Greg Baughman, Author at Cryo Cure

The Ins and Outs of Terpene Extraction

by Greg Baughman | Apr 1, 2021 | Terpenes

Terpene extraction has long taken a back seat to fine-tuning phytocannabinoid levels and flower quality during the cultivation process. That’s because harvesting and collecting terpenes is a herculean task for many growers, taking lots of work for seemingly little yield, especially if the flower is destined for phytocannabinoid extraction. However, as the interest in terpenes grows, so does a cultivator’s opportunity to invest in terpene extraction as another revenue stream. What are your options for maximizing terpene extraction opportunities in your next harvest?

What are terpenes, and why are they so difficult to extract?

From fruity and sweet, funky and earthy, and every variation in between, that tell-tale cannabis aroma is the result of a naturally occurring substance secreted by the plant called terpenes. Terpenes are a compound that not only hits your sense of smell, but can also greatly affect the taste of cannabis.

Since their discovery in the late 1800s, scientists have identified more than 20,000 terpenes in species of plants across the globe. When you narrow the scope to just cannabis, scientists estimate that there may be up to 200 terpenes.

Research into individual terpenes has found they have a dizzying array of incredible properties, including pain relieving, anti-anxiety, and stress-busting effects, all of which contribute to how cannabis makes you feel. Terpenes play a major role in whether a cultivar (strain) will sedate or energize you – not whether the plant’s phenotype is classified as a sativa or an indica, a common cannabis myth. Additionally, terpenes are theorized to work together with phytocannabinoids like Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) to create what’s commonly referred to as the “entourage effect.” All in all – a very valuable compound!

But here’s the catch: harvesting these terpenes is not an easy feat. If you’ve ever walked through a grow room and immediately noticed the smell, you’re actually experiencing those terpenes evaporating off the plant. That’s because as short-chain hydrocarbons, terpenes are susceptible to a quick evaporation rate, particularly at warmer temperatures. Terpene loss begins the moment the plant is harvested, so preserving these precious compounds becomes a race against the clock.

Common terpenes found in cannabis

Though numerous terpenes occur naturally on cannabis, some are more prevalent than others. The following six terpenes are high in concentration among the various strains of cannabis and are easily recognizable once you know what to look for.

Myrcene: Considered possibly the most common cannabis terpene, myrcene is why cannabis often has an early, musky smell associated with it. Myrcene is known as a relaxing agent and has anti-inflammatory properties. It’s commonly found in cultivars with indica lineage, which may be why “indica strains” are associated with sedation and relaxation.
Limonene: Cannabis flowers with a citrusy smell are often high in limonene, which makes sense since it’s also predominantly found in citrus fruits. This compound is commonly used in household and cosmetic products, but in cannabis it’s known to help reduce stress and improve mood. It’s also been found to improve the permeability of topical products.
Pinene: You can find pinene in two variants: alpha pinene and beta pinene. Alpha pinene is more prevalent in cannabis than its cousin. Also commonly found in pine trees, rosemary, and parsley, the pinene terpenes have an anti-inflammatory effect, and may be a bronchodilator, or may open up the airways.
Terpinolene: This terpene can sometimes smell a little citrusy and a little like a bouquet of flowers, while also tasting like mint or anise. As a terpene found in cannabis, terpinolene has relaxing properties and is commonly behind the “couch lock” effect that some cultivars and the phytocannabinoid Cannabinol (CBN) may cause.
Beta-Caryophyllene: If you’ve ever experienced cannabis with a spicy smell and a hint of black pepper, then you’ve experienced this terpene in action. Commonly found in black pepper, cinnamon, and cloves, beta-caryophyllene is the only terpene we know of so far that binds to cannabinoid receptors like its phytocannabinoid and endocannabinoid counterparts. This terpene is an analgesic and can help stave off anxiety.

How are terpenes extracted from cannabis and hemp?

In recent years, terpene extraction has been a hot topic in the cannabis industry. There have been two main ways in the past that cannabis cultivators sought to extract terpenes from their crops: hydrodistillation or steam distillation.

