Tincture vs. Distillate: What’s the Difference?

With all the cannabis products available, cannabis lovers are spoilt for choice as to which form of cannabis they can use. Cannabis-based products are now commonplace in edibles, lotions, creams, and vapes, besides the traditional oils and tinctures.

How are these different cannabis forms created? What distinguishes one from the other? Are the benefits of cannabis inherently connected to the state in which it exists? These are some questions we want to look at in this article.

In particular, we focus on tinctures and distillates. Unless you are a cannabis connoisseur, it is easy to think distillates and tinctures are the same. These two products sure do look alike, but they are different.

So, here is a crash course on the differences between these two cannabis products!

Want to try distillates and tinctures yourself to spot the difference? Try our tinctures or our distillate vape products below!

 

Key Takeaways

• Cannabis tinctures are predominantly alcohol-based cannabis extracts, while distillates are distilled cannabis concentrates.
• Because the distillation process often destroys the essential oils of cannabis, distillates tend to have no scent or smell, thus offering more discretion.
• Tinctures have a longer life span than all other cannabis products.
• Distillates offer more options in terms of how you can use them.

 

What is Cannabis Tincture?

A cannabis tincture is an alcohol-based cannabis extract. There are various methods of extracting active ingredients from cannabis plant material. These essentially determine the type of product you end up with.

Tinctures are primarily made by soaking decarboxylated cannabis in a solvent, typically alcohol. Before the ban on marijuana, tinctures were the most popular form of prescription marijuana. But as the cannabis industry continued to evolve, other bases such as medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil and coconut oil emerged as alternative solvent choices.

Currently, MCT oil is a hugely popular choice partly because most cannabinoids readily dissolve in it and also because it has wide-ranging health benefits. This has blurred the line between tinctures and oils, and as a result, these two terms are often used interchangeably.

Anyway, if the solvent is an alcohol, the resulting product is a tincture. However, if an oil (e.g., MCT oil) is used, the end product is referred to as an oil.

Tincture Benefits

One of the advantages of tinctures is fast action. 

This is because tinctures are preferably taken sublingually, (placed under the tongue). This area of the mouth has a rich network of blood capillaries through which the active ingredients in the tincture quickly absorb into the bloodstream. As a result, tinctures act fast, and their effects can be felt in under 15 minutes!

Another benefit of tinctures is precise dose control. They are usually sold with a calibrated dropper to enable users to measure the exact dose. This makes tinctures ideal for users who prefer microdosing or discretion. 

Starting with smaller amounts is typically advisable, especially if you are a newbie.

You probably want a cannabis product with a longer shelf life, right? Well, in that case, tinctures also check that box. 

Compared to other forms of cannabis, like edibles, tinctures have the longest shelf lives, especially when well stored. So, depending on how well you keep your cannabis tincture, expect 5-10 years of good service.

However, the longer they stay, the less potent they become because the cannabinoids degrade over time. So, even though your tincture may not go bad after some years, it will have lost some potency.

 

What is Cannabis Distillate?

Cannabis distillate is distilled cannabis extract in which unwanted cannabis material has been systematically removed. It is a runny, translucent liquid achieved through extensive distillation processes that separate the constituent compounds of cannabis.

Distillates are desirable due to their versatility and potency, mainly because only the most essential components of cannabis are preserved. So, a typical cannabis distillate contains vital ingredients of cannabis like cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, while everything else is eliminated.

A high-quality distillate is more potent and pure than concentrated cannabis oils because it undergoes extra refinement. Using the boiling-point separation process, it is possible to further isolate specific plant cannabinoids and other pigments. These can then be re-condensed and mixed in exact ratios for precise effects. 

If done correctly, the resulting product can be 99% pure cannabinoids. 

However, heat distillation may denature delicate cannabis compounds like terpenes, essential oils, and vitamins. Though not all, terpenes begin to evaporate at low temperatures of around 70 °F to 100 °F. This can affect distillates’ flavor and taste, considering terpenes are responsible for the same.

Distillate Benefits

One of the major positives of distillates is versatility. Since it is the purest form of activated cannabis, there is practically no limit to how it can be enjoyed. 

For this reason, cannabis distillates are popularly used to make vape carts, topicals, edibles (e.g., brownies and baked goods), or infused in blunts and moon rocks. You can also take a distillate sublingually, smoke, dab, or ingest it in capsules. 

While the absence of terpenes is often considered a drawback, it has certain advantages. It strips the final product of its taste and smell, thus giving the user more discretion. The smell of cannabis is typically powerful, but with distillates, you don’t have to worry about this.

The other benefit of distillates is precise action. By separating the compounds of cannabis, it is possible to create single-element products that are typically quite potent. For example, if you want to get “high,” a pure THC distillate would be more effective than other cannabis products. 

Similarly, a CBD distillate would allow you to tap into CBD’s therapeutic benefits without making you “high.”

 

Main Differences Between Tincture vs. Distillate

So, now let’s look at the critical differences between a cannabis tincture and a distillate.

Considering how they are produced, distillates tend to be very pure, potent, and concentrated. Tinctures, on the other hand, are less potent but tastier. 

Distillates are hugely versatile and can be used in many ways, whereas tinctures are solvent-based infusions commonly used to make edibles. They can also be ingested sublingually for a much faster experience.

Even though distillates and tinctures may appear identical, they are different in many ways. So, before using either of these products, check to see if they adequately meet your needs.

Delta Munchies is the go-to place for high-quality cannabis distillates, tinctures, and other products. 

 

Where to Buy Delta 8 Tincture 

If you are seeking an unforgettable cannabis experience, visit Delta Munchies. Here, you’ll find a wide variety of cannabis products, including vapes, tinctures, oils, and extracts. Our products are highly effective and are recommended for people seeking immediate results. 

We also offer online shopping services to make it easier for you to get out products regardless of where you are. So, visit our website to learn more about our range of cannabis products, including distillates and tinctures. We also guide you on how to use these products.

Our Delta 8 THC Tinctures are some of the best on the market. These come in four flavors—Strawberry, Mango, Cherry Lime, and Sour Apple—and are formulated to give a pleasantly relaxing experience. Each 30-milliliter bottle contains 1000mg of hemp-derived premium quality delta 8 THC.

If you prefer vapes, we’ve got you covered there too. Visit our online store and check out our varieties of delta 8 THC products and HHC vapes. Our delta 8 vape carts are enriched with cannabis-derived terpenes to give an authentic cannabis experience. We have these in different flavors to cater to every taste bud.

 

Also, if you want to get the most value out of your cannabis tincture, check out the video below: