Once known as a girl’s best friend, diamonds may soon become enthusiasts’ best friends from all walks of life. THCA diamonds may be the future of cannabis consumption, granting extractors the ability to tailor-make products with perfectly accurate levels of THC, CBD, and terpenes for medical patients in need and recreational concentrate aficionados.
Cannabis diamonds have recently become a staple in cannabis culture. And only time will determine what impact the prominence of crystalline THCA will have on the market landscape. Keep reading our blog for more information about the basics of THCA diamonds and their production.
THCA Diamonds
THCA is the acid form of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the most abundant and intoxicating cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. When exposed to heat, non-intoxicating, acidic THC converts to intoxicating THC and produces the “high.”
THCA diamonds have a crystalline appearance, and they are the most potent and pure form of THC. This is also precisely why THC concentrates are not appropriate for beginners. Although, they are great for concentrating fans who want to experience a new potency level.
What’s THCA?
Together with CBDA and CBCA, THCA, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is one of three precursor compounds in the cannabis plant. Fresh, untreated, or cured cannabis contains THCA.
But this and other cannabinoid acids are typically overlooked for cannabis compounds that provide more apparent effects (like THC). While THCA is a precursor to THC, its original form can differ.
THCA is indeed the forefather to all euphoric THC effects, but this cannabinoid doesn’t create the famous psychoactive “high” on its own. Generally, the acidic form must be decarboxylated (heated) to convert to THC.
While making THCA diamonds, the main goal is to convert the cannabinoids without burning or eliminating the other cannabinoids and terpenes. Without THCA and decarboxylation, we won’t experience the full psychoactive effects that the consuming public seeks.
Appearance
Unsurprisingly, THCA diamonds look like diamonds we’re already familiar with, hence the name. It doesn’t take much thinking to determine why producers have named cannabis diamonds after their crystalline structures resembling diamond stones.
However, these concentrated crystals usually have a pure white color. Sometimes, they can be amber-gold if they contain terpenes, like diamonds and sauce. Diamonds range in size from small to large chunks of crystals.
Unique in their clarity and color, diamonds have just become a popular addition to the concentrates world in recent years, hitting the scene significantly around 2015 or soon after. Diamonds can vary in clarity depending on their terpene content, potency, or extraction process.
Properties of THCA Diamonds
THCA diamonds are substances containing approximately 100% THC content. There isn’t much room for other cannabis compounds within these gleaming little gems of concentrates. During the preparation process, cannabis compounds like terpenes are entirely purged from the final product, leaving behind a tasteless cannabis concentrate.
You can find crystalline THC sold with or mixed into terpene “sauce” extractions to accommodate terpenes, thus pairing incredible potency with equally stunning terpene profiles.
THCA concentrates aim to allow patients to consume a virtually pure substance, as you’ve already guessed. The isolation of THC allows for an unprecedented degree of control over its applications, enabling those who extract it to produce concentrate blends that have precise amounts of CBD, terpenes, and THC.
In other words, processors can develop products that accurately yield whatever effect they desire. Many patients consume the diamonds alone. However, some decide to add them to blunts or pipes to increase the THC effects.
THCA vs. THC Diamonds
The diamonds obtained from cannabis aren’t THC yet. They’re pure THCA diamonds and contain 97-99% THCA. The other 1-3% of a THC diamond is terpenes and other cannabinoids, making these diamonds the purest and most potent concentrates on the market.
THCA is the acidic counterpart of THC and its precursor. Cannabis produces THC when sunlight or the flame of a lighter applies heat to THC. This phenomenon is called decarboxylation.
Many users hold THC diamonds in high regard for their versatility. Sometimes, people even use THC acid in cosmetics or other cannabis products. THCA doesn’t produce the intoxicating effects of THC if ingested without decarboxylation (heating). These substances have very little odor and color provided that they contain no noticeable concentrations of fats, lipids, flavonoids, or terpenes.
