Brew Your Own High-Quality CBD Tinctures: Decarbonization
Your friends at InStash are proud to present the second installment in a series of posts on making your own CBD tinctures. Part 1 taught you how to source hemp biomass, and this article will cover decarboxylating (or “activating”) your hemp. Part 3 will cover extracting and storing it. Here’s how to make your own high-quality CBD products with a minimum of fuss.
Activating Hemp – Why Bother?
Raw hemp contains a variety of cannabinoids in their acidic form. Decarboxylating breaks chemical bonds in the cannabinoids, releasing carbon dioxide and water, and converting them into more digestible, “active” forms. THC enthusiasts rely on this method (heating, essentially) to create the desired psychoactive effects from marijuana.
CBD enthusiasts depend on it, as well, because many of the beneficial effects of hemp are due to the activated CBD. Although the acidic form of CBD, CBDa, does have important benefits, too.
How Long? How Hot?
The central issues in the decarboxylation process are time and temperature. If the temperature is too low, it will take hours. If the temperature is too high, you’ll burn off valuable terpenes and even destroy cannabinoids. Without getting into too much detail, 230-degrees F for 45 minutes strikes the ideal balance.
Methods
Open Decarbonization
One of the easiest ways to decarbonate your hemp is to place it in an oven-safe borosilicate or ceramic dish. (Avoid metal or non-stick products.) Cover it tightly with aluminum foil, and place it on the upper rack of a pre-heated oven at 230 degrees F. After 30 minutes, turn the oven off, and let the dish cool in the oven. This keeps you from releasing a dramatic cloud of fragrant smoke into your living room.
Mason Jar in the Pressure Cooker
A more elegant, less-stinky method is to pack your hemp into a sealed mason jar and place it in a programmable pressure cooker. Check the manual to ensure that it reaches a temperature of at least 230 degrees F and that the cycle lasts at least 45 minutes. Let the pressure cooker decompress and cool.
Magical Butter Decarb Box
The Magical Butter Decarb Box includes a sealable, silicone box and ingenious temperature calibration device to decarb hemp in your oven.
Advantages:
- Works with many different ovens
- Includes thermometer that calibrates to unique oven temperature
- Sealable lid reduces errant smells
Specifications:
- Oven-safe silicone construction
- Dimensions: 6.5” x: 9” x 3”
- Capacity: 2 oz flower
Image Source: Amazon
Nova Decarboxylator
The Nova Decarboxylator is a true standalone unit that doesn’t require an oven at all, and can also serve as a low-capacity infuser in a pinch.
Advantages
- True standalone functionality, doesn’t require an oven.
- Sealed construction minimizes odor
- Also serves as an infuser
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 7.5″ x 4″
- Capacity: 1 oz of flower / 5 oz kief
Image Source: Ardent Cannabis
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