Cannabis consumption will never be the same again. And you know why Because it is bound to only get better and better, thanks to the slow yet steady rise of marijuana legalization globally.
However, we still have a long way to go before being able to truly understand the mesmerizingly complex nature of cannabis plants. One of the most misunderstood aspects of weed consumption up-to-date is decarboxylation.
The science behind cannabis’ decarboxylation is actually quite straightforward. The thing is, many of us are not that much into doing their proper research (unless you are a writer and you literally have no other choice but to learn the importance of doing your research over and over again, lol). Okay, setting writers’ life witty humor aside, knowing how to decarb your weed the right way will shoot you miles ahead in mastering your cooking with marijuana skills.
Now, apart from a healthy dose of research, mastering weed decarboxylation like a pro cannot possibly happen without going through some trial and error. And while we have made sure to get (most of) the hard work done for you by experimenting with decarbing pot the best way while compiling this epic article, we really want to encourage you to keep an open mind about the whole process, and to proceed with a positive outlook because nobody will master the secrets of decarboxylation better than you because nobody has the exact same prudence and tolerance levels when it comes to cannabis consumption as you do. As we know fair well, marijuana consumption is a highly subjective experience, and so without trying out the difference between a poorly decarbed weed and perfectly decarbed weed for yourself, you’ll never get to truly understand the science behind cannabis’ decarboxylation.
Ultimately, we need to highlight that the abundance of wrong, confusing, inaccurate, and/or incomplete information regarding decarboxylation is not your fault (even if you frankly dislike doing your research). Because in reality, even if you are ready to get your hands dirty by scrolling the 180 000+ pages of info on how to decarb weed by Googling things up, the decades of marijuana prohibition are to blame for allowing so much misinformation on that matter to plague the web. But misinformation and disinformation on properly decarbing weed are not merely an annoying issue but an abuse, and nonetheless, a reckless robbery,that has hurt and keeps hurting so many people involved in the cannabis movement, including but not limited to recreational and medical marijuana users, by depriving them of reaping the full array of benefits of ingesting cannabis. And that is exactly why we took on the mission of compiling this article with massive waves of enthusiasm and responsibility, and with a mind to helping all our bud buddies out there.
It is our sincere wish to spread awareness, as well as easily-digestible, tried-and-tested pieces of advice, thus, hopefully doing our bit for increasing the acceptance and understanding of the miraculous properties of oral cannabis consumption which works best only after you have properly decarbed your cannabis flowers.
Before we get down to the practical side of marijuana decarboxylation, let’s first learn what decarboxylation is anyway, as well as why does decarbing ganja matters.
What is Decarboxylation: Learning the Basics of THC and CBD Activation
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past decade or so (which we highly doubt), then you certainly know what THC and CBD stand for. THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol) are the two most abundant active compounds that we are able to enjoy by medicating with cannabis.
However, cannabis plants do not actually get to produce THC and CBD. Instead, what marijuana plants produce are specific acids that act as precursors to THC and CBD only once the heat is applied. In their raw, acidic form, THC is THCA (Tetrahydrocannabinolicacid), while CBD is CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid). And so, when properly heated, THCA gets converted into THC, respectively, CBDA is converted into CBD. This heat-induced conversion is regarded as activation.
Interestingly, even though the major goal of decarbing pot the right way is to make the most from THC’ and CBD’ potency in terms of both healing and recreational powers, it is crucial to note that THCa and CBDahave been intriguing scientists from all over the world because of their still little-known, yet extremely promising health benefits. In fact, it might be the case that both THC and CBD have been stealing the spotlights from their acidic forms in terms of potential benefits for the consumers, so we don’t know about you, but we definitely can’t wait to see what the whole plant-based cannabis treatment of the future is bound to bring as regulations are falling and paving the path to substantial research on the tremendous potential of the lesser-known active cannabinoids, including but not limited to CBN, CBG, CBC, and precursor acid forms like CBDa, THCa, and CBGa.
https://www.youtube.com/watchv=jChJE9nDZGs
Video by: Endoca CBD – What is CBDa 9 Facts (That You Probably Didn’t Know!)
