ALL ABOUT CBD CONCENTRATES
All about CBD Concentrates:To understand concentrates, we need to know some basics about the psychoactive elements in cannabis. Concentrates take these and separate them from the rest of the plant.
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CANNABINOIDS
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds which act on the endocannabinoid system of the human body and brain. Scientists have succeeded in isolating 113 different cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Notable cannabinoids include THC, which is the dominant force responsible for cannabis’ famous high, and CBD, which is responsible for many of cannabis’ remarkable health properties. The profile of any particular cannabis plant is in large part determined by its composition of cannabinoids.
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TERPENES
Terpenes are a class of organic compounds which occur naturally in insects and plants. They produce a strong odor, which likely helps protect plants by deterring herbivores and attracting the predators of herbivores. Over 120 terpenes have been found in cannabis. Terpenes give particular cannabis strains their flavour, and can enhance and modify their medicinal and psychoactive effects. An ideal concentrate will succeed in isolating and preserving both a plant’s cannabinoids and its terpenes.
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TRICHOMES
The cannabis plant’s cannabinoids and terpenes are found and produced in its trichomes. Trichomes are the white crystalline “fuzz” found on the surface of the plant’s buds. They’re also what makes cannabis sticky to the touch. The word “trichome” comes from the Greek for “growth of hair.” On cannabis plants, trichomes likely play a defensive role, helping the plant ward off the elements, and helping to defend it against insects. Trichomes are crystalline in appearance, but when manipulated, their inner resin is released and they become sticky. They’re the most abundant on the calyx of the cannabis plant
Cannabis plants contain two main divisions of trichomes: glandular and nonglandular. The glandular trichomes produces cannabinoids and terpenes and are subdivided into three types: bulbous, capitate sessile, and capitate-stalked. Bulbous trichomes are the smallest, ranging from 10–30 micrometers in size, and are spread over the surface of the plant. Capitate sessile trichomes are next up in size, but still typically require a microscope to be seen; they typically appear on the bottom of sugar and fan leaves. Capitate-stalked trichomes are the kind we’re most interested in; they’re abundant on the cannabis flower and at 50–100 micrometers, can easily be seen with the naked eye.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF CONCENTRATES: SOLVENT VS. NON-SOLVENT
The biggest distinction between concentrates is that between extract and non-extract concentrates. Hash is an example of a popular non-extract concentrate. Extracts are concentrates that use a solvent to remove the desired product from the cannabis plant. Extracts are further subdivided based on solvent used, and the consistency of the final product. Popular extracts include budder, wax, and shatter.
Concentrates represent a vast category of diverse products. Preparation and even ingestion will depend on which kind of concentrate you choose to make. The first choice you’ll face is whether you’re going with a non-solvent or solvent-based concentrate.
1. NON-SOLVENT CONCENTRATES
Non-solvent-based concentrates are exactly what they sound like: they’re concentrates produced without the use of solvents, through heat and pressure alone. In other words, they’re not extracts. One confusing detail is that in the world of cannabis concentrates, unlike in your chemistry class, water is not considered a solvent. Therefore, concentrates which use water in their preparation are not considered extracts.
KIEF
- Can be collected in a grinder
- Unadulterated trichomes
- Can be smoked in a spliff or a bong
The simplest kind of concentrate is kief. Kief is the collection of trichomes which are separated from the cannabis flower. Trichomes are easily dislodged, and so kief can be produced unintentionally, as the cannabis flower rubs against the side of whatever container it’s being stored or manipulated in. To take advantage of this process, you may want to invest in a grinder with a kief-catcher, so that these loosened trichomes don’t go to waste.
