Liquid Shatter vs Distillate
With the rise in the cannabis industry’s popularity, many cannabis enthusiasts are seeking ways to enhance their experience. Thus, many cannabis-related businesses have to adapt to the ever-evolving scene and come up with unique ideas to grab the customer’s attention. That’s why, in this article, we will explain the differences between liquid shatter vs distillate and their unique properties.
With a variety of options available in today’s market, it may be hard to keep track of all the new products coming out. Since both these concentrate types are experiencing a lot of praise from the general population, it’s important to understand their effects and benefits.
Continue reading to discover all there is to know about THC distillate vs shatter, their unique properties, and how to tell them apart.
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Liquid Shatter vs Distillate
As mentioned, both liquid shatter and distillate are a popular option amongst cannabis enthusiasts. Even though they’re both cannabis-related concentrates, each has its own unique properties and benefits. To better understand the uniqueness behind liquid shatter and distillate, we’ll elaborate on them separately.
Understanding liquid shatter
The first cannabis concentrate we’ll focus on is liquid shatter. As the name implies, this concentrate is a shatter extract that comes in liquid form. The reason why many users prefer this product is due to its high potency, reaching up to 80% THC.
When it comes to distinguishing liquid shatter by sight, this product is usually characterized by its honey-like appearance and variations in transparency and colors. While its texture also resembles honey when heated, it solidifies when it’s cold. Due to its fragile glass-like nature, this extract easily shatters when dropped, leading to the name shatter.
One of the main reasons why shatter is diluted into liquid form is to create vapable cartridges. However, this process causes the product's potency to drop from 80% to around 30%. This makes it the perfect product for less experienced cannabis users or those who are looking for lighter effects.
Lastly, liquid shatter is made with a unique extraction method, which allows the plant’s terpenes to stay intact. This allows you to choose between different tastes, strengths, and effects of the cannabis flower used.
Understanding distillate
Being a thick liquid, distillate is a highly purified form of THC with a potency that may reach from 95% to 100% THC levels. Thus, this extract is considered one of the purest forms of THC and is best used by experienced cannabis users who have built up tolerance towards the products.
If you’re looking to distinguish this cannabis distillate by looks, it’s characterized by the oil-like form with a deep amber color. This allows you to choose between various consumption methods, including smoking, vaping, dabbing, and eating edibles.
The reason why THC distillate is considered a top-shelf product is due to its extraction method. By using a short path distillation process, the desired compounds are separated and refined from the contaminants, leading to high purity levels. However, the downside of this process is that the heat used during the extraction process may destroy the natural terpenes, preventing the users from choosing different strains.
Differences Between Liquid Shatter and Distillate
Now that you know the basics of these two products, we want to highlight the ways that we at Sorting Robotics differentiate THC distillate vs shatter. Here are the main factors that set these two apart:
Extraction methods
Composition and potency
Terpene profile and effects
Consistency, appearance, and use
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Extraction methods
The main difference between shatter vs distillate is the extraction method used to create them. To better understand this process, here’s what goes behind the extraction of these two compounds.
Liquid shatter is extracted by separating the desired compounds from the cannabis buds with solvents, such as butane, propane, and CO2. This process usually involves a low-temperature hydrocarbon extraction to prevent damaging the terpenes. Once the buds have been run through the chosen solvent, it’s then evaporated from the compounds to ensure no leftover residue is left.
On the other hand, extracting THC distillate includes several phases, including the following:
Extraction – Separating the plant matter and resinous trichomes through oil extraction. While there are solventless methods for extraction, most turn to the use of butane, ethanol, and propane.
Winterization – Placing the oil in freezing temperatures for 24 hours to prepare unwanted compounds for filtration through coagulation.
Filtration – Removing the fats, chlorophyll, and waxes from the extract with a filter press.
Decarboxylation – Applying heat to release CO2, volatile compounds, and solvent residue while activating THC and CBD compounds.
Distillation – Turning the compounds into vapor through heat. It’s then gathered in a chilled condensing head that re-condenses it into liquid.
Composition and potency
The second difference between shatter and distillate is their potency and composition. As mentioned, THC distillate is one of the purest cannabis products on the market.
And while it’s thought to have 95% to 100% purity, shatter can only reach up to 80%. Furthermore, liquid shatter is thought to lose its purity when turned into liquid, with only 30% of potency left. Based on these numbers, it’s easy to say that cannabis distillate has a higher potency than liquid shatter.
That’s why liquid shatter is recommended for users who have less tolerance for cannabis products, while distillate is more suitable for experienced consumers.
Terpene profile and effects
Another important difference between distillate and shatter is their terpene profile and effects. Liquid shatter is praised for its ability to keep the natural cannabis terpenes intact during its extraction.
Therefore, you can choose between various strains and effects, including sativa, indica, and hybrids. Besides the various strains, liquid shatter also offers various flavors, such as banana, pineapple, grape, and strawberry.
On the other hand, distillate is thought to destroy most of the natural cannabis terpenes due to the high temperatures used in the extraction process. This results in less strain and effect options for the users since it focuses the attention on purity.
Consistency, appearance, and use
Liquid shatter has a thick, sticky, and syrup-like consistency which also reflects on its colors and texture. Since its liquid form is achieved by heating the product, it solidifies when it gets cold. Its solid form has a glass-like appearance and is known for its fragile nature.
Unlike shatter, the cannabis distillate is known for its oil-like consistency and deep amber color. It can be only used in its liquid form and requires strenuous efforts to solidify.
When it comes to the consumption options, they vary depending on the product you choose. Liquid shatter is most commonly found in the form of vape cartridges. This limits the ways you can consume this extract and doesn’t allow you to experiment with different options. On the other hand, THC distillate allows you a variety of uses, including smoking, vaping, edibles, and dabbing.
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Conclusion
After discovering the differences between liquid shatter vs distillate, it’s up to you to decide which option suits you best. Remember that even though these two products may appear similar, their potency, terpenes, and uses are very different. Thus, it’s important to be mindful of your experience and tolerance with using cannabis-related products.
While liquid shatter is best for those who are just starting out, distillate is more appropriate for experienced users who know their limits. Lastly, regardless if you’re a manufacturer or consumer, always make sure these products are made from quality materials to ensure the best smoking experience.
