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Preserving Fresh Fruits for Longer with CBD

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Introduction

The benefits of CBD, a non-psychotropic cannabinoid known for its therapeutic properties, continue to expand beyond our expectations. A recent scientific study published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces has revealed a groundbreaking discovery: CBD can be utilized to prolong the shelf life of fresh fruits. In this article, we delve into the research and explore the potential of CBD-infused coatings to preserve fruit freshness. Let’s uncover the fascinating world of edible CBD coatings and their impact on fruit preservation.

a bowl filled with red strawberries

A Promising Approach: CBD Coating for Prolonged Fruit Preservation

Understanding the Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD)

Cannabidiol, or CBD, has garnered widespread attention for its antioxidant and antibacterial effects. However, the investigation into its full potential is still in its early stages. Researchers embarked on a mission to harness the benefits of CBD by creating an encapsulated CBD isolate (eCBDi) and evaluating the impact of edible active coatings of eCBDi on the physicochemical properties of strawberries. Their primary objective was to determine if these coatings could serve as post-harvest treatments to promote antioxidant activity, antimicrobial action, and prolong the shelf life of strawberries.

The Path to a Protective and Edible CBD Coating

To achieve a protective and fully edible coating for strawberries, the research team combined CBD isolate with biodegradable polymers, resulting in nanoparticles with a size of 400 nanometers. These nanoparticles were then mixed with water and sodium alginate, a food additive. The strawberries were immersed in the resulting solution, followed by a treatment with ascorbic acid and calcium chloride, resulting in an invisible gel-like coating.

strawberries protected by a cbd coating

The Impact of CBD Coating on Fruit Preservation

Examining Visual Appearance and Quality Parameters

The results of the study were remarkable. The researchers found that the strawberries coated with eCBDi experienced significantly delayed deterioration in terms of weight loss, total acidity, pH levels, microbial activity, and antioxidant activity compared to the control group. This study effectively demonstrated the potential of eCBDi nanoparticles as efficient agents for active food coatings, offering a promising solution for prolonging fruit preservation.

Insights Based on First-hand Experience

As a seasoned expert in the field, I have witnessed the continuous evolution of CBD research and its diverse applications. The breakthrough discovery of using CBD to preserve fruits is a testament to the boundless possibilities of this extraordinary cannabinoid. Incorporating CBD-infused coatings in the agricultural industry could not only extend the shelf life of fruits but also reduce food waste significantly.

man eats CBD-infused strawberries

FAQs About CBD Coating for Fruit Preservation

1. Is CBD coating safe for consuming fresh fruits?

Absolutely! The CBD-infused coatings used in the study are entirely edible and pose no harm to human health when used correctly. In fact, they offer an innovative way to preserve fruits naturally.

2. Can CBD coating be used on other fruits besides strawberries?

While the study focused on strawberries, the concept of using CBD coatings can be extended to various fruits. Researchers are likely to explore its potential on other fruit types in the future.

3. Does CBD coating alter the taste of the fruit?

The CBD coating is virtually tasteless and does not alter the natural taste of the fruit. Consumers can enjoy the full flavor and nutritional benefits of fresh fruits.

4. Are there any environmental benefits of using CBD coatings?

Yes, CBD coatings are based on biodegradable polymers, making them eco-friendly and contributing to a more sustainable agricultural practice.

5. Can CBD coating help reduce food waste?

Absolutely. By prolonging the shelf life of fresh fruits, CBD coatings can minimize food spoilage and waste, benefiting both consumers and producers.

6. How can CBD-infused coatings benefit the agricultural industry?

CBD coatings offer an innovative post-harvest treatment, reducing the need for chemical preservatives and potentially revolutionizing fruit preservation practices.

Conclusion

The discovery of using CBD-infused coatings to preserve fresh fruits is a game-changer in the agricultural industry. The nanoparticle technology and edible nature of these coatings showcase the versatility and potential of CBD beyond its therapeutic applications. With further research and implementation, CBD coatings have the power to transform fruit preservation methods, reduce food waste, and contribute to a more sustainable future.



