How to Make Cannabis Tincture: A Step by Step Guide
Want to learn how to make cannabis tincture that is as effective as it can be? Find out in this step by step guide to tincture making.
While cannabis concentrates like tinctures are becoming more popular as legalization spreads, they aren’t as new as you might think.
Since alcohol was distilled starting with the Egyptians in 1000 AD, tinctures have been used as a way to preserve the healing power of herbs.
So, if you’re thinking about trying cannabis for the first time or want to express your love of cannabis with a DIY project, making a tincture at home is easy.
Follow these instructions to learn how to make cannabis tincture.
What is Tincture?
The herbalist definition of tincture is any substance that is absorbed in alcohol. The alcohol acts as a solvent to extract the terpenes and other plant matter and turn it into a liquid.
Using Tinctures
There are multiple ways to learn how to use a tincture. It can be added to foods or taken directly from the dropper under your tongue. Either way, tinctures are used for recreational and medicinal purposes.
They’re great for first-time cannabis users as the effects can be mild. And when needed for their health benefits like pain relief, seizure treatment, and anxiety prevention, they’re an easy way to administer.
How to Make a Cannabis Tincture
The best herbal tinctures start with quality cannabis. You can use dried flower, leaves, stems, and other ingredients for flavor like berries and bark.
You can even add other medicinal properties like turmeric to make a turmeric tincture. Or order CBD oil online to add to your tincture as an extract.
Regardless of what you put in your tincture, there are two basic ways to make it. But, both ways start with your cannabis.
- Decarboxylate Your Cannabis
If you are using the dried flower, you will need to decarboxylate it to activate the THC and other cannabinoids. You can do this by grinding up the flower and placing it on a cooking sheet.
Place it in a preheated oven at about 220 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes.
You will want to use at least 1/8 of cannabis to make it worth the effort.
- Put It in a Mason Jar
Add your activated cannabis to a medium-size mason jar. Pour the alcohol over the cannabis so that it covers it completely. High-proof alcohol that does not have too much flavor like vodka.
- Let It Sit or Heat It Up
Here’s where some recipes for herbal tinctures differ. Some people prefer to let the jar sit for as long as possible, up to several weeks.
If you’re in a hurry, then you can try the heating method to speed things up. Place the jar in warm water for about 20 minutes.
- Strain It
For both methods, strain your jar’s liquid using a cheesecloth and strainer. Make sure you squeeze the cloth to get all of your tinctures out of the remnants.
- Store It
Pour your tincture in brown eye-dropper jars and keep them in a cool dark place for the longest shelf life.
Enjoying Your Tinctures
Now that you know how to make cannabis tincture at home it’s time to reap your rewards. Start with a small amount of a couple of drops on your tongue.
You will feel the effects within 20-40 minutes. Increase your dosage as needed!
Don’t forget to leave us a comment below to tell us all about your at-home tincture experience!
