Cannabis sap is a cannabis concentrate derived from the raw material of the cannabis plant. Cannabis concentrates are unique in that they can contain extremely high levels of THC (up to 90-100%). They are also rich in other cannabinoids, such as CBD, and contain a variety of terpenes.
There are two main methods of extracting cannabis concentrates, namely solvent extraction and solvent-free extraction. The solvent is the substance that dissolves the solute to form a solution. In this case, the solute can be healed buds of the cannabis plant, dried prunings, or even frozen fresh cannabis plants. The most common solvent used in cannabis concentrate extraction is butane, but other solvents are also used, such as propane, ethanol, acetone and carbon dioxide.
First, butane is used to remove cannabinoids and terpenes from the raw plant material. Finally, the solution is placed in a vacuum oven to evaporate any residual butane from it. Once the process is complete, you will have a highly potent cannabinoid and terpene rich cannabis concentrate that is safe to eat.
Supercritical CO2 extraction is a safer and cleaner alternative to butane extraction. After the purification process, there is a risk of explosion and some residual butane in the cannabis concentrate.
With supercritical CO2 extraction, however, specialized machines freeze and compress the CO2, converting it into a “supercritical” cold liquid. The unprocessed cannabis plant material is then placed into the extractor and the supercritical carbon dioxide is allowed to pass through it. This process produces a flowing and viscous consistency of cannabis concentrate known as cannabis sap.
What is cannabis sap?
One of the main benefits of cannabis concentrate is that you end up with a substance that contains higher THC levels. The average cannabis strain has a THC level of about 15-20%. However, as mentioned earlier, cannabis concentrates can have THC levels as high as 90-100%. Therefore, you only need to consume a small amount of a highly effective cannabis concentrate to achieve the desired results.
Cannabis concentrates come in many different physical forms, often named for their consistency. You may have heard of cannabis concentrates such as shatter, pull ‘n’ snap, and cannabis sap (and many more).
Cannabis concentrates come in many forms, including sap, crushed, etc. They all have different consistencies.
Shatter is widely considered to be the purest form of cannabis concentrate. It contains surprisingly high THC levels between 90-100%. shatter is very brittle when cooled and will break like glass in this state. pull ‘n’ snap is essentially broken and has a more toffee-like texture. On the other hand, cannabis juice never solidifies, but remains in a viscous liquid state.
There are many factors or methods that can lead to a cannabis concentrate that has the consistency of cannabis sap. Heat treatment of the raw cannabis material prior to extraction and decarboxylation will produce cannabis sap. Cannabis plants that have naturally higher terpene content tend to produce cannabis concentrates with a viscous liquid consistency.
Factors such as heat and moisture content can also affect the consistency, transforming cannabis oil into a more viscous state known as cannabis sap.
How to consume cannabis juice
There are several ways to consume cannabis sap. Sap can be applied, smoked in joints, bowls and e-cigarette pens, and used for consumption after decarboxylation. The pliable nature of cannabis sap makes it suitable for waxing. Waxing involves applying cannabis sap to the inside, outside, or tip of a roll or bowl.
If you are waxing the inside of the joint, make sure to place the cannabis sap in the middle of the joint and make sure it is surrounded by cannabis. Doing this will ensure that it burns evenly. If you are using it on the outside, apply a thinner, more even layer to avoid dripping.
Applying is a very popular method of consuming cannabis concentrates. The cannabis concentrate (such as cannabis juice) is placed on a hot nail, usually made of quartz, ceramic or titanium, and then vaporized. The resulting vapor is inhaled through a “tapping device”.
The ideal nail temperature should be between 550-750 degrees Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures will produce more vapor, while lower temperatures will retain more of the flavor and terpene content of the cannabis juice.
If you are applying cannabis sap, dip your dap tool into the cannabis sap and twist it to encase it. This way, you’ll have more control over it and should help prevent waste. Since cannabis sap is sticky, we recommend storing it in a parchment or non-stick silicone container.
Final thoughts on cannabis sap
Cannabis sap is one of a large number of cannabis concentrates. These concentrates are becoming increasingly popular due to their natural advantages over simply smoking cannabis weed. In general, cannabis sap and cannabis concentrates have much higher THC levels than your average strain, and retain more terpene content and flavor. Because of the potency of cannabis juice and other concentrates, a little goes a long way. Therefore, you can consume small amounts and still enjoy the same or better results.