What Is Terpsolate? [Explained for Dummies]

There is a mind-boggling array of new cannabis and hemp-based products. The CBD market, in particular, is a hotbed of innovation. Admittedly, many new products are little more than a cash grab. However, there are also genuinely useful creations, such as CBD terpsolate.

The name is a portmanteau of terpenes and isolate. As you can guess from this information, a CBD terpsolate consists of a CBD isolate with added terpenes. We provide a detailed outline of what this product is and whether it is worth considering below.

Why Add Terpenes to CBD Isolate?

Marketed as the purest form of cannabidiol you can buy, CBD isolate typically contains at least 97% of the cannabinoid. It contains practically nothing other than cannabidiol, which means it is tasteless and odorless. Generally, you can purchase a CBD isolate product in a powder or slab form.

The manufacturing process involves putting hemp flowers through several filtration phases. Top-rated brands prefer the use of CO2 supercritical extraction to take the cannabinoid from the hemp. They may also complete the winterization process, which consists of freezing the CBD oil. It causes the frozen plant waxes from the oil to sit on top. This makes it easy to remove practically everything barring the CBD.

There are many fans of CBD isolate. However, there is research that claims the entourage effect is real. It states that cannabinoids work better together than in isolation. Therefore, full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products are more effective than isolate.

The Benefits of Terpenes

Although terpsolate isn’t full or broad-spectrum, it does add terpenes to the mix. You will find terpenes naturally in plants. They also form the major constituent of essential oils from plants. Research indicates that terpenes have a wide variety of possible medical benefits. Both hemp and cannabis plants contain over 100 terpenes. This sounds impressive but bear in mind that there are over 20,000 terpenes in existence!

A study published in Nature Public Health Emergency Collection in November 2019 looked at the therapeutic and medicinal uses of terpenes. It found plenty of evidence that terpenes have medical benefits. These include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiseptic properties.

While you don’t get the full entourage effect with terpenes, you seemingly derive more benefits than from a CBD isolate.

When you use a terpsolate, you don’t have to worry about THC showing up on a drug screening. At least, you don’t if you avoid marijuana!

Can I Make Terpsolate at Home?

There is an easy method and a slightly trickier one. The simple way involves buying terpenes and CBD isolate. Add a few drops of terpenes into the jar of isolate and mix until it is caked up or absorbed.

Another option is to melt the CBD isolate first. Then blend in the terpenes and spread the mixture between two pieces of parchment paper. However, you will need a heated press such as a rosin press. If you have such a device, pressing the terpsolate mixture for around five seconds at 300 degrees Fahrenheit supposedly works wonders.

You can also make CBD isolate at home, which is a difficult method! It involves the following steps:

• Decarboxylating the Hemp Flower: This involves subjecting the plant material to heat to activate the cannabinoids.
• CBD Extraction: Unless you’re willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars, CO2 extraction is out. An alternative is ethanol extraction.
• Winterization: You need to remove chlorophyll, waxes, and other unwanted material from your freshly extracted oil. Winterization achieves all of the above and leaves you with a clear oil.
• CBD Distillate: This process creates a substance with 80-95% CBD. You need to purchase a distillation kit.
• CBD Crystalline: This is the final piece of the puzzle. You need a lot of equipment. This includes a vacuum filtration station and crystallization equipment.

If you want to avoid all of the above, just purchase CBD isolate online!

Which Terpenes Are Worth Consideration?

Research is ongoing, but studies have found that terpenes have different effects. Here are some of the most commonly found terpenes in hemp and cannabis:

• Pinene: There is alpha and beta-pinene. Both could increase your energy levels and are found in pine needles.
• Caryophyllene: This terpene has a spicy scent and taste. You can find caryophyllene in pepper, and it acts as an anti-inflammatory.
• Limonene: Found in citrus fruits, limonene could help boost a person’s mood.
• Myrcene: This is the most abundant terpene in many cannabis strains and is also in cloves. Myrcene has sedative properties.
• Linalool: You may find this terpene in numerous bath products because it is in lavender. Like myrcene, linalool is also relaxing.

Other terpenes widely used in aromatherapy include:

• Humulene
• Terpinolene
• Phellandrene
• Camphene

Once you have a terpsolate, there are a few ways to consume the product. Dabbing is one of the most popular options. You need a special device called a rig to dab. Heat the nail, and place the terpsolate on it. The heated nail vaporizes the terpsolate, and you inhale the vapor.

You could also add terpsolate to edibles.

Terpsolate Pros and Cons

Pros

• The added terpenes theoretically provide greater benefits than a CBD isolate.
• Assuming the product has lab reports, it is easy to dose as you know how much CBD and terpenes it contains per gram.
• It contains no THC, which is useful for people concerned about drug screenings.
• It offers a far more flavorful experience than CBD isolate.
• Making it at home is as easy as mixing a bottle of terpenes with CBD isolate.

Cons

• Doesn’t provide the full entourage effect.
• It is tricky to find ready-made terpsolate on the market.
• The available products are typically very expensive.

Final Thoughts on Terpsolate

If you tend to use CBD isolate because you don’t want to consume other cannabinoids such as THC, it is worth trying terpsolate. It is an extremely purified product that enables you to see whether terpenes have any therapeutic effects. You can buy terpsolate online from a handful of reputable vendors. However, you can also make it at home by mixing terpenes with CBD isolate.