How to make CBD Tinctures?

 

CBD Tinctures are made by soaking a high-CBD source plant into high-proof grain alcohol through the process of steeping. In the case of tinctures, high-proof food-grade alcohol is going to be your best friend. The best quality CBD tinctures are available in the medical marijuana dispensaries in Colorado Springs.

Choice of Solvents

Alcohol

Traditionally, tinctures are made with alcohol. The use of alcohol as the solvent results in a potent CBD extract that absorbs highly quickly in the body when taken sublingually.

For people who have a sensitivity to alcohol or want to steer clear of it in all possible manners, there are non-alcoholic solvents as well.

Glycerine

Vegetable glycerine is a clear liquid from soy, palm, and/or coconuts. Its lipid structure makes it a great solvent for tinctures. However, glycerine-based tinctures are less potent than alcohol-based tinctures as glycerine is not as effective as alcohol in bonding with cannabis compounds.

Vegetable Oil

Using vegetable oil as the solvent is a simple, easily accessible, and popular alternative. Edible vegetable oils such as olive, sunflower, or coconut can replace alcohol or glycerine as the solvent.

The tinctures with vegetable oil as the solvent make an ideal addition to food and drink items.

Decarboxylation

The first step in making tinctures is the decarboxylation of the source plant. Decarboxylation is the process of heating a plant (in this case, cannabis or hemp) at a specific temperature to activate the cannabinoids. In our case, this process transforms the inactive CBD-A into active CBD.

Steeping

Steeping refers to the process of dissolving the plant extract into the solvent. While it sounds complicated, it is the same process we use at our homes while making tea with tea leaves.

There are two typical methods of steeping:

Maceration: this is the most traditional method of making a tincture. It is the slow and simple method. In Maceration, we simply add the plant extract and solvent to an airtight jar and leave it to steep in a cool and dark place.

This method typically takes at least 6 weeks for the CBD and the other compounds of cannabis to dissolve into the solvent. Once the soaking is complete, the mixture is strained through a cheesecloth or coffee filter.

Percolation: this is a relatively modern method that speeds up the steeping process. In percolation, we pass the filtered liquid through a porous substance. The plant extract and solvent are first added to an airtight jar. But instead of leaving the jar in a cool, dark place for a long period of time, it is placed into a water bath and brought to a simmer.

After simmering it for a definitive period of time and once cool, the mixture is strained using cheesecloth or coffee filter.