- Freeze Drying Marijuana Buds
- Freeze Drying Equipment
- Proper Drying Technique For Cannabis
- Lyophilization
Monday September 25, 2017
Nov 24, 2020 Raw cannabis is frozen and subjected to extreme vacuum pressure. The flower then goes through a sublimation process, wherein the frozen moisture content within is converted into vapor. That vapor is then condensed in an ice bank and defrosts in the form of hydrosol liquid. Image courtesy of Cryo Cure.
By Michael Walters
- Cannabis can be quickly processed with dry-ice through freeze-drying. Temperatures below zero turn water into ice crystals, that can be converted into water vapour using low pressure. A vacuum can then be used to draw out the water vapour, leaving the plant material in its same high-quality state, minus the water.
- WHY SHOULD I FREEZE DRY MY CANNABIS? 1) The cannabis retains its size, color, and fragrance. This value added product is better looking, better tasting, and more potent. 2) Freeze dried cannabis retains more THC, CBD, CBN, CBG, and CBC than any other drying method. 3) Eliminate the possibility of mold and pest contamination.
With the rapid uptick in concentrate sales across several states, it’s safe to say that marijuana extracts are here to stay. Cannabis concentrates have taken the industry by storm for their potent cannabinoid content and flavorful terpene profiles, creating a wine-like level of evaluative and descriptive qualities.
Freeze Drying Marijuana Buds
The age of the concentrate connoisseur has brought fame to many great types of cannabis concentrates such as live resin, sauce and distillates. However, many of the most seasoned cannabis sommeliers will tell you that it’s not a hydrocarbon extract topping their list of favorites.
The elusive appeal of marijuana aficionados holds a special place for one of the purest forms of concentrated cannabis, ice water hash. Specifically, fresh-frozen, freeze-dried, full-melt bubble hash.
In case you’re unfamiliar, ice water hash, or its common nickname, bubble hash, is a solventless cannabis concentrate made using an ice water agitation method. Essentially, ice, cannabis and cold water are placed within a bucket and stirred, or washed, to agitate the resin glands from the plant. The frigid temperatures make the trichomes brittle, while washing gently snaps them off of the plant matter. The severed trichomes and heads are filtered through various micron screens within the bucket and then collected for drying and curing,
This is the basic process used for years to process marijuana into bubble hash. Before the age of hydrocarbon extracts and dabbing, bubble hash used to be king. With all of the consistencies that solvent-based extractions have to offer, their hype overshadowed more traditional hash for quite some time.
As with many trends and styles though, a cyclical pattern usually emerges at some point. And that is exactly what the cannabis industry is currently experiencing. Bubble hash is seeing a strong revival due to several technological advancements, with the most notable being the increase in consumer demand for the solventless product, rosin.
As more high-quality solventless products hit the market, more and more consumers are beginning to seek out products like rosin and full-melt hash. Several new products have even emerged during this “hash renaissance,” such as rosin sauce and solventless, 99% THC-A. These products rival, if not exceed, the potency and overall effects found within the most renowned hydrocarbon extracts.
How Rosin and Rosin Presses are Revolutionizing Bubble Hash Production
Because of the spike in quality made possible by rosin presses, freeze dryers and overall better technology, there is a heightened consumer appeal for solventless products. Gone are the days where solventless and full-melt products were tough to find. Now, dispensaries are scrambling to find ways to expand their solventless offerings.
With advancements in technology, the process of producing solventless product lines has never been easier. Sophisticated rosin presses, in combination with freeze dryers, are allowing producers and dispensaries to make top-notch, full-melt products with ease.
Creating a true, full-melt product used to be an arduous task for some, which is why the introduction of a freeze dryer into the process has been so critical in reducing the degree of difficulty, making for a more widely available extraction method.
This is the reason we are seeing more solventless products on the shelves of our favorite dispensaries.
