When you make weed butter or weed Isopropyl wash - Do terpenes come too?

chico1st

Active Member
When you make weed butter, isopropyl, shatter etc. Do the terpenes come with the solution or do you lose them?

I exclusively drink/eat my weed and I'm looking at seeds now.
Everyone talks about the different kinds of highs and the terpenes of different strains but I'm not sure if that even matters if I'm not smoking my weed.

I saw terpene extracts that people add to some rosins and now my world is upsidedown.
 

Raspberrykiwi

Well-Known Member
When you make weed butter, isopropyl, shatter etc. Do the terpenes come with the solution or do you lose them?

I exclusively drink/eat my weed and I'm looking at seeds now.
Everyone talks about the different kinds of highs and the terpenes of different strains but I'm not sure if that even matters if I'm not smoking my weed.

I saw terpene extracts that people add to some rosins and now my world is upsidedown.
The process it takes to decarboxylate the cannabis destroys the terpines and you’re left with the stereotypical weed smell/taste. So no, terpines would transfer making butter. On the other hand, an iso wash may carry some of the terpines but it’s unlikely.
 

trambles

Well-Known Member
Iso will strip most of the terps but not all. I use a rotovap with 99.9% iso and the recovered iso smells more like weed than the shatter does.
Decarb will also lose some terps but not all
 

chico1st

Active Member
The process it takes to decarboxylate the cannabis destroys the terpines and you’re left with the stereotypical weed smell/taste. So no, terpines would transfer making butter. On the other hand, an iso wash may carry some of the terpines but it’s unlikely.
Iso will strip most of the terps but not all. I use a rotovap with 99.9% iso and the recovered iso smells more like weed than the shatter does.
Decarb will also lose some terps but not all
So then, would all strains become the same? My understanding of the differences between strains is that they live in the terps no the THC itself.

Like if I got some super couch lock indica vs some upper strain, if I understand correctly, when I turn them into butter they become the same? and I'm basically left with THC butter?
 

Lordhooha

Well-Known Member
So then, would all strains become the same? My understanding of the differences between strains is that they live in the terps no the THC itself.

Like if I got some super couch lock indica vs some upper strain, if I understand correctly, when I turn them into butter they become the same? and I'm basically left with THC butter?
Rosin press is the way to go
 

piratebug

Well-Known Member
I have found if you want to keep as much of the myrcene terpenes as possible that alcohol washing before decarbing, and then finally extracting the alcohol, is the only way to go. How I do it...

1. I grind or chop up buds
2. then for every 1 oz of bud, I mix in 10 ounces of 195% moonshine or 195% grain alcohol (everclear)
3. then I freeze that for 24 hours, then I strain it through cheese cloth.
4. then I pressure filter that through 2 unbleached coffee filters
5. then I place that in a covered stainless steel pan that has a steam hole and I cook it at 245F for 22 minutes on a conduction cooktop
6. then you would use an extractor like the Source Turbo that I have, to remove whatever alcohol is left!


And for me, doing it that, always results in producing rich terpene infused oils that will make the cleanest canna butter because you don't have to water simmer the butter and buds to infuse it into the butter, you just melt the butter and then mix in the infused oil to make your canna butter, and it also makes the best candy type edibles you will ever taste.
 

chico1st

Active Member
I have found if you want to keep as much of the myrcene terpenes as possible that alcohol washing before decarbing, and then finally extracting the alcohol, is the only way to go. How I do it...

1. I grind or chop up buds
2. then for every 1 oz of bud, I mix in 10 ounces of 195% moonshine or 195% grain alcohol (everclear)
3. then I freeze that for 24 hours, then I strain it through cheese cloth.
4. then I pressure filter that through 2 unbleached coffee filters
5. then I place that in a covered stainless steel pan that has a steam hole and I cook it at 245F for 22 minutes on a conduction cooktop
6. then you would use an extractor like the Source Turbo that I have, to remove whatever alcohol is left!


And for me, doing it that, always results in producing rich terpene infused oils that will make the cleanest canna butter because you don't have to water simmer the butter and buds to infuse it into the butter, you just melt the butter and then mix in the infused oil to make your canna butter, and it also makes the best candy type edibles you will ever taste.
Oh I like that, I don't really need any special equipment or anything!

