How To Choose Good-quality CBD Oil: A Useful Buying Guide
People who enjoy cannabis and marijuana can make their life a whole lot easier by shifting to cannabis oil. In the past, when marijuana was illegal, people relied on black-market sellers to procure their herbs. This was a market full of loopholes, steep prices, dubious quality, and demand-supply gaps. With the legalization of marijuana, a lot of these problems have been addressed, but there are some new challenges that consumers now face. One of those challenges is that marijuana is now available in a wider variety of products.
As bigger companies have stepped into the marijuana production arena, we are seeing products such as cannabis-oil-infused food, candy, patches, oils, tinctures, ointments, and a lot more. Within each of these product categories, there are further sub-types and more niche products. One of the broadest categories is cannabis oil. There are many different kinds produced by a variety of manufacturers and they are available for a number of uses. Here are some of the most important things you need to know if you are in the market to buy some CBD oil.
Type
A lot of people assume that marijuana oil is generic and that all oil derived from the cannabis plant is the same. While this might have been true back in the day, today there are countless varieties of cannabis oil. A lot of these varieties are region-specific. For instance, there are certain kinds of cannabis that are originally from Australia so you can get these in their pure state or you can get a mixed oil that uses different kinds of oil derived from different strains of cannabis. However, even if you usually go for local CBD oil in Australia, you can still try out some imported varieties as well. The great thing about oil is that it is far easier to ship than the plant itself. Even if you are getting oil from another country, or a different part of the country, you can be sure that you will receive it in great condition. However, make sure you find out whether you are getting CBD oil or THC oil, and more specifically, which strain you are getting. This can make a huge difference for the user. Even different strains within the CBD oil category will have different effects.
Buy Fresh
Just like any other kind of organic product, CBD oil has a certain lifespan after which it is no longer usable. Ideally, you should be buying as fresh as you can so that you can get the best quality product. Different forms of CBD oil have varying amounts of shelf life based on a number of variables. However, it's not just the expiry date that you want to keep an eye out for. Once the CBD oil has been extracted it starts to degrade and deform at a microscopic level. It is interacting with the flavorings, the packaging, oxidizing with the air, and all kinds of other changes are taking place. The fresher you can buy, the less of these changes will have occurred. At most, CBD oil will not last more than 2 years in storage. Beyond this point, it is best to discard the oil and get a fresh batch.
Flavor
The strain that the oil is derived from does have a certain natural flavor to it but a lot of manufacturers further enhance the flavor with different additional ingredients. If you are looking for the purest flavor, then go for something that has no artificial flavorings and is cold-pressed. If you are using tinctures or something else in which the flavor is more prominent, then you can try a flavored CBD oil that will be a bit more appealing. Some people don’t like the natural flavor of the oil since it's quite earthy and very plant-like. After all, you are consuming the extract of a plant. This is particularly important if you want to cook with CBD oil.
Quantity
Buying in bulk is always cheaper, but when buying CBD oil, smaller quantities are better. Get a small quantity and try it out, and if you like the flavor you can buy more. Also, the taste and the effect of the oil can change over time so you want to buy in a quantity that will last you no more than 6 months. After 6 months the product can start tasting and behaving very differently so your best option is to always have a fresh supply.
Different CBD oils are also designed for different purposes. For instance, tinctures are edible, but they are designed to be consumed as they are, or in a tea or in a drink, so they aren’t good for cooking. Similarly, if you get an oil that is meant to be vaped, it won’t be that effective or tasty in your tea. Keep in mind what the oil is designed for, and get something that aligns with your needs for the best effect and the best flavor.