What is CBD Isolate and How is it Used? The Purest CBD
13 Aug 2021
CBD isolate is the next cannabidiol craze driving newcomers to the scene to try cannabidiol for the first time.
While THC is the most commonly sought-after cannabinoid, CBD has been exponentially growing in popularity over the last few years.
It is non-psychoactive so you won’t be getting high from using it but it still offers many of the benefits of THC. This makes it a great option for people looking for medical benefits like pain or anxiety relief but who also don’t want to get high.
Finding a concentrated form of CBD is a bit trickier than THC though which is why CBD isolate is such a fantastic solution for people seeking an easier way to dose their CBD usage.
With that being said, what is CBD isolate in the first place? What health benefits does it offer and what are its potential side effects?
Keep reading to learn more!
What is CBD Isolate?
CBD isolate is essentially as pure of a form of CBD as you can find.
It comes as a powder or crystalline solid with 99.99 percent CBD content leaving only trace amounts of other compounds in the extraction.
Created through an extraction process that removes all of the active plant’s compounds, CBD isolate is incredibly pure. The extract itself will look like large crystals or a fine white powder similar to confectioners sugar and shouldn’t have any taste or scent.
While it may not seem as exciting as all of the CBD oil, topicals or pre-rolls available on the market, CBD isolates have some advantages over other forms of CBD and are versatile in the way they can be used.
What are the Benefits of CBD Isolate?
One of the best things about CBD isolate for people seeking the benefits of this cannabinoid is that it is in its purest form. The amount of CBD in isolate is as high as it can possibly be in any product offering a THC-free product that’s incredibly accessible, versatile and easy to use.
Compared to other CBD-focused products such as tinctures, edibles or vapes, CBD isolate is completely flavourless and can be incorporated into many meals and beverages.
Because it’s such a pure extract, all you have to do is dissolve it into your food and drink and consume! It’s by far the most accessible and easy way to medicate with CBD.
Additionally, isolate is virtually free of any other compounds other than CBD. Conversely, full-spectrum products or broad-spectrum CBD oil products may include other cannabinoids mixed with the CBD so it’s harder to know exactly how much to dose.
If you’re using CBD and trying to avoid setting off a drug test, choosing CBD to isolate essentially guarantees you won’t be positive for THC while some oils may contain enough THC to give a positive read.
With isolate powder being so simple to use, figuring out the dosage is also easier since there aren’t other products to account for.
One disadvantage to CBD isolate compared to full-spectrum CBD products is that you won’t experience the entourage effect. When combined together, the terpenes and cannabinoids from the cannabis plant create a synergistic effect when mixed together so consuming a pure CBD isolate eliminates this ability to this theorized “holistic” effect.
How is it Made?
Isolating CBD is how CBD isolate is made.
Let us be clear here – CBD isolate is the crystallization of cannabidiol compounds and nothing else. It’s literally nothing else but CBD. So, to create a substance with such high purity, it’s important to start with high-quality inputs.
First, hemp plants with a high CBD content are selected as the starting material. Hemp is used instead of cannabis sativa plants for their low-to-none THC content and their high CBD content.
Secondly, the hemp plants are processed, decarboxylated and turned into CBD oil. From there, the crude CBD oil is refined into a purer state. At this stage, the CBD content will be around 60-65%, which is nowhere where we need the purity to be.
To purify the CBD oil even further, the oil is evaporated and distilled under high temperatures and pressure to create a CBD concentrate. At this point, the CBD content will range from 80-85%.
The last step is to remove the last 10% or so of impurities remaining in the solution. A process known as chromatography, which separates a mixture into its separate parts, is used to remove the remaining impurities from the concentrate.
After that, the isolated CBD is left to crystallize on its own. After a few hours, the isolate is ready to be ‘harvested’ and used!
How to Use CBD Isolate?
Out of all the other CBD products available out there today, isolate is the most versatile and accessible to use. Since it comes in powder form, users are free to use it and mix it however they’d like!
Here are three easy ways you can use isolate.
Mixed into Drinks
Since it comes in a crystallized, almost powder-like form, CBD isolate can be easily mixed into your morning coffee, smoothies, or even plain water! Unlike CBD tinctures, isolate has no flavour whatsoever so you won’t even know you’re getting your CBD kick.
Adding a pinch or two of isolate into your beverage of choice is by far the easiest way to use this versatile extract.
Infused into Meals
If you fancy yourself a chef, CBD isolate can be incorporated into soups, sauces and stews for an easy CBD-infused. Its lack of flavour, paired with its low melting point means that you can get perfectly medicated meals each and every time.
Infuse it into sauces, melt it into soups or sprinkle some on top of a dish for a CBD kick that’s just right!
Eaten as is
Lastly, CBD isolate can also just be eaten as is! There are no special steps here – just portion out a dose on a spoon and its bottoms up! Some users may prefer filling gelatin capsules with CBD isolate to bring it with them on the go but there’s nothing stopping you from doing what you need to do to get your dose of CBD!
Incredible CBD Isolate
Deciding between different CBD products is a very involved process with a lot of different factors to consider. From tinctures to capsules and fulls-spectrum to broad-spectrum, a lot of consideration is needed before one can know which product is best for them,.
If you are still on the fence about which format is most suitable for your needs, consider picking based on your preferred consumption method and objective.
Consumers looking for a CBD experience with a bit of psychoactivity should look towards full-spectrum products such as tinctures and capsules.
On the other hand, if you want CBD and don’t want anything else to muddy up the experience, isolate is by far your best option. Whatever your preference, be sure to visit our online dispensary Canada for the best deals on CBD isolate, CBD edibles and more! You won’t be disappointed with our selection.
Happy trails!