Source: youtube.com
Quintessentially, decarbing is a process that fully activates THC and CBD present in your weed stash, helping you make the most from consuming just about any type of foods or beverages laced with marijuana because of rapidly increasing the potency of edibles.
To illustrate this better, if you get down to infusing coconut oil with cannabis that has not been decarbed in advance, you’ll likely achieve no more than about 25% of the full potency of the active cannabinoids. After properly decarbing weed and using it for whatever form of at-home cannabis infusions, you can pretty much get to enjoy a doubled up potency of the active cannabinoids’. While there is still a rather big gap in maximizing potency because of possibly committing some tiny yet nasty decarbing and/or infusion mistakes, this article will help you avoid most of the milestones that deprive you of making the most of consuming the green medication orally.
So far, so good. Decarbing cannabis should not be that much of a big deal since basically, all you have to do is to stick them nice buds into a toaster, oven, crockpot (or why not simply light your buds on fire), and this should get the job done (at least to some extent). While this is partially true, there is, indeed, a whole lot of science and precision involved in order to properly decarb your weed, thus, making the most for your money, efforts, and nonetheless, in order to medicate with cannabis in the best way possible by preserving the miraculous active compounds from degradation.
Just like the CEO of The Stoner’s Cook Book, Matt Gray, highlighted in an interview for the Food Republic, weed “ain’t exactly basil”, right Sure, it’s a herb, just like basil, but unlike basil, it is a costly herb. So, when not decarbing your weed the right way, you are simply wasting way too much of the precious plant material. Even if you happen to grow your very own cannabis plants, and you have plenty of buds to experiment with, there is really no profit in wasting your efforts, diligence, and care. Not to mention that the era we live in is all about learning how to reduce waste, to repurpose, and to re-use for the sake of preserving the beauty, biodiversity, and well-being of planet Earth. Well, here we have a HUGE bonus point to decarbing weed!
A Quick Mind Floss: Did you know that there is a town in Japan where people manage to live in sublime harmony with the living nature by producing 0 waste That’s what we call sustainability brought to a whole new level!
https://www.youtube.com/watchv=OS9uhASKyjA
Video by: Great Big Story – Japan’s Town With No Waste
Source: youtube.com
Ultimately, there is a very thin line between properly decarbing weed and failing to do so, because active cannabinoids are sensitive creatures. Apply too much heat, and you’ll lose them. Apply too little heat, and you’ll fail to fully activate them. You see, decarbing marijuana is a function of three main factors: time, atmosphere, and temperature. You need to take all of these into consideration to master decarboxylation like a pro.
Weed Decarb Myths Busted
While the short cut to helping you learn how to decarb cannabis is to list the exact step-by-step tutorial (we’ll get down to that further in the article), the really meaningful way to be of your best assistance, in the long run, is to start by busting some of the nastiest myths about cannabis decarboxylation. Much like learning lessons in school properly requires one to understand the logic behind a particular topic, and not to merely learn it by heart, so does mastering weed decarboxylation require an in-depth understanding of the importance of each step. So, there we have our keyboards ready to be set on fire for the sake of making this world a better place for every cannabisseur and medical marijuana user, and here we go.
#1.The science behind decarbing fresh buds vs. decarbing dried and cured buds differs.
Whether you are about to decarb freshly chopped cannabis flowers from your beautiful marijuana garden or dried and cured cannabis flowers from your beloved home kit marijuana mason jars, you want to follow the exact same steps on heating the buds to active THC and CBD. No, moisture content doesn’t really make any difference when it comes to the heat needed to decarb fresh vs. dried cannabis buds. When decarbing weed, you basically have a considerable time gap that allows you to keep decarbing your stash or taking it out of the oven/ water bath, making up for some good 10-15 minutes difference, which is enough time to properly let moisture evaporate, no matter if you work with fresh or dried cannabis flowers. For example, decarbing freshly chopped White Widow flowers vs. decarbing dried and cured White Widow flowers will require you to follow the same guidelines that call for 45 – 60 minutes of decarbing, thus, freshly chopped buds can be decarbed for about 60 minutes while dried and cured ones could be ready within 50 minutes or so.
