Diving Deep into Cannabis Concentrates: Exploring Solvent and Solventless Extractions

In the world of cannabis, concentrates have become increasingly popular, offering heightened potency and varied consumption methods. But have you ever wondered about the different types of concentrates and how they are made? This post will serve as your comprehensive guide, focusing primarily on the resulting products from solvent and solventless extraction methods, but also shedding some light on the extraction processes themselves.

What are Cannabis Concentrates?

Before we delve into the different extraction methods, let's establish what we mean by 'cannabis concentrates'. In short, these are products derived from the cannabis plant that have been processed to keep only the most desirable compounds – primarily cannabinoids and terpenes – thereby concentrating the plant's potency.

Solventless Extraction Methods

Solventless extraction methods rely on physical means to separate the resinous compounds from the cannabis plant. They are often revered for their natural and unadulterated end-products.

Rosin

Rosin is a cannabis concentrate extracted using heat and pressure. It's renowned for its purity and rich terpene profile, offering a full-flavor experience. The process of making rosin involves pressing cannabis flowers or kief with a heated hydraulic press, which releases the resinous sap from the plant.

Dry Sift and Ice Water Hash (Bubble Hash)

Dry sift and ice water hash are other common solventless concentrates. Dry sift involves sieving the dried cannabis flowers over a series of fine screens to separate the trichomes, resulting in a kief-like product. Ice water hash, also known as bubble hash, uses cold water and agitation to separate the trichomes, which are then filtered through a series of mesh bags.

Solvent-Based Extraction Methods

On the other hand, solvent-based extraction methods use a chemical solvent to dissolve the desirable compounds from the plant matter. Despite some concerns about potential residue, these methods often result in highly potent and diverse concentrates.

Butane Hash Oil (BHO)

BHO is a potent concentrate extracted using butane. The butane effectively strips the cannabis plant of its cannabinoids and terpenes, and then it's evaporated, leaving behind a sticky, highly concentrated resin. Different forms of BHO exist, such as shatter, wax, or budder, depending on the post-extraction processing.

CO2 Oil

CO2 oil is produced using supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent. This process requires sophisticated and expensive equipment but results in a pure, safe, and versatile product. CO2 oil is often found in vape cartridges due to its clean, liquid consistency.

Distillate

Finally, there's cannabis distillate, a highly refined oil containing pure cannabinoids and virtually nothing else. Distillate is made by distilling unrefined extract under heat and vacuum conditions to encourage the separation of cannabinoids based on their unique boiling points.

As we've seen, the world of cannabis concentrates is complex and varied. Different extraction methods yield vastly different products, each with its unique qualities and effects. It's a testament to the incredible versatility of the cannabis plant and the ingenuity of the industry driving its use.

At Scunk Gardens, we're dedicated to exploring and celebrating the vast world of cannabis. Stay tuned for more deep-dives into exciting topics like this one, and as always, feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or suggestions!

Yours in Green 

Mr Scunk