rocks has yet to emerge.

The best way to break apart moon rocks is by using scissors.

Nonetheless, some might find that the extra preparation effort is worth it to get to its extra-potent kick and the strong taste of kief, concentrate, and bud. But there are some things that moon rock consumers should keep in mind. Because moon rocks contain considerably higher amounts of THC, they may bring on some of the side-effects associated with high potency cannabis products, including anxiety, paranoia, dizziness, increased heart rate, dry mouth, cough, and other respiratory issues. Also, they are not for novice consumers or those with a lower tolerance, and even experienced consumers should start slow with moon rocks. 

Though moon rocks look gorgeous in photos (they have been hashtagged more than 500,000 times on Instagram) and stand out at the dispensary, there is an argument that all that layering is intended to disguise what is ultimately poor quality bud. 

Is it true? It likely depends on the specific producer. If you’re worried about the quality of the product, moon rocks are pretty easy to make at home. Simply get some C02 cannabis oil, enough kief for a good dusting, and a bud of choice flower. Just like making a cake, buying the separate ingredients can often be cheaper than the finished product depending on what you have available to you.

Just like eating out at a fine restaurant, you won’t always order caviar and champagne, though you might for a special occasion. Moon rocks are a lot like that; something you wouldn’t normally eat but fun to try out if the price is right for your budget.

What are your thoughts on moon rocks? Are they worth it?  Share in the comments!

Photo Credit: Mountain Greenery (license)