Toast to be toasted? – Should you toast your cannabis?

Ever wondered why your homemade edibles didn’t get you high at some point, or maybe you’re about to make cannabis-infused treats for the first time and are looking for information to ensure edibles get out there? Perfect. We have only one piece of advice for you – toast to the cannabis!

Toasting your weed means decarbing it. If you’re a keen observer, you’ll find that people don’t eat fresh or dried cannabis buds until they’ve been heated. This heating process is called decarboxylation.

Introduction to decarboxylation

Cannabis decarboxylation is the process of activating cannabinoids in a cannabis plant. It involves converting sticky cannabis buds from their dormant, non-psychoactive state into a mind-altering therapeutic state. Without the decarboxylation process, cannabis plants cannot achieve their much-admired effects or high.

The chemistry behind decarboxylation is that the process removes a carboxyl (acid) group from one of its fat molecules. This removal causes the herb to become activated. It breaks down the entrapped components of cannabis resin from individual fatty acids, making them more potent and therapeutic.

Cannabinoids like THC and CBD are naturally present in their dormant state known as THCA and CBDA, respectively. Even when you find psychoactive substances in fresh cannabis plants, they appear in trace amounts—not enough to produce any significant psychoactive effects. All trichome-rich buds are high in the acidic form of THC, which is THCA.

Drying or curing fresh plants for a period of time after harvest is not enough to completely break down the THC acid. Sure, the THCA loses some of its chemical bonds, but a higher percentage remains unbroken. The longer you wait, the more THCA would gradually lose its chemical bond. However, there is no point in waiting until you could speed up the process.

The process of decarboxylation, or decarburization, requires heat. This can be done by smoking or vaping the buds. With edibles, you must first heat the herb to convert THCA to its psychoactive cousin. This is one of the reasons stoners prefer to smoke or vape their cannabis plant. Without decarbing your herbs or concentrates, you cannot make potent or effective edibles.

The right time to toast your cannabis

Decarboxylate your weed when you’re ready to make cannabis-infused oils, edibles, beverages, and tinctures. You must activate your herbs or concentrates before adding them to your ingredients.

It’s worth noting that not everyone prefers the psychoactive nature of THC. They would instead take advantage of the available therapeutic potential of non-active cannabinoids. As you might have guessed, there are some benefits to keeping cannabis raw. However, these benefits have yet to be thoroughly explored.

THCA, found in uncured or unheated cannabis, has anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea effects. This hypothesis was proposed by an early research team. However, no human trials have yet been conducted.

Most medicinal cannabis patients use fresh cannabis and smoothies to enjoy the therapeutic effects of inactive cannabinoid acids.

Does CBD need to be roasted?

Yes, all cannabinoid acids are less bioavailable than their activated counterparts. All CBD-based products are made with decarboxylated CBD, including the medicines, tinctures, and infused oils sold in physical stores and online stores.

The isolated CBDA crystalline, a refined CBD extraction, is often the exception. When heated by baking, dabbing, vaping, or smoking, CBDA crystalline converts to CBD like all other cannabinoid acids do. However, those wishing to supplement with crude extraction could avoid a decarboxylation reaction entirely by allowing CBDA crystals to dissolve in a warm beverage such as coffee or tea.

Complete decarboxylation can occur over long periods of time at different temperatures. Although CBDA crystals can dissolve in a typical cup of coffee, they don’t make a cup full of CBD. The higher the temperature of the coffee, the faster the decarboxylation reaction.

How to toast cannabis like an expert

As soon as heat is applied when smoking or vaping cannabis, decarboxylation takes place. But there are a few more procedures you need to take if you want to decarboxylate before cooking. But no worry. It’s easy to decoke in your kitchen! Should You Microwave Your Cannabis Like Snoop? That’s a different process for THC!

There are different ways of de-cabbing cannabis depending on what it is used for. You can decarb your cannabis flowers, oils, and concentrates to make cannabutter, infused fatty drinks, and even psychoactive meal spices.

For toasting cannabis flowers

• Preheat the oven to 116°C (approx. 240°F).

• Place parchment paper on your baking sheet

• Spread your favorite cannabis strain on the baking sheet. Make sure the flowers are evenly spaced.

• Heat the buds for 35 to 40 minutes. Be sure to stir at intervals.

• When the herbs turn light brown, remove them.

Note that flower decarboxylation will take your buds from a rich green to a dark green or golden roasted color.

Roast cannabis oil

This can be done with hot water or a hot oil bath. You must be careful when doing this to avoid burns or accidents. You will need a small heatproof container for cannabis oil, a spatula or spoon, and a large boiling bath or saucepan.

Start by placing your container of cannabis oil in a large stick pot or oil bath. Then slowly apply heat. Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature and make sure it doesn’t exceed 240°F. Remove the container of cannabis oil from the stove when you can no longer see bubbles on the surface of the oil.

Finally, tips for a perfect toast

Cannabis decarboxylation is a straightforward process. To get good roasted cannabis, make sure you get an even heat and stick to the recommended temperature and time.

Too much or too little heat would defeat the purpose of the roasting process. Too much heat would result in a loss of THC, terpenes, and even the oil itself. At the same time, insufficient heat would prevent the process from taking place. If you are afraid of too much heat, you should roast your flowers or concentrate at medium temperature for a long time.

Remember that if you do this correctly, your psychoactive experience is guaranteed.

MORE ABOUT CANNABIS DECARBIZATION, READ THIS…

HOW TO DECARBIDE YOUR CANNABIS IN AN OVEN?

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WHY DOES SNOOP MICROWAVE HIS WEED, READ THIS!