Distillate vs Hash Rosin Edibles: What Gives?
Hash Rosin Edibles by The Hashe
Edibles have taken the cannabis market by storm, appealing to a wide variety of consumers. Almost any dispensary you enter in 2022 will have a selection of edibles from gummies, to chocolates and even drinks. These edibles will vary in doses, whether you are a microdoser at a 2.5mg, or are someone with a higher tolerance (eh hem, looking at those of you who chug a whole 200mg drink to the face), you’ll likely find something that fits your particular needs wherever you go. Long gone are the days of eating some sketchy homemade brownie hoping you don’t accidentally end up out of your mind hours later.
One of the biggest differences, aside from dose, will be what concentrate is used to make the edibles. At the moment, there are two main categories for edibles that we carry: hash rosin and distillate based. I find that a lot of consumers are not familiar with different modes of dosing in edibles, so I’m here to write a quick article on some of the main questions we get asked about in our day to day here at Meowy Jane.
The most popular product used in edibles is most likely distillate. But what is distillate? And what are some of the pros and cons to this type of product? Distillate is a high-concentration extract that is produced by extracting the THC molecule from flower and other compounds of the plant using ethanol or co2. Distillate is relatively easy to make, cheaper to produce (you can use trim to make distillate, instead of whole bud), and more predictable than other forms of extract (i.e. distillate can be up to 99% THC as an end result). This means that edibles made with distillate are generally cheaper for the end-user, and more easily dosed to a specific milligram during the production process making distillate edibles the workhorse of the edible market. Distillate edibles are great choice for pain, sleep and a variety of other ailments that will promise to work every time in a predictable way! Another pro of using distillate in edibles is that it is generally tasteless, making it easier to create a delicious tasting product without needing to mask the taste or smell. So, sounds super duper great, but what are some of the cons of using distillate? Well, as many know, cannabis is a complex plant, containing hundreds of compounds like cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and essential oils. All of these compounds combined create the well-rounded, dynamic experience (sometimes called the entourage effect) that cannabis provides when in its natural flower form. When it’s distilled down to just THC, all of those other benefits that cannabis provides are lost in the process. Another reaction some my report is the sensation of a more jittery/anxious head high and one that comes on quick and drops off fast. No matter what, though, distillate made edibles are probably the most common and best selling edibles we have in store!
The next most popular edible option are those made with hash rosin. These edibles are highly coveted and a bit harder to find in the market than their counterparts. Hash rosin is produced without a solvent, by simply using pressure, heat and cold. Rosin is additionally made from a plant that is flash frozen at harvest (hence the term “live” rosin), preserving the trichomes containing the cannabinoids and terpenes. The flower is then put in an ice water bath and agitated to knock off the trichomes and create a concentrated form of hash. The benefits of using hash rosin in edibles is the argument that you are getting the full spectrum of compounds of each strain/plant, creating an experience that is unique to each plant. The effects of eating hash rosin edibles will be more nuanced and closer to the effects you would get from smoking a specific strain. Some say the effects of a hash rosin edible are more of a full-body, euphoric experience. However, the process of making rosin is more time consuming and, in turn, more expensive for the end user. Another drawback of hash rosin edibles, is the relatively unpredictable nature of dosing, as it’s much harder to make a specific dose (i.e 5mg per gummy) since hash rosin’s THC content is usually around 60-80%, sometimes you may end up somewhere outside of that dose you were aiming for. Lastly, food grade hash rosin will also have a much stronger “weed” taste than distillate, meaning the end result may not be as tasty. There is no doubt, though, that hash rosin edibles are a highly desired, top shelf product that is certainly worth trying if you haven’t dabbled yet!
Overall, each product has its benefits and drawbacks, and there is a place in the market for each! I would always recommend consumers try and compare each product to see what they prefer, based on tolerance, effect preference and past experiences. As always, we are here to help guide you at Meowy Jane, so stop on by and let us show you our awesome selection of products! Or click here to see what we currently have in stock!
See mew soon!