Decarboxylation = the best edibles!
When you smoke cannabis THCA is converted into THC, which enters your bloodstream and makes you feel "high". THC is the primary compound found in cannabis. It is what supplies us with most of the medicinal benefits of the plant as well as the psychoactive properties.
So to simplify, when you "smoke" cannabis, the heat from the flame that you light your joint with decarboxylates the cannabis, turns the non-active compound THCA into the active compound THC. Without this process, you would not get any of the psychoactive benefits.
When you are making edibles, however, you must still decarboxylate your plant material. Just cooking the cannabis within a recipe may activate some THC. Still, as cannabis is combined with other ingredients, this will reduce its susceptibility to the heat, so you will not maximise its full potential. To ensure you get the optimal conversion of THCA to THC in your edibles, you really should decarboxylate your cannabis before you cook with it. Here's how you do it.
- Pre-heat your oven to 140C.
- Line a pan with baking paper and cut up your Flower into small pea-sized chunks. Use all parts of the Flower when decarboxylating, including stems and shake. Stick to one strain for reliable and predictable results.
- Bake in the centre of the oven for 20-30 minutes. You are looking for even toasting that gives a golden green shade. So pull it from the oven when you think you have achieved this.
- For best results, use an oven thermometer and stay within the range of 115C-146C. Exceeding 150C will degrade or destroy the cannabinoids.
- Leave to cool down completely to room temperature
- Finely chop the cannabis (use a food processor if possible) and then transfer it to an airproof sealable container and store it out of sunlight.
There you have it, decarboxylation is complete, and now you are ready to start cooking! Honestly, give it a try; you will thank me later!
L
Liz Filmer
