Your Guide for a Safe and Fun Cannabis Tincture Journey

Cannabis tinctures are a fantastic way to enjoy the benefits of cannabis without smoking, vaping, or consuming edibles. While those methods of consumption have their own benefits, sometimes you just want a simple and easy way to incorporate cannabis into your daily routine. Tinctures offer a discreet way to consume cannabis where you can also get precise dosing, often with very specific cannabinoid ratios for specific uses.. Whether your go-to is a CBD tincture, a THC tincture, or a pleasant combination of both, Sava’s selection of tinctures have you covered.


What Are Cannabis Tinctures?

Cannabis tinctures are a liquid cannabis concentrate, created by steeping cannabis in a carrier, such as alcohol or oil. Dating back to the 1800s, tinctures are tried and true—they were the most common form of cannabis consumption prior to cannabis prohibition in 1937. Cannabis tincture drops are great for regular cannabis users as they are easy to dose (many droppers have measurements on them), and you can consume cannabis throughout the day without having to eat or smoke anything. You can also add tinctures to your food or drinks for a prolonged, edible-like effect. ?

 

How Are Cannabis Tinctures Made?

Let's take a deeper look at the two different extraction methods for creating tinctures.

Cannabis Tincture: Alcohol Based

In an alcohol-based tincture, the plant is first decarboxylated (a process in which cannabis is heated to activate the cannabinoids), then soaked in high-proof, food-grade alcohol to infuse the essence. Next, the plant solids are strained out, leaving only the cannabis concentrate behind. Cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids are all alcohol soluble, making alcohol a great solvent for cannabis tinctures.

This is the same process used to make vanilla extract. Whole vanilla beans and seeds are placed in high-proof alcohol and left to soak for a length of time. Then, the beans and seeds are strained out, leaving behind a potent punch of vanilla.

MAKING YOUR OWN ALCOHOL-BASED CANNABIS TINCTURES AT HOME

If you're feeling crafty, you can easily make alcohol-based tinctures at home. Here's everything you'll need to make one in your own kitchen:

  • Baking sheet
  • Mason jar
  • Glass bottle with eyedropper
  • Small funnel
  • Strainer or filter, such as cheesecloth
  • Your favorite cannabis flower
  • High-proof, food-grade alcohol (never isopropyl or similar alcohol)

Instructions:

  1. Grind your favorite cannabis flower to a fine consistency.
  2. Decarboxylate, or activate the compounds, of your cannabis by placing it in a preheated oven at 230 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
  3. Once cooled, move the decarbed cannabis into a glass jar, submerge it with the alcohol, and seal. When deciding how much cannabis to use, a good starting point is about one gram of cannabis per fluid ounce of alcohol.
  4. Close the jar and let it sit for three weeks so the cannabinoids completely dissolve into the alcohol. Store in a cool and dark place, and shake it once a day.
  5. Allow the alcohol and cannabis mixture to steep for a few weeks before straining it through a filter-lined funnel into the tincture bottle.

Check out our store if you don't want to wait for three weeks. We hand-select liquid THC and CBD cannabis tinctures with different strengths and blends to help you find that bliss, relaxation or relief you’ve been craving.

Cannabis Tincture: Oil Based

Oil-based tinctures use carbon dioxide to pull natural cannabis compounds from the plants. The CO2 extraction process is significantly more complicated than infusing alcohol with decarboxylated cannabis to make alcohol-based cannabis tinctures. CO2 extraction machines are used to freeze and compress CO2 gas into a cold liquid state. Then the temperature is increased until the CO2 fluid reaches the  "supercritical" state, which allows the CO2 to break down the cannabis plant material into its various components.

The supercritical CO2 and cannabis plant material are then passed through an extraction machine to pull out all of the essential trichomes and terpene oils . Finally, this solution is passed through a separator, where the machine will extract the concentrated cannabis.

Cannabis Tincture: Oil Based vs Alcohol Based vs RSO

Generally, oil-based tinctures will have a higher potency, and alcohol-based tinctures will have a longer shelf life. Once again, think about how long vanilla extract can last (between 5 and 10 years!) versus how long olive oil can last (maybe a year for high-quality oil).

Unlike cannabis tinctures, in which the plant is infused into alcohol or oil, Rick Simpson Oil  (RSO) is a concentrated cannabis oil with a sticky consistency, and is typically packaged in syringes for precise dosing in oral and topical applications.

Usually, RSO is a full-spectrum product, which means that it is a whole plant extract. It’s made by washing the cannabis flowers with a solvent then boiling the resulting solution until only the super concentrated oil remains.


 

How to Use Tinctures

There’s no one-size-fits-all method for how to use tinctures. You can use cannabis tinctures for a wide variety of needs.

One common method for using cannabis tinctures is oral consumption. You can add the tincture drops to food, beverages, or place drops directly under your tongue. When taking a cannabis tincture orally, be sure to dose it carefully. The tincture products we carry have precise, lab-verified dosing measurements for your ease and convenience.

If you opt for a  sublingual tincture (meaning you drop the tincture directly under the tongue and allow it to absorb), you may experience a slight decrease in how much cannabis tincture is absorbed. Some of the tincture will inevitably get mixed with saliva and enter your digestive system to be processed there. However, consuming cannabis tinctures sublingually offers the benefit that the THC is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, instead of first being processed by the liver, (which is how the body processes tincture drops consumed with food or beverages).

Just like when trying any new cannabis product, we recommend starting small and increasing dosage only when you’re comfortable.

To use your cannabis tincture topically, you can add a few drops to your favorite lotion or cream and then apply to your skin for a luxurious and relaxed feeling.

How Long Will It Take to Kick In?

