Navigating the realm of cannabis products can be an interesting journey whether you are a novice or an experienced consumer. While seemingly alike, cannabis products may have an entirely distinct purpose. That is the case with distillate vs tincture.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of distillates and tinctures to clear your doubts. The sections below explain what distillates and tinctures are, how they're produced, their chemical composition, use, and more.

Comparing Distillate vs Tincture

Various cannabis extracts have distinctions in several aspects. For us at Sorting Robotics, the first step in comparing distillate vs. tincture cannabis products is looking into their “true nature”. Better said, you need to understand both before utilizing such products.

Understanding distillate

Cannabis distillates are one of the purest cannabis concentrates available on the market. You can obtain them through a process known as fractional distillation, which helps separate the THC or CBD content from other constituents.

This purification process relies on boiling-point separation and helps produce high-quality cannabis distillates. When done correctly, the distillate may have a pure cannabinoid concentration of up to 99%.

Distillate extraction process

If you have little cannabis experience you should know that fractional distillation is often referred to as short-path distillation. The two entail the same process and are often used interchangeably in literature.

The distillation process uses heat to vaporize the cannabis content. First, the crude cannabis oil is heated in a boiling flask and caused to evaporate. Due to being sensitive to heat, cannabis chemicals such as terpenes and cannabinoids like THC and CBD separate during evaporation.

During the following re-condensing phase, each set of compounds is collected in a separate flask. This is how THC and CBD content is isolated from other cannabis materials.

Understanding tincture

Cannabis tinctures enjoy immense popularity due to their ease of use. They might be ideal for recreational and medical use due to their straightforward dosing. They are available in small glass bottles with droplets, which allow for comfortable consumption.

Tincture extraction process

To produce this cannabis extract, the cannabis plant is soaked in a base liquid such as glycerin, oil, or food-grade alcohol. The goal is to ensure the cannabis compounds meld with the liquid.

The process of creating a tincture differs based on the chosen medium. We will explain alcohol and oil tinctures individually to offer you a more comprehensive understanding of tinctures. Before we get into the details of each, we should mention that both procedures require the cannabis to be decarboxylated.

Decarbing cannabis is a chemical process during which the THC and CBD compounds found in the plant are activated. Before placing the cannabis in the oven, it should be broken into buds and spread over a tray layered with baking paper.

Then, the oven is set to preheat to 240 °F. Once placed in the oven, the tray should remain for approximately 30 to 40 minutes to achieve optimal results.

Alcohol-based cannabis tinctures

We recommend using 190-proof food-grade alcohol for the best results when creating alcohol tinctures. If you are interested in at-home tincture recipes, you may try vodka or other types of alcohol.

So, the cannabis should be well-grounded before being placed in a mason jar. The proportions of alcohol and cannabis material in tinctures may vary based on the desirable potency. Using a pint of alcohol for an ounce of cannabis is a good practice.

Once the cannabis is placed in the mason jar, it should be topped with the chosen alcohol. Then, the mason jar should be transferred to a cool, dark place where it should remain for 30 to 60 days.

For optimal results, this mixture should be shaken daily. After the recommended storage period, the liquid (tincture) is collected through a sterile cheesecloth. This allows you to strain out the cannabis content and obtain a clean tincture product.

Alcohol-based cannabis tinctures — Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: fukume

Oil-based cannabis tinctures

When making an oil-based cannabis tincture, you can choose various. For example, coconut oil, olive oil, and MCT oil. What's common to all production methods is that the temperature mustn't exceed 245 °F. The goal of this limit is to prevent potential cannabinoid degradation.

That is because cannabis compounds, such as THC, CBD, flavonoids, and terpenes are especially sensitive to heat. Exceeding the temperature will likely cause them to evaporate and be eliminated from the final product.

When using a slow cooker or a crockpot, the cannabis material and oil are combined and cooked on low for four to six hours while stirring occasionally. Once finished, the liquid is strained through a cheesecloth, and the tincture is stored in an airtight container and placed in a cool, dark spot.

While heating cannabis and oil is the fastest way to produce a cannabis tincture, it's not the only option available. The decarbed cannabis and oil can be combined in a suitable container and left to combine for three to five weeks.

Differences Between THC Distillate vs Tincture

You may notice several major differences when comparing distillate vs tincture. Throughout the sections below, we will explore the contrast between these two cannabis products. So, you will find a more detailed comparison of their chemical composition, production methods, effects, usage, etc.

Chemical composition and potency

The first major one is the difference in potency. Distillates are known as one of the purest cannabis concentrates, which feature high potency.

Conversely, tinctures are less potent. However, this doesn't mean that they offer insignificant results. The main difference between these two cannabis forms is that tinctures have a more diverse cannabis profile.

For instance, a full-spectrum CBD tincture will contain all the terpenes and cannabinoids from the hemp plant. In contrast, CBD distillate will contain highly refined CBD with small traces of other cannabinoids like CBN and CBG.

Overall, the CBD or THC content in distillates usually varies between 75% and 90%. Yet, there are no terpenes or flavonoids present, unlike in tinctures.

Terpene retention and effects

Tinctures involve soaking the entire cannabis material in a desired liquid, which is why they are considered full spectrum. This means they maintain the smell and taste of cannabis, but that is not the case with distillates.

One benefit of the rich cannabinoid profile available in tincture is the entourage effect. This sensory experience is attributed to the collaboration between terpenes and other cannabis molecules. Many usually describe this effect as a mood-stabilizing experience and advocate it being potentially helpful in relieving stress and anxiety.

In contrast, distillates lack terpenes and flavonoids as these are eliminated within the evaporation. Due to their lack of terpenes and other cannabis content, they fail to offer you the entourage effects.

Dosage, onset, and duration

Cannabis tinctures are readily available in droplet bottles. These products can come in various sizes; each has specific dosing instructions based on size and cannabis content within the product.

Usually, if you are a novice, the recommended dose may be 2.5mg of THC or even less. The administration of tincture is straightforward. The droplet is used to place the required dose under your tongue, which should remain for about 10 seconds.

Then, the tincture is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Cannabis tinctures may take 15 to 30 minutes for you to experience any possible effects.

On the other hand, distillates have a more varied use compared to tinctures. They are also used in edibles, vapes, dabbing, and droplet-style. Distillates are also commonly put in vaping cartridges or introduced into joints using a distillate syringe.

They also have a slightly prolonged kick-in. Usually, the effects appear between 45 minutes to one hour after consumption. However, this also depends on the consumption method. The effects of dabbing and vaping distillates are almost immediate.

Differences Between THC Distillate vs Tincture — Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Irina Kvyatkovskaya

Conclusion

Comparing distillate vs tincture products, you discovered many differences between the two. The primary difference between these two products is within their production.

As discussed, distillation aims to reach a highly refined, potent end product. At the same time, the methods in tincture creation are focused on transferring the full cannabis content into a chosen liquid. Naturally, the effects also differ.

In terms of potency, distillates excel in potency and purity and enjoy widespread use. Tinctures also have a good potency, but their allure lies in their entourage effect, which distillates lack. They are very easy to use, and you may prefer tinctures due to their dosage system.

Distillate vs Tincture