There are actually some little-known gains of decarbing freshly chopped cannabis flowers, as you can get to preserve more of the awesome terpenes in the process. To feel the difference, just think of the smell of dried vs. fresh cannabis flowers.
But most importantly, the drying and curing process does not decarboxylate your cannabis flowers. Indeed, improper storage and/or exposure to excess heat, sunlight and/or oxygen can lead to the activation and/or degradation of some of the active cannabinoids. However, even in such circumstances, your dried and cured buds will be nowhere near to being decarbed completely.
#2. The science behind decarbing cannabis concentrates vs. decarbing cannabis flowers differs.
Cannabis concentrates that have been prepped and purged properly have undergone little to no decarbing. That’s exactly why we need to heat up cannabis concentrates as to inhale all the good vibes using a suitable device. As a rule of thumb, remember that high-quality cannabis concentrates feature less than 5% decarbed THC, so there is no way to infuse your homemade cannatreats using a marijuana concentrate and enjoying its full THC potency without decarbing it in advance. As to the science behind the decarboxylation process of cannabis concentrates, it is pretty much the same as with cannabis flowers. The longer you decarb and the lower the temperature, the better you will be able to preserve all the good stuff intact. Period.
#3. You can’t enjoy quality at-home cannabis infusion without alcohol and/or oil for extracting the active cannabinoids.
Let’s face it: the cannabis industry is booming. It’s booming like no other industry ever has in the entire recorded history of the US, and so it goes without saying that the potential of the cannabis market is immense. Being immense, it is also super appealing to just about any business-minded entrepreneur and large companies alike. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that cannabis enthusiasts are the perfect target for all things cannabis-related, including but not limited to cooking with cannabis.
Now, it is 100% true that the best way to extract active cannabinoids is through alcohol or fat because cannabinoids are known as hydrophobic which means they cannot be extracted in water (at least as of now).
Unfortunately, not everyone has the time, equipment, and nonetheless, the rather big amounts of cannabis flowers needed for proper alcohol or fat-based extraction.
The thing is, the fact that cannabinoids are best to be extracted through alcohol or fats has been somehow and somewhat ugly twisted in favor of the booming cannabis industry. It has become almost an insistence that cannabis users need to extract cannabinoids into butter and oils or to use alcohol-based solvents. Not only are these processes often complicated and time-consuming but it can also get super difficult to dose cannabis-laced foods or beverages accurately since some of the active cannabinoids inevitably get lost in the extraction process using fatty substances or alcohol, turning accurate dosing into a big trial and error fiasco. Simply put, the marijuana niche marketing efforts are pretty much targeted towards stimulating consumers to buy larger amounts of cannabis flowers as this is what you inevitably have to do if you want to prep a batch of good-quality cannabutter, so it is quite more profitable for the industry to advertise this type of cannabis infusions instead of methods of using decarbed weed straight away. And so, unless you happen to grow your own cannabis plants, cooking with cannabis tends to be a costly adventure.
In reality, it is way much easier for patients to activate cannabis flowers and/or kief, and to simply use it directly. Yes, it is absolutely possible to bypass the extraction-related hassle while simultaneously preventing waste and getting the full benefits of whole cannabis plant-based therapy. Whole cannabis plant therapy refers to making the most from the full spectrum of beneficial terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids but many of these tend to inevitably get lost in the cooking process unless done correctly.
