What Is A CBD Distillate, and How Do You Use It?

Even with the discovery of new cannabinoids now and then, CBD remains the go-to therapeutic option for millions of consumers. CBD is scientifically proven to alleviate pain, inflammation, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, nausea, and vomiting. The cannabinoid is available in various concentrated forms, including badder/budder, distillate, crumble, diamonds, shatter, and wax. Distillates are highly versatile and can be used in multiple forms and ways, which explains why they are highly sought-after by CBD-enthusiasts. This piece acts as a guide to everything you need to know about CBD distillates, including how it is made, various methods of consumption, how it differs from CBD isolates, and how you can utilize the concentrate to take your CBD business to the next step. 

What is a CBD distillate?

A CBD distillate refers to a highly concentrated (70% to 80%) form of CBD that has been thoroughly refined through distillation and winterization (more on this later). This translucent, viscous CBD concentrate has no limit to how you can customize the final product in terms of form, consistency, hue, flavor, etc. CBD brands utilize distillates to create a range of products that appeal to consumers, including edibles, vapes, topicals, etc. Distillates can be applied in various industries, such as health and wellness, beauty, food and beverage, and sports.

Characteristics of CBD distillates 

CBD distillates have features that distinguish them from oils and other CBD products. These include;

1. Pure from plant matter and chemicals
2. Golden hue
3. It has infinite applications
4. Viscous 
5. Tasteless
6. Odorless
7. Come in full-spectrum or broad-spectrum

How are CBD distillates made?

CBD distillates are made through the process of distillation. This technique involves heating hemp compounds to the boiling point of the compound being extracted (CBD in this case). Cannabinoids have boiling points higher than most of the compounds found in hemp. CBD boils at 320°F/160°C, THC boils at 315°/157°C, CBN boils at 365°F/185°C, and CBC boils at 428°F/220°C. Terpenes boil at lower temperatures, which means that they are vaporized in the process. This is why the final CBD distillate comes out odorless and tasteless. 

However, it is possible to isolate the terpenes before the distillation process and then re-introduce them after the process. The fats and lips are removed via winterization, a process that utilizes low temperatures and ethanol to remove impurities, fats, and lipids from extracts, such as CBD crude oil. Below is a highlight of the steps involved in making a CBD distillate. 

Step 1: Hemp compounds are extracted from the plant material/biomass via various methods, the popular ones being solvent extraction (ethanol) and the CO2 supercritical extraction method. The latter is considered the best as the former leaves behind some of the solvent. 

Step 2: The product resulting from the compound extraction is referred to as CBD crude. It is dark brown or black and contains all the compounds found in hemp plants (cannabinoids, terpenes, chlorophyll, flavonoids, fats, and lipids). CBD crude has about 50% of CBD. Winterization is conducted via placing the CBD crude in ethanol and then freezing it for a day. The winterized CBD crude is filtered to remove the fats and lipids. 

Step 3:  The remaining compounds are heated at a specific temperature to activate the cannabinoids from their acidic state (decarboxylation).

Step 4: Step 4: The CBD crude is now ready to go through fractional distillation to isolate each compound. The CBD crude goes through a heated flask to allow molecular separation of the compounds. The compounds are passed in a beaker with a specific temperature, while the impurities are collected in another flask.

Step 5: distillation occurs several times with varying temperatures. When a compound is introduced to a beaker with its boiling point, it vaporizes and gets isolated, leaving other compounds, and entering the secondary flask. The final product is golden and contains about 70% to 80% CBD. 

Types of CBD distillates 

Understanding the different kinds of distillates is vital. It helps brands understand the type of products their consumers want and whether local laws allow for their sale and distribution. For consumers, knowing the types of distillates helps them make an informed choice regarding things like drug tests, product legality in the local area, and desired effects. There are two types of CBD distillates available;

Full-spectrum CBD distillates 

Full spectrum CBD distillates contain all the compounds present in hemp plants. They are made up of cannabinoids (70% to 80% CBD, and other cannabinoids, including THC) and reintroduced terpenes (since they can’t survive the distillation process). All these compounds work together in synergy to provide heightened benefits in a phenomenon referred to as the entourage effect. Due to the presence of THC, some countries do not allow such products to be sold or consumed. Consumers taking full-spectrum CBD have a chance of failing a drug test due to the presence of THC.

Broad-spectrum CBD distillates

Broad-spectrum CBD distillates contain the same compounds as full-spectrum except for THC. They are terpene and cannabinoid-rich minus the THC. The THC molecules are removed via selective distillation. 

What is the difference between CBD distillate and CBD isolate?

Both products are highly refined and potent concentrated forms of CBD. The differences between CBD distillate and CBD isolate are highlighted below.