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How To Make Cannabis Hashish

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Many people often wonder how they can make cannabis hashish. Popularly shortened to hash, it is an Arabic name that means grass. Over countless years, this concentrate from the cannabis plant has been utilized by many cultures for its beneficial properties.
Today, the growing curiosity about how to make cannabis hash prompts us to come up with an ultimate guide on how the process can be done in a straightforward manner.

Producing hash requires separating cannabis bud trichomes from the other plant parts. In female cannabis plants, there are frosty white hairy-like structures. In this case, that’s what we refer to as trichomes. These parts are highly abundant in THC, which is why they are the most desired part of the plant. Remember that to come up with viable hashish, you must extract substantial amounts of THC.

Kief vs. hashish

Hashish doesn’t come merely from the separation of trichomes. The important factor at this point is kief. Kief is the raw material that aids in the production of hashish. When heat and pressure are applied to kief, hashish comes into existence.

Making kief into hash

From kief, it’s easy to come up with hash. There are two ways in which one can complete the process:

• Pollen pressing
• The heat and pressure method.

The pollen processing method

Pollen Processing involves placing kief in a press. Next, you apply firm pressure to make it moldable. By applying direct pressure to the kief, you will create a basic hash (really a kief puck). This method makes it easier to come up with a puck of hash.

However, this method has disadvantages. The flavors do not get a chance to develop, as there is no heat used in the process. The heat assists in developing and maintaining the flavors of the hash in its finished form. Heating and applying pressure to kief gives you a higher-quality hash.

The heat and pressure method

You can use the puck that you created above, or you can use cellophane to wrap kief and use a rolling pin to apply pressure and create a puck. Just keep gently applying pressure until the kief is at the density and shape that you want. You can continue to do this as long as you want. You can also let it sit for a day or two so that all of the flavors meld together. When you are ready, remove the cellophane.

Once you have created a kief puck using a pollen press, to do the heat and pressure method, you will need to gently heat the kief. You will want to wrap the puck in a wet paper towel. You will then wrap the kief in a wrap that can withstand being in a 93 – 137°C (200 – 280°F) oven. A good cooking parchment paper will be perfect for this application.

Place the parchment paper and its contents in an oven set somewhere between 93 – 137°C (200 – 280°F). Make sure that the contents do not spill out. Having a baking sheet handy would be very helpful here. Place the package in your oven for 5-10 minutes. Unwrap the package. Rewet your paper towel, re-press your puck using the method above, and then rewrap it in parchment paper. Place this in the oven again for 5-10 minutes. Repeat the process. You want to do this whole process at least three times. Let it cool overnight or by placing the product in your fridge or freezer.

The pressure and heat method will produce a superior hash.

Methods used in the production of hashish

There are other different methods used in coming up with hash. However, these ways give different potency levels.
It is also worth mentioning that different cannabis plants have different cannabinoid levels. That said, they can produce varied qualities of hash depending on the marijuana strain used. There are quite a few methods used to make cannabis hash. Nonetheless, we are going to give the three most used and cheap to try at home.

1. Finger production method

This could be described as the easiest method for producing hash. As one harvests ganja from the cannabis plants, there may be instances where it sticks to the palms and the fingers.

The method involves placing a can or jar and rubbing your hands and fingers together over the can so that it collects the parts of the buds that stick to your hands. This can then be used to produce hash by rubbing your hands together vigorously. The heat and pressure produced during rubbing aid in combining the mixture into hash. However, this type of hash is described as having low quality. There may also be contamination coming from sweat and dirt on your hands.

The obtained hash may have off-flavors and unpredictable effects, which is a negative.

2. Silkscreen

This method involves sieving cannabis trichomes through a silk screen. Depending on your preference, you can opt to make your silkscreen or purchase one. Either way, note that the cannabis plant parts must be trimmed into very tiny sizes through this screen.

That said, you also need to ensure that you see the trichomes and collect them painstakingly. The finer the silkscreens that you use, the higher the probability of coming up with finely produced hashish.