Kief can also be made intentionally, by gently shaking cannabis flowers over a fine sieve, and then scraping off the kief. Before doing this, it’s best to place your cannabis flowers in the freezer for a few hours, as this will help loosen the trichomes. If you have the budget, a pollinator with a revolving drum is an easy way to automate this process.You can also make kief using the blender method: place your cannabis flowers in a blender, and cover them with ice water. Blend well, and let the mixture sit for half an hour. After that, drain the mixture into a jar through a silk screen. This will separate the water and kief from the other plant materials. Once this step is done, strain the kief-water through a coffee filter to separate the kief and the water. After this is done, squeeze out the coffee filter, spread your kief out, and let it dry.
HASH
- Made from compressed kief
- High in cannabinoids other than THC
- Unique, earthy flavours
- Famously relaxing high
- Fairly easy to make
Hash is kief that has been compressed. This further increases the density, and thus potency, of those desirable trichomes. Hash is a classic, but it continues to be a much-beloved concentrate around the world. It’s still the most popular way to consume cannabis in Europe, though in North America smoking the flower still leads.
One way to make hash is with the shoe method. Wrap your kief tightly in cellophane, and place it in a plastic bag. The bag should be airtight, and without air bubbles. Place it in the heel of your shoe and walk around on it. The heat and pressure will do the trick in about 15 minutes, but you may want to leave it in for longer to get a higher concentrate.
Another method is to use a pollen press to compress your kief into hash. This method uses nothing but elbow grease, and will allow you to produce your very own hash pellets for cheap.
The best hash, however, is the result of both heat and pressure. One strategy is to take your kief and wrap it tightly in organic cellophane or parchment paper. Run it under warm water, then place in an oven heated to 175°C for ten minutes. Take it out and either roll it with a rolling pin, or use the pollen press to apply pressure. This process can be repeated several times to increase concentration.
Another option is to wrap your kief as above, and then to press it down with a wine bottle filled with hot water. Note the colour of your kief—if it changes quickly upon contact with heat, it means you won’t need to work it as hard to compress it. If it takes 30 seconds to change colour, you’ll need to use more strength.
CHARAS
- Made using fresh buds
- Often smoked in a chillum
- Employs the “hand rolling” method
- Very sticky
Charas is similar to hash. The main difference is that charas is made from live, fresh cuttings, while hash is made from dried cannabis flowers.
Charas is popular on the Indian subcontinent, and is typically sold in balls or sticks. It’s smoked using a chillum, a kind of pipe that’s popular among Hindu monks. Charas is venerated by many Hindu sects who consider Lord Shiva to be the supreme god, with some considering charas to be on of Shiva’s aspects. When charas is produced by professionals, it can come out smooth and shiny, looking like a glass marble.
Charas is made using the hand rolling method. First, you wash your hands using an unscented soap. Then, take fresh buds from your favorite strain and slowly work it between your fingers. You want to apply enough pressure to remove the resin, but not enough to lose any. Once you’ve cleaned out the buds, discard them and continue rubbing your hands together until the resin forms a ball or stick. This is your charas hash.
BUBBLE HASH
- Made with water, so not technically an extract
- Renowned for high levels of purity
- Flavoursome
- Gaining popularity
One method that’s gaining in popularity is the strategy for making “bubble hash.” Bubble hash uses water in the concentrating process, but since water isn’t considered a solvent, bubble hash is not considered an extract.
To make bubble hash, your cannabis flowers are placed in a bucket filled with water and ice cubes, where they are then agitated and made to pass through several layers of filters. Bubble hash can also be made with a washing machine. More detailed instructions can be found here. Bubble hash is prized for its high levels of quality and purity, and low potential for contamination.
The “bubble” in “bubble hash” refers to a popular metric for gauging the quality of different forms of hash. High-quality hash is supposed to melt and bubble when smoked, indicating material composed of pure trichome resin. If hash burns when exposed to heat, it’s a sign that it contains non-trichome plant material.
ROSIN HASH
- Resin extracted without a solvent
- Made using hair straighteners or a purpose-built machine
- Separates resin from the flowers
- Watch that high temperatures don’t vaporize the compounds
Rosin hash is fast becoming another favorite. With rosin, the resin is extracted from the raw flowers directly. It’s said to produce a product very similar to Butane Hash Oil, but without the use of the controversial butane.
