Cannabis extracts come in various colors. If you want to find a high-quality Delta 9 THC distillate on the market, it is essential to know what its color indicates.
A Delta 8 THC distillate is used to make most of the Delta 8 gummies, vapes, tinctures, and other products currently on the market. The distillation process requires a sophisticated extraction method to separate the cannabinoid effectively, creating a concentrate that is easy for people to use.
A crystal clear Delta 8 THC is a good extract in most cases. But distillates with a faint tint of colors do not always mean that their quality is compromised. Let’s learn more about what gives Delta 8 THC its unique color.
What Is a Delta 8 THC Distillate?
Delta 8 THC distillate is the isolated distillate of a particular cannabinoid called Delta 8 THC. Delta 8 is found in the buds of the hemp plant, which have about 0.1% of the plant’s total chemical content. Because it is such a small cannabinoid, the chemical must be extracted using a specific method to be separated and concentrated.
Now, Delta 8 distillate is used to make a wide range of cannabinoid products since it is the purest Delta 8 THC that can be extracted from the raw cannabis plant. On top of that, users can also safely use Delta 8 distillate on its own. Since pure Delta 8 THC distillate is not mixed with anything else, its potency is very high, resulting in mild psychoactive effects.
You can learn more about what Delta 8 distillate is and how to use it properly here.
How Does the Delta 8 THC Distillation Process Work?
To make Delta 8 THC distillate, you need to use a more advanced distillation process called fractional distillation. Here, the product goes through a steam distillation process to separate it into different compounds.
Thin film distillation is another process involved in making Delta 8 THC distillates. During this process, steam is moved over a thin layer of the product that has been spread out evenly on a surface. This process is used to make sure that each compound comes into contact with steam.
The steam is applied at different pressure and temperature levels until most of the compounds naturally break down, leaving the purest form of Delta 8 THC as the product.
What Are the Types of Delta 8 THC?
There are many kinds of Delta 8 THC products on the market right now. You can find it in various products, from vape cartridges to topical lotions. Let’s take a look at some of the most common types of Delta 8 THC you can find online:
Full Spectrum Delta 8 THC
If you have been interested in cannabis for a long time, you may have probably heard the term “full-spectrum” at some point. Like a CBD distillate, Delta 8 THC distillate can be found in both full-spectrum and isolated forms.
Full spectrum Delta 8 THC contains other cannabinoids apart from Delta 8 THC. Other cannabinoids include CBD and CBG. When you use this type of Delta 8 THC, you will experience the entourage effect, in which the cannabinoids induce better overall effects when used together.
Some people prefer Delta 8 THC isolate since it has a more stable effect. This is especially helpful if you want your Delta 8 THC to have a specific therapeutic effect on your body.
Terped Delta 8 THC
The terped Delta 8 THC not only has Delta 8 THC in it but also contains terpenes from the cannabis plant.
Terpenes are the chemical compounds that give cannabis its unique taste and smell, whether it is the aroma of citrus, berries, or diesel. They can also induce therapeutic benefits due to the entourage effect brought by the combination of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Other Delta 8 THC Products
Delta 8 THC is used in several different ways. It can be found in a wide array of cannabis-related products, like vape pens, oils, and lotions. If you don’t like inhaling vapor from a vape pen, you can get its high from a drop of Delta THC tincture or a piece of Delta 8 THC gummy.
What the Color of Delta 8 THC Distillate Say About Its Quality
The color of the delta 8 THC distillate shows several other things about it, such as its purity, freshness, and acidy. To ensure you get the best distillation, you need to know each color’s meaning. Here is a short explanation of what each color means:
Clear
If the delta 8 THC distillate is completely clear, it is at least 90% pure. The hue is most likely achieved after the color molecules were taken out during the steam distillation process.
Clear Delta 8 THC distillate may look better, but it does not always work better than Delta 8 THC with pink or amber color. Solvents or lingering acids, for example, could still be present in the product. Moreover, the processes used to achieve 100% purity tend to make Delta 8 less stable. In other words, the product might not be as potent as you would like.
Even though a clear Delta 8 THC makes the extract look better, the best way to determine a product’s quality is to check its third-party lab tests.
Amber
Delta 8 THC distillate with light amber or gold color means that it contains at least 90% pure Delta 8 THC, and only trace amounts of terpenes are left. When the distillate has a very light color, there are not many terpenes in it.
Terpenes have many benefits, and these compounds’ presence can make the results of some Delta 8 THC effects stronger or weaker. For example, if you want to sleep better, you could try Delta 8 THC with myrcene, caryophyllene, linalool, or any other terpenes believed to help with sleep.
The main reason Delta 8 THC distillates color change from clear to gold is because of the heat used to make it. The color gets darker as the temperature increases. So, the color of the distillate does not make a difference in the quality of the product.
Moreover, the distillate tends to have an amber color when the pH is too high before distillation. This means that not all of the acids were neutralized the way they were supposed to before distillation. However, the amber color can’t be removed once made.
Rose
If bleaching agents were added to the Delta 8 THC distillate, the bleach would change the pH level of the extract, making it more acidic. Because of this acidity, the distillate turns pink over time, and this color can get stronger as time goes on.