There are several companies behind these innovations, most prominently PurePressure and Harvest Right. PurePressure has proven to be an industry leader in the rosin press sector, selling their top-rated Pike’s Peak rosin press to many dispensaries and producers across the market. The Pike’s Peak rosin press is responsible for a plethora of awards in 2017 alone, and will undoubtedly continue to set high marks in upcoming competitions.
In combination with an award-winning rosin press, making quality rosin from bubble hash is a breeze. And, with the help of a Harvest Right freeze dryer, virtually anyone can produce connoisseur-level hash. From a business standpoint, this is quite exciting, as practically any dispensary is able to purchase a full-stack solventless operation for minimal cost.
Integrating a cost-effective solventless production line is an extremely easy way for a business to grow their product lines and capture an entire segment of the market they might currently be missing out on. PurePressure even offers bundled, hash rosin packages that have everything you need to get started right off the bat. Plus, their team of knowledgeable staff can help guide you toward the best option for your personal or business needs.
Now, if you haven’t heard of freeze drying before, or are simply unsure how it can help make the bubble hash process easier, consider this. Without a freeze dryer, the average drying time for a batch of bubble hash is several days. During that time, the bubble hash is exposed to air, promoting a natural oxidization process. Over time, this can slightly change or degrade several factors such as color, flavor and aroma.
Of course, drying bubble hash in a traditional manner can still result in some pretty awesome melts, but using a freeze dryer can take your hash to the next level.
Don’t take it from us though. We asked Manny, CEO of The Proper Extracts and award-winner for highest terpenes, highest THC and best overall sativa at the Chalice Festival 2017, what a freeze dryer means for solventless producers. He told us, 'Freeze dryers are a game changer, you can decrease dry time and processing from days to hours, while preserving the peak trichome and terpene profile of the hash.'
Did you hear that? From days to hours. That’s a big difference when it comes to hash production. Incorporating a freeze dryer into the hash-making process can cut down thousands of hours of waiting and allow for more hash to be produced in a given day, resulting in increased profits. No wonder more and more companies are starting to use this approach.
Takeaways
It’s no question that there is an increased awareness and demand for solventless products. And it’s rather refreshing to see bubble hash be such an integral factor in the cannabis industry again. Bubble hash and solventless products like rosin are some of the truest concentrates out there, providing a full-spectrum and wholesome experience when consumed.
Rosin presses and freeze dryers are changing the game as we know it. A collective of great companies producing innovative products are progressing the hash market to new heights, making it a delightful time to be a consumer. Pretty much every award-winning solventless product is made with fresh-frozen, freeze-dried, full-melt bubble hash pressed on a rosin press. As the market continues to develop and consumer demand increases for quality solventless products, it’s inevitable that we’ll see more great concentrates on the market. All we can say is we’re excited for this hash renaissance to continue!
If you haven’t tried solventless products yet, do yourself a favor and pick up a gram or two. If you’re used to wax, shatter or live resin, try to compare the differences in effects. We think you may be pleasantly surprised. But be sure to ask the dispensary if the product was made on a PurePressure rosin press, then there’ll be no question regarding the quality!
Photo Credit: PurePressure
Pros and cons of freezing marijuana?
With each passing year more and more ways to utilize cannabis for recreational and medicinal purposes are being discovered. But while the majority are fixated on the numerous benefits cannabis offers they overlook a crucial aspect that can never be overemphasized, the proper storage of marijuana. Cannabis is basically like any other plant and once harvested, if it's not stored properly it would be of no use to anyone. The art of properly storing cannabis is one most people have neglected for far too long and what most don't realize is that properly storing your cannabis is the key to long term success as a cannapreneur, and if you just want to enjoy the recreational benefits of the plant good storage techniques won't just save you a fortune but also enhance your experience and take it to a whole other level.