Hydrodistillation occurs when you boil the plant in a solvent like ethanol, butane, nitrogen or CO2. One example of this method is when you take CO2, which is a gas, and heat it up in a pressurized environment. The gas is turned into a liquid, which is then run through the plant. The resulting liquid that comes from the process is then dried and the terpenes are extracted from the final product. Doing it this way can ensure you get the full or broad spectrum of all compounds found in the plant, including terpenes.

Steam distillation takes place when you boil water in a vessel under a hanging basket of cannabis. As the water evaporates and steam escapes the vessel, it passes through the cannabis, capturing the lighter oils before it’s collected in a condensation flask. Once the liquid is cooled, the oils and terpenes can then be more easily extracted.

Terpene harvesting pitfalls and challenges

One of the hardest aspects of terpene harvesting is how fleeting the substance truly is. As a short-chain hydrocarbon, terpenes evaporate very easily and from the moment cannabis is harvested. This makes proper extraction difficult and historically not worth the effort for growers.

Even harder is the extraction of monoterpenes. These compounds boil off during traditional curing methods. One of these monoterpenes that was recently found is carene, which is believed to be found in all cannabis. Known to have a sweet and citrusy smell, carene is known for its anti-inflammatory and bone-strengthening properties. Unfortunately, it boils off during the hang drying process, so the average consumer never gets to experience it for themselves. (Unless they’re trying Cryo Cure, which has tested positive for carene and several other monoterpenes!)

Because terpenes are so incredibly fragile, the extraction process can be hard on them. Many terpenes easily break down altogether, making their extraction an even harder prospect. Some monoterpenes are so light that they will boil off no matter what you try to do in most traditional methods. Furthermore, solvent-based methods of terpene extraction run the risk of contamination. For example, ethanol destroys terpenes, leading to a very small yield.

Even if your extraction methods are sound, the process often yields a small amount of terpenes since the terpene profile diminishes as time goes by. Terpenes begin to evaporate from the moment you harvest your cannabis or hemp. As such, it’s incredibly difficult to extract terpenes and sell them on a large enough scale.

The Cryo Cure approach to cannabis terpene extraction

Here at Cryo Cure, we pride ourselves in the fact that our machines can consistently extract terpenes. We utilize three approaches to cannabis terpene extraction: live resin extraction, terpene “recapture,” and the direct stripping of terpenes for extraction.

Live resin extraction: Through our patent pending process, our machines stabilize the phytocannabinoid and terpene content of cannabis. This happens early in the drying and curing process, capturing terpenes at a higher level before they can evaporate and degrade. It’s through this method that we can capture the ultra-rare terpenes and monoterpenes that you don’t get from the more traditional dried and cured product – not to mention higher yields of common terpenes. What you get from this method is smokable flower that’s significantly higher in terpene concentration than other products.
Recapturing terpenes: Our Cryo Cure machines have an ice bank that gathers terpenes typically lost during the drying and curing process. By capturing vapor and recondensing it into the ice bank, we can collect and melt down the terpene-rich water removed from cannabis during our process. Once melted, we put the water into a centrifuge, which allows us to remove 95 percent of the once lost terpenes. This results in a collection that can go for $50 to $100 per milliliter. For every three acres of hemp or cannabis you cultivate, that means you could potentially harvest enough terpenes worth $2 million at retail! It’s a great way of taking your crop and adding another revenue stream to it without depleting the quality of the flower.

Terpene extraction with Cryo Cure: Don’t leave valuable compounds behind!

Though there are multiple ways to pull terpenes out of your crop, few are as efficient as Cryo Cure. Our machines not only cut the drying to as little as 11 hours, but it can add an entirely new revenue source for your crop with its terpene extraction settings. By preserving the fragile trichomes that house the plant’s phytocannabinoids and terpenes, our machines help you provide your customers with the freshest tasting and smelling cannabis they’ve experienced. If you want to Cryo Cure your crop and make your operation a more modern one, contact Cryo Cure today!

Hemp Drying and Curing: How it Works with Cryo Cure

by Greg Baughman | Mar 1, 2021 | Hemp

Cryo Cure is celebrated for its ability to dry and cure cannabis in as little as 24 hours. Does the same process work for hemp flower?