One can opt to use the remains to sieve them further. However, the kief obtained from the get-go usually has mostly potent hashish. Depending on the amount of hash needed, a single silkscreen is under most circumstances sufficient to come up with a substantial amount of hash.

3. Blender method

The blender method relies heavily on probability. The colder the trichomes, the easier it gets to separate them from the rest of the cannabis plant parts. Ice is a crucial ingredient in this method. Using this method involves mixing the cannabis plant matter, water, and ice into a blender.

Switching on the blender aids in separating the iced plant matter to get the trichomes. That becomes evident after switching off the blender. The trichomes sink, making it easy to obtain them promptly.
A sieve can then get used. The trichomes penetrate easily, which is why they pass through the sieve with water while the rest of the plant parts remain in the sieve.

Letting the trichomes and water mixture cool for 30 minutes afterward helps the trichomes form a layer at the bottom. However, one ought to be careful because slight disturbance to the trichomes can lead to unnecessary impurities. The trichomes layer can then get placed in a freezer for ten minutes.

In summary

Making hash is a sure way to make trichomes usable in a unique way. Now that you have the info necessary to come up with these concentrates, the ball is in your court.
The marijuana strains you use to extract the trichomes play an essential role in the overall effects obtained after using hashish. The better the strain you use, the better your hash will be.
Follow the method of your choice and enjoy your hash to the fullest!



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How To Make Hash Or Hashish, Expert Tips!

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Hashish is a cannabis concentrate. It is wonderful stuff that you can crumble and put in a joint or smoke in a bowl. You can buy it from a dealer, but did you know that you can also make it relatively easily yourself? You don’t need that much at all. There is even a method that requires no tools at all, just your hands! Read on and make your own hash! In this article we’ll discuss two methods, namely making hash using a sieve and making hash using a blender.

how to make hash

Make hashish with a sieve

There are different ways to make hashish. For example, you can roll your plant material under your hands. Because you press hard and roll, the trichomes stick to your hands. A sticky layer will remain on your hands, and if you carefully scrape it off, you will have hash!

Rolling is a simple method because you don’t need anything for it. Well, of course, you need plant material. You can use stems, leaves, and flower tops for it. In fact, everything that remains after harvesting still has trichomes. There are trichomes on almost all parts of a weed plant. Sometimes there aren’t that many, but by rolling everything under your hands, enough sticks. Suppose you don’t like this method, for example, because you don’t want to get your hands dirty, there are many more ways to make hash. So read on, and discover other ways that might be of interest to you. Keep in mind that every way to make hash produces a different kind of hash. A certain method influences the structure, for example, the hash may end up being a bit dry or very sticky. And how strong the hashish is can differ. But that is just the fun. With every method you use, the end product is about the same, since it falls into the hashish category. Yet there are differences in the final product that make it interesting again. Certainly, if you make it yourself, you can vary nicely. That way you learn what you like best. Anyway, we want to teach you a method here that is very simple. The only thing you need for it is a sieve. This method is also called ‘flat screening’. Use a strainer that you can easily hold in your hand, the smaller the holes, the better and purer your final product will be. We assume that you are looking for quality, not quantity!

It is best to first put your weed in the freezer for a while. That will help to get the trichomes off your weed plant better. When you have done that, remove the plant material from the freezer. Make sure you have a clean work table or surface. Put the plant material on the sieve and rub it very carefully back and forth. By rubbing the plant material remains on the sieve and the trichomes fall through the fine holes of the sieve. The trichomes fall on the surface under the sieve. Continue to sift for a while, until no more trichomes fall and the plant material is ‘finished’.

Making hashish in a blender

Of all the ways to make hashish, this is perhaps the coolest. And it is not only very fun to do, but it is also very simple. You probably have all the materials for this method at home. You need a blender and a strainer (sieve) for it. Are you ready to make your own fresh, wonderfully smelling, homemade hashish? Here we go!

