What is clear or cannabis distillate?
Cannabis distillate, also known as “clear“, is a concentrate produced through fractional distillation, a process that removes impurities and retains cannabinoids. The result is a high-purity concentrate that contains cannabinoids such as THC, CBD, or other minor compounds. Today’s market offers distillates with high concentrations of THC, CBD, or both cannabinoids together. This concentrate can be distinguished by its potency and also by its transparency, which is why it’s known as “clear”.
How to assess the quality of the cannabis distillate?
At Cali Terpenes, we produce CBD distillate cartridges and cannabis terpene profiles, and we know that quality is paramount. We analyze our distillates in laboratories to accurately determine their components. For our CBD Cali Terpenes cartridges, the laboratory results are as follows:
- CBD: 54.4%
- CBG: 12.3%
- CBDV: 2.74%
- CBN: 0.22%
- CBE: 8.73%
- CBC: 0.06%
- THC: <0.2%
- Other Cannabinoids: 12%
- Total Cannabinoids: Approximately 91%
- + Cali Terpenes terpene profiles (aromas)
It’s also important to know what elements they don’t contain, as certain compounds will lower the distillate’s quality. For our Cali Terpenes CBD and terpene cartridges, we ensure there are:
- NO Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)
- NO Propylene Glycol (PG)
- NO Vegetable Glycerine (VG)
- NO Refined Coconut Oil (MCT)
- NO Vitamin E Acetate
- NO Other Diluents
However, we realize that not all consumers can afford to send their purchased cannabis distillates for lab testing. The goal of clear should be to offer a product that is truly effective, instantaneous, and healthier than smoking. Sadly, not all producers have the same standards when launching products on the market. That’s why we’ve come up with this guide to help you evaluate the quality of your distillate vaporizer.
Tip 1: Look at the color of the distillate
As we mentioned above, a distillate is commonly known as “clear” because it has a clear and transparent appearance with yellowish tones that allow light to pass through. Depending on the material used for extraction, as well as its cleanliness and purity, the cannabis distillate can appear clear and yellowish, or darker and reddish. If the clear has a darker, reddish appearance, it’s a sign of lower quality or older age, and it may have been extracted from old, oxidized material. In many cases, impurities from the extract eventually “taint” it, or perhaps it simply wasn’t properly purified. By comparing two distillates (one dark and reddish, the other yellowish and translucent) you can easily distinguish between their purity levels.
Tip 2: Pay attention to the distillate’s density
At room temperature, “clear” is viscous but not liquid. This means that if you flip a cartridge of undiluted distillate upside down, it shouldn’t rapidly flow like an e-liquid. Instead, it should slide slowly, taking a few seconds or even minutes to change position. On the other hand, if the clear is mixed with substances such as propylene glycol or MCT (refined coconut oil), the cartridge will be more liquid, and its cannabinoid concentration will likely be much lower. Comparing the density of the clear is an easy way to differentiate a diluted distillate from an undiluted one. This product is specifically designed to be an instant, effective concentrate, so the more diluted it is, the less effective it becomes.
Tip 3: Crystallization of the Distillate or Clear
Crystallization of the distillate normally occurs when the concentrate climbs past certain CBD content proportions (from 50% to 60%). Over time, the extract tends to crystallize and harden at these levels. However, high-quality distillates like those from Cali Terpenes don’t crystallize despite containing approximately 54% CBD. You may be wondering how this is possible. The secret is that our clear vaporizers contain secondary cannabinoids that prevent crystallization. These clear products that incorporate this feature are typically known as CRD (Cristal Resistant Distillate). In contrast, other cartridges that don’t offer this composition will crystallize over time and become unusable.
Now that you’re equipped with these easy tips to help you gauge the quality of your cannabis distillate, it’ll be simpler to choose premium products. Beware of counterfeits!
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