Here, we’ll take you through how Cryo Cure machines also work for hemp drying and curing, the reason why our system works for hemp, and uses for Cryo Cured hemp flower for both consumers and product manufacturers.

Hemp drying vs. cannabis drying: Are there any differences?

Hemp and marijuana are both cannabis sativa plants. They are treated identically from a drying and curing perspective, even though each plant variant has differing levels of phytocannabinoids, particularly tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Hemp goes through the same lengthy and tightly controlled process as cannabis from harvest to consumer. The two cannabis sativa variants go through the same drying and curing process: The flower spends days or weeks in a specially designed drying facility and then it’s cured according to the grower’s preferences. By extension, this means that hemp can undergo the Cryo Cure process that state-regulated cannabis plants go through.

It’s important the remember that the distinction between hemp and marijuana is mostly a legal one, and not necessarily one of phenotype or genotype (although there are differences in height, leaf shape, and levels of certain phytocannabinoids that occur between the two variants). U.S. authorities define industrial hemp as cannabis sativa bred to contain 0.3% or less delta-9 THC. Any delta-9 THC above that, and the plant is considered “marijuana” and is therefore federally illegal.

What is the traditional hemp drying and curing process?

Hemp drying follows similar procedures and timetables as high-THC cannabis. The steps as are follows:

Harvest: Hemp is harvested anywhere from 90 to 120 days after planting, depending on the cultivar and the intended crop use. Some growers choose to harvest by hand to best preserve the smokable hemp flower. Others use a machine if the hemp is destined for phytocannabinoid extraction, terpene extraction, or hemp biomass harvesting – cases in which perfect bud preservation does not matter.
Trim: The hemp is trimmed of its large fan leaves and smaller sugar leaves. Some growers complete this step after the hemp is dry. This is referred to as “wet trim” or “dry trim” depending on the stage of hemp drying at the time trimming occurs.
Dry: Hemp is placed in an environmentally controlled space to dry. The room should be well-ventilated with a relative humidity of 45% to 55%. Some growers hang hemp branches upside-down to dry. Some hang the entire harvested plant to dry, but that can cause issues attempting to dry the innermost parts of the plant. Others lay out the hemp flower on drying racks in a single layer. Through the traditional hemp drying methods, this stage can take a few days up to two weeks or longer.
Cure: Many growers choose to cure their hemp after the drying process. Hemp curing allows for flavors to intensify by playing a role in stabilizing and preserving the terpenes that give hemp its unique flavors and aromas. This process involves storing hemp flower in a dark place while strategically opening the lids at regular intervals to allow in fresh air, a process referred to by some as “burping.”

Just like any craft, there are varying opinions and methodologies for hemp drying and curing. You may read about other procedures or methods, and each one has its benefits and drawbacks. Keep in mind that the steps and methods outlined here are not steadfast or tried-and-true, but one of many preferences and avenues a hemp grower has at their disposal.

What is the ideal moisture content for hemp flower?

Just like cannabis, hemp’s moisture content is crucial for ensuring that molds, mildew, bud rot, and other contaminants do not form. Each stage of the cultivation process requires a different level of relative humidity in the surrounding air, all of which play a part in the final product. After hemp is dry, its moisture level should be low enough to prevent these contaminants from forming without making the plant material too brittle. Cryo Cure machines bring down hemp’s moisture content to an ideal 8% to 12%.

How Cryo Cure works for hemp flower

Just how there are few differences between hemp and high-THC cannabis, so too are there few differences between the Cryo Cure process as it applies to hemp versus high THC cannabis.

One of the main appeals of Cryo Cure is its speed to market. The lengthy drying and curing process is reduced to just 24 hours, with a single “burp” to let in fresh air during the curing stage. Trimming weeks off the process gets hemp flower into customers’ hands faster than traditional drying and curing methods. Shortening drying and curing time also reduces the chance of mold and mildew forming. Simply put, the longer hemp sits around, the more time it has for crop-ruining molds and mildews to form.