Now that you know a little more about how to control your tincture dosage, you may be wondering how long they take to take effect.  Another common question is: how long do tinctures last?

Like all cannabis products, your mileage varies by tincture dosage and how your body processes cannabinoids. Depending on how you ingest a cannabis tincture, the effects may kick in just 15 minutes after consumption, or may take up to 45 minutes. Sublingual tinctures generally kick in more quickly because they’re absorbed directly into your bloodstream, whereas adding to your beverage or food will have it perform more like an edible, with a longer onset time of 30 minutes or more.

Always remember the rule of thumb: go low and slow. Start with a low dose and slowly build up to ensure you have a comfortable and relaxing experience.


Our Favorite Cannabis Tinctures and Their Potential Benefits

We believe there’s a perfect product for every person’s specific needs, and tinctures are no exception. Now that you know how to use tinctures, let’s dive into the amazing cannabis tincture benefits that can help you achieve a healthy, happy lifestyle.

CBD Tinctures and Their Potential to Reduce Pain

Pain relief is a major benefit linked to CBD tinctures and THC tinctures. In 2015, a large review of cannabis studies in patients found that chronic pain sufferers could improve their odds of relief by 40% with THC.

Tinctures can help ease muscle pain and inflammation, leading to great relief. A couple of our favorite CBD tinctures for pain are the Care By Design 40:1 CBD Tincture and the Inflammation Soother from Humboldt Apothecary. The Care By Design tincture has 32mg CBD per serving, plus a small dose of other cannabinoids including THC, CBDa, and THCa. The Inflammation Soother has a 3:1 CBD to THC ratio, and a botanical alcohol base that soothes aches, pains, and inflammation.

 

CBN and THC Tinctures Improve Sleep Quality

Another amazing cannabis tincture benefit is that the right combination of cannabinoids are an easy way to soothe anxiety and improve sleep quality. Studies have shown that THC products can reduce sleep disturbances, decrease the time it takes to fall asleep, and generally improve sleep issues, and CBN is a popular cannabinoid choice for those struggling with insomnia.

The Papa & Barkley CBN Sleep Releaf Tincture  has a 2:4:1 CBD:THC:CBN ratio that offers relaxation, comfort, and an easy time falling asleep.

Another tincture from Humboldt Apothecary, the Deep Sleep THC Tincture, is a higher dose THC tincture formulated for full-body relaxation and deep, rejuvenating sleep.

One of our most popular tinctures, the Rosette THC Tincture, is rich in terpenes from Rosette’s proprietary Royal Treat strain. This tincture has helped consumers with various issues, from insomnia to appetite problems.

 

CBD Tincture to Reduce Anxiety

For relief from social anxiety, we highly recommend CBD tinctures. A study in 2011 found that patients who suffered from social anxiety disorder (SAD) showed great improvements in social performance and mood with the use of CBD. Patients who received the CBD in the study showed reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort.

If you’re looking to buy CBD tinctures, we absolutely love the Papa & Barkley 30:1 CBD Tincture to help ease anxiety and promote wellness and relaxation. They’re designed for people who are less experienced with cannabis or who may want extra concentrated CBD relief.

 

THC Tinctures and Its Potential to Reduce Nausea

A 2010 study showed that chemo patients who took THC along with standard treatments were less prone to nausea and vomiting than patients who didn’t receive THC.

The Farmaceuticals’ THC Do Drops are a multi-use THC tincture made from sativa for an energetic, euphoric boost, along with therapeutic relief from nausea, mood issues, stress, pain, and fatigue.


 

Why Do People Love Cannabis Tinctures?

Tinctures provide similar benefits to the other amazing products we carry. You may be wondering when and why you might choose tinctures instead of—or in addition to— other consumption methods. Here are just a few reasons new and experienced users alike love these potent and powerful drops:

Tinctures are Discreet

Tinctures may be tiny, but they pack a big punch. You can easily carry them in your bag and ingest orally whenever you need a quick and effective cannabis experience.

Tinctures are Great for Precise Dosing

With cannabis tinctures, a lot of cannabinoids and terpenes are concentrated in just a single dropper. By titrating your dose up or down, you can quickly adjust the amount of CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids to fit your tolerance and preference.

Cannabis Tinctures Deliver Faster Effects

When taken sublingually, cannabis tinctures are fast-acting, providing quick and easy relief. Compared with edibles, ingesting a tincture by placing it under your tongue (sublingually) will speed absorption into your bloodstream, shortening the onset time.

However, if you add the tincture to your beverage or food, expect it to perform like an edible, with a longer onset time.

They Have a Long Shelf Life

Tincture doses are so concentrated, each cannabis tincture bottle can last for years if stored properly. But how long do tinctures last before they’re past their prime?

The great news is that tinctures have an excellent shelf life, as long as they’re kept in a cool and dark place. Just make sure that the cap is tightly fastened to prevent evaporation and shake cannabis tinctures well before using to avoid any separation that may occur.


 

Start Your Cannabis Tincture Journey with Sava

If you’re excited to buy CBD tinctures, THC tinctures, or one of the magical combinations that we keep in stock, we’re here to help answer any further questions you may have. We’re dedicated to educating our customers for the best cannabis experience possible.

At Sava, we are fiercely committed to delivering the highest quality cannabis products in the Bay Area, and our cannabis tincture selection is no exception. Whether you want to find out whether a CBD or THC tincture is right for you or want help figuring out a starting tincture dosage, our passionate experts are thrilled to help guide you on your journey.

Our entire team is passionate about the products we carry, and making recommendations to help people incorporate this magical plant into their lives is why we do what we do. We're like the cannabis-expert-friend you never had.

Order online, call us to chat, or email us with any questions you may have. We’re excited to help you get started!