We asked Isaac Klaus, VP of Extractions at Surterra, to set things straight about cannabis concentrates. Let’s see what this real-life mad scientist with nearly a decade of experience in the cannabis industry has to say.
What is a cannabis concentrate? Explain it to us like we’re 5.
A cannabis concentrate is a highly potent product made by extracting key elements – like terpenes, cannabinoids and flavonoids — from the rest of the plant materials, usually under high temperatures and pressure. The resulting products are typically thick and rich with these extracted elements, which is what makes concentrates so, well, concentrated.
What’s the difference between “live” and “cured” concentrates?
“Live” means it was made using plant material that was flash-frozen immediately after harvest. This process helps preserve the complete cannabinoid and terpene profile of the strain, resulting in an experience akin to consuming flower. Cured concentrates are produced using dried (or “cured”) plant material. If you’ve tried concentrates before, there’s a good chance you were consuming a cured product. Curing consists of drying the harvested flower until it reaches a moisture content that is ideal for extraction (usually less than 10%).
Is one better than the other?
In my opinion, you’re going to get a much cleaner, more functional experience with live products. The flash-freezing process preserves the extremely fragile terpene profile of the plant material, which enhances the unique flavors & effects of the strain.
What is a solventless concentrate?
It’s exactly what it sounds like, a concentrate produced without the use of chemical solvents. Most concentrates on the market are made using chemical solvents such as hydrocarbon or ethanol. These solvents are perfectly safe and commonly found in a variety of industries, not just cannabis. However, if you’re looking for a flavorful experience that’s similar to the traditional way of smoking flower, solventless concentrates are the way to go.
Solventless concentrates are made using extensive mechanical extraction processes. The frozen plant material is sent through a series of ice baths that allow the trichomes to physically separate from the buds. The extracted material can be consumed as-is (in the form of bubble hash) or pressed into rosin and other forms. Solventless concentrates can also be made using a series of screens and filters that collect the trichomes in a dry, almost dusty form known as kief or dry sift.
Tell us about the different forms of solventless, live concentrates.
There’s a lot of well-deserved excitement around these products. Our labs at Surterra use the most innovative technology available to create our line of live concentrates. We’re constantly working to create the cleanest, purest, most potent products for our patients – and it shows.
Live Bubble Hash is essentially the foundation of all live concentrates. It starts with sending fresh, undried cannabis flower through an ice water bath to collect the trichomes, then freeze-drying it to preserve the unique terpenes and potent cannabinoids of the strain. The result is a natural concentrate that’s soft, powdery, and easy to use along your favorite flower. It’s also incredibly versatile and can be further manipulated into other products.
Live Rosin is one of the purest cannabis concentrates, containing only natural trichomes, terpene profiles and cannabinoid ratios. It’s made by applying heat and pressure to Live Bubble Hash, resulting in a soft & pliable product that’s perfect for dabbing or vaping.
Speaking of vaping, Live Rosin Vapes are a great place to start if you’re new to the world of live concentrates. They’re similar to distillate vapes in appearance and consumption method, but the difference lies within. Live Rosin Vapes are made by placing extracted live rosin in a gastight, sealed vessel for decarboxylation, resulting in preservation of all terpenes and making it perfect for vape oil.
Anything else we should know?
I’m always excited to see what the solventless lab at Surterra is rolling out. Our new line of premium concentrates – Galileo – just hit the shelves, bringing live, solventless products like Live Bubble Hash and Live Rosin to people across the state. I *highly* recommend checking it out.
Visit surterra.info/CLgalileo to discover new dimensions of live cannabis concentrates.