And I am right in thinking that without the terpenes I lose the the special-ness that each strain has. Like green crack and northern lights would give the same high, since I'm just consuming THC at that point?
 

SnoopyDoo

Well-Known Member
So then, would all strains become the same? My understanding of the differences between strains is that they live in the terps no the THC itself.

Like if I got some super couch lock indica vs some upper strain, if I understand correctly, when I turn them into butter they become the same? and I'm basically left with THC butter?
My understanding is the CBD ratio plays a role too. Your CBD to THC ratio should remain similar before and after an Iso wash. I do know it vape CBD and then hit the pipe, it's sleepy time for me.
 

Thundercat

Well-Known Member
When I make alcohol extracts I get tons of terps. Making an extract from fresh frozen material gives me an outcome that tastes like fresh buds. The key is quick wash and NO or very low heat. The more heat you use the more terps you loose. There is a link in my signature line for how I do my alcohol extractions. Lots of terps and excellent concentrate. I will say that once you use that concentrate to infuse oil or butter terps will get lost If much heat is used in the process.
 

trambles

Well-Known Member
Alcohol also gets bound into the wax mix, butane does the same thing and evaporates at way lower temps than alcohol, yet it still needs a vacuum purge. Vacuum chambers remove solvents. Guarantee if u put that iso under a vac u will get all sorts of bubbles from the alcohol purging
 

chico1st

Active Member
My understanding is the CBD ratio plays a role too. Your CBD to THC ratio should remain similar before and after an Iso wash. I do know it vape CBD and then hit the pipe, it's sleepy time for me.
When I make alcohol extracts I get tons of terps. Making an extract from fresh frozen material gives me an outcome that tastes like fresh buds...I will say that once you use that concentrate to infuse oil or butter terps will get lost If much heat is used in the process.
Hmmm but still most of the stuff that changes the strains will disappear. In the end I think that means if I'm going to just keep making edibles I shouldn't worry about the strains and effects but instead just focus on growing more THC or mass.

Alcohol also gets bound into the wax mix, butane does the same thing and evaporates at way lower temps than alcohol, yet it still needs a vacuum purge. Vacuum chambers remove solvents. Guarantee if u put that iso under a vac u will get all sorts of bubbles from the alcohol purging
So If I am going to turn this rosin into butter/achohol tincture it would end up releasing the remaining alchohols (if I use ISO). right?

I have found if you want to keep as much of the myrcene terpenes as possible that alcohol washing before decarbing, and then finally extracting the alcohol, is the only way to go. How I do it...Steps 1,2,3,4,5,6...makes the best candy type edibles you will ever taste.
Why not just use ISO for your first wash? Wouldn't life be easier/cheaper?
 
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trambles

Well-Known Member
U need to purge anything that is extracted with alcohol or butane in a vacuum chamber, that is the only way to get a solvent free product.
 

Thundercat

Well-Known Member
So If I am going to turn this rosin into butter/achohol tincture it would end up releasing the remaining alchohols (if I use ISO). right?


Why not just use ISO for your first wash? Wouldn't life be easier/cheaper?
Iso works great for extracting and can create an excellent concentrate that can be smoked when finished or used to make edibles. You can add that concentrate to a small amount of everclear and make it into a tincture.

Do not use ISO alcohol for the tincture! Iso is poisonous if consumed.
 

Jumpin Jimmy

Well-Known Member
ISO hash has plenty of terps if you do a quick wash. No need to swirl it for More than 3 seconds as the alcohol basically strips immediately. Most guys wash too long and only get slightly more yield and the extract sucks. Seems guys are washing for 20 seconds to a minute and shaking the hell out of shit. Good way to get nasty tasting low potency trash
 

Thundercat

Well-Known Member
ISO hash has plenty of terps if you do a quick wash. No need to swirl it for More than 3 seconds as the alcohol basically strips immediately. Most guys wash too long and only get slightly more yield and the extract sucks. Seems guys are washing for 20 seconds to a minute and shaking the hell out of shit. Good way to get nasty tasting low potency trash
30 seconds works great with nice cold material and alcohol.
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
When you make weed butter, isopropyl, shatter etc. Do the terpenes come with the solution or do you lose them?

