Diamonds have always been considered the epitome of precious stones. They are brilliantly clear and virtually unbreakable. The fascination with carbon diamonds certainly contributes to the popularity of "THCA diamonds". These are cannabis extracts that are not only beautiful to look at, but also have enormous potency and intense aromas.
Cannabis concentrates can vary greatly in consistency, effect, colour and use. Recently, especially in California and some other US states, the strongest and purest cannabis extracts have been brought to the market. These include THC and CBD powder as well as diamonds, which enjoy great popularity.
But what exactly are diamonds and how are they created?
THC diamonds or also called THC crystals look very similar to real diamonds and consist of 99% pure THC-A. The size of the crystals can be very small and resemble crystal sugar. Crystals can also be several millimetres wide. The remaining 1% of THC diamonds consist of terpenes and other cannabinoids in their purest form.
Guild Extracts from California became famous for producing very large THC crystals by using molecular isolation. This process requires a lot of technical effort and highly professional equipment such as a chromatograph.
The interest of obsessive extract users changed from BHO to "sauce", which is basically a semi-separated mixture of viscous terpene extract and small THC-A crystals. A simpler, low-tech method was developed for this, which promotes the formation of larger crystals. Diamond Sauce" has become an object of obsession for many connoisseurs, not least because of its impressive appearance and aesthetics.
How are THC-A Diamonds made?
Cannabis extraction aims to remove inert plant parts and isolate the desired primary cannabis compounds. These cannabis compounds can be divided into two main groups: the terpenes and the cannabinoids. Many terpenes, which give cannabis its unique aroma and scent, play a significant role in the entourage effect* and are liquid at room temperature. Cannabinoids, on the other hand, which interact directly with the body's endocannabinoid system, take on a solid form under ordinary conditions.
*Entourage effect: Research has shown that full spectrum cannabis extracts and cannabis flowers work more efficiently than the isolated cannabinoids or terpenes alone. Terpenes and cannabinoids can positively influence each other in terms of how they work.
Most cannabis concentrates contain both terpenes and cannabinoids. This makes them susceptible to a process called nucleation, which eventually leads to the separation of the two compounds. You may have observed what happens to an old shatter and seen nucleation. The same process takes place with diamond sauces. The difference is that when shatter nucleates, it generally does not form crystalline structures, at least none that you can see. With a process called "Jar Tech" or "Diamond Mining", larger crystals can be produced in a short time.
Terp Sauce is a potent cannabis extract that preserves the plant's natural terpenes more than other extraction methods. While many concentrates lose their terpenes to become a concentrate, Terp Sauce does the opposite. The terpenes are preserved and are present in concentrated form.
The beginning of most "Diamond Sauces" is BHO Live Resinextracted from fresh and flash-frozen cannabis flower within a so-called closed-loop system. The resulting oil is carefully purified to remove residual solvents. The oil then remains in a closed container for about 2-3 weeks. During this time, there is significant crystal growth. The process is based on separation and therefore a highly terpenic extract with cannabinoid crystals is produced. Some manufacturers promote crystal formation by adding certain solvents, while the best among them do without.
The science behind "Jar Tech" is relatively straightforward, but at the same time constrained in California by many regulations that are difficult to implement. The profit margins there have already become so small that it is hardly worth adapting to compliant practices. In other parts of the world, however, THC diamonds are so far away that you wouldn't believe it. Really big THC crystals are hard to find on the legal market, even in California. A few huge crystals would be difficult to mix with the terpenes in the glass. There is no even distribution.
The hype around THCA diamonds
Carbon diamonds are popular for their dramatic appearance and it is the same with THCA diamonds. From a practical point of view, it makes little sense to chase large THC diamonds. Smaller crystals that mix evenly with the liquid terpenes allow for more consistent potency. In addition, the smaller crystals can be produced more quickly. Nevertheless, a hypnotic and trance-like aura emanates from the large sparkling THC diamonds.
What is THC-A?
THC-A is an inactive cannabinoid that converts to THC after heating to a certain temperature. Unheated and on its own, THC-A is ineffective and non-psychoactive. Therefore, THCA diamonds do not give edible products the desired effect and should better be smoked, vaporised or dabbed. In general, THC diamonds should be heated to at least 177°C when ingested in order to activate the THC.