As we’ve stated, THC diamonds are the most potent cannabis concentrates out there, testing in just under 100% THC. Most people consume diamonds to help deal with treatment-resistant medical conditions.
However, they’ve become insanely popular in recreational markets for their powerful effects that make for a pleasant, flavorful, and heady high. THC diamonds are so potent that the high can linger for hours, which is longer than the experience from flower alone or other lesser concentrates like shatter or wax.
Terp Sauce vs. THCA Diamonds
Concentrate enthusiasts should be familiar with sauce carts or vape cartridges loaded with a terpene-heavy sauce. Cannabis diamonds refer to the crystalline leftover after processors have removed the terp sauce from the initial mixture. “Diamonds” can also refer to pure crystalline THCA isolated from refined oil.
The main difference between these diamonds is how they’re extracted and processed. Whether presented as a saucy, high-terpene extract or packaged as isolated THCA, diamonds are always crystalline structures containing high concentrations of THC. Remember that people may be referring to these crystallines as pure THC, but in reality, they come in the form of pure THCA.
Production of THCA Diamonds
Like all diamonds, processors create THCA diamonds under pressure. But first, they extract diamonds from the cannabis plant using a cold-extraction method. The extract specialist applies pressure to the oil through a chromatography machine until the crystals form. It would be best if you didn’t try this at home unless you’re a licensed expert working in a lab.
The first half of the process is similar to making live resin. Processors make diamonds with freshly-harvested flash-frozen cannabis to help preserve the integrity of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and trichomes. The second stage of forming the diamonds occurs in two ways: using a closed-loop system or the crystalline method.
Closed-Loop Extraction Method
In a closed-loop extraction method, a liquid solvent separates the THC and terpenes from the plant material. The system leaves small amounts of the solvent behind to supersaturate a solution with THCA.
Afterward, producers slowly recycle the solvent over and over for a couple of days, during which the diamonds form. This process may take two days to several weeks, resulting in pure THCA crystals.
Crystalline Method
The crystalline method process resembles making rock candy. They mix the THC isolate with a solvent to create a supersaturated solution. Then, they apply heat and pressure to the solution. As the diamonds form, the extra content evaporates from the solvent.
Extractors will consequently reintroduce the terpenes or a different terpene sauce back into the diamonds. THCA is more potent when terpenes are involved, thanks to the entourage effect between cannabinoids and terpenes.
Other methods to Produce THCA Diamonds
To produce THCA, processors usually use fresh-frozen marijuana material to produce live resin, i.e., the starting extract that makes these crystalline concentrates. However, they can also use cured marijuana material to create diamonds. Live resin contains a high concentration of terpenes since processors attempt to preserve the peak terpene levels upon harvest by freezing the material.
After the extraction process, the crude extract goes through a light purging process without a vacuum to remove the residual butane solvent from the final product. Time is all that is required to form crystalline structures.
A separation process can naturally produce diamonds and liquid terpene sauce. Manufacturers can store their cannabinoid diamonds in a cool, dry, and dark container and allow the diamond formation process to begin.
The terpene sauce is separated from the cannabinoid crystals falling to the bottom during the process. Depending on the concentration and environment, the process can take several weeks. Some processors will speed up the rate crystals form using other solvents such as pentane, but it’s unnecessary for crystalline formation.
After separating cannabinoids from the liquid terpenes, the pure THCA crystals undergo a final purge to get rid of the rest of the residual solvent. They slowly purge cannabinoids and terpenes separately to provide a more extended purge for cannabinoids, with a higher boiling point than heat-sensitive terpenes.
Diamond Mining
Diamond mining is one of the few other ways to obtain THCA crystals from cannabis. Flash chromatography is one method that involves filtration, rotary evaporation, and purification. However, you don’t need to go through any of these steps if you merely want to prepare a small batch at home. Instead, you can make pure THCA crystals through “diamond mining.”
