TED Tips for Desi Newbies

My introduction to TEDs was through a friend and not any online content. That was a real boon because I would have been sorely disappointed with TEDs if my expectations had been set by YouTube videos made by Westerners. Quick sessions and thick clouds are not things that I've been able to achieve easily with Indian herbs unless I raise temperatures close to combustion, which entirely defeats the point.

The stuff that I get is better than what most people I know have access to, but it absolutely pales in comparison to the genetically enhanced strains grown in controlled environments. There simply is no comparison. Indian herbs are more like the stuff you probably would have found in the West in the 60s or 70s - natural and outdoor.

Even if you’re a rich boi who picks up nugs, they are still not in the same class as the medical-grade Plants of Wisdom that you get abroad.

So the first thing you need to do is temper your expectations. As Buddha said (maybe, idk, everything sounds more profound if you say Buddha said it), “Expectation is the only seed of disappointment”.

If you go in with realistic expectations, you will not be disappointed. In fact, even after using TEDs for years I still find myself admiring the post-sesh bud and wondering how it’s possible that so much of the material is not required to reach the promised land. It’s like discovering alien technology if you’ve been combusting forever.

With that out of the way, let’s get started with some tips to get the best experience out of your TED. For reference, my TEDs are the XMAX Vital (XMAX Vital review), Dynavap M 2021 (Dynavap M review), a Simrell MVS paired with a Ti Tip and an S&B Crafty+.

Pick the Right TED

TEDs have a big upfront cost and aren’t easy to find in India, so you don’t want one that will give you buyer’s remorse. Keep the following things in mind while picking a TED:

• Precise Temperature Control: Look for a TED that allows you to set the exact temperature. TEDs with fixed temperature levels are not bad but I don’t personally prefer them. Accurate temperature settings will allow you to experiment with different effects based on temperature..
  
  
• Battery Capacity: The more compact a TED is, more likely it is to have a small battery. This can be a problem for on-the-go sessions if you’re outdoors for an extended period. It can be a problem indoors too if you constantly need to charge your TED and accidentally leave it out in the open to be found by someone else. Luckily, now we have battery-free options too such as the Dynavap.
  
  
• Charging Port: A TED that has a micro-USB or USB-C charging port can save you the hassle of carrying around an extra brick.

Check out this thread on Reddit to know which TEDs are recommended and which ones to avoid.

Don't Skimp on Quantity

You might get the impression from things you read or watch online that you can get the same kind of effects by using a fraction of the quantity of herb. While many say this is true, my personal experience does not corroborate this... at least not to the extent that others claim. TEDs are more efficient but that doesn't mean you can use drastically less material than if you were combusting. In my experience, the same (or slightly less) quantity of herb will keep you going more consistently for a longer time, compared to combustion.

What this means is that I don't end up using much less material per bowl. Rather, the effects from each bowl last comparatively longer and are more uniform throughout, leading to a reduction in the overall number of sessions. In short, TEDs make me want to have fewer sessions, not use substantially less herb per session. This is my personal experience though and your mileage may vary according to your device.

Herb Cleaning

One of the best things about TEDs is that you don’t need to spend time cleaning the herbs. Just get rid of the seeds and you’re good to go. Leaving the twigs in helps in heating up your bowl faster, but too many can lead to rapid heating and a harsh pull. I recommend removing big twigs and letting the little ones be.

There have been times when I accidentally left seeds in and it didn’t make a difference, so don’t sweat about it. The main reason to remove the seeds is that they don’t contain anything that produces the desired effects.

Experiment with Packing

Filling the bowl loosely might work for the enhanced plants they get in the West, but it does not work too well for the Indian plants that I get. Tightly packing the bowl allows you to consume more herb in one go for a more satisfying sesh. Loosely packing it has a major disadvantage that the loose particles will obstruct the mesh screen and they might also enter your mouth when pulling. Alternatively, you can pack loose and do more bowls per session.

Pack with your finger for a semi-tight pack or the end of a pen for a tight pack. Press the herbs so that the air gaps are reduced. The bowl should be packed tightly enough that the material does not fall out when you turn the TED upside down. If you grind your herbs very fine, be careful to not pack so tight that airflow is nil. When the session is done, use something like a toothpick to loosen the AVB up.

Know Your Herb (KYH)

Desi dry herb obviously has no form of quality control, meaning that two batches from the same source can be quite different. The quality also varies a lot depending on the season.