Thus, if you see pink distillate, it probably has been bleached. In addition, if the Delta 8 distillate becomes acidic, it could quickly become unstable, making it much less effective.
Green
If you see a green Delta 8 THC distillate, this could mean that not enough chlorophyll was taken out of the final product during the distillation process. Because of this, the distillate will likely have an unpleasant flavor and unsatisfactory purity. It could also mean that the distillate has a higher concentration of oxidized terpenes, which turn green when they get old or unstable.
Black
If the distillate is black, the purity levels may be way below average and not worth the money you are paying for it. The color is probably due to oxidation. If distillate is exposed to high heat, humidity, or light for a long time, it can change color and look darker. This oxidation shows that the cannabinoid has lost most of its purity and is no longer as effective as it should be.
There is no reason why your Delta 8 THC should look cloudy or black if it is pure or made using advanced extraction methods. If your distillate is cloudy or dark, it means that the extract you are using may be tainted or that it is getting close to its expiration date.
Does the Color of Delta 8 THC Distillate Affect Its Taste?
Delta 8 THC does not taste bad, but it does not taste particularly good, either. It does not taste much except a hint of bitterness on the tip of your tongue. Terpenes give the smell and taste of the product, but they are burned off during the process, making the taste less intense. Because of this, most companies put terpenes back into the final product so the extract can taste like hemp again.
As long as the Delta 8 THC distillate is pure, they will all taste the same, no matter their color. But if your Delta 8 THC product tastes and looks “off,” you should stop using it. Old Delta 8 THC won’t make you sick, but many additives could. Thus, read the product label and lab results before using any product.
Facts About Delta 8 THC Distillate You Should Know About
When it comes to Delta 8 THC, color is not the only thing that could cause confusion. Here are some facts about Delta 8 THC distillates that you should know:
Clear Delta 8 THC distillates do not contain bleach.
Many people in the Delta 8 space think clear Delta 8 distillates contain bleach, but this is not the case. One of the most common ways to make clear Delta 8 is by bleaching bentonite. However, it is vital to note that bleach is not added when making bentonite.
Bentonite is called a “bleaching agent” not because it contains bleach but because it has specific properties that allow it to bind and remove color particles. This makes it look like the product has been bleached without dangerous chemicals.
Bentonite clay does not react with anything at all. The same material found in mud or clay masks can be used as beauty treatments at home.
Synthetic Delta 8 THC is safe.
Many people think that the word “synthetic” automatically means “bleached” or “unnatural” and that these words mean the product is bad for your health.
Delta 8 is extracted in a certain way, but the substance left over is not synthetic. It is not something people create but something that happens naturally in cannabis. Synthetic Delta 8 THC exists because only small quantities of cannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant. Thus, manufacturers need to implement special processes to produce consumable amounts.
However, the cannabinoid is naturally made by the cannabis plant and can’t be produced synthetically in a lab.
Color is not the only indicator of the Delta 8 THC distillate’s quality.
It does not matter much if you choose Delta 8 THC distillates that are clear, pink, or have a very slight amber tint to them. Instead of judging the product quality by its color alone, you should look at the results of any independent lab tests that have been done.
However, it would be best if you did not use distillates past their expiration date, look dark, or are cloudy. Also, stay away from anything that tastes or smells like chemicals or that smells off.
Where to Find Quality Delta 8 THC Products
There are a lot of poor-quality Delta 8 THC products on the market, and it’s easy to be taken advantage of. When looking for good sources of Delta 8 THC, you should look for the following:
- Backed with valid certificates of analysis
- Made using safe and effective distillation processes and extraction methods
- Manufactured by a reputable dispensary
You can check out the items listed on our page if you want to buy the best distillate products online. All products at Harbor City Hemp are made from industrial hemp with less than 0.3% THC. Place your order now and see if you are eligible to get discounts by checking our Discount Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is d8 distillate?
The majority of Delta 8 THC distillates are clear or pinkish. In some situations, a product’s color is a good way to tell its quality. However, color is not the only thing that can be used to tell if something is good and effective. You should rely mainly on the independent lab results rather than just on the product’s color alone.
What color should Delta 8 carts be?
Most of the time, a Delta 8 vape cart has a golden to amber color. Delta 8 comes from plants, so the color may change slightly from one batch to the next. It is also normal for hemp extracts to turn darker and oxidize after being stored for a long time, but not to the point that it looks darker than normal. The best oils are light amber, yellow, or gold.
Why is my distillate so dark?
A dark distillate does not automatically mean the product is no longer usable. When you use your vaporizer, you expose the oil to heat and oxygen, which triggers oxidation and causes the concentrate to get darker over time.
Chemical impurities in your distillate could also cause the distillate to market. The longer vape oil has been stored, the more likely it is to have gone through oxidation, making it look darker.
What does dark distillate mean?
If the distillate has darkened in color, this strongly indicates that oxidation has already started. This indicates that the concentrate is beginning to go bad, and, likely, its effects will not be as effective as they were when it was fresh.