The resulting flower is more vibrant, flavorful, aromatic, and potent than traditionally cured hemp. That’s because the Cryo Cure process preserves trichomes, home to the majority of hemp flower’s phytocannabinoids like Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabigerol (CBG). Trichomes are also home to most of the plant’s aromatic terpenes, which lends flavor, aroma, and potentially certain desirable properties like relaxation to the hemp flower consumption experience. These preserved terpenes are why customers call Cryo Cure the most flavorful smoke they have ever tried.

Cryo Cured hemp flower also offers a key differentiation point in a crowded hemp marketplace. The passing of the 2018 Farm Bill unleashed a whole new world of opportunity for farmers to grow and sell hemp. This consequentially led to a surge of hemp supply in the marketplace, a lot of which is not distinguishable in any unique way. Offering Cryo Cured hemp flower brings a unique value proposition to both consumers and business partners looking for something that will fly off the shelf.

Uses for Cryo Cured hemp flower

As smokable hemp flower: Cryo Cure flower is an unparalleled experience unlike any other hemp flower on the market. The buds are light and fluffy, with its vivid colors preserved as if the hemp was just plucked from the earth. The smoke is smooth and less harsh than other traditionally dried and cured hemp flower. Aromas and flavors are perfectly preserved in a way that no other method can match. The process also removes the chlorophyll taste and smell some people report experiencing with traditionally cured flower. In fact, the smokable flower is so different, that its cannabis cousin has been categorized in its own tier above top shelf.
Cannabinoid extraction: Cryo Cure machines can bring down the moisture content of hemp flower to an outstandingly low 1%. While this is not practical nor desirable for smokable hemp flower, this is excellent for extractors looking to maximize their yield.
Terpene extraction: Terpenes are among the most valuable parts of the hemp plant, retailing for up to $100 per milliliter. This translates to nearly $2 million in terpenes for every 10,000 wet pounds of hemp at 1% terpene content!Cryo Cure machines preserve terpenes in two different ways. One method involves keeping the terpenes intact in the flower for live resin extraction. The second involves stripping the hemp of 95% of its terpenes before the drying and curing process begins.

Cryo Cure works for all cannabis, including hemp

While the differences between the two cannabis sativa variants are significant from a legal perspective, the plants are treated the same as they make their way from the grow facility to the customers. Both hemp and “marijuana” face similar issues regarding moisture content, susceptibility to molds and mildews, and long-term stabilization of the fragile trichome structure that make the plant so vibrant and fragrant in the first place. Cryo Cure’s patented system has found a way to navigate all these issues, while supporting an unforgettable hemp flower experience. Contact Cryo Cure today to learn more about how our machines can elevate your hemp drying and curing process.

Relative Humidity, Water Activity, and Cannabis: How Are They Connected?

by Greg Baughman | Feb 18, 2021 | Drying Cannabis|Humidity

You can’t talk about cannabis without talking about humidity and water activity. The moisture content of your cannabis and the air around it are make-or-break factors that can wreak havoc on your flower if not kept in check. Too much moisture inside your flower breeds mold and mildew, while too little moisture can make your flower brittle and cause it to literally crumble in your hands. Whether you just planted clones or you’re storing finished and cured buds at home, controlling humidity and water activity is essential at every step.

The term “humidity,” though, doesn’t fully encompass the precise metrics that need to be monitored. Much of the focus is on relative humidity, which is a related but slightly different figure that can make a big difference, and the related term “water activity.” What are relative humidity and water activity, how does relative humidity differ from water activity and absolute humidity, and how do water activity and relative humidity relate to cannabis?

What is relative humidity?

Relative humidity measures water vapor that’s actually present in the air, as opposed to the maximum moisture content that could be present in the air. This is expressed as a percentage, calculated against the air’s current temperature. This more directly ties the humidity measurement to temperature.

Relative humidity matters because warmer air holds more moisture. The warmer your environment, the more humid the environment. This also means that you need to keep a closer eye on relative humidity as temperatures fluctuate to get an accurate assessment of the moisture levels in the air.

Absolute humidity tracks the amount of moisture that can be in the air regardless of the temperature, while relative humidity calculates moisture levels relative to the air’s temperature.