On the contrary, direct activation through proper decarboxylation gives plenty of options on how cannabis can be used. This allows patients to create accurately dosed topicals, edibles, and sublingual quickly and reliably. To illustrate this better, an instant substitute to hours of lengthy extraction for the preparation of cannabutter can be achieved by taking the desired dose of decarbed cannabis flowers, paired with ½ tablespoon of fat, such as coconut oil or butter, then you simply administer the dose orally and enjoy the potent, lasting effects of the green medication. Alternatively, you can simply sprinkle your decarbed buds with a few drops of alcohol for boosted digestion and absorption rates.
Please, note, that we do not want to condemn cannabis-infused butter or alcohol-based extractions such as our favorite DIY weed tinctures (not at all). Different cannabis extractions have their strong and low sides, for instance, despite taking some time to prep, cannabutter makes edibles taste better than simply tossing your decarbed weed into a pot brownie mixture straight away. What we feel important to highlight and share is that decarbed weed makes a beautiful way to establish a deep relationship with oral methods of cannabis consumption in an inexpensive, well-working, and easy to dose way.
Finally, a simple calculation on the estimated costs of infusing oil/butter with cannabis flowers vs. decarbing cannabis flowers and administering them directly alongside fatty substances proves you can save quite some cash, as you simply need to use a significantly lower amount of weed to experience the desired effects of the green medication. If you happen to grow your very own cannabis plants from seed, the costs for oral cannabis infusions can be curbed as much as (hold your breath) 10 times
Ultimately, even though neither fats nor alcohol is a must-have in order to decarb or administer the desired amount of cannabis orally, they are, indeed, quite helpful when it comes to aiding in digestion and absorption of the active compounds in marijuana buds.
#4. Always grind your cannabis flowers finely before decarboxylation.
If you read through 5 different cannabis-laced treats recipes that require you to decarb your weed in advance, you’ll likely stumble across 5 different recommendations when it comes to how finely or loosely your cannabis buds should be grinded (or not grinded at all) prior to decarbing. While it is true that finely ground weed possesses an increased surface area which leads to a smoother and more uniform burn, hence, making the most from the active cannabinoids by heating them up evenly, this is not 100% applicable to decarbing weed (but is 100% applicable to smoking it).
If you chop or grind your weed by staying on the loose side instead of giving it a fine grind, you can actually increase the shelf life of trichomes (the active cannabinoid factories of cannabis plants) by leaving more of the trichomes intact.
#5. Different cannabis strains require a different approach in order to be properly decarboxylated.
Facepalming ourselves after writing these lines, we think that this is probably one of the worst bits of disinformation on decarbing weed. Sure, different strains possess different levels of THCa and CBDa among other active compounds, and nonetheless, different strains produce different amount of resin which is intricately related to different moisture contents. And while the active compounds in cannabis plants do have different boiling points (the boiling point is the moment when the active compounds start to rapidly lose potency), you want to remember that the science behind cannabis decarboxylation is 100% equally well applicable with just about any strain out there.
While working on this article and experimenting with mastering weed decarboxylation, we tried out decarbing 5 proudly homegrown marijuana strains, namely Dark Angel, CB Diesel, Cali Kush, Crown Royale, and Berry White. After having our decarbed weed lab tested, we got fully convinced that regardless of the difference in cannabinoid content, moisture content, and the time spent in drying and curing cannabis buds, the science behind cannabis decarboxylation is pretty much set in stone.
For the record, our Berry White buds were only dried (not cured yet), our Cali Kush buds were freshly chopped, while Dark Angel and CB Diesel buds came from an old weed stash which we thought would have lost quite of its potency (but thanks to proper storage, it proved to be fully potent and awesome). Meanwhile, Crown Royale buds were so dripped in resin that we were admittedly unwilling to have them decarbed before knowing for sure whether decarboxylating different strains requires a different approach (because, hey, no cannabis enthusiast out there wants to sacrifice a handful of flavorsome, heavily trichomes-coated flowers just to get unknown results after toasting them up, right). Well, finally, Crown Royale cannabis flowers were properly decarbed and entered their afterlife gloriously after we drizzled them in caramelized sugar for the coating of a decadent hazelnut, dark choco, raspberries, dates, and cashews vegan-friendly cannacake.
