The cannabis industry has come a long way since Rick Simpson first shared his concentrated cannabis oil recipe with the world. While RSO undoubtedly blazed a trail for concentrated cannabis medicines, the brutal extraction process strips away much of what makes hemp truly effective – its terpenes.
As professionals who’ve spent years developing extraction methods that preserve the plant’s complete profile, we can tell you that maintaining these volatile compounds isn’t a luxury – it’s essential for creating truly effective cannabis products.
Key Takeaways
- RSO’s high-temperature extraction process significantly depletes terpenes, reducing the product’s effectiveness and the entourage effect.
- Advanced extraction techniques, cold extraction, and pressure control, allow the preservation of terpenes while maintaining high cannabinoid potency.
- Superior starting material combined with optimized harvest timing enhances terpene preservation, contributing to improved therapeutic and product outcomes.
- Terpene-rich extracts offer improved therapeutic effects, better taste, and new opportunities for strain-specific formulations.
The RSO Legacy: Understanding Its Limitations
Rick Simpson’s contribution to cannabis medicine is undeniable. His simple, home-based extraction method made concentrated cannabis accessible to those who needed it most.
But here’s the thing: when you boil cannabis in alcohol at high temperatures, you essentially cook off the very compounds that contribute to the entourage effect. It also leaves a bitter aftertaste.
That’s because traditional RSO extraction involves high temperatures, extended heating periods, and multiple rounds of solvent evaporation. Each of these steps takes away some terpenes such that by the time you’ve finished making RSO, most of the original terpene profile has vanished into thin air – literally.
The Complete Terpene Preservation
Fresh Never Frozen® A Game-Changing Approach
At Terpene Belt Farms, we’ve developed an extraction method that maintains the potency and full spectrum of hemp terpenes. Our Fresh Never Frozen® method captures these volatile compounds before they degrade or evaporate.
The Science of Preservation
Think of cannabis like a fine wine – it’s not just about the alcohol content. Would you boil a premium Cabernet just to concentrate its alcohol? Of course not. The same principle applies to cannabis extraction. The goal is to maintain the perfect symphony of compounds that nature created in hemp.
Advanced Extraction for Terpene Preservation
To make the best terpene extracts, we use the following methods to preserve the terpene content and maintain high potency:
Cold Extraction Technology
Temperature control isn’t just important – it’s everything. Our cold extraction process maintains temperatures well below the evaporation point of even the most volatile terpenes (around 100°F). This means we preserve compounds that traditional RSO methods lose in the first five minutes of processing.
Pressure-Controlled Environment
Maintaining precise pressure control throughout the extraction process can prevent terpene degradation. It’s like having your cake and eating it, too – full potency with complete terpene preservation.
Multi-Stage Filtration
Our advanced filtration system removes unwanted compounds while maintaining the integrity of beneficial ones, resulting in a cleaner, more therapeutically effective product.
The Quality of Starting Material
California’s Terpene Advantage
There’s a reason California’s cannabis is world-renowned, and it’s not just marketing. The unique climate conditions in the Terpene Belt nurture hemp with exceptional terpene profiles. When you start with superior material, you have more terpenes to preserve.
Our oils pay homage to the legacy of California Cannabis while bringing awareness to the rich terroir by creating a vintage-driven framework to elevate the conversation about cannabis derivatives and their applications.
Harvest Timing
The timing of the harvest is crucial for terpene preservation. In our experience, terpene content can vary by up to 30% based on harvest timing alone. Therefore, we’ve optimized our harvest schedule to maximize terpene preservation before extraction even begins.
Practical Applications: Beyond Traditional RSO
RSO can be used for several purposes, such as:
Medical Applications
While RSO has been primarily known for its medical applications, our terpene-preserved extracts take therapeutic potential to the next level. That’s because they offer:
- Enhanced entourage effect
- More predictable dosing
- Better absorption rates
- Improved taste and administration options
Product Development Opportunities
Furthermore, the preservation of terpenes opens up new possibilities for product development, including developing:
- Strain-specific formulations
- Targeted therapeutic profiles
- Enhanced flavor profiles
- Better stability in finished products
Product Stability Analysis
Our long-term stability studies show that properly preserved terpenes can maintain their profile for extended periods, providing consistent effects throughout the product’s shelf life.
As a result, these oils are widely used in the food industry as natural food preservatives and for flavoring. Presently, over 300 essential oils are used in the flavor and fragrances industry.
Case Studies: Real World Impact
Patient Experience Study
In most cases, people using terpene-preserved extracts experience:
- Faster onset of effects
- More consistent results
- Better taste and smell
- Improved overall satisfaction
However, over and above these, research suggests that terpene-rich extracts offer many health benefits. They are shown to possess antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial, and immunomodulatory properties.
The Science of Synergy
Recent research has shown that terpenes do more than just provide flavor and aroma. They also enhance the absorption of cannabinoids, modulate the effects, improve therapeutic outcomes, and increase bioavailability.
Quality Control and Testing
Our testing protocols exceed standard industry practices to ensure our products are potent, safe, and effective. Therefore, we also undertake:
- Full terpene profiling
- Residual solvent analysis
- Heavy metal screening
- Microbial testing
- Stability testing
Through precise control of our extraction parameters, we achieve batch-to-batch consistency that RSO producers can only dream of.
Looking Forward: The Evolution of Cannabis Extraction
The future of cannabis extraction isn’t about choosing between potency and terpenes – it’s about maintaining both. As our understanding of the plant’s complexity grows, so too must our extraction methods evolve to preserve its complete profile.
Industry Trends
We’re seeing a shift toward:
- More sophisticated extraction methods
- Better terpene preservation
- Increased focus on complete profiles
- Greater emphasis on starting material quality
Regulatory Considerations
As the industry matures, we anticipate stricter quality control requirements and enhanced testing standards. There will also be greater emphasis on terpene content and more focus on preservation methods.
Ready to Upgrade Your Manufacturing Game?
Don’t settle for terpene extracts made with outdated extraction methods that sacrifice crucial compounds. Instead, leverage our Fresh Never Frozen® terpenes to create superior cannabis extracts that maintain the complete profile nature intended.
Our Products
We are the leading manufacturer of cannabis terpenes. Steam-distilled and cannabinoid free, our Fresh Never Frozen® cannabis terpenes capture the plant’s spirit and carry the land’s terroir. We provide a scalable supply chain and power formula standardization for the industry’s top brands.
So, check out our collection of fresh terpenes and order today. These essential oils are available for retail purchase in 5mL, 25mL, 100mL, and 250mL sizes, with wholesale bulk pricing available for sizes starting at 1L.
We also offer our revolutionary mesh infusion bags (aka NEU bags) saturated with terpenes. When an NEU Bag is placed into a bag or bin with whole flower buds, the diffusion process gently migrates the oil from the infusion bag to the flower, resulting in improved aroma, flavor, and effectiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Fresh Never Frozen® Method Differ from Traditional Extraction?
The FNF method maintains temperatures below 100°F during extraction to preserve volatile terpenes. It also uses precise pressure control and multi-stage filtration to maintain the full profile of terpenes.
Why Is Harvest Timing Important for Terpene Preservation?
Terpene content can vary by up to 30% based on harvest timing alone, making it crucial to optimize harvest schedules to maximize terpene preservation before extraction begins.
What’s the Shelf Life of Terpene Extracts?
When properly stored, our terpene-preserved extracts maintain their profile for 18-24 months.
Is the Production Process More Expensive?
While our process requires more sophisticated equipment and control, the improved efficacy and user experience justify the investment.
Sources Used
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7324885/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9039924/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5238431/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3265747/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10741589/