Honey oil isn’t the type of delicacy that propels Winnie the Pooh to venture on a scavenge for. Well, not the Pooh Bear we know. And no, honey oil is far from the everyday tasty added ingredient for your toast, yogurt and potatoes.
Instead, honey oil is a cannabis concentrate that stands out for a wide range of uses, from being a THC-heavy ingredient for snacks to being a vital stepping stone for making other well-known concentrates. Along with this, the cannabis concentrate can be made in a whole host of ways, with or without the use of solvents.
That’s right, the learning curve is relatively steep for honey oil when compared to other cannabis concentrates, but if your goal is to be informed about the fastly evolving space, then learning about honey oil is a perfect place to start. Why? Because it may be the most flexible and resourceful concentrate in the game today.
Let’s explore what honey oil is all about!
What is Honey Oil?
Honey oil is cannabis concentrate, that’s golden, gooey and caramel-like in texture.
If you’re unfamiliar with what cannabis concentrates are, they’re simply cannabinoids and terpenes, the prized chemicals inherent in cannabis, that were separated from their plant birthplace for the purpose of being more potent standalone substances.
The cannabis concentrate honey oil goes by many different names, the most popular being butane hash oil (BHO) and hash oil. In addition, this concentrate can be 60-85% pure THC, depending on the ingredients and processes used for extraction.
But, potency is only one reason why concentrates are in high demand among connaisseurs as they’re generally sought after for delivering more refined flavors, addressing symptoms with faster relief while also being a more discreet consumption method.
In short, honey oil and it’s concentrate relatives are no joke when it comes to delivering cannabinoids, and as you’ll also read, they’re also not to be taken lightly in regards to the various ways of how they’re extracted from cannabis buds.
How To Make Honey Oil
There are a whole host of ways to extract honey oil, but they generally fall into the category of using solvent-based methods, which include chemicals like butane, propane, high proof alcohol and Co2. Let’s explore them in greater detail.
Butane and Propane Methods
Simply, using butane and propane to make honey oil is best left to professionals with closed-loop systems, otherwise, you’re subjecting yourself to the grim likelihood that’s caused by highly flammable solvents. As an overview, professionals start by using closed-loop systems by separating the potent resin glands of cannabis plants, which are areas that produce cannabinoids and terpenes.
Once cannabinoids and terpenes are separated, a substance that’s called “slurry” is created, consisting of cannabinoids, terpenes and solvent residue. This flurry can take shape in either a liquid, runny form or a patty-like loaf.
To filter out the remaining solvents, there are numerous methods used, but one of the more popular ways used by professionals is through the use of vacuum ovens, which can last up to 3 days. This purging step is critical to minimizing the health risks when consuming honey oil, therefore ensure you purchase your honey oil from reputable sources.
High Proof Alcohol
We don’t recommend making honey oil at home but if you do so, the safest way is to use high proof alcohol such as ethanol or Everclear. This process comprises of 3 parts so let’s breakdown each in more detail.
To start, you’ll need to decarb your cannabis. Once finished, you’ll have to make a “quick wash” tincture to further extract the resin (cannabinoids and terpenes) from your decarbed cannabis. Begin making “quick wash” tincture by placing your alcohol and decarbed weed in a freezer overnight.
After 24 hours, place your cold weed into a mason jar, and pour your alcohol over it. The alcohol should completely cover your cannabis in the mason jar, nothing more or less. Once covered, close the lid and shake occasionally for 20 minutes. Lastly, place a coffee filter on top of another mason jar, and then pour your alcohol covered weed through it. The result is “quick wash” tincture at your disposal.
The last step in making this concentrate is to purge the alcohol from your quick wash tincture, which can be done by letting it evaporate in storage for up to 7 days, possibly more.
Alternatively, an even more steadfast method is to use a double cooker on low to medium heat, where the bottom pan is filled with 3 inches of water and the top pan is filled with your “quick wash” tincture. You’ll know your oil is ready when it turns into a sludge-like oily substance. When this takes place, collect and get ready for use.
There you have it! Homemade honey oil at your disposal! But with this in-hand, how should you use it?
How to Use Honey Oil
Honey oil, being the most flexible cannabis concentrate isn’t without justification. There are numerous use-cases for the concentrate, from being consumed as it is to being a vital ingredient to making other well-known concentrates, such as budder, wax, shatter, distillates and crumble – what’s referred to as the butane hash oil family of concentrates. In fact, you can’t make it’s family members without creating hash oil first in many cases.
If you’re bent on consuming honey oil as it is, it can be eaten right off the bat or placed in gel capsules for more convenient snacking sessions. If you performed the decarboxylated step initially, expect powerful effects that are typical to the edibles experience.
Alternatively, you can sprinkle the oil into joints, blunts, cannabis buds, or even, as an ingredient to give your foods a THC makeover. If you’re feeling adventurous, dipping a joint into a jar of honey oil before rolling it around in kief will make what’s known as a “thai stick,” a potent joint that combines the power of kief, honey oil and flower into one!
Lastly, honey oil can be vaporized or dabbed for those who have the artillery at their disposal (vaporizers, dab pens, etc.)
Honey Oil – Final Thoughts
That’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? If you’re like us, you’re probably stuck as to what to do with your homemade honey oil. If so, store it in the refrigerator and contemplate your ideal use cases for the concentrate. At already 60-85% THC purity, honey oil may already be more than what you bargained for, thus making you reluctant to make any further refinements.
Whether what you decide to do with your honey oil, make sure you’re prepared for the powerful psychoactive experience! There’s a reason why shatter, a derivative of honey oil, is called the “crack of cannabis”.
Best of luck!
No products in the cart.