As a rule of thumb, decarbing your weed properly should yield you some good 80% – 90% potency, which means that if you decarb 1 gram of 10% THC cannabis strain, you should end up with 80 mg THC in total.
#6. It is impossible to get more than 70% THC decarb before THC starts to degrade.
It is not the 90s anymore. Things have changed and keep changing for the better. We bet your kitchen oven was not made back in the 1990s, right And even if it is, you still have full access to reliable, modern-day thermometers, paired with all the valuable information you need that will help you keep accurate track of the decarb process. With this in mind, the 90s-born myth of being able to activate no more than 70% THC before it starts to degrade during the process of decarboxylation is quite outdated, although it is a safe move to shave off about 10% of the THC or CBD potency of your decarbed cannabis flowers just for the sake of leaving some small room for possible mistakes, especially if you are a newbie to decarbing weed.
When NOT to Decarb your Cannabis Buds
#1. Do not decarb your buds if you want to enjoy lower-quality at-home infusions.
#2. Do not decarb your buds if you have some extra money, extra time, extra efforts and/or extra cannabis supplies to waste.
#3. Now, cannajokes aside, do NOT decarb your cannabis buds if you are curious about reaping the benefits of THCa and CBDa. After all, not every single cannabis user out there strives for maximum THC or maximum CBD potency. Depending on the very reasons why you choose to ingest cannabis, you may skip on decarbing in favor of enjoying more of the THCa and CBDa present in both freshly chopped, as well as dried and cured cannabis flowers.
How to Decarb Weed the Right Way
Well, it’s high time we dive into the deep waters of cannabis decarboxylation! This ain’t going to be your average step-by-step tutorial but instead, this is yours well above the average weed decarboxylation go-to guide. Feel free to pin it, save it, share it, tweet it, social medialize it, take a screenshot or just whatever your favorite way of saving and spreading (in)valuable information is. What we have for you below is nothing less but science, so as long as you take the important notes in mind and you are not afraid to embrace some trial and error, we are pretty positive that you can turn into a weed decarb guru .Time to switch into the cannageeky mode.
The Holy Commandments of Decarbing Weed like a Pro
#1. Learn and master decarboxylation time and temperatures.
Here’s all the scientific know-how on that matter in a neat cheat sheet.
How to Decarb Cannabis Flowers
Decarboxylation method: Oven
Temperature and Time: 310 degrees Fahrenheit (155 degrees Celsius), 10 – 18 minutes for decarbing fresh or dried cannabis flowers, and 5 – 10 minutes for decarbing hash/kief the quick way. 240 degrees Fahrenheit (116 degrees Celsius), 45 – 60 minutes for decarbing fresh or dried cannabis flowers, and 25 – 40 minutes for decarbing hash/kief*.
*Please, mind, that hash/kief is perfectly well-applicable to prep cannabis-laced treats even without being decarbed in advance. Of course, decarbing will increase potency, but there are plenty of amazing hash/kief-based recipes such as the ancient 1000-year-old Berber recipe for hash-infused mahjoun that makes use of non-decarbed hash, and let us tell you that the uplifted, clear-headed high is definitely worth the try.
Step by Step Oven Weed Decarb Tutorial
Step 1: Preheat your oven and make sure to insert a thermometer to read the internal temperature correctly. A difference as little as 10◦ can overburn your cannabis flowers, so monitor the decarbing process closely is your best move.
Step 2: Line a baking tray/pan with parchment paper. Space out your coarsely chopped cannabis flowers evenly onto your baking tray/pan as to ensure heat will get evenly distributed.
Step 3: Decarb your cannabis flowers for the desired time, and don’t forget to carefully stir them every 15 minutes or so for an even distribution of heat from each side. Your cannabis flowers will turn from green-nuanced into a light, toasted coloration.
Decarboxylation method: Water bath
Temperature and Time: 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius) for 90 minutes to decarb fresh or dried cannabis flowers or hash/kief.
