How to Extract CBG Oil
How to Extract CBG
Dubbed the “Rolls Royce” of cannabinoids, CBG oil is notoriously difficult and expensive to produce. But before we can talk about why it is so hard to cultivate, let’s recap on what CBG is.
What is CBG?
Cannabigerol (CBG) is the non-acidic form of Cannbigerolic Acid (CBGa); which is the first cannabinoid to form in the trichomes of the cannabis plant and is the foundational compound from which all other cannabinoids are developed. Hence, its alternative nickname as the “stem cell of CBD”.
To find out more about the differences between CBG and CBD, read our CBG vs CBD guide.
We have always been aware of the incredible potential of CBG long before we launched our own CBG Oil product in 2019 – once we had developed more efficient methods of production, to produce a finished product at a reasonable cost.
How to Harvest CBG
Since the cannabis plant naturally converts almost all CBGa into other cannabinoids, there is only a small window of opportunity to harvest and extract CBG. The highest concentration of CBGa occurs whilst the plant is still young - approximately six weeks into the flowering process. However, even if the plant is harvested at this point, less than 1% of the yielded biomass contains CBG. Furthermore, by harvesting the crop early, it foregoes the cultivation of more popular cannabinoids such as CBD.
Luckily, some cannabis farmers shared our fascination with CBG, so they began to utilize selective breeding to create strains that yield higher amounts of CBG even in fully mature cannabis plants. This has made the production of CBG more efficient and allowed cultivators to yield crops with high levels of both CBG and CBD.
Once we were heard about these developments within the industry, our interest in CBG reignited. By 2019, CBG production became efficient enough to produce our own range so our customers could buy CBG oil and explore its benefits themselves. Once harvested, the CBG must be extracted from the biomass before it is mixed with a carrier oil and bottled as the finished product.
Following the launch of our CBG oil, it received the prestigious “Best in Test 2019” - award as a recognition for its purity. By 2020, our CBG oil had become our best-selling product, and in now the one we receive the most repeat purchases from.
The Extraction Process
The exceptional quality of our oil is largely due to the supercritical CO2 extraction process we use. This process involves carbon dioxide with both liquid and gas properties and is described as follows:
- The pressurised Supercritical CO2 is contained in the first chamber whilst the harvested biomass is contained in the second.
- From the first chamber, CO2 is forced into the second, exposing the cannabis to Supercritical CO2. This induces the separation of the full-spectrum cannabis oil which is rich in CBG, from the plant itself
- Next, both the CO2 and the extracted oil are pumped into the third chamber simultaneously.
- After the gas evaporates, only the full-spectrum cannabis oil remains. This is then independently lab tested to ensure the concentration of CBG within the extract is identical to that which is described on the label.
- Another benefit of this extraction method is that it preserves the presence of other cannabinoids such as CBD and over 120+ minor ones for the end consumer to benefit from the entourage effect.
Despite CBG becoming more and more affordable over the last few years, it remains an exclusive product. Herts Hemp continues to be one of the few brands from which you can buy CBG oil.