To make rosin hash, you’ll need a hair straightener and parchment paper. Fold the bud in parchment paper, and turn on the hair straightener. When the straightener reaches around 160ºC, place the parchment-wrapped bud inside and squeeze. You’ll want to wear oven mitts or use a towel to protect your hands. After a few seconds, release the straightener and open the parchment paper. Keep in mind: higher temperatures and more pressure will vaporize terpenes and cannabinoids, thereby wasting them, but will produce higher yields. Unwrap the parchment paper, and you’ll find the inside lined with sticky drops of amber-coloured rosin hash. If you’re having a hard time separating it from the parchment paper, place the paper in the freezer for a few hours and it’ll come right off. You can use the remaining bud to make cannabutter.
2. SOLVENT-BASED CONCENTRATES
Before we dive into the world of solvent-based concentrates, it’s important to know: what is a solvent? As you may remember from chemistry class, a solvent is a liquid that dissolves a solid, producing a liquid solution. In the cannabis world, common solvents are alcohol, butane, propane and CO₂. As mentioned above, water is not considered a solvent. Solvent-based concentrates are called extracts, and are also referred to as hash oils.
Extracts are often classified according to their consistency (wax, shatter, budder), but this consistency isn’t linked to any particular extraction method. The same extraction method with the same starting material can produce several different consistencies, depending on how to extractor dried and set the end product. As we’ll see, extraction method and starting material are more important indicators than consistency in determining the quality and nature of the extract.
BHO
BHO is short for Butane Hash Oil, and is used to make shatter, wax, budder and many other forms of hash oil. Though this material is popular, it’s known for being risky. BHO is made from butane, and as such, can be dangerous to make at home due to risk of combustion—more than a few home BHO operations have resulted in explosions. Buyers beware—homemade BHO may also contain contaminants.
TYPES OF BHO
1. Shatter
- Solvent-based extraction made using very little agitation
- Also goes by “sap” or “pull-and-snap”
- Highly brittle
- Often transparent
As the name suggests, shatter has a hard, glass-like consistency. It’s often transparent, but contrary to popular belief, transparency is not an indicator of purity. Shatter with a soft, fluid consistency is called sap, and shatter that’s stretchy like taffy is called pull-and-sap.
To make shatter, follow one of the extraction processes described underneath, and avoid all unnecessary agitation or movement of the extract while making it to preserve its glass-like appearance.
2. Wax
- Made like shatter, but with a lot of agitation
- Name for all soft, non-transparent extracts
- Uneven molecular densities
Wax is a general category which refers to all extracts of a soft, non-transparent nature. The difference between waxes and shatters often has less to do with composition, and more to do with how much the extract was agitated during the extraction process. A greater degree of agitation will result in irregular molecular densities throughout the extract, making it hard for light to pass through.
To make wax, follow one of the extraction methods described underneath, but agitate or whip the extract at some point during production. See the sections on crumble/honeycomb and budder for more specific instructions.
3. Crumble
There are two smaller divisions of BHO crumble: wax crumble and sugar crumble. The difference lies in the concentration of lipids within this concentrate. In terms of texture, both types of crumble share many similarities with BHO budder, with the main difference being that crumble can, well, be easily crumbled.BUY NOW
Wax Crumble
- Easy to break into chunks
- More robust texture than sugar crumble
- Somewhat lipid-rich
Wax crumble has more lipids than sugar crumble, and as such is a little more robust. While it will still break easily into chunks, it won’t turn into a fine dust, whereas sugar crumble will.
Sugar Crumble
- Easy to break
- Texture of BHO budder
- Fairly solid
Sugar crumble is much more brittle than wax crumble and will break up into many incredibly small pieces. While the smaller amount of lipids makes it “purer” in a sense, the ratios of cannabinoids to terpenes, etc. are the same in both.
