Terp pearls are small, often spherical pieces of heat-resistant material that are used in conjunction with a dabbing nail or banger to enhance the dabbing experience. They are commonly made of quartz and come in a variety of sizes and shapes from round, pearl-like orbs to cylindrical pillars and more. But what is the purpose of these little dabbing accessories?

When heated along with the concentrate, the terp pearls create dispersion in the banger or nail, which helps to distribute the concentrate evenly and increase the surface area of the concentrate in contact with the heated surface. This results in a more thorough vaporization of the concentrate, fully vaporizing the terpenes locked inside the concentrate.

Variations of Terp Pearls

As the name implies, terp pearls traditionally resemble pearls, little round balls around 6 millimeters in diameter. 

These cylindrical, or pill-shaped terp accessories are called "terp pillars". You can see the variation on the terp pillar in the image above, which includes indentations and a combination of shapes and edges. 

Some terp pillars have hollow spaces that run all the way through. These are called "hollow pillars". 

How Do Terp Pearls Work? 

While air pulls through the banger while dabbing, terp pearls spin around inside the bowl and do two things. One, they help to evenly distribute heat. After the banger reaches the right temperature before dabbing, the heat can dissipate from some areas of the nail faster than others. This can create uneven heat spots inside the bowl. Terp balls can solve this problem by redistributing the heat evenly as they spin around. 

Second, terp pearls spread out the cannabis concentrate evenly inside the banger while dabbing. The spinning motion of the terp pearls disperse the concentrate along the bottom surface of the banger. Terp balls prevent the concentrate from pooling together in just one area of the banger, unable to vaporize as thoroughly and evenly. A thin, even layer of concentrate vaporizes better than a thick glob that’s confined to one small footprint within the bowl. 

If the concentrate pools into just one area it might not completely vaporize, leaving residue as a sign of the unfinished dab.

How To Use Terp Pearls

The process is straightforward. Here it is:

1) Place terp pearls inside the banger. You can use just one terp ball by itself, but multiple balls spinning together inside the bowl can be even more effective. Don’t overcrowd the banger with too many terp pearls, or they won’t be able to spin around freely. 

2) Heat the banger, then let it cool to the desired temperature. This will vary depending on whether you’re doing a hot or cold start dab. Read more about that in our article How To Dab Rosin.

3) Drop your rosin inside the bowl and place the carb cap on top.

4) Place your finger over the carb cap and take your dab. Notice the mesmerizing motion of those terp pearls as they disperse the rosin evenly throughout the bowl. 

5) After the banger is cool, remove the terp pearls for cleaning.

Note that if you're using a terp slurper variety of quartz banger, the terp pillar or hollow pillar varieties are perfect for sliding down into the stem of the slurper, between the upper bowl and the lower tray. The pillar rotates around in this section of the banger, keeping both heat and cannabis concentrate evenly distributed.

How To Clean Terp Pearls, Pillars, and Hollow Pillars

It’s critical to keep both your banger and terp pearls clean. Wipe down both the banger and terp pearls after every use. If you’re not cleaning both then you’re risking diminishing the exceptional flavor of future dabs, with old crusty residue stuck to your gear.

Wiping terp pearls with ISO alcohol after every use is usually enough to keep them clean. But periodically soaking them in ISO for a deeper cleaning is a good practice.  

Read more in our article Tips for Cleaning Your Dab Rig and Banger.

Where Can You Find Terp Pearls?

The Press Club terp pearls are made from 100% quartz and come with 5 in each order. Give them a try and experience the effectiveness. You won’t go back to dabbing without them!

Pickup your terp pearls here. 

Conclusion

Terp pearls are a useful accessory for those who enjoy dabbing rosin and want to maximize the flavor and potency of their solventless concentrates. Terp pearls are easy to use, inexpensive to purchase, and super effective in making the most of every dab. Try a few different varieties and see which ones work best for you. 

Also check out our article Every Type of Quartz Dab Nail and How To Use Them.

Thoughts? Let us know by joining our secret Facebook group. Hang out with a community of like-minded solventless heads like yourself. Ask our head extractor questions, share your latest press and learn from hobbyists and experts in the industry.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are terp pearls?
Terp pearls are small, often spherical pieces of heat-resistant material that are used in conjunction with a dabbing nail or banger to enhance the dabbing experience.

What are the benefits of terp pearls?
Terp pearls help to evenly distribute heat inside the banger and spread out the cannabis concentrate evenly inside the banger while dabbing.

How do terp pearls work?
When heated along with the concentrate, the terp pearls create dispersion in the banger or nail, which helps to distribute the concentrate evenly and increase the surface area of the concentrate in contact with the heated surface.

What are the different types of terp pearls?
Terp pearls traditionally resemble little round balls around 6 millimeters in diameter, but other varieties include cylindrical pillars. Some terp pearls are also designed with small grooves or ridges on their surface.

Do you need to use a carb cap with terp pearls?
Yes, you need to place a carb cap on top of your banger to allow terp pearls to spin around while dabbing.