Ever since hemp flowers became legal in North America, more farmers, manufacturers, and extractors have begun experimenting with new and creative ways to process this plant’s cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol (CBD). Not only is CBD the most abundant cannabinoid in hemp, but more people report it’s helping them live each day to the max.
Although CBD has the same chemical composition no matter how it’s packaged, there are noteworthy differences in how it affects users depending on the delivery method. For example, CBD tinctures are a popular variety of hemp extracts with many unique and convenient properties. As a bonus, there are plenty of trendy DIY recipes to make CBD tinctures at home. Although it’s getting easier to buy and make CBD tinctures, people need to understand their pros and cons before deciding whether they’re the optimal option.
What is a CBD Tincture? The Straight Facts on This CBD Extract
CBD tinctures are a class of liquid extracts with high concentrations of hemp-derived CBD. One distinguishing feature of CBD tinctures over other products is that they typically use alcohol or glycerin as their solvent to extract cannabinoids from the hemp plant. Besides giving tinctures a strong ethanol scent, these liquid products are famous in the CBD community for their ease of use, discretion, and straightforward dosing.
Is There Any Difference Between CBD Tinctures and CBD Oils?
Although CBD tinctures and CBD oils both look identical, they don’t go through the same extraction process. As the name suggests, CBD oils are suspended in a high-fat “carrier oil” substance like hemp seed oil or MCT oil. By contrast, CBD tinctures are more watery since they only use alcohol or glycerin as their solvent. Although companies can add food-safe essential oils or terpenes to cut the flavor of CBD tinctures, CBD oils often have a smoother taste by default because they don’t have astringent ethanol.
Just double-check what extraction methods a CBD oil or tincture manufacturer used because sometimes they mix up these labels. For instance, some “CBD oils” might use alcohol or glycerin in their extraction process, and some “CBD tinctures” may just be oil-based extracts. Until there’s greater awareness and FDA standardization in the CBD industry, customers need to pay careful attention to the lab reports for whatever hemp products they’re researching.
Homemade versus Store-Bought CBD Tinctures: Considerations Before Choosing a CBD Tincture
When people first consider trying a CBD tincture, they have the option of either buying from a manufacturing company or making these products at home. While it’s more convenient to go with a commercial CBD tincture, some people prefer the quality control they have over a DIY extraction. Plus, since you only need high-proof alcohol, high-CBD hemp flowers, and a few easy-to-find tools to make a tincture, it’s relatively simple and often saves customers money.
On the downside, making at-home CBD tinctures takes more effort and time. If people need their CBD tincture ASAP, ordering from a reputable hemp vendor is quicker. Also, as long as store-bought CBD tinctures have high-quality third-party lab tests, they’re easier for consumers to dose versus DIY homemade CBD tinctures.
How to Make a Homemade CBD Tincture: A Sample Recipe
For anyone who wants to make their CBD tincture rather than buy one from a hemp company, mentally prepare to wait a few weeks before trying your concoction. It isn’t terribly hard to make CBD tinctures at home, but this process takes a while, so it’s best to cultivate some patience beforehand.
Ingredients and Hardware
- CBD-rich hemp flowers with Certificates of Analysis
- Funnel
- High-proof (but not rubbing!) alcohol (e.g., Everclear)
- Mason jar with lid
- Cheesecloth or coffee filter
- Dropper bottles
- Grinder
- Oven-safe pan
- Parchment paper
Instructions
- Prepare the CBD Hemp: First, prepare your CBD hemp buds by grinding them till they’re a fine consistency. Although this step isn’t necessary (you could use hemp either coarsely chopped or whole), grinding increases the surface area for better extraction.
- Heat CBD Hemp Flower: Next, you need to “decarboxylate” (or “heat”) the hemp in a 250° F oven for about 30 minutes. This step is crucial for converting the naturally acidic CBDA into the bioavailable CBD for your tincture.
- Combine with Solvent: Place the cooled ground hemp in a Mason jar and cover it with the alcohol until it’s submerged. The ratios of alcohol to hemp depend on your preferences for potency and flavor, but an average mix is about 3 cups of alcohol per ounce of cannabis. Seal the lid and shake to combine.
- Seal, Store, and Shake Some More: Place your secured CBD tincture in a cool, dark, and dry place. Shake the jar once a day.
- Wait: This is the part where patience comes into play. You’ll have to let your CBD tincture sit for at least 2 – 3 weeks before you consider straining it. The longer it sits, the more potent the tincture will be.
- Strain the Mixture: After your desired extraction time, use your cheesecloth or coffee filter to strain the CBD tincture into a clean jar or bowl.
- Bottle the Tincture: Use a funnel to transfer the CBD liquid into dropper bottles for easy use and storage.
How to Use CBD Tinctures: A Few Considerations
The classic way to take a CBD tincture is called the “sublingual method,” which involves placing your desired dosage under your tongue for at least 30 seconds and then swallowing. This technique takes advantage of the tongue’s “sublingual glands” to absorb compounds directly into your bloodstream. Although this is the most direct way to get CBD into your system, it’s also to take CBD tinctures straight or mix them into your favorite beverages like coffee, fruit juice, or green tea.
Can You Use an Oral CBD Oil or Tincture Topically?
CBD oils and tinctures are primarily for internal use, but it’s possible to apply them to your skin. Just remember CBD tinctures have a high alcohol content and can be pretty abrasive when used externally. Also, CBD balms made explicitly for topical use are formulated to penetrate the cannabinoid receptors on the skin, and they usually have supporting ingredients, herbs, and moisturizers. That being said, it’s OK to add oral CBD oils to a skin-safe topical cream.
Will Full-Spectrum CBD Oil Get You High?
Although full-spectrum CBD oils and tinctures have supporting hemp cannabinoids, they won’t give you that “high” effect associated with cannabis. By federal law, full-spectrum CBD oil must have ≤ 0.3% delta-9 THC, which is far too low to get anyone feeling the euphoria-inducing effects of THC.
What Are the Benefits of CBD Tinctures?
Aside from CBD’s benefits, tinctures are a popular option because they’re easy to use, fast-acting (when using the sublingual method), and easy to dose. It’s also simple to work CBD tinctures into a busy schedule because they’re portable and discreet. Although CBD tinctures have an abrasive taste due to the high alcohol concentration, they remain a popular option in the hemp community.
Are CBD Tinctures Legal?
Under the 2018 US Farm Bill, all hemp extracts are OK in the USA if they have ≤ 0.3% THC content. Therefore, as long as your CBD tincture comes from a hemp plant and has less than the minimum threshold of THC, it’s federally legal.
So, Who Should Try a CBD Tincture?
Anyone looking for a smoke-free CBD-rich formula who doesn’t mind the abrasiveness of alcohol may consider using a CBD tincture. Although the ethanol in CBD tinctures might put some users off, these extracts are a convenient way to fit hemp into your daily routine. As a bonus, CBD tinctures are potent if you’re using the sublingual method, and they’re super easy to make at home. Whether you want to make DIY CBD tinctures or buy a high-quality hemp extract, Cannaflower has your back. Our artisan-grade CBD hemp flowers are perfect not just for smoking and vaping, but also for baking and making DIY tinctures. We also offer small-batch CBD oil collections with a range of suggested use cases and flavor combinations. Check out Cannaflower’s entire CBD catalog for more details.