What effect do THCA diamonds have
The effects of THC diamonds are intense and really mind-blowingly strong. While cannabis flowers have an average THC content of 20-25%, THC diamonds have almost 100%. So the effects are about 4x stronger than regular weed.
Where can I get THC diamonds?
This is difficult. Even in countries and US states where the sale of cannabis for pleasure purposes is allowed, THC crystals are practically non-existent as a mass product. This makes it almost impossible to enjoy these unique rarities. Only a few people worldwide who had the opportunity to produce the diamonds themselves were able to keep and test them for themselves and acquaintances. A few specimens were auctioned off. In addition, the sale of cannabis products is completely forbidden in many parts of the world, so it may be a while before the THC diamonds are accessible to many people.
Can you also make THCA diamonds yourself?
The production of high quality THCA crystals or "sauce" basically requires professional plant and equipment, which is normally only available to commercial producers.
You may be thinking to yourself, but there must be a way to test these diamonds yourself. Theoretically, you can make the crystals yourself if you have the necessary knowledge and equipment. Basically, it's about organic chemistry and the process of recrystallisation.
The production of THC diamonds is about promoting the separation of cannabinoids and terpenes. The finished product is extremely aromatic and very strong. Live resin is preferred for this because it contains more terpenes and crystallises more easily. The goal is to ensure that the THCA is not converted to THC in the extraction process, if possible, because THCA crystallises under the right conditions and THC does not.
About recrystallisation
Most commercially available recrystallised products are produced using hydrocarbons. However, it is technically possible to recrystallise non-decarboxylated cannabis concentrate. The cannabinoid acids present can be used to produce crystalline structures. However, all proven recrystallisation methods require the use of a solvent.
There are a variety of methods for producing a crystalline cannabis extract, including the fractional distillation. As with all cannabis extracts, the starting material is crucial and the key to success. There is no other way to do this. If you are determined to make cannabis crystals yourself, you should only use the best, most resinous and potent cannabis buds. We don't get THC diamonds from bad buds.
Each cannabis strain has its own unique characteristics when it comes to the stability of the extract, crystallisation potential and so on. A big part of the process is science, but finding the right strain for it is more of an art. The process starts with butane extraction. The live resin is then infused/dissolved with ethanol alcohol, filtered several times and winterised to remove the unwanted plant parts.
The alcohol is then left to evaporate at room temperature and in the dark. When all the alcohol has evaporated, a thick liquid remains. Make sure that the room is sufficiently well ventilated. The purified live resin is then placed in a sealable glass jar and must rest for 2-3 weeks so that a separation of cannabinoids and terpenes can take place. Within this time, cannabinod crystals slowly form at the bottom of the glass vessel. The solids separate from the terpenes and form a semi-viscous layer at the top. When the accumulation of crystals is sufficient, the time has come to purify the extract completely.
If possible, we now separate the liquid layer from the crystals and purge both separately. The liquid terpene layer is carefully purged for about 60 hours (without vacuum), while the crystals are purged for about 72 hours (heat plate, vacuum chamber + vacuum pump). The extract should not be heated to more than 37°C during purge (removal of solvent residues) to avoid that too much THCA is converted into THC or too many terpenes are destroyed.
Once this process is complete, the finished products are brought back together and stored in a UV-resistant container with a lid, preferably black laboratory glass, at room temperature (above 25° C). This slows down the loss of terpenes. The natural separation of cannabinoids and terpenes that takes place in this process is clearly visible after about 2 weeks (if everything goes well), but not yet complete. This means that the terpene-rich semi-liquid portion still contains 30- 50% cannabinoids. With time, more and larger crystals are then formed.
Caution: it is quite possible that while the concentrate is stored, more gas will escape and therefore a higher pressure will develop in the jar. For this reason, the jar must be opened regularly to equalise the pressure and to prevent the jar from shattering into a thousand shards. With the right amount of patience, time and perhaps some trial and error, you may one day hold your own THC diamonds in your hands and be just as enchanted by these shimmering beautiful "gems".