Step by Step Water Bath Weed Decarb Tutorial
Being an alternative decarboxylation method, the water bath weed decarb method is a kind of stoner’s sous-vide that definitely deserves a try! Apart from applying this method to decarb cannabis flowers, you can follow the exact same steps below for decarbingkief/hash.
Step 1: Place your cannabis flowers into a sealable, boilable cooking pouch, and then seal it.
Step 2: Minding the accurate temperature rates for this purpose, place the cooking pouch into the water, ensuring that water doesn’t boil dry.
Step 3: Take the cooking pouch out of the water and let it cool down before opening it and making the best use of the decarbed weed/kief/hash in whatever way you adore the most.
How to Decarb Cannabis Concentrates
Decarboxylation method: Oven
Temperature and Time:Decarb BHO cannabis concentrates at 240 degrees Fahrenheit (116 degrees Celsius) for 20 – 25 minutes or until fully melted after substantial bubbling occurs.
How to Decarb Cannabis Oil
Decarboxylation method: Hot oil bath
Temperature and Time: 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius) for decarbing cannabis oil. Decarboxylation is fully done once all bubbles taper off.
#2. Decarbing for longer at lower temperatures helps to preserve more of the beneficial active compounds, including but not limited to phytocannabinoids.
While decarbing your weed at lower temperatures (for instance, at 240 Fahrenheit vs. 310 Fahrenheit) obviously takes a bit longer, this is the best way to preserve the highly beneficial terpenes that happen to rather heat sensitive. Apart from terpenes, there is a whole myriad of lesser-known yet absolutely amazing tiny health warriors found in cannabis plants, such as flavor molecules. Since different terpenes, phytocannabinoids, and flavor molecules can provide different health benefits while also possessing different boiling points (the boiling point is when these active compounds actually start to lose their beneficial properties), it is very important to know your medicine in-depth. Things are about to get a bit nerdy below but we are 100% sure that you will appreciate the provided information at some point of your cannabis adventure (hopefully sooner than later).
Phytocannabinoids
Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol aka THC
Antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, euphoriant, appetite-booster
Boiling point: 314.5 Fahrenheit (157 Celsius)
Cannabidiol aka CBD
Anti-inflammatory, fights off bad moods and fatigue, may improve focus, promote restful sleep, antibiotic, antioxidant
Boiling point: 428 Fahrenheit (220 Celsius)
Tetrahydrocannabivarin aka THC
Euphoriant, may help fight off type 2 diabetes, promotes weight loss, analgesic
Boiling point:427 Fahrenheit (219 Celsius)
Cannabinolaka CBN
Anti-stress, anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-tumor, aids in pain management, bone tissue growth stimulator, sedative
Boiling point: 428 Fahrenheit (220 Celsius)
Cannabigerolaka CBG
Stimulates the growth of new brain cells, stimulates bone tissue growth, anti-tumor, anti-insomnia, antibacterial
Boiling point: 500 Fahrenheit (260 Celsius)
Cannabichromeneaka CBC
Anti-inflammatory, aids in pain management, anti-tumor, antibacterial, new bone tissue growth booster, anti-stress and anti-anxiety
Boiling point: 428 Fahrenheit (220 Celsius)
Terpenes
Being in charge of giving different cannabis strains their distinct aroma blends (think of that pungent Sour Diesel vs. earthy White Widow vs. tropical Maui Waui vs. sweetly tinted Gelato aroma), it is none other but terpenes to “blame.” However, apart from their intricate relationship with the distinct, unique smell of cannabis strains, terpenes are progressively gaining more and more attention because of their potential health benefits that seem to be no less than the benefits of active cannabinoids. That’s exactly why it is well worth it to get acquainted with the boiling points of the different terpenes so that you can consciously choose to decarb your weed in a way that can keep the fantabulous terpenes intact.