How do you calculate relative humidity?
You can calculate the relative humidity percentage by dividing the gram per cubic meter measurement of the maximum moisture possible in the air by the gram per cubic meter measurement of the water vapor present in the air. That number is then multiplied by 100 to come up with a percentage. You can also use a hygrometer placed in the area to get a relative humidity read without pen and paper, and don’t forget the thermometer to keep an eye on temperature!

What is water activity?
Water activity can be defined in two ways. It is the ratio of the vapor pressure of the water in a sample – say, your cannabis – to the vapor pressure of pure water at the same temperature. As such, water activity is expressed on a scale of zero to one.

What’s the difference between absolute humidity and relative humidity?

Water activity is also the relative humidity of the air in equilibrium with a sample in a sealed chamber. For cannabis, water activity is thus the relative humidity of the air surrounding your flowers in their container, assuming the water in your cannabis is in equilibrium with the water in the surrounding air.

In cannabis, water activity has gradually taken the place of another long-used metric: moisture content. That’s because moisture content describes the total amount of water in a substance, whereas water activity describes the extent to which water is bound to a substance’s molecules.

Think about it like this: A sopping wet paper towel has a moisture content value of 100% but a water activity of value of much lower than 1. That’s because the paper towel retains this moisture until you squeeze it out – or, put scientifically, until you exert energy upon the paper towel to release its water. The squeezed paper towel will now have a higher water activity value since most of the water present is now readily accessible – including to microbes that, in cannabis, can lead to spoiled flowers.

How do you measure water activity?

Sometimes, water activity is measured using equipment called capacitance hygrometers and resistive electrolytic hygrometers. However, the chilled mirror dew point hygrometer is the preferred water activity measurement method.

In chilled mirror dew point hygrometers, a temperature-controlled mirror, photodetector, and light beam stabilize the mirror’s temperature. This way, the rate of dew condensation matches the evaporation rate. With this condition achieved, equilibrium will exist between the water vapor in the air surrounding your cannabis and the water inside your cannabis.

With this setup, you can accurately determine the dew point temperature of the air around your cannabis. From there, you can easily use the dew point temperature equation to determine the relative humidity, and thus vapor pressure, of this air.

Additionally, since you know the temperature of your sample, you can use that in conjunction with the relative humidity and dew point temperature to determine the vapor pressure of your cannabis. Your final step is to determine your sample’s water activity, which is the ratio of the air vapor pressure to your cannabis’s vapor pressure.

How do relative humidity and water activity relate to cannabis?

Just like Goldilocks, your room temperature and your humidity cannot be too hot or too cold – it must be just right. Too humid (too high a water activity value), and you run into issues with bud rot, mildew, and mold development; too dry (too low a water activity value), and your cannabis may dry out too quickly. Since relative humidity and water activity reflect the moisture content of the air and cannabis quality is dependent on proper humidity levels, these more accurate moisture level assessments are a must for any cannabis cultivator.

Each stage of the cannabis growing cycle has its own temperature requirements. The temperature and humidity of your grow facility should be at these levels at each growing stage:

Seedling stage: The temperature should be set between 68°F and 77°F during the day, and slightly cooler at night. Humidity levels should hover between 40 percent and 60 percent. If you are growing your cannabis from clones, the humidity should be higher – as high as 80 percent – as the young plants thrive in warmer and more humid conditions.
Vegetative stage: According to Danny Danko, the temperature during the vegetative stage should be around 70°F to 78°F during the day, adjusted to no more than 15°F cooler at night. The relative humidity of this environment should hover between 45 percent and 55 percent.
Flowering stage: The flowering stage typically requires lower humidity levels as the buds grow and become more dense, and therefore create more opportunities for bud rot. Danny Danko recommends a relative humidity level no higher than 45 percent, gradually lowered to as low as 30 percent as the weeks go by. He also recommends a temperature between 68°F and 75°F.

At all stages, according to the ASTM International cannabis committee, the water activity of your cannabis should remain between 0.55 and 0.65. Notably, in California, state regulations allow for water activity levels in solid cannabis edibles to reach 0.85.

