Potent and pure, if you’ve never tried cannabis distillate, you could be missing out on your next favorite concentrate. It’s the most popular ingredient in modern vape pens and is prized for its high THC and CBD levels.
Want to take a deep dive? Learn everything there is to know about this unique concentrate and explore the wide world of THC distillate. We’ll answer all your burning questions, including:
- What is cannabis distillate?
- How is THC distillate made?
- How do you use distillate?
And much more! By the end, you’ll be ready to experience some quality distillate.
What Is THC Distillate?
In its simplest form, cannabis distillate is a super-concentrated consumable product containing only cannabinoids like THC or CBD—the major active ingredients in the cannabis plant—and no secondary compounds, such as aromatic terpenes, which give character to different strains. When used in vape pens, terpenes will often be re-added to THC distillate to recreate the signature flavors of the strain in a powerful, shelf-stable, and appealing format.
Chemically speaking, the distillation of THC is a simple chain of processes. While other concentrates are extracted using solvents or heat, distillate undergoes a “short-path” distillation process that strips it of any terpenes, waxes, flavonoids, extra cannabinoids, impurities, and other plant matter. What’s left behind is a unique cannabis oil that can reach THC levels of over 99%.
Why choose THC distillate? For those who want to access cannabinoids in their simplest and purest form, there’s just no substitute—especially when you choose the pure and extensively lab-tested THC distillate products we offer at our family of dispensaries.
How Is THC Distillate Made?
The most important characteristic of THC distillate is its purity, which is achieved through the extraction and winterization process. Any waxes, fats, lipids, chlorophyll, and other extraneous cannabis plant compounds are carefully removed from the whole plant matter, leaving behind a colorless and odorless oil high in cannabinoids.
After extraction, the oil is frozen. Why? Cold temperatures will cause any remaining byproducts to solidify and separate from the oil. The purified oil is then decarboxylated, a process that typically involves the application of gentle heat to activate those beneficial cannabinoids.
Finally, the extracted and purified oil is run through a short-path distillation process. In essence, this step applies vacuum pressure and heat to separate any remaining cannabinoids from the bulk of the cannabis oil. The result is a cannabis concentrate designed for maximum purity and potency, free of potentially harmful toxins, chemicals, or other impurities—a major plus when you’re looking to access pure cannabinoids and nothing else.
Despite its many pros, there is one potential drawback when it comes to distillate: Flavor. Right after extraction, when THC distillate is in its purest form, the resulting cannabis oil is typically clear, flavorless, and odorless. While distillate is useful in products such as edibles or tinctures for folks who want to skip the plant-like flavors of cannabis, often many distillates are infused with terpenes to enhance their taste and provide them with the flavor of a specific strain.
What Are Distillates Used For?
A major advantage of THC distillate is its sheer versatility. Whether vaped, baked into your favorite foods, or taken sublingually, there are plenty of ways to access this potent concentrate.
- Vaping: Since distillate is often found in vape cartridges, the most common way of consuming it is by vaping. If you’ve ever purchased pre-filled vape cartridges or vape pens at your local dispensary, then you’ve likely already tried distillate.
- Dabbing: Just like any other concentrate, THC distillate can be dabbed out of a specialized dab rig, which is a purpose-built device designed for delivering controlled doses of cannabis concentrates. Since they demand more care and a little experience, we typically recommend dab rigs for more experienced cannabis consumers.
- Eating: Due to its relatively neutral flavor profile and shelf-stable nature, distillate oil is used to make edibles, cannabis capsules, soft gels, and other popular cannabis products. Additionally, it can be used sublingually. Simply load up a dropper of THC distillate and place the liquid under the tongue for fast absorption.
Since THC doesn’t need to be smoked or inhaled to be fully enjoyed, it can be a real problem-solver for medical cannabis patients addressing their symptoms or anyone else who may need to access a precise, consistent, and long-lasting dose of cannabis without risking irritation of the lungs.
Explore Concentrates and More with Green Goods
THC distillate grants you access to all the benefits of cannabinoids in a highly pure and potent format. The result is a shelf-stable and incredibly versatile product that finds its way into vape cartridges, edibles, tinctures, topicals, and many other forms of cannabis.
Intrigued? We’ve got you! Great THC distillate comes from great cannabis, and that’s something we take very seriously. If you’ve been searching for your next go-to concentrate that can pack a powerful punch, then head to your nearest Green Goods dispensary or check out our Minneapolis, Bloomington, Rochester, and Woodbury menus for a wide variety of high-quality options you can get right now.
Want to learn more about all things cannabis? Check out our extensive cannabis blog, where you’ll find out how cannabis interfaces with our bodies, why aromatic terpenes deliver potent effects, and other in-depth posts about the incredible cannabis plant.
Have other questions about THC distillate or for any other cannabis-related topics? Just ask one of our friendly budtenders or drop us a line. We’re always here to help!
