Table of Contents
The benefits of cannabidiol, or CBD as it’s more popularly recognized, are well known. Modern research continues to confirm what practitioners of natural medicines over many centuries have already known: hemp extracts work wonders for health and wellness.
Though cannabis hemp plants contain hundreds of beneficial compounds, the two that stand out the most are cannabinoids and terpenes. They interact positively with the endocannabinoid and central nervous systems in the human body to aid wellness by relieving stress, pain, and sleep problems.
Technological advancements in recent years have resulted in methods that allow for the extraction of these key compounds. Following extraction, these raw materials undergo refinement and other processes to produce a versatile raw material known as distillate.
This raw CBD distillate is highly concentrated, with potencies of cannabidiol ranging between 60% and 90%. It has a honey-like consistency that crystallizes over time due to its high concentration of CBD. Most CBD distillates also include other naturally occurring cannabinoid compounds like cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabichromene (CBC). Because the extract is so “raw,” distillates will include some levels of the psychoactive ingredient known as tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, though it is filtered out of consumer distillate products to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations requiring concentrations of less than 0.3%.
What to expect when working with distillate
Because distillates crystallize due to their very high concentration of CBD, working with a distillate product may appear challenging at first. It will likely be in powder form or appear as a rocky substance when you first open your distillate container. This means that you won’t be able to mix it right into your favorite oil, cream, or food recipe.
To work with distillate for blending and mixing, you’ll need to raise its temperature, similar to how you would de-crystallize quality raw honey.
This can be accomplished using one of two methods:
- Water bath
- Bead bath
Water Bath Method
Heat 1 to 2 cups of water in a saucepan and place your distillate bottle or container into the water bath. Be sure that the container is tall enough to keep any water from entering the distillate, as this could lead to moisture contamination and may potentially cause bacterial growth over time.
Do not boil the water or use high heat.
Your distillate should liquefy over time. This may take from a few minutes to a few hours depending on how much distillate you are working with.
Bead Bath Method
If you are going to be producing CBD products regularly, then a bead bath is recommended. This method is used by most labs around the world when there is a need to heat materials for research and manufacturing.
A bead bath is a metal container, usually in the shape of a box, that is filled with small metal pellets like aluminum. Using this method ensures that no moisture ever enters your raw distillate material.
To use a bead bath you’ll want to place your distillate into a heat-safe container and place it into the pellets. Allow the bead bath to heat from several minutes to several hours, depending on how much distillate is in your container.
Low heat is best, as you do not want to destroy the essential compounds and nutrients in your CBD distillate.
An Alternative to Distillate Baths
If you’ve gotten this far and feel a bit intimidated about incorporating distillates into your recipes, we understand. There is another option that avoids water and bead baths altogether.
Instead of a distillate, consider using a CBD isolate powder. These powders are concentrated at 99% CBD, so they are extremely potent and ground down to a fine enough powder that they can be mixed right into food recipes with ease. If using an isolate powder for oils or skin topicals, you may need to raise the temperature of your base material a little bit and stir for several minutes so that the CBD dissolves.
Preparing For Blending and Mixing
Once your distillate is back to a honey-like liquid consistency, it is ready for blending.
Your next step is to determine how much CBD you want to include in your oil, skin care cream, or edible.
This process requires knowledge of the concentration of CBD in your distillate. Your manufacturer should be able to provide this information to you.
Here is a simple formula to determine how much CBD distillate to add to any product.
Example: Let’s say you want to create a single product with 1000 milligrams of total cannabidiol and your distillate has a concentration of 85% cannabidiol.
85% * X = 1000 (where “X” is your liquefied distillate).
X = 1000/0.85 = 1,176.4
You’ll need to weigh 1,176.4 milligrams of distillate and blend it into your oil, edible recipe, or skin cream for it to have 1,000mg of CBD.
If you plan on creating a high number of products, you may want to consider purchasing bulk CBD distillate in larger quantities.
Making Your Own CBD Oil with Distillate
Now that our distillate is in liquid form and we know how much distillate to add, we can begin creating our unique homemade CBD products.
Step 1: Choose your carrier oil: Pick a high-quality carrier oil like MCT oil, hemp seed oil, or olive oil.
Step 2: Determine the desired potency: Decide how much CBD distillate you want in each serving of your homemade CBD oil. Weigh out the appropriate amount of distillate. Using a digital scale will provide the most accuracy.
Step 3: Warm up your chosen carrier oil and add the measured-out CBD distillate while stirring gently until fully dissolved. This can also be done at room temperature if your liquid distillate is still warm.
Step 4: Cool down and store properly: Allow the mixture to cool before transferring it into a dropper bottle for storage away from direct sunlight or extreme temperatures to maintain optimal shelf life and effectiveness.
Making Homemade Skincare Products With Distillate
Adding CBD to your skincare creations or existing skincare regimen will add anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, resulting in a wonderful skin glow!
And yes, you read that right: you can take any existing skincare cream, bal, or topical and add your CBD distillate to it!
If your CBD is still warm after your bead or water bath, you can mix it right into your product.
But for maximum infusion, we suggest the following:
Step 1: Select a base product suitable for your skin type or concern, like shea butter-based creams for dry skin.
Step 2: Calculate the Desired Concentration of CBD Distillate. Most skincare products will have between 250mg and 1000mg per 1 to 2 ounce container.
Step 3: Heat your base product until it liquefies.
Step 4: Add the calculated amount of CBD distillate while stirring.
Step 5: Once infused, place your creation into a container to cool before use.
Creating CBD-Infused Edibles and Foods
Adding CBD to food products can be a fun and rewarding health experience. While CBD can be ingested easily as oil, you can also blend it right into drinks or foods.
The steps are quite simple.
Before you begin, make sure you are using either a pure isolate powder or your CBD distillate in its liquid form.
Measure out how much CBD you want for the entire recipe.
For example, if you are making a recipe that will yield 10 brownies and you want to have 50 milligrams of CBD per brownie, you’ll need to measure 500 milligrams worth of CBD into your bowl.
Mix your recipe thoroughly so that your CBD is distributed evenly.
Then, bake or cook as usual!
You’ll be able to enjoy the wonderful flavors of your baked goods on your palate while also experiencing the wellness benefits of cannabidiol!
Use CBD In Everything
CBD distillate is a highly versatile raw material.
Once you know how to work with it properly, you can use it to infuse everything from oil tinctures and drinks to skincare topicals and foods with CBD.
Experience the natural benefits of cannabidiol in your way, and be sure to share with friends and family!
Image Credit: Photo by Kimzy Nanney on Unsplash