β-MyrceneakaMyrcene
Aroma: Earthy, dominant green-hop like, slightly fruity-clove-like Anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, analgesic, antibiotic
Boiling point: 331 – 334 Fahrenheit (166 – 168 Celsius)
d-Limoneneaka Limonene
Aroma:lemon-likeAnti-depressant, antimutagenic, immune system booster
Boiling point: 350 Fahrenheit (177 Celsius)
1,8-CineoleakaEucalyptol
Aroma:eucalyptus-like
Antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, blood flow-promoting, antinociceptive, antiviral, stimulant
Boiling point: 348 Fahrenheit (176 Celsius)
β-linaloolakaLinalool
Aroma: floral with hints of spicinessAntidepressant, immune system booster, and protector, sedative, anxiolytic
Boiling point: 388 Fahrenheit (198 Celsius)
β-CaryophylleneakaCaryophyllene
Aroma: dominant black pepper-like, with woody, spicy undertonesAntimalarial, cytoprotective, anti-inflammatory
Boiling point: 246 Fahrenheit (119 Celsius)
α-TerpineolakaTerpineol
Aroma: floral, lilacs-like, with hints of citrus blossomsAntibiotic, sedative, antimalarial, antioxidant
Boiling point: 422 – 444 Fahrenheit (217 – 218 Celsius)
α-PineneakaPinene
Aroma: woody, pine forest-likeBronchodilator, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, stimulant
Boiling point: 312 Fahrenheit (156 Celsius)
Phytosterol and Flavonoid Compounds
While still at the shadow of public awareness, flavonoid and phytosterol compounds found in marijuana plants are in charge of the distinct flavor of the green medication. Typically, these compounds are to blame for the rather bitter taste (and aftertaste) of weed that many users frown upon, even though others who are more inclined to love just about anything natural, organic cannabis-related, do come to adore despite the bitterness. Most importantly, these compounds are not deprived of potential health benefits. As a rule of thumb, if your aim is to prep a gourmet cannameal that is to be deprived of even the slightest bit of that gnarly pot flavor, just go for decarbing cannabis oil instead of cannabis flowers.
Quercetin
Antiviral, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antineoplastic
Boiling point: 482 Fahrenheit (250 Celsius)
Apigenin
Estrogenic, Anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory
Boiling point: 352 Fahrenheit (178 Celsius)
β-Sitosterol
Anti-inflammatory
Boiling point: 273 Fahrenheit (134 Celsius)
#3. An oven and/or candy thermometer is a proper weed decarboxylation best friend.
Well, this one seems like a no brainer, but YES, let us re-irritate once again (and once and for all) that there is quite a healthy dose of scientific know-how behind cannabis decarboxylation, so numbers do matter. And since temperature rates are measured in numbers, a thermometer is the best way to be 100% sure you’re decarbing weed properly.
The Science behind Cannabis Decarboxylation: Final Notes
Does weed decarboxylation deserve all the hype Well, as we take into account the fact that you may get to spend an average of $200 on cannabis flowers just to end up screwing a huge part of the plant material by NOT decarbing it prior to adding it to edibles, it seems that there is no place for any doubt: the hype is real, and decarbing rocks!
Decarbedweed makes it possible to get the most from the green medication’s potency while simultaneously getting the most from a rather expensive cooking ingredient like cannabis. Even for those of us who are blessed to grow their own cannabis flowers, it is never a pleasurable experience to be wasting the precious plant material, especially after you have established such a deep bond with your green ladies.
We truly believe that those who understand the science behind cannabis decarboxylation have the cannasuperpower of knowing what they’re doing, knowing how to maximize potency, and then get to enjoy some amazing edibles, making the maximum benefit possible from the amount of cannabis used. Finally, you can make your cannaoil, cannabutter, cannagummies or cannawhatever like a real pro! Just a handful of our top favorite decarbed pot recipes to get your creative juices flowing at depart: use decarbed cannabis to prep delicious weed coffee, prep a jar of whole-plant, full-spectrum weed honey, indulge in a cup of almond weed milk, or make a mix of decarbed weed and wheat flour for a homemade cannapasta Italian romance night.