Relative humidity levels and temperature matter during the drying and curing process too. Growing experts recommend the following temperatures and humidity levels during the traditional drying and curing process:

Drying: The point of drying cannabis is to reduce its moisture content, and humidity reintroduces moisture to the plant material. To that end, cannabis cultivation guru Ed Rosenthal recommends drying cannabis at 68°F at no more than 55 percent relative humidity for the first few days of the lengthy drying process. The temperature should drop a few degrees after that, but the relative humidity should not dip below 50 percent, as this could cause the cannabis to dry too fast.
Curing: There are many methodologies for curing cannabis, each of which is crafted to intensify flavors and potency. Rosenthal recommends storing the cannabis in a dark room for 1 to 2 months at 64°F, keeping the relative humidity levels between 45 and 50 percent.

The ASTM International cannabis committee also recommends keeping water activity levels between 0.55 and 0.65 during drying and curing.

No matter the size of your grow or where your grow is located, relative humidity and water activity never go away. Moisture in the air is a fact in nearly every climate, which makes the traditional careful monitoring and control over relative humidity and water activity even more important, especially if an entire cannabis grow is on the line.

Thankfully, the Cryo Cure process is anything but traditional. Our patented technology trims down the lengthy drying and curing process to just 13 hours, shortening the time cannabis and hemp flower spends exposed to the elements. By shrinking this window, there’s simply less time for something to go wrong.

How Cryo Cure helps minimize issues related to relative humidity

Through our machines’ customizable settings, the moisture content of the plant material is brought down to between 8 and 12 percent – dry enough to ward off dreaded molds and mildews, without drying it so much that the flower turns to dust. You can adjust these moisture content settings according to your needs, even as low as 1 percent for extractors looking to harvest phytocannabinoids and terpenes.

Best of all, the machines’ smaller footprint makes the internal environment easier to control. No longer will you need to heat or cool large warehouses – or pay the high energy bills that come with running that equipment. You’ll only have to worry about climate control within the machine’s walls, which takes up a fraction of the space of a traditional grow operation. The machine is only opened once during that 13-hour process, too, reducing exposure to the elements that can sour your cannabis or hemp flower.

Bottom line: the more control over your grow environment, the better handle you have over the relative humidity levels that can make or break your cannabis grow. Cryo Cure’s ability to shorten the drying and curing process – plus the machine’s smaller footprint – makes monitoring and adjusting relative humidity a much less daunting prospect. Contact Cryo Cure today to schedule your no-obligation consultation.

The Senses of Cryo Cure: How Our Cannabis Flower Stands Apart

by Greg Baughman | Feb 5, 2021 | The Cryo Cure Experience

Cannabis and hemp flower that has gone through the Cryo Cure process truly needs to be experienced to fully understand why it stands head and shoulders above traditionally dried and cured flower. Sure, “Cryo Cured” flower is ready for the dispensary shelf in a fraction of the time, and the process stabilizes trichomes and terpenes in a way that no other method can match, but those microscopic changes aren’t the only ones to note. The finished flower differs in every sense, quite literally. Here’s how.

How Cryo Cure stands out, sense by sense

Cryo Cure’s founding mission is to preserve the cannabis flower in as close to fresh a state as possible. Thanks to our patent-pending process anchored in freeze drying, our “live resin” flower preserves cannabis (including hemp) at the height of freshness. Those differences are not just felt while consuming, but they’re experienced visually, through touch, by smell, and by taste.

Cryo Cured flower appears bright and beautiful

Consumers and industry professionals alike first take note of the visual differences between Cryo Cured flower and traditionally dried and cured cannabis or hemp flower. Immediately, the colors are brighter and more vibrant than any traditional cure. The tiny trichomes create a visible frosty coating of glistening white, promising an aromatic and potent experience before the flower even leaves the jar. The freeze-drying process makes the flower appear larger, too, as the process results in fluffier buds than traditionally dried and cured cannabis. The result is a natural curiosity from customers who want to experience Cryo Cure on looks alone.

