Decarboxylation is the process of turning a raw ingredient into a finished product by heating it in a oven or toaster oven to a dry, powdery state. This can be done with spices, seasonings, and dried fruits like coconut.
Cooking products containing carob — such as chocolate bars — or spiced dried fruits are prime candidates for decarboxylation.
Decarboxylation is not for everyone. Some people find it more satisfying and creative to use the bark or husk of an organic plant in which the deca-ring has been dissolved. For others, this process is about exploring what changes they feel when they consume the product and not about whether it changes someone else!
We here at All About Kale want you to know how crucial this process is for creating new products and introducing new ingredients into your diet.
Why is decarboxylation important?
When you heat up grapes or other types of fruit, it creates gases that allow the food to react with the air around it. These gases are known as volatile compounds.
Some of these compounds contribute to the flavor of fruit and some don’t, so you must use a precise decarboxylation method to create a soft, fruity taste. Decarboxylation can be tricky!
Luckily, there are ways to do decarboxylation yourself.
What happens when you smoke cannabis?
Most people believe when they smoke cannabis, the process of burning leaves and stems to release their chemical compounds is Finished.
But the extraction process doesn’t stop there. After combustion, smokey petrochemical ingredients like benzaldehyde and cresol are released. These chemicals can trigger serious side effects if ingested, which is why they are usually dissolved in a oil or solvent like petroleum distillate.
These additives can affect your health in many ways, from creating respiratory problems to affecting your heart rate and brain function. Fortunately, they are almost always removed during the decarboxylation process.
How do you decarboxylate cannabis?
Live resin is a controversial substance that has been connected to several deaths. Some people use it for its allegedly sexy effects, while others strongly caution against its use.
There are several kinds of live resin, and they vary in color and composition. They all contain THC, but some also contain CBD.
CBD has no psychoactive effects, while THC creates a “high” when consumed. When combined with another substance such as an edible or spray-and-forget medication, there is a chance that the two substances may not be absorbed completely and may have an impact on the user’s health.
It is unclear whether these combinations are safer, however, due to the lack of absorption.
What is live resin?
Resin is the material that makes up live resin. It is typically made from pod-like plants that grow tall with age, develop a protective cover over the underground cells where the resin develops, and then the cells break down and process their resin to create what you see on your knife.
There are many ways to use live resin. You can coat tools and supplies with it and then use them to remove minor substances such as centipedes or pesticides, or you can use it as a substrate for carving.
Because it can be difficult to tell whether or not a piece of resin is fresh, some users opt to store their pieces in ex-spores. This reduces potential for contamination of the piece but also adds more work for the user in order to safely store their equipment.
What are the benefits of live resin?
Resin is a material made from sugar or starch and applied to something, creating a hard coating that protects the object from damage.
Resin is most commonly used as a substitute for glue in decorations and packaging, but it can also be used as a monetary system in drug transactions.
Due to its unique properties, resin has been used throughout history for medicinal purposes. One of its most prominent uses was in medicine, where it was used to staunch bleeding and preserve flesh during surgical procedures.
Today, resin is still found in some medicine cabinets and surgical suites, but users must be aware of potential health risks.
How is live resin made?
Live resin is created when organic matter such as plants or animals, their excrement or waste materials, and synthetic materials are mixed together to form a paste and then subjected to heat.
As the paste is heated, it begins to change into a new material called DEA, which is what most live resins are made of. DEA is a system for grading resins and creating trademarks for brands.
Wealthy companies can buy their DEA at trade shows and comps, making them very expensive. As such, only very high-cost products will come out as DEA-grade because of the limited amount of resins that can be processed in a machine.
Are there any drawbacks to using live resin?
There are some drawbacks to using live resin. One of these is the possibility of carboxylation. Carboxylation occurs when resin is exposed to heat, usually in the hot oil method.
Carpoxylation can result in a sticky, chewy cannabis product that can be difficult to manage and disposes of properly. If a user gets too much drug in their system or if it doesn’t dissapate properly, it can cause harm.
If a user does not have adequate equipment for themself, they may need to purchase equipment at a marijuana market or shop.
Is live resin right for me?
Resin is a controversial material that has been used for thousands of years. Resin is typically made from trees or plants that have used sugar to buffer and process changes in temperature and concentration.
Of the many ways resin can be used, live resin is one of the more exotic. A practitioner can purchase a piece of resin, isolate the cannabinoids and cannabidiols from it, stamp it with a unique identifier and send it to another practitioner for use.
There are several legitimate reasons to use live resin. It can be used as an alternative to sheetbanding, which is the process of cutting a piece of paper about half an inch thick and letting it dry before writing on it.
It can also be used as an alternative to smoking, which requires both receiving and carefully managing your source of cannabinoids.