4. Honeycomb
- Terpene-rich and tasty
- Solid
- High in lipids
- Opaque
- Waxen look and feel
BHO honeycomb is an impressive-looking concentrate. Speckled with many holes—the result of the vacuum caused by pump purging—it looks just like a honeycomb. It is high in lipids, which makes it solid and totally opaque, and gives it a waxen finish. What it also means is that it holds terpenes very well; the best of all BHO extractions. This has made it very popular over the last few years, as it’s rich in complex flavours.
5. Amber Glass
- Striking, amber-like appearance
- Very pure
- Minimal flavours
- Hard to the touch
This might be the most beautiful of all BHO extracts. Nevertheless, its popularity has ebbed in recent years, as other forms of extractions have taken its place. Amber glass was once among the most popular BHO techniques, though. It is created using a process known as hibernation or winterisation.
Using cold water, the waxes are separated after extraction but prior to purging. This leaves you with a very pure extract. This level of refinement has its pros and cons. While very pure in cannabinoids, it lacks other compounds that many users find desirable, such as delicious terpenes. Moreover, some people believe that the limited number of terpenes reduces the entourage effect.
6. Diamond And Terpene (Terp) Sauce
- Customisable smoke
- High purity
- Translucent, gel-like appearance
BHO diamonds or terp sauce is an extract that separates the THCA molecules and terpenes from everything else. As such, users are able to concoct their own mixtures, coming up with concentrations and strengths of their choosing. This control over the experience has resulted in a surge in demand for diamond and terp sauce.
While the resin is still liquid, before the final purge, the extraction is bottled and placed in the freezer. The pressure occurring during refrigeration causes the THCA molecules to separate from the resin. You then have two concentrates: one of THCA, and one of terpenes. It is then up to the user whether they smoke them together, and in what concentrations.
7. Budder
- Whipped gently on a hot plate
- Considered a good beginner extract
- Butter-like consistency
Budder refers to waxes with a creamy, butter-like texture. Budder is considered a good “beginner’s extract” as it’s easy to use and is more forgiving than shatter.
Budder can be produced from shatter when it’s whipped on a hot plate. The trick with budder is to whip it gently but vigorously for a long time while it’s still hot.
Keep in mind, consistency is more art than science, and it may take many batches to get the exact consistency you want. Even if you don’t have the perfect consistency, the concentrate is just as potent, and will work just as well.
8. Live Resin
- Begins with cryogenically frozen flowers
- Very rich terpene profile
- Expensive to make
- Range of compounds improves entourage effect
Live resin is a cutting-edge new method of extraction with exciting benefits for medicinal and recreational users alike. Live resin cryogenically frozen flowers as starting material. This results in a far richer terpenes profile and a moister final product. The higher concentration of terpenes results not only in deeper flavours, but also in a greater range of health benefits.
The disadvantage of live resin is that it requires sophisticated lab equipment to carry out the freezing, often liquid nitrogen stored at a temperature of -196°C. This largely rules out the production of live resin in home-based production. Given the additional complications of the extraction process, live resin tends to be more expensive than other extracts. That being said, if consuming a concentrate rich in terpenes is a priority, you can’t do better than this.
PHO
- Similar to BHO regarding its production
- Terpenes are better preserved
- Dangerous to make at home
- Very buttery
- Induces a very intense high
PHO is similar to BHO, except that it’s made with propane (thus the name—Propane Hash Oil). Making PHO also carries risk of combustion, though PHO is considered to be at lower risk for contamination than BHO. PHO is generally cheaper than BHO.
For more information, check out our section on making BHO and PHO below.
