Nerd Extraction

Alot of people are now breaking into extractions, armed with a blow torch and rig they strive for the most potent and flavour filled shatters and extracts they can make at low budget cost. So to clear the air on a new subject to a lot of people, Soft Secrets UK caught up with Lorenzo ‘ The Nerd ‘ to find out about his work and his recent cup success. 

Alot of people are now breaking into extractions, armed with a blow torch and rig they strive for the most potent and flavour filled shatters and extracts they can make at low budget cost. So to clear the air on a new subject to a lot of people, Soft Secrets UK caught up with Lorenzo ‘ The Nerd ‘ to find out about his work and his recent cup success. 

SSUK:  How did “NERD extractions” begin?
Lorenzo: NERD Extractions began basically after I decided that I wanted to make and have the best hash that there was. I was personally fed up with the low quality and some of the terrible things that were out there. I have been all over the world and wanted to use my experience and knowledge I gained from the States to start my own extractions. Now I have been extracting under ‘NERD Extractions’ for the past 2 years, moving around Europe.

What made you want to get into the industry?
I got into the industry for the competition side of things and to educate people on what the best quality product really is. There are a lot of people now who are making unsafe extractions and using techniques and methods that make an end product that is contaminated and can do damage. I also give as many seminars as I can to teach people on the correct and safe ways to do extraction. Safety first is the most important thing.

You are an Italian national. How was life growing up in Italy?
Sucks...Italy is one of the most beautiful places you can imagine but the government are hard work and the weed policy means you cannot even have a joint. So that is one of the other reasons I started to fly around and by the time I was 23, I had already been to Amsterdam 52 times. After the 53rd time, I decided to move there. Living there I knew I could learn ten times more knowledge and make connections than I could get anywhere else.

What is it you specialize in at ‘NERD Extractions’?
Hash and every kind of hash. I am currently improving my techniques on clear extractions and holy waters, like my good friends in America are doing right now. Now I am trying to make new kinds of hash that have not been seen before on a commercial level, which I am very excited about but will keep Soft Secrets updated in the next few months.

What is de-waxing during oil extraction?
De-waxing is a chemical process which is used to separate the plant waxes from the part that you really want to smoke, all of the essential oils. Think about the trichome like an egg. We are cracking the eggs and removing the shells. Those shells are the waxes and we just want the insides. This the most basic way to describe the wax part of extraction.

Is there a difference between using bud and leaf trim for extraction?
Yes. There is a big difference. There are two ways to do a run which is with nugs and with trim. The nugs runs are more costly but the quality is much better. In terms of taste and smell and flavor. Please don’t get me wrong, you can do a run from trim that is almost as good but the most important thing is the starting materials. If you have good terpines you will end up with good terpines.

What is your opinion on purging and what is the correct way?
Purging is very important and something that a lot of people are unaware of. It is the process that allows the butane for instance to be removed to ensure a clean extraction has taken place. This means you have an oil that should have no impurities in.

Can you tell us more about your recent success in Barcelona?
It was a collaboration with ‘ Top Shelf Extracts ‘ based in Colorado. ‘Big D’ down there taught me everything I know about extraction. It was a ‘Sour Diesel’ crumble that was super tasty that won us first prize. It had been purged for more than 110 hours as everyone should always do. In the beginning I was nervous about the competition but still happy because I knew how good my entry was. I was more happy that I won because I was against good competitors from Amsterdam and America and now it is time to see how  High Times will go in November!

What are your thoughts on the current movement and the medical break through?
I think that cannabis is a plant that everyone should grow but right now in Europe, the governments are trying to take hold of the market. I think people should be able to grow the medicine for themselves without the government being involved. If the government do want to get involved, then is for the right reasons and not for financial gain...I would be so happy.

Where do you see ‘NERD Extractions’ over the next 3 years?
The Sky is the limit really and I hope it won’t ‘shatter’..haha.

Do you have any tips for those readers who want to take their work to the next level?
I do not have any tips but can only say please travel around and really see for yourself. Teach yourself to want to be better and always keep improving. I am learning new things everyday and have realized you can always go further than you think. Take the time to see other people work and when on internet forums make your own opinions and make connections and share knowledge. Don’t ever think you have the perfect product because you don’t and be humble because everyone can teach you something.

Photos courtesy of Growland Spain/ Soft Secrets Spain