Remember that weed diamonds require some seriously heavy-duty machinery and expert handling of some extraordinarily volatile and toxic solvents. So, you’ll likely blow yourself up trying to make THCA diamonds before you ever have the opportunity to bang them on a dab nail. Only certified expert professionals should attempt this, and even then, only in a regulated lab with safety measures.
Nonetheless, here’s how “diamond mining” works:
- Step 1: Make hash oil using a live cold-extraction method. The aim is to ensure the THCA doesn’t convert to THC due to the extraction process. THCA will crystallize under the right conditions, but THC won’t.
- Step 2: Put the oil through a winterization process, mixing the oily extract with Everclear, freezing it, then filtering the product.
- Step 3: Soak the winterized hash oil in a methanol liquid before using a rotary evaporator (or rotovap) to remove the methanol.
- Step 4: Wash the oil in a pentane solution to remove any remaining plant matter residue. Rerun the rotovap.
- Step 5: Here’s where the chromatography comes into play. It puts pressure on the oil and compounds it into crystalline form.
- Step 6: Allow the diamonds to dry for three to 12 days.
Viola! That’s the secret to THCA diamonds. We emphasize that this is a process best left to professionals. The good thing is that several brands currently offer these crystals for sale. Therefore, you don’t have to risk your life to make these concentrates.
And even if you’re looking for a reliable cannabis concentrate with a relatively more affordable price, shatter can be an alternative.
Safety First
There are always some adverse effects of smoking anything or breathing anything other than oxygen. But, THCA concentrates are safe in general. Beware that these concentrated diamonds are very potent. So if you smoke too much at once, you may feel confused and paranoid.
But the effect wears off after a few minutes, and you’ll be fine. These concentrates aren’t safe when you’re sensitive to THC or have an allergic reaction to the terpenes found in your diamonds.
Beware of Unofficial Products
There’s a big difference between a legal and a gray market with most concentrates. Products don’t go through standard purging steps and a strenuous process to remove impurities in the gray market. That means the products might contain traces of propane, hexane, and other dangerous materials, which are incredibly harmful to users.
How to Consume THCA Diamonds
THCA is an inactive cannabinoid and a non-psychoactive counterpart of THC that needs to be heated up to transform into the stuff that gets you high at a fundamental level. That’s why consumers typically smoke diamonds in a dab rig or vaporizer. Bongs and joints don’t burn hot enough to make this transformation.
So, the best way of consuming this particular type of concentrate, much like many others, is dabbing it with a glass rig. You can also vape these diamonds. The highly concentrated levels of THCA, requiring the application of heat, offer a potent high.
Furthermore, you can sprinkle your diamonds into vape chambers together with flowers or other concentrates. And if you combine them with a terp sauce, you’ll enjoy some exquisite flavors!
CBD Diamonds vs. THCA Diamonds
Cannabis diamonds are among the industry’s fast-growing product segments. Like any cannabis concentrate, CBD and THCA concentrates can be smoked or vaped to treat various ailments and relieve symptoms, including
- Chronic pain
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Inflammation
CBD products have a much more liberal status in many countries in terms of legality. Manufacturers can make large quantities of CBD diamonds boasting a purity of 99%. And they can use this crystalline CBD in various products, including CBD oil.
Although they lack the beneficial synergy of additional terpenes, consumers can also add CBD diamonds to bong bowls alongside dried flowers and concentrates.
Since cannabis diamonds are almost 100% cannabinoids, there are usually no terpenes in the product. These diamonds are odorless and tasteless concentrates. In some cases, manufacturers may mix CBD and THCA crystals with terpene “sauce” that has a runny texture to create a saucy soup of diamonds.
Bottom Line
THCA diamonds are crystalline structures made of pure THCA that can be made with several extraction methods, including “diamond mining” and the isolation of refined oil. These techniques separate THCA from other cannabis compounds found in the plant.
Overall, if you want to take your relationship with cannabis to the next level, trying these concentrates is necessary. So, why don’t you shop from our THCA diamonds and taste these gleaming diamonds?