Cryo Cured flower smells fresh and vibrant

If you ever recall a musty scent from traditional cannabis, you won’t experience that with Cryo Cure. Our process brings flower down to its ideal moisture content, eliminating any lingering wetness that can cause a strange or undesirable smell.

It’s not just bad smells that aren’t present – it’s what you do smell that makes Cryo Cure such a transformative experience. Our process preserves terpenes better than any other drying and curing method available, so your nose experiences the floral notes, citrusy pangs, and woodsy earthiness as nature intended.

Cryo Cured flower tastes better than traditional dried and cured cannabis

Terpenes don’t just impact Cryo Cured cannabis smell – they shape its flavor as well. Terpenes begin to degrade immediately once cannabis is harvested. This process is accelerated by heat and time. The traditional drying and curing process simply takes up more valuable time – time during which terpenes continue to evaporate off the plant. By stabilizing terpenes at ultra-low temperatures and trimming weeks off the cannabis drying and curing process, Cryo Cured flower naturally boasts more terpenes. (This makes Cryo Cure particularly valuable for terpene harvesting as well, as our machines can be set up to collect any terpenes that may evaporate off during the process.)

The result is Cryo Cured flower that’s rich in aromatic and flavorful terpenes – even terpenes that cannot be found in other kinds of flower. Our terpene preservation process is so thorough, that we even retain trace amounts of monoterpenes that quite literally cannot be found anywhere else. View our lab tests to see the results for yourself!

Cryo Cured cannabis and hemp feels unlike any other flower

When you pick up Cryo Cured flower, you’ll notice that it feels light, fluffy, and less dense than traditional flower. That’s due to our perfected freeze drying process that holds onto just enough moisture content while reaping all the benefits of freeze drying cannabis.

Yes, there’s such a thing as too little moisture content in cannabis or hemp flower, and you can tell right away just by picking it up. If it crumbles or turns to dust in your hand, that means it’s too dry and brittle to support the smooth, flavorful, and aromatic smoke you’re hoping for.

For years, freeze drying eluded many growers because it brought moisture content to too low a percentage to result in a good final product. By fine-tuning the freeze drying process to stabilize moisture content between 8% and 12%, Cryo Cure flower boasts all the benefits of freeze dried cannabis while leaving the ultra-dry plant material behind.

Exploring Cryo Cured flower is an unforgettable journey

Cannabis Shelf Life: What Keeps Marijuana Fresh?

by Greg Baughman | Dec 11, 2020 | Cannabis Shelf Life

Smokable cannabis is at its best when it’s freshest: Aromatic, flavorful, and “sticky,” fresh cannabis is richer in terpenes and phytocannabinoids like Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that shape the consumption experience. But how can you tell if your cannabis is supporting the best experience? Here, we’ll review the typical shelf life of cannabis flower, how to tell if your cannabis flower is stale, and best practices for keeping flower fresh both at the dispensary and at home.

What is the typical shelf life of cannabis flower?

There may not be a precise expiration date for cannabis flower, but it doesn’t stay fresh forever. Cannabis flower freshness begins to tick the moment cannabis is harvested, and the wrong environmental factors can accelerate its decomposition. Assuming that the cannabis flower is stored at proper temperatures and humidity levels away from oxygen and light, you can expect cannabis flower to stay fresh for at least one year, possibly longer. Cryo Cure cannabis can last for up to two years on the shelf in the right conditions — in an airtight container away from light.

How do I know if cannabis is stale?

Check for these telltale signs of cannabis freshness when in doubt about flower’s shelf life:

Smell. This is one of the main tells of stale cannabis. Cannabis should smell potent and not lose its pungent, instantly recognizable aroma. If the flower has a diminished scent, it’s likely lost its potency, too.
Visuals. Take a look at the cannabis flower. Do the colors look dull? Are there any suspicious spots that could be mold or mildew? If something about the flower looks off, it may not be fit for consumption.
Touch. Sticky bud is a hallmark of its freshness. If the cannabis feels dry, crumbles way too easily, or appears over-compressed, it may mean that it’s too stale to smoke.
Sound. Listen to the cannabis – literally. Fresh cannabis should “snap” while being broken apart. If the cannabis flower sounds crackly, it could be past its prime.
Experience. When in doubt, try some of the flower. If the strain has a “sluggish” effect, it could be an indicator that the THC has degraded into CBN, a consequence of being exposed to light and heat. If this is the case, or if the flower simply isn’t as potent as expected, it’s time to pick up more cannabis.

