Airdrie’s Guide to Cannabis Concentrates.
PART 1: Solvent vs. Solventless Cannabis Concentrates
Hey Airdrie! Are you new to cannabis concentrates? No problem! Read our blog series, Airdrie’s Guide to Cannabis Concentrates 101 to learn more.
So what are cannabis concentrates anyways?
Simply, cannabis concentrates contain greater concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes than found in dried flower.
Concentrates pique the interest of many cannabis consumers because of the ability to reach higher potency than capable with dried flower. Cannabis enthusiasts also enjoy how these concentrates can maintain and highlight the terpene and taste profiles of the flower material that the concentrate was derived from.
Due to their high THC per cents, concentrates won’t be for everyone, and if your new to the game be sure to dose low and go slow.
There are tons of different types of concentrates; shatter, wax, budder, hash and that’s just naming a few. So how can we distinguish them?
The biggest distinction between concentrates is whether a product can be classified as solvent-based or a non-solvent (solventless) concentrate.
Different Types Of Cannabis Concentrates: Solvent Vs. Non-Solvent
QUICK SUMMARY
- Solvent-based extracts use solvents such as ethanol, butane, or CO2 to process dried plant matter.
- Extracts are typically categorized by the consistency of the final product.
- Popular solvent-based consistencies include budder, wax, and shatter.
- Solventless concentrates are created through mechanical methods like ice water, sifting, or heat and pressure. Hash would be an example of a popular solventless concentrate.
SOLVENT-BASED CONCENTRATES
Solvent-based concentrates are the most common form on the market, and typically involve propane, butane, CO2 or ethanol. These solvents essentially ‘extract’ the precious cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant matter.
The resulting concentrate varies depending on the solvents and processing techniques used during and after extraction. Concentrates will be classified according to their consistency (wax, shatter, budder), but this consistency is not necessarily linked to any single extraction method.
NON-SOLVENT OR SOLVENTLESS CONCENTRATES
Non-solvent concentrates are produced without the use of solvents. Instead, mechanical methods are used, such as heat and pressure, or “sifting” of the plant matter is used to achieve a solventless end product.
Solventless extraction can also produce high-quality, flavorful concentrates that can leave almost no residue behind when dabbing.
Products that use water in the process (ie. ice hash) are not considered solvent-based because water does not actually dissolve and extract the cannabinoids and terpenes from the flower material.
How do you know which one to choose?
Each cannabis concentrate will give deliver a unique experience. It really comes down to personal preference when it comes to choosing solvent vs. solventless products, personal THC tolerance, and how you plan to consume the concentrate! We always encourage our RARE fam to research & enlighten themselves about the very amazing, yet very different products available on the market. If you have questions, our RARE Experience Guides are also always here to help! Visit us today.
Tune in next time as we dive deeper into non-solvent extracts!