CO₂ OIL
- Contaminant-free extraction process
- Can separate different compounds during extraction
- Highly complex process
- Uses supercritical CO₂
If you’ve used a vape pen, you’ve probably used a CO₂ oil. CO₂ oil is taking the world of industrial hash oil production by storm—it’s got many advantages over other methods of extraction, including a contaminant-free extraction process, high yields, and most critically, the opportunity to separate different cannabinoids and terpenes during the extraction process. CO₂ extraction uses supercritical CO₂ calibrated to different temperatures and pressures to isolate the exact combination of cannabinoids and terpenes the extractor is looking for.
What’s the catch? The main drawback to CO₂ extraction is that it requires expensive machinery and extensive lab expertise, meaning this method of extraction is beyond the reach of most home-based operations.
For more detailed information, check out our section below on CO₂ extraction.
HOW TO MAKE CANNABIS CONCENTRATES WITH SOLVENTS
There are several methods for extracting the more than one hundred cannabinoids, terpenes and other components in cannabis. By using different solvents like butane, CO₂, propane or alcohol, concentrates of varied potency and purity can be obtained. Most of these methods require expertise and special lab equipment. Highly flammable solvents, like butane or alcohol can create dangerous situations that require safety precautions. Below we discuss the most common extraction methods.
BUTANE EXTRACTION
BHO is one of the most popular methods of extraction these days, due to its high versatility and potency. Shatter, wax, budder and honeycomb can all be made with BHO. BHO is highly potent, and can reach concentrations of up to 90%.
BHO is made by placing cannabis flowers in a container with some kind of screen or mesh at one end, through which the flower can’t pass. Butane is pushed through the container and passes through the mesh, picking up cannabinoids and terpenes on the way. Butane is a non-polar hydrocarbon, so it’s great at picking up the nonpolar cannabinoids and terpenes while leaving behind polar molecules like chlorophyll. After the filtration process, the solution is placed in a vacuum oven so that the butane will evaporate, in a process also known as purging, leaving behind the coveted extract.
One disadvantage of BHO is the possibility of residual butane remaining in the end product. We don’t know how dangerous it really is to inhale butane, but two common additives used to thin it out, neopentane and hexane, are known carcinogens. Generally, professionally extracted BHO will have low levels of residual butane in the final product.
Another danger of BHO is the risk of inhaling plant cuticle wax. All plants are covered with a thin layer of cuticle wax—this is, for example, what makes bell peppers shiny. When smoking weed, this wax gets harmlessly burned away, but when vaping BHO, scientists believe that the cuticle wax is inhaled, where it can form deposits in the user’s lungs called granulomas. Some BHO manufacturers are now removing this wax with processes like dewaxing and winterizing. The dangers of granulomas are still largely unknown. That being said, Many scientists believe that the high temperatures used in dabbing are sufficient to blast away this cuticle wax before it reaches the lungs.
A final danger of BHO is the extraction process. As evinced by your Bic lighter, butane is highly flammable, and not a few BHO home brewers have blown up their kitchens. BHO extraction is a dangerous process, and best left to the expert.
One final risk of BHO is in its potency. With this extract, some users find themselves experiencing a high more similar to LSD than that of the cannabis flower. A few have been known to hallucinate or freak out. With BHO, it’s wise to start with a low dose and move up.
The disadvantages of BHO are to a large extent offset by sourcing it from a reputable professional. We don’t recommend trying this extraction method at home—but if you can find high-quality, professionally made BHO, the benefits of trying it may well outweigh the risks.
PROPANE EXTRACTION
Propane Hash Oil (PHO) is made similarly to BHO, except that it uses propane instead of butane. Propane extraction requires higher pressure than butane extraction, thereby stripping away a different combination of materials from the cannabis flower. This can result in an extract which contains less cuticle wax, and where the terpenes are better preserved. Propane boils at a lower temperature than butane, resulting in lower necessary evaporation temperatures for propane. This results in a product of a more buddery consistency, and likely fewer contaminants. Propane is slightly more expensive than butane.
PHO, like BHO, is dangerous to make at home. Propane is highly flammable, and if the purging process is carried out by non-experts with sub-professional equipment, it can cause an explosion.
