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Everyone knows that cold-pressing is synonymous with premium quality. So it's natural to assume that cold-pressed CBD oil is also the ultimate in quality. Beware, however, as this is, at best, an abuse of language, and at worst, an abuse of marketing.
So before you buy cold-pressed CBD oil, take the time to read on!
Cold-pressed CBD oil ... it doesn't exist
To understand why talking about cold-pressed CBD oil makes no sense, you first need to know where CBD comes from.
CBD is found exclusively in hemp flowers. Pressing the flowers yields a resin (hashish). Under no circumstances is CBD oil obtained.
To make CBD oil, you first need a carrier oil. Most often, this is hemp seed oil. CBD is then added to this vegetable oil. And that's all there is to it.
The CBD in question is obtained using a solvent (of which there are several) which separates (=extracts) the cannabinoids (and terpenes) from the hemp flower. As a reminder, these precious molecules are synthesized in the flower's glands, known as trichomes.
In short, cold-pressed CBD oil simply doesn't exist... Unless you refer to :
- Cold-pressed hemp oil to which an extract containing CBD is added;
- A CBD extract obtained using a cold extraction method. We'll come back to this somewhat technical aspect at the end of the article for those who wish to go further.
Why is cold-pressed CBD oil sold as the best?
As mentioned above, in some cases, the use of the term "cold-pressed CBD oil" is simply a misuse of language. In other cases, however, it is a marketing abuse.
Indeed, some brands don't hesitate to sell cold-pressed CBD oil as a "real" product, touting the fact that this type of oil is more effective than others.
According to these brands, cold-pressed CBD oil is: (quote) "an age-old, all-natural extraction method crucial to the quality of CBD hemp oil. This process, similar to the creation of fresh fruit juice, involves pressing the entire hemp plant, without the use of chemical solvents or gas."
But, as we've seen, if you do that, you get hashish, not oil. What's also worrying is the claim that no solvents are used.
However, if no solvent is used at any time, then :
- The oil (the resin, in fact) contains a whole host of unwanted substances such as vegetable fats, chlorophyll and so on.
- It's impossible to guarantee that THC levels are actually below legal standards (less than 0.3%).
No CBD oil is made without a solvent. At some point in the manufacturing process, a solvent is inevitably involved. If only to remove excess THC.
Cold pressing and CBD: what exactly are we talking about?
As you're no doubt aware, cold-pressed CBD oil does indeed preserve plant substances and their properties. And while there's no such thing as cold-pressed CBD oil, it's good to know that good-quality CBD oils do involve low temperatures in their manufacturing process. Here's how.
- First of all, cold-pressed hemp seed oil can be used as a carrier oil.
- Secondly, it is possible to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes from the flower using a process that takes advantage of the properties of cold. This is the case, for example, with cryogenic ethanol extraction.
Most CBD oils on the market are indeed made from cold-pressed hemp seed oil. However, the use of cryogenic ethanol is very rare.
In fact, most manufacturers use CO2 in a supercritical state, as it enables them to target the molecules they wish to extract. This method involves working under pressure and at high temperature. What's more, these oils are of very high quality.
Cold-pressed CBD oil: the final word
As you can see, there's no such thing as cold-pressed CBD oil, so it's not a criterion of quality... On the contrary, it's a red flag if you come across brands offering this type of product!
Between marketing hype and misinformation, choosing a CBD oil is no easy task. However, here are two practical tips if you want to buy a good quality CBD oil:
- Choose brands like Nobilis that make their own oils. They are in a better position to tell you how they are made;
- Ask for laboratory analysis results to verify CBD content, the presence of terpenes derived from hemp (not synthetic) and the absence of any harmful substances.
Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any doubts about our oils! At Nobilis, we communicate clearly and transparently 😉
