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As many of you already know, CBD is an organic substance. An active compound carefully extracted from the cannabis plant. This substance must be treated with the utmost care and respect so that consumers can achieve the best results from it. Obviously this starts with the cultivation phase and the extraction of cannabinoids from the plant material, but it certainly doesn’t end there. In fact, the most important part of producing effective and stable CBD products comes after the extraction of the substance: in its storage.
CBD oil production
Without boring you with too many details, we’d like to give you a quick explanation of what CBD really is and how CBD oil is produced. As we believe this is important to know and helps to understand why CBD is stored as it is.
CBD (short for Cannabidiol) is one of the many active compounds found in industrial hemp. It is a fatty element that occurs naturally in the flowers and leaves of mature cannabis plants. You understand correctly, CBD is not naturally present at all stages of the plant’s development. In fact, you’ll find the highest concentration of CBD in mature cannabis plants. This has to do with the fact that cannabinoids such as CBD and other elements found in cannabis change as the plant grows.
It has even been discovered that the cannabinoid Cannabigerol (CBG), described in this previously published article, is the precursor to CBD. This means that before CBD becomes CBD, it starts as CBG. Then, after a specific process that occurs while the cannabis plant is maturing, CBG is slowly converted into CBD-acid or THC-acid, depending on the variety. This is why it is so important to know what variety of cannabis you are using and when to harvest the plants – to find out what you will extract and what effects the product can offer. This is the first step in producing the best hemp extracts for high quality CBD oil.
Cannabinoid oxidation
As you might expect, cannabinoids continue to change over time. And the rate at which they change depends on environmental factors. Fortunately, CBD is a very stable ingredient – and will remain CBD for about 10 years before it oxidizes and turns into the very spicy CBD-HQ. However, at Dutch Natural Healing, we have found a way to accelerate this process. This puts us in the fortunate position of being able to produce this very special cannabinoid and offer it to consumers in our online store.
Although other elements in hemp extracts are less stable. Take for example THC-a, which could easily be converted by decarboxylation into the psychoactive delta9-THC. After that it can be oxidized and turned into a more sedative cannabinoid: CBN. For this to happen, all you need is UV radiation from daylight and oxygen. Although this process takes many years to complete. And let’s be honest, most CBD oils don’t last that long with regular use…
Our best CBD oils are made with extracts from carefully selected industrial hemp plants, which are harvested very slowly. This ensures that they contain a high concentration of CBD, but that’s not all. As we let our farmer mature the plants a little longer compared to other CBD producers. Result in a wider variety of cannabinoids – such as CBN, CBC and CBG – to help the synergistic effect of the product. After export, we ensure that our products are well stored and remain stable. Consequently, for CBG extracts and CBG oil we ensure that our plants are harvested earlier to contain higher levels of this “stem cell” cannabinoid.
Volatile terpenes
Although cannabinoids are not the only substances present in our CBD oil – nor are they the only ones we need to keep stable. For the best entourage effect, we ensure that every CBD product we produce also contains a wide variety of terpenes. These aromatic compounds give each variety its unique smell and taste – and determine the effect the cannabinoid product will have on the body and mind. In short, CBD products containing more limonene (also found in lemons) for example, will offer a more energetic effect – ideal for use during the day. While CBD products with higher concentrations of the sedative terpene myrcene or linalool will have a more relaxing effect – and are therefore better suited for night-time use. The richer your product is in terpenes, the better its results will be.
And while cannabinoids are quite stable and take a long time to oxidise, terpenes are known to be very volatile. This means that the slightest temperature change, UV ray or oxygen can cause the termpenes to evaporate – slightly reducing the effectiveness of the product with the loss of each particle. To prevent this from happening and to ensure the longest shelf life of our products, almost all Dutch Natural Healing CBD products are bottled in dark bottles that block UV light. Once you close the bottles tightly with the screw cap, the terpenes don’t go anywhere – unless you leave them!
Obviously, you will find CBD HQ to be bottled in a clear bottle. This product has a beautiful color, which we like to see and show to the world. The CBD HQ is always closed with a spray head. This means you don’t have to open the bottle (and let the terpenes escape) to use the product. It is recommended to store them in a dark and cool place and keep the bottles closed when not in use.
Source: dutchnaturalhealing.com