What impacts cannabis flower freshness?

Cannabis shelf life is influenced by two distinct but equally important parts: how it’s treated after harvest and how it’s stored once the product is taken home by your customer. Whether at a larger scale in a grow operation or in a small amount at home, the environmental factors that impact cannabis shelf life remain the same. Here are some of the main ones that you should be concerned with, both in your grow op and once the flower is taken home.

Temperature: The hotter the storage conditions, the more likely phytocannabinoids and terpenes will evaporate from the product. Plus, temperatures higher than 77 degrees Fahrenheit can contribute to an environment where mold and mildew can thrive. Storing your cannabis flower at around 70 degrees Fahrenheit helps stabilize the cannabinoid and terpene content and negate mold and mildew content.
Oxygen: Exposure to air can contribute to flower staleness. Oxygen exposure can occur during the cannabis drying and curing process, or it can be improperly stored once a consumer brings it home. Exposure to oxygen destabilizes THC content, causing this cannabinoid to turn into Cannabinol (CBN), which is the cannabinoid known for causing the “couch lock” effect when consumed.
Humidity: Too dry, and flower can shrivel up. Too moist, and mold and mildew can grow. To preserve potency, aroma, and flavor, keep cannabis stored at humidity conditions around 60 percent. Consider using humidity control packets at home to keep moisture levels at their ideal percentages. Commercial grows should take long-term storage conditions into account as well, closely monitoring all factors, including humidity, during the cannabis drying and curing process.
Time: The clock is not on cannabis’s side. The longer flower sits around, the more time it has for its phytocannabinoids and terpenes to evaporate. Simply put, older cannabis will lose its potency over time – the question becomes how much potency it loses.

Why should cannabis professionals care about shelf life?

It’s not just what your customers do when they get home that keeps cannabis fresh. Growers, processors, and dispensary managers need to concern themselves with flower freshness, too.

Shelf life means improved supply – and money saved. Properly stored cannabis can stay on the shelf for months past its improperly packaged counterparts. For dispensary owners, that means less expired wasted product and more options to sell to their customers.
Keeping cannabis fresh impacts other business decisions. So many environmental factors influence cannabis freshness that it needs to be kept top of mind every step of the way. From carefully controlling humidity in the drying room to choosing proper packaging that blocks oxygen, light, and moisture, ensuring cannabis flower stays potent and powerful is a top priority.
Fresh cannabis means a good reputation among customers. Competition is tough in some adult-use and medical cannabis markets. How will your dispensary stand apart? For many, product quality is the first and most important product differentiator. Fresh, quality cannabis flower is certain to bring customers back time and again.

How Cryo Cure extends cannabis shelf life

How cannabis is stored at home greatly impacts its shelf life, but as we established here, how cannabis is treated from seed to sale has equal influence on its quality. The clock begins ticking on your cannabis’ shelf life the moment it’s harvested, which is why how it’s treated during processing and packaging is of utmost importance. That’s where Cryo Cure comes in.

Cryo Cure’s patent-pending technology addresses the factors that directly impact shelf life. By cutting the dry time from a few weeks to as little as 13 hours, Cryo Cured flower gets to market faster while tacking time onto its shelf life. The patent-pending process stabilizes moisture content to its ideal levels, reducing the chances that mold and mildew can grow. Finally, the Cryo Cure process preserves the fragile trichomes that contain most of the plant’s phytocannabinoids and terpenes. The result is a smokable cannabis (or hemp) flower we call “live resin” flower, as close as possible to the plucked-from-the-plant freshness that gives cannabis its hallmark scent, flavor, and potency. There’s no getting closer to “fresh” than the Cryo Cured flower experience! If Cryo Cured flower sounds like the freshest fit for your grow operation, contact Cryo Cure to schedule a no obligation consultation.

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