Experiment with different temperatures for each batch to get the best taste and effects. After a few batches, you will have figured out what temperature works best according to the moisture content of the material. Read my temperature control guide to know more about this.

Focus on Taste, not Clouds

While clouds are great, the real fun with TEDs is that you get to taste the amazing aromatic compounds known as terpenes. Think of it like this: Combusting is like gulping down DSP Black while thermal extraction is like sipping Jack Daniels. One is for getting fooked quickly while the other is for a sophisticated sensory experience.

Indian herb might not produce thick clouds at low temperatures. In fact, in an entire session with a low-end TED there might only be a few pulls when you see any visible clouds at all. The way to get ‘milky’ clouds is to raise the temperatures but that can end up ruining the taste. Rest assured, thick cloud volume is not necessary to feel the best effects. Even wispy clouds will do the job. If you're a cloud chaser, you will likely need to compromise taste for clouds. It will take a high-end TED or amazing bud to get clouds that are both thick and tasty.

Keep the Pulls Short

Most TEDs don't heat up fast enough to create a lot of cloud volume quickly, especially at the lower temperatures that I like. This makes long pulls pointless. Wait a few seconds for the vapours to accumulate and take a short, flavourful pull. 

Short pulls are also easier on the throat because most vapes tend to have a short cooling path. There are attachments or filtration devices you can use to extend the cooling path, but if you are pulling directly from the TED's mouthpiece pulls, it's better to avoid long pulls to prevent coughs.

With high-quality herb and higher temperatures, you will get more cloud volume that you can pull slightly longer, but don't expect a big plume like you get from combustion.

Be Patient

In YouTube videos and Reddit threads, I see Westerners fully extracting their material within a couple of minutes. In the case of the Dynavap, it only takes them 2-3 clicks for total extraction. This is difficult with Indian herbs because we need to use more per session due to the low quality of the plants.

As Buddha once said, “Hurry-burry spoils the curry.” A session with a tightly-packed bowl lasts no less than 15 minutes for me, going even longer if it's a tasty batch.

In the context of the Dynavap, it takes between 15-18 clicks (heat cycles) to get fully baked from a bowl that is tightly-packed to the brim. Those who prefer a light buzz might be satisfied with 5-7 clicks. That doesn't do it for me though (higher tolerance possibly) and around 15 clicks is the sweet spot.

(Note: My experience seems to be an anomaly when it comes to the Dynavap as even desi TEDheads have reported being able to finish their sessions in 3-5 clicks. I've experimented with the device using various techniques at this point and I stand by what I have written above.)

If that sounds excessive, remember that 15 minutes is the average duration for a combustion session too if you take into account the time needed for cleaning and rolling. Plus, with TEDs, you don’t need to hide for the next 15 minutes till the smell wears off from your hands and mouth.

Understanding the Effects

The most difficult part of switching to TEDs is understanding the differences in the effects compared to combustion. With a TED, you are not consuming all the chemicals present in the plant. Depending on the temperature, you are only taking in certain chemicals from the entire range available and the effects vary accordingly.

Even at the highest temperature ranges, TEDs will not make you sleepy. However, you will still feel both - a head high and a body high - which can be confusing for newbies. Many people who switch from combustion feel disappointed with TEDs due to this exact reason - the lack of a strong sedative effect.

Additionally, there is no strong and immediate rush like with combustion. Instead, the effects take a bit longer to feel (5-10 minutes) and stay at a consistent, satisfying plateau for more than a couple of hours.

Once you get used to it, you will find the cleaner effects from TEDs much more desirable. 

Stick to Dry Herb

Most TEDs are not built to handle things like oils and concentrates out of the box. You will need to buy a separate attachment, such as the Dynacoil for the Dynavap, for the best experience with liquidy forms.

There are methods like the ‘sandwich’ that work (layering in-between layers of dry herb) but it’s just a waste of material in my opinion. Either shell out extra for the attachment or stick to combusting for anything other than dry herb or cream.

Check the Leftover Bud

Checking the colour of the leftover bud (aka AVB or ABV) after the session will tell you how successful your device has been in extracting the herb. There is no hard and fast rule about this, but AVB for well-extracted bud will be medium to dark brown. It can also be blackish if you are using very high temperatures. If the AVB still has hints of green, you could get more out of it by increasing the temperature. 

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Follow these tips and you will have more Buzz than Aldrin and make trips to the moon with your TED.

Did these tips help? Got your own tips to add? Have any questions? Drop it like it’s hot in the comments or DM me on Reddit

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