Cannabis edibles have flooded the marijuana market. Some of these edibles are made with flower, while others use concentrates. But is there any real difference between the two? Here we will discuss edibles and what it takes to make an edible with a stellar high.
Cannabis edibles are made with flower or concentrates and come in a variety of baked items and other goodies. They usually contain primarily THC as it is more common for people to want the intoxicating effects of THC. However, there are also edibles made with CBD, which will not get you high but has many health benefits.
Edibles are a favourite in the cannabis community due to their long-lasting effects and extra-strength potency. As well, it is also easier to dose accurately so that you get the high you want. The only downside is that pre-made edibles can be pricy, so many people opt to make edibles from the comfort of their own homes.
Here is a list of some common types of edibles:
- Cookies
- Chocolate Bars
- Gummy candies (gummy bears, worms, and more)
- Chews
- Lollipops
- Brownies
- Candies
- Water enhancers
- Chocolates
- Drinks (Beer, vodka, punch, etc.)
- Popcorn
- Beef Jerky
- Bacon Jerky
- Cotton Candy
- Peanut Budder and Jelly
- Ice Cream
- K-Cups
- Popsicles
- Pizzas
- Glazed Nuts
- Condiments
- Potato Chips
- Cereal
- Granola
- Chrontella (basically Nutella)
These are just a few of the edibles that are now available to buy. They even have edible products that are vegan, environmentally friendly, and sustainable. Be sure to try some of these treats.
Cannabis flower
Cannabis flower is where all the cannabinoids like THC, CBD, CBG and CBN are created from the parent molecule cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). As the cannabis plant matures, CBGA converts many cannabinoids to desirable compounds like THC and CBD. The THC is then smoked, vaped, or consumed as an edible, providing cannabis users with the flower’s benefits.
Due to the harshness of smoking flower, many cannabis users use the flower or bud to make edibles. However, there are steps to take to ensure you extract or decarboxylate your flower before you can reap the benefits of THC and CBD.
How are edibles made with flower?
To create edibles with flower, you first need to decarboxylate your marijuana. In other words, this process is also called decarbing. It is the process where you use heat and time to convert the non-psychoactive THCA in raw flower into THC.
How decarboxylating works
When heat is applied, the cannabinoids THCA and CBDA decarboxylates, causing the molecules to lose a carboxyl group. Removing this carboxyl group allows the molecules to interact with our body’s endocannabinoid system, causing us to feel the therapeutic and recreational effects.
Cannabutter
Some of the most common ways to create edibles with flower include creating cannabutter. This process involves heating butter with cannabis, ensuring that active cannabinoids bind to the fats in butter. Afterwards, you can then add them to your favourite recipes. Check this out for an excellent cannabutter recipe.
Baking
If you want to add the dried plant matter directly to your recipes, you first need to decarboxylate your weed through baking. Here are the steps to bake your weed to activate the desired cannabinoids.
Step 1: First, break buds into small pieces and spread in a then, even layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 2: Cover the pan with aluminum foil and place the baking sheet on the middle rack of your oven.
Step 3: Bake for 110 minutes at 230 degrees Fahrenheit (110 degrees Celsius).
Step 4: Remove from oven and let the newly decarbed weed cool before using it.
Step 5: Mix it in brownies, cakes, cookies, or whatever your favourite recipe is.
Slow cooked
One of the best ways to make a cannabis-infused oil is by decarbing your weed using a slow cooker. Here are the basic steps:
Step 1: Add dry cannabis plant matter and either coconut, olive, or canola oil to the slow cooker.
Step 2: Cover the ingredients and cook them on high for one hour.
Step 3: Turn the slow cooker to its lowest setting and cook for two to three more hours.
Step 4: Let it cool and then strain through a cheesecloth
Step 5: Add the oil to your favourite recipes. Use your imagination and get creative with the dishes you choose to add your cannabis-infused oil to.
Cannabis concentrates
Cannabis concentrates are the result of distilling the most desirable parts of the cannabis plant. They contain both cannabinoids and terpenes of the cannabis flower with no excess plant material. It is considered a cleaner high due to this removal of unwanted plant matter.
A cannabis concentrate originates from cannabis flower structures called trichomes. Basically, a cannabis concentrate is a condensed version of the trichomes which hold all the cannabinoids and terpenes. These are then extracted using a variety of methods depending on the type of concentrate. Concentrates can take many forms, and some concentrate products can be added to edibles.
Different types of cannabis concentrate
- Shatter
- Wax
- Rosin
- Live Resin
- Hash
- Budder
- Crumble
- Terp Sauce
- HTFSE (High Terpene Full Spectrum Extract)
- BHO (Butane Hash Oil)
- Distillate
- RSO (Rick Simpson Oil)
- Isolate
With new and different extraction methods being invented, new forms of cannabis concentrates are likely to arise.
How are edibles made with concentrates?
In order to make edibles with concentrates. in most cases, you will also have to decarb your cannabis product. However, if you use RSO or distillate, the THCA found in the product will already be decarboxylated into THC.
You can then add the concentrate to the fat parts of your recipes like butter or oil. However, dairy fats are not the best. Instead, you should always include high saturated fats or lipids in the recipe as it will make sure you get the full benefits of all the cannabinoids and terpenes. In particular, a high saturated fat content is an ideal medium to dissolve cannabis concentrates in.
How to decarb your concentrates
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 200-degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius).
Step 2: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and put your concentrate on the center of the baking sheet. Your concentrate can be wax, shatter, crumble, budder, live resin, rosin, terp sauce or HTSFE.
Step 3: Place the baking sheet in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Be sure to watch the concentrate so that it does not overcook. As you watch, you can determine when it is ready when the concentrate has melted down and starts to bubble.
Step 4: Remove from the oven and allow it to cool.
Step 5: Infuse with a base oil. For this, you can use coconut, avocado or MCT oil. Once this is done, you can use this cannabis-infused oil in all your favourite dishes.
Which type of edible is the best?
Ounce for ounce, concentrates have a greater proportion of terpenes and cannabinoids than your typical cannabis flower. Therefore, you will get a better high without having to consume as much as a flower-derived edible.
When discussing the topic with fellow cannabis users, many said that they prefer shatter-derived chocolates. In particular, those which are milk chocolate seem to have a more significant effect. However, keep in mind that this is just an opinion and that people are affected differently depending on the dosage, the recipe, and personal tolerance for cannabis.
Remember to always start with a lower dosage and increase in increments to determine what dose works best for you.
What are your favourite edibles? Were they derived from flower or concentrates? Let us know in the comments and follow us @Cannalifenet.