I exclusively drink/eat my weed and I'm looking at seeds now.
Everyone talks about the different kinds of highs and the terpenes of different strains but I'm not sure if that even matters if I'm not smoking my weed.

I saw terpene extracts that people add to some rosins and now my world is upsidedown.
I've been using a method I found on another forum to make Fresh Harvest Infused edible oils using coconut oil. You can use fresh buds right off the plant or freeze them for later use. Minimal trimming required which I love as I have pretty severe arthritis in my hand that makes trimming a hated chore and not the labour of love it should be. I just snip away anything without visible sugar on it, (later that stuff gets dried and sifted), and break the colas up into individual buds. Done. Mostly hi-CBD pot but works fine with hi-THC pot too.

Very basic rundown and if you want more detail I'd be happy to fill you in.

As the bud is fresh you need to use 3 - 4X the amount by weight of dry bud. Warm up your oil in a pot on the stove and toss in the buds then grind them up good with a hand blender. Get it hot but under 100C for an hour or more with occasional stirring. Should have a heat diffuser under the pot and use a laser thermometer to check temps. You can buy one of those diffusers or just bend up a coat hanger and put that on the element so the pot isn't in contact with it.

Raise the temp to 100C and the water in the buds begins to boil. Hold that temp until all the bubbling stops then gradually raise the temp to 250F/122C and you will see very fine bubbles start showing up. That's the decarb starting and those are CO2 bubbles. The terpenes get trapped in the oil so most are preserved unlike decarbing pot in the oven. Don't let it get over 260F/127C and maintain that temp until the bubbling stops. Stir every few minutes to loosen bubbles too. Once all is calm lower temps to below 100C then add some liquid sunflower lecithin and simmer for a while with stirring.

Allow to cool to a temp you can handle without scalding yourself then strain into a mason jar, pyrex measuring cup, coffee mug etc with a fine meshed strainer. Something that can handle hot liquid without breaking. I'll just press with the back of a spoon to squeeze out most or with a bigger batch I'll use a potato ricer lined with a double layer of cheesecloth. Not critical as you're going to save that used pot for baking or smoothies so nothing is lost.

If you keep the strained oil sitting somewhere warm, for 24 hours all the fine particles will settle to the bottom and you can either decant into another jar or just leave them there. Now it should be refrigerated or frozen then warmed and froze again to bind the lecithin to the cannabinoids for better gut absorption. I keep the used pot in a baggie in the freezer but crumble it up first and lay it flat to freeze so it's easy to break off some for smoothies or baking. Every bit as good if not better than the oil.

I use a 1000W hotplate cranked full that's plugged into a variac for temp control but a stove top will work. I like to sit at my desk in my mancave while doing stuff like this so I can watch TV and play on the web at the same time. You could use unsalted, clarified butter, MCT, olive oil etc instead of coconut oil too.

Ready to go.

Infused01.jpg

Checking temp against a lab thermometer and they matched so no more lab thermometer.

Infused04.jpg

All done.

Infused05.jpg

I exclusively drink/eat my weed and I'm looking at seeds now.
Seeds for eating? I bought a 20lb pail of Hemp Hearts a few months back for $6/lb and eat 1/4 cup/day. Sprinkle on cereal, soups, pasta etc. Add to baking, put in smoothies and lots more. the worlds most perfect food. All the amino acids a body needs, Omegas 3, 6 and 9 in perfect balance and all sorts of vitamins and minerals. Seems to really help my arthritis and clearing up the brain fog from a small stroke about 6 years ago. I keep the pail in the freezer and a 1 lb container for daily use in the fridge.

Hope that helps.

Have a great Xmas and a Higher New year!

:peace:
 

Jumpin Jimmy

Well-Known Member
30 seconds works great with nice cold material and alcohol.
Much respect to you though. I was here under different name a few years ago and you helped me finally harvest at proper maturity. I was growing dinachem, Jack 47 and blue widow. Some under hps and some under t5. Following your advice changed everything for the better. Everything I grow now is fully done and I’m very happy nowadays
 
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