There are several effective techniques currently being employed in the cannabis world to maximize and lengthen the shelf life of harvested cannabis. Some techniques are better suited for flavor and quality while some are more effective in the maintenance of scent and other features like smell, taste, etc. And of all the storage methods currently available, the method I'll be talking about in here is the act of freezing marijuana. Below I'll drive through what it entails, the pros, cons and a brief summary of other storage procedures you can employ to keep your cannabis at peak condition.
A closer look at the storing of marijuana
The storage of marijuana is a delicate process, to get the best result, you have to maintain the right conditions of temperature, humidity, light, among others. The process of effectively storing cannabis is all about handling the basics, if you can effectively do this you'll find effectively storing cannabis to be a relatively straightforward process. The basics of cannabis storage that you should take note of include:
After cannabis is cured, to maintain it's quality low temperatures should be employed. Although the temperature shouldn't be too low as that could impair the plant's potency. Research suggests 50-60° to be the optimum temperature.
Cannabis loves the dark
Molds and powdery mildew tend to grow on the cannabis in conditions of 77°F or higher.
The temperature should be relatively cool as too high temperatures aren't good for the essential oils and texture of the plant.
59%-63% is believed to be the optimal level of humidity required.
Freezing of marijuana
Following the harvest of cannabis plants, drying and curing are carried out, and this usually takes about a month. Following the successful completion of this process, the cannabis is at the peak of its powers ready to be utilized. But in most cases, consumers have more weed than they can use so the only other option available is to store the weed and most people opt for the method of freezing.
The technique of freezing marijuana is carried out by carefully arranging cured buds into airtight containers and placing them in the freezer (the coldest areas). This method is relatively simple and straightforward and can be carried out by anyone. The principle behind this method is that the cold temperatures will preserve the growth of microbes on the plant and also prevent it from aging. And although this method has its advantages a lot of experts advise against it because of its downsides, but what exactly are these disadvantages? Read on to find out the pros and cons of freezing marijuana.
Pros of freezing marijuana
A couple of the pros of this method include:
It is cheap to practice
It doesn't require much technical training or expertise
It delays decarboxylation
It helps prolong the THC compounds in the plant.
It is believed to be the most efficient method of storing cannabis solely for making bubble hash.
Cons of freezing marijuana
It reduces the quality and efficiency of the trichomes in the plant (trichomes produce cannabinoids and terpenes).
Irregular freezing temperatures can cause rot of the cannabis buds either as a result of heat, humidity or fluctuating freezing temperatures.
Once weed becomes freezer-burned recovering the weed at premium quality is an impossible task.
If carried out ineffectively molds and other microbes could grow on the buds rendering them useless.
It renders trichomes brittle and rigid which makes the fall off due to the slightest of touch or contact.
Excessively low temperatures have also been linked with drastically lowering cannabis potency levels.
Taking the pros and cons of this method into consideration you can decide if it's a method you can employ or not. Most experts advise against it as there are other safe and easier methods that can be employed to store your cannabis buds and maintain their quality.
Alternatives to freezing marijuana
Freeze Drying Equipment
Based on successful works of research, the best and most effective way to store cannabis is in airtight jars kept in a cool and dark area. It's paramount that the jar is placed in a place that sunlight can't get to it because it has been shown that UV light causes cannabis degradation which impairs its quality. To get the best results from this technique, the humidity levels in the jar should be closely monitored with a hygrometer to make sure optimum conditions are maintained at all times. Glass jars that repel UV rays can also be used to improve the chances of success.
The majority of people make use of several other methods like refrigeration or storing in plastic containers and cardboard. But research has shown that these methods aren't good for preserving the quality of your cannabis buds. Plastic containers, unlike glass ones that have a neutral charge, have static charges on their surface and this attracts trichomes causing them to stick to the container surface which reduces the potency and overall quality of the cannabis over time.
Bottom Line
The importance of properly storing your cannabis cannot be stressed enough. With the right storage technique, you can maintain the quality and potency of your buds for at least 6 months. Store your buds in dark, frictionless, cool conditions and see it last a long time.