Cannabis is a very complicated plant. However, despite our progress in terpene research and our growing knowledge of the endo-cannabinoid system, we still only know a portion of how and why this plant affects humans. Cannabis concentrates are a complex and bewildering world when you combine the multi-layered power plant with the broad variety of current technology possibilities and an ambitious user base. Cannabis and hemp enthusiasts are a part of this world, whether or not they dab.
This is because concentrates like:
- shatter,
- bubble hash,
- rosin,
- CO2,
- sauce,
- and tinctures,
- as well as vape pens and edibles, are what fill these products.
The basics of cannabis concentrates
Canna-butter
To begin, do not attempt to dab canna-butter in any way. Typically, this isn't considered a kind of concentrate but it is, and it's a good basis for understanding the process of processing marijuana.
Canna-butter is a term used to describe a traditional process of extracting cannabinoids and other plant chemicals from marijuana leaves by boiling the herb in butter. As soon as you remove all the plant material, you may use the residual butter to make brownies or chai tea infusions with the help of these fatty substances. Processed cannabis oil is a more convenient component than time-consuming canna-butter because of the regulations governing edible firms. Many, on the other hand, long for the warm, comforting buzz it provides, and some businesses are sticking with the tried-and-true approach.
A must-try is the canna-butter recipe from Elbe's Edibles in Oregon, which is a cornerstone of the company's famous baked food line.
Hash
We've now gone back thousands of years, well beyond the days of college brownies. When it comes to concentrates, hashish is the original, usually formed by rubbing buds together in your palms and rolling the remaining resin into a little sticky ball. Much more efficient methods of making hash in 2021 include the use of an automated sieve or a pressured procedure using ice. Smokable pieces of hash are traditionally made by packing the plant's resin and pressing it into a compacted form. For comparison, the THC content of cannabis flowers ranges from 15% to 25%.
Today, hash is made in a very different way than it was in the past. "Kief" or "dry sift" is a term we use to describe the product of a mechanical dry sieve, which separates the best parts of the plant from the rest. In addition to the bottom of your grinder, this is what you'll find.) In a "infused joint," this may be sprinkled on top of a bowl or rolled in flower. Rosehips can be made by pressing them, but that's for another time.
Ice water hash, often known as "bubble hash," is a kind of hash that may be pressed into rosin, vaporized in cartridges like Nevada company CAMP's ice water hash products, or used in infusions. "Full melt" and "ice wax" are common terms for high-quality ice water hash, which is sought after by many regular dabbers.
Cannabis concentrate oils
"Solventless" concentrations include everything we've just discussed. The consumable concentration may be made with just gravity, heat, pressure, water, and a little elbow work. This is only the beginning of the story.
Rosin
Rosin, on the other hand, is the outcome of a precise, automated juice press if we compare it to hash. Cannabis hash is formed by sifting through a second round of sieving to remove any remaining impurities, resulting in a more concentrated, strong, and botanically-dense product.
What to try: To make flower rosin, press entire flowers, like in Rose Delights, or use hash to make hash rosin, as in the delectable Nelson & Co. Organics flower rosin grams from Oregon.
CO2 Oil
CO2 oil is the most often utilized concentration in vape cartridges. These are cannabinoids and other important chemicals that have been extracted from cannabis using an industrial extraction equipment that utilizes high pressure and carbon dioxide. The decaffeination of coffee, for example, makes use of carbon dioxide as a solvent.
CO2 machines may also be used to produce "living resin," which is a kind of concentrate. Fresh, entire flowers may be used to make resin by CO2 extraction or by employing a solvent like butane to extract the resin. Real buds and fan leaves alone, typically flash-frozen to maintain the original wetness (freshness of bloom is crucial here—hence the "alive" element).)
The "distillate" in Vaporizers may be refined CO2 oil. In addition to being a frequent basic component in edibles and topicals, high-quality distillate may contain as much as 90% total cannabinoids and have no discernible taste or aroma.
RSO Oil
In honor of the Canadian hospital engineer Rick Simpson, who successfully cured his skin cancer with a home-brewed cannabis mixture, RSO stands for Rick Simpson Oil. The medicinal components in cannabis are taken out of the plant when it is soaked in pure naphtha or isopropyl alcohol, according to Simpson, who discovered that when the alcohol evaporates, a black, viscous liquid remains. RSO, also known as Phoenix Tears, may be applied directly to the skin or taken orally to treat a wide range of chronic conditions.
An acquaintance with a degenerative nerve condition was given a multi-month supply of Siskiyou Sungrown's high-CBD RSO last year. He'd started to lose sensation in his thumb and was experiencing continuous agony, but after taking a few milligrams every day for two weeks, the sensitivity returned and the discomfort diminished with each passing day. When it comes to medical marijuana, RSO is an excellent option.
Tinctures
Steam alcohol extraction extracts the plant's therapeutic cannabinoids, which are then concentrated to a very herbal-flavored liquid to make a tincture. It is also possible to make dabbable shatter and pure, separated cannabinoids like powdered THCA crystals with the help of ethanol extraction. Tinctures are not the same as every bottle of "CBD oil" that is available for purchase on the internet (though they all may come in very similar looking glass dropper bottles). Many different formulations and methods fall under the umbrella of this phrase.
The next level of cannabis concentrates
BHO Extracts
In a closed-loop system, pressurized chemical solvents like butane and propane are used to remove the essential oils of cannabis from plant debris. Despite its appearance, dabbers find it irresistible because of its unique taste. Because the chemical procedure is more gentle on the plant material, the cannabinoids and terpenes are preserved in a more robust condition. 70 to 90 percent of total cannabinoids may be found in THC-heavy BHO extracts.
When talking about solvent-based concentrates, "sauce" is another common phrase. Known as "sugar," this sticky mixture is made up of cannabinoid- and terpene-rich crystals floating in a terpene-rich oil base. "Terp sauce" is another term for a product that contains terpenes and all the plant's minor chemicals in excess of 50%. For those who don't have a dab rig, Terp sauce may be found in vape cartridge form.
The word "live resin" refers to a concentration derived from fresh, typically flash-frozen entire flower, which is what the term "live" signifies. As opposed to "trim runs," which are prepared with less strong flower parts that have been long cured, this will have a more robust taste.
Among the concentrates to try: "Shatter," which is a hardened candy-like concentrate, "budder," "badder," and "frosting," all of which are processed by Illinois' Bedford Grow and have a different look and feel, as well as "honeycomb" or "crumble," which are drier concentrates. There is a sauce in Maryland that has 83.59% THC. Biko's Juseyo Diamond-filled joints, for example, contain isolated THC crystals referred to as "diamonds."
Even though the science and taste of the concentrate world might be overwhelming, it's a great journey to take. With a focus on the most fascinating aspects of cannabis, here is where you'll find it enhanced, magnifying the effects and taste in a manner that brings you to new experiences with familiar strains. When it comes to cannabis, there is no limit to what may be achieved here.