Put all the cutting residues that you have left after pruning or harvesting in a blender. Now fill the blender with water so that all the plant material is just covered with water. Wait, don’t start mixing right away. We appreciate your enthusiasm! But ice must first be added. Fill the blender completely with ice. Now it’s time to mix. First do it a bit quietly, so that the ice can crush, and then turn the blender knob all the way to high-speed mode, and mix for a minute at the highest setting. You now get a kind of green soup, a bit of a slimy mixture. Now take the sieve and keep it above a jug or a pot. Pour the green mixture through the sieve into the jug and let it rest for about an hour. You now see something very nice happening: the trichomes form on the bottom. If you want to see this, you must take a glass can. Then you can see it all happen. Now comes a precise job, which you have to handle carefully. Drain part of the water, but watch out, make sure you don’t wash away the trichomes because you want them! Now fill the pot again with very cold water and let it rest for 10 minutes. Drain part of the water again and be careful not to wash away the trichomes. You have to be patient now, and not make it easy for yourself. Just wait and restrain yourself for a moment! For good quality hashish, you have to repeat this process about 6 times.

We will now make real hashish

Did you do all this? Beautiful! Then we will now make real hashish. Start by carefully draining as much water as possible from the jug (or pot, depending on what you use). So don’t rinse the trichomes away, otherwise, you can start over again, and you will have better things to do! Now grab a filter. A coffee filter works best. Carefully pour the solution left in the jug through the coffee filter. Now all the water is washed away and a sticky mass remains in the filter. Tadaaa, there is your homemade hash! Congratulations! First, gently squeeze the filter to remove even more water, pressing the hashish slightly. You can now let it dry and then smoke it in a bowl or joint, just what you like best. It is not necessary to first heat the hash or compress it even further. Enjoy!

 



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5 Key Things To Know About Cannabis Concentrates

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When you are young, you can experiment, but as you age – you want to minimize after effects…we got you when it comes to the next step with marijuana

High school and college were the days of experimenting. Lessons leads to stories about crazy things and some unfortunate times. But as you age and move to a more sophisticated self, it is important to have the knowledge regarding having fun.  Marijuana has become mainstream and some are moving into a connoisseur phase.  This encompasses flavor, impact, and potency.  In this journey, here are 5 key things to know about cannabis concentrates.

It is not for beginners

Concentrates are extremely potent. This is helpful for cannabis enthusiasts who have built up a high tolerance and know how marijuana affects them. However, it can overwhelm people who are still new in consuming.  Don’t rush into the max and until you have gotten your weed legs steady. Dabbing is the way to consume concentrates, and is a bit more of a process.

Concentrates may or may not be better flower

Photo by Darrin Harris Frisby/Drug Policy Alliance

RELATED: Marijuana 101: Dabbing Wax Vs. Vaping Wax

You can have a bit of a longer high

High-Potency Marijuana Doubles Risk Of Anxiety Issues, Study FInds
Photo by Keenan Constance via Pexels

RELATED: Differences In Marijuana Highs: Flowers, Edibles and Concentrates

Similar to smoking/vaping, the effects of dabbing usually last 1 to 3 hours. If using a high THC concentrate, you could feel the effects for 10-12 hours. If you are feeling uncomfortable or worried, the best thing to do is take a nap and sleep it off.

Concentrates are to be respected

Photo by rgbspace/Getty Images

RELATED: Dabbing Is On The Rise Among Teens — Here’s What Parents Should Know 

You can find a ton misinformation surrounding the dabbing process, some reports claim overdoses have been influenced by the recent popularity of concentrates. While there might be an existing relationship, marijuana advocates claim concentrates are safe and produce the same positive results as cannabis flower. Even if you get too high from ingesting the wrong dose, no one has ever died from consuming them.

Concentrates are like other products

marijuana dabbing
Photo by bartystewart/Getty Images

While the process of making concentrates is one involving the use of complex chemicals, facilities are equipped to handle these solvents and are very strict when it comes to how they’re produced. All the information should be clearly stated on the product’s label, and concentrates should be made by professionals who are working responsibly. In short, dangerous concentrates are rarely found in a regulated, legal market.



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