PHO will produce a more varied and terpene-rich but still very intense high when compared to BHO. The main disadvantage of PHO compared to BHO is that PHO is capable of less variation in consistency—you’re likely stuck with budder. Still, if you’re a flavour queen than PHO is a good choice. Make sure that when sourcing it—as with BHO—you go with a reputable source. Keep in mind that many commercial producers use a combination of butane and propane in their extraction process.
ALCOHOL-BASED EXTRACTION
In alcohol-based extractions, the cannabis flower is placed in alcohol, which then leaches out cannabinoids and terpenes. The main challenge in alcohol-based extractions is that alcohol molecules are polar, allowing them to dissolve such water-soluble molecules as chlorophyll. Chlorophyll will make your extract taste like grass, which is a major downside for most dabbers.
There are steps the extractor can take to get around this. First, decide whether you’re going to use isopropyl or ethanol for your extraction. We recommend ethanol, as it’s nontoxic and free of contaminants.
To reduce the risk of dissolving plant material, and to increase the availability of desirable molecules, decarboxylate your weed before beginning the process (don’t grind it). This can be done by placing your weed in an oven-safe container and heating it to 106–120°C for 30–60 minutes. Next, place your ethanol and your bud, separately, in a freezer. Performing the alcohol extraction at low temperatures increases the likelihood of your extracting terpenes and cannabinoids rather than chlorophyll and other plant material.
Once your materials reach a temperature of -17ºC, remove from the freezer and cover your weed in 2–3 inches of ethanol. Stir gently to ensure all surfaces are covered. Let sit for three minutes, stirring occasionally, and then strain the plant matter, leaving the alcohol behind. It’s important not to leave the cannabis flower soaking for too long, as this will allow undesirable plant material to dissolve in the ethanol. You can dry out the plant material and use it for a second run of alcohol-extraction, or turn it into cannabutter.
Now it’s time to purge the ethanol. This can be done with professional filters, with meshes ranging from 25–40 micrometers, or it can be done with a simple coffee filter. Gather the filtered material in a pyrex tray, and cover with a shallow layer of water. Then, heat the tray to 70–80ºC and allow the solvent to bubble out. Once the large bubbles stop, filter again, and repeat the process. This time wait for the small bubbles to stop. You may want to repeat a third time. Once you’ve filtered out the water from your final extraction, you’ll have your alcohol-based extract.
As you may have gathered from the detailed instructions, this process can safely be performed at home. Keep in mind though that ethanol is still a highly flammable liquid, and should be stored in airtight containers and handled with care. Creating extracts with alcohol is an art, and the timing must be precise. It may take a few attempts before you get it right.
CO₂ EXTRACTION
CO₂ extraction is a new technology, and it is fast becoming on of the most popular methods for producing commercial cannabis extracts. CO₂ extraction produces a clean, high-quality product, with none of the contamination risks of BHO and PHO. CO₂ extraction will also blast away any mold or bacteria in the raw flower.
CO₂ extraction requires expensive equipment and lab training, and is likely not possible in a home extraction setting. The most common form of CO₂ extraction is called supercritical extraction, where the CO₂ is manipulated such that it enters a supercritical state, where it possesses characteristics of both a liquid and a gas. Subcritical CO₂ extraction occurs when the CO₂ is kept at below 31°C and remains in liquid form. Some producers claim that this lower temperature profile helps preserve terpenes.
Supercritical CO₂ extraction is used in many industries—it’s used to decaffeinate coffee, and isolate essential oils for perfumes. CO₂ has some useful properties which make it unique as a solvent for cannabis extracts: it’s abundant in nature, it’s one of the safest nonpolar compounds, it enters a supercritical state without having to exceed 32°C, thereby preserving the cannabinoid profile of cannabis, and, critically, its solubility changes with pressure, allowing it to extract a variety of desirable molecules from the cannabis plant.
