Maybe you’ve noticed that a lot of THCA products on the market have the term “liquid diamonds” on their label. Now, liquid diamonds aren’t the newest innovation to come out of the hemp market, but nonetheless, a lot of hemp consumers have never heard the term before. As you’re about to find out, liquid diamonds aren’t just a gimmick to sell more product – this unique development is a serious gamechanger for the cannabis industry as a whole, and it can do wonders to take your THCA experience to the next level.
What Exactly are Liquid Diamonds?
“Liquid diamonds” is an extract of cannabis (in this case, hemp) that consists of two components: THCA diamonds and live resin sauce. These are two separate concentrates that naturally result from the same extraction process, and while they can be sold separately (pure diamonds can be infused into products, as well as pure live resin), pairing them together offers a full-spectrum concentrate that does wonders for your overall THCA experience.
The “diamonds” are purified THCA – the most purified form of the cannabinoid there is. When you concentrate a cannabinoid enough, it takes on a crystalline form, and this is where the term comes from. It’s a translucent, white, crystal-shaped concentrate that melts when exposed to the right level of heat, to vaporize properly. Remember that pure cannabinoids have no color, flavor, or aroma properties.
THCA diamonds are in high demand, because being concentrated, they’re far more potent than a THCA distillate, mg for mg. At the same time, they can be up to 99.99% pure, which is stunningly impressive.
Here's a closer/summarized look at their characteristics and production process, as we’ll be getting more into this again in a little while here:
Characteristics:
- Potency: Liquid diamonds are among the most potent forms of cannabis concentrates, often containing very high levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive component in cannabis, as well as other cannabinoids.
- Purity: The extraction process used to create liquid diamonds aims to remove impurities and unwanted plant materials, resulting in a product that is both pure and potent.
- Appearance: The product is characterized by its unique appearance, resembling small, clear crystals or "diamonds" that’re immersed in a viscous, golden liquid. The liquid is rich in terpenes, which are aromatic compounds responsible for the smell and flavor of cannabis and many other plants.
- Flavor and Aroma: Due to the high concentration of terpenes, liquid diamonds often feature a pronounced flavor and aroma profile, which can vary widely depending on the strain of cannabis used in the extraction process.
Production Process:
- Extraction: The process typically begins with the extraction of cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant using a solvent. Common solvents include butane, propane, or CO2.
- Purification: The extract is then subjected to further purification steps, which may involve techniques like winterization (to remove fats and waxes) and distillation (to concentrate the desired compounds).
- Crystallization: The THC is allowed to crystallize, forming the solid "diamonds”. This is usually achieved by controlling temperature and pressure conditions over time.
- Separation and Mixing: The crystallized THC is then separated from the liquid terpene solution. After separation, the THC diamonds are often reintroduced to a terpene-rich solution, creating the final liquid diamond product.
So, now we know what THCA diamonds are. But, that’s just one component of liquid diamonds. The other is the “liquid” part, aka the live resin sauce.
Live resin is a type of hemp extract that’s made from extracting the compounds from fresh, flash-frozen flower, as opposed to dry-cured flower. What this does is preserve the trichomes that coat the buds, which greatly enhances the concentration of the extract. The result is a very concentrated product that’s darker and thicker than standard extract, and it offers far more flavor and potency. “Sauce” is the result of concentrating live resin further, until it takes on a viscous quality.
How are Liquid Diamonds Fully Produced?
Now, let’s talk about what brings THCA diamonds and live resin sauce together, to present liquid diamonds. As it turns out, they are not separate components brought together into one product, but rather a natural byproduct of the production of one another. Let us explain.
Making THCA liquid diamonds begins with flash-freezing the raw plant material, which is achieved through dry ice or liquid nitrogen. From there, a solvent is applied to the flash-frozen plant material (usually butane is used), to extract the desirable compounds (cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids) from the plant’s flowering buds. This is how the extract is created in its initial stage.
When butane is applied as a solvent, it’s natural for cannabinoids to begin crystallizing. From this point, the extract sits for 48 hours to purge the solvent. What you end up with is an extremely concentrated extract, in which the THCA is naturally turned into crystalline form, while the terpenes maintain their liquid consistency as they do not crystallize in the way that cannabinoids do. The result is what we know as liquid diamonds.
Diamonds can be “harvested” from the extract if a company wishes to sell THCA diamonds independently of other cannabis compounds. But, liquid diamonds keeps these products intact. Keep in mind that the THCA is never decarboxylated, as that would convert it into delta 9 THC, which is illegal to sell. However, the user can legally vape THCA diamonds, as it will turn into delta 9 THC once heated to the right temperature.
Are Liquid Diamonds Better Than Other Types of Extract?
The key thing to know about liquid diamonds is that this is a more potent type of hemp extract than your standard THCA distillate + live resin combo you will find in a lot of vapes. Again, this has to do with the process of concentrating these compounds down through the addition of butane (or a comparable solvent). So, that’s the big advantage of liquid diamonds – the effects are far stronger, puff for puff, increasing the value of the product as well as the flavor.
What is the Best Way to Enjoy Liquid Diamonds?
Due to their high potency, cannabis liquid diamonds are typically recommended for experienced consumers. You can purchase liquid THCA diamonds in several ways:
- By Itself: You can purchase pure liquid THCA diamonds on its own, leaving you with a concentrate that’s ready to be dabbed at your leisure.
- In Vapes: THCA liquid diamonds are making their way into vape carts and disposable vapes, offering a user-friendly way to enjoy the enhanced effects of this type of extract.
- In Flower: Some flower products (particularly pre-rolls) are infused with liquid THCA diamonds for an added punch, so to speak.
- In Gummies: We’re seeing a few companies incorporating liquid diamonds into gummy formulas, although these will not get you high, since the THCA does not get decarbed before it’s consumed.
Overall, if you’re interested in trying liquid diamonds, we recommend starting with a vape that contains this type of extract in the cartridge. It’s the most user-friendly option, since it gives you more control over your dosing.
Keep in mind, too, that liquid diamonds naturally come in a variety of strains, just like any other type of full-spectrum extract. This means that you can get stronger flavor and effects from the strain you choose, which also adds heavily to its appeal.
What About Legality?
Lucky, liquid diamonds are just as legal as any other THCA product on the market, assuming you live in a state that hasn’t banned THCA products or inhalable products (check your state’s hemp laws for more information). Liquid diamonds are concentrated, but that does not conflict with any laws whatsoever.
Liquid Diamonds are the Way to Go for More Potent Effects
It’s simple: liquid diamonds offer a high-potency extract that’s vape-friendly, flavorful, visually appealing, and pure as they come. Now, you can understand why it’s becoming so common to see liquid diamonds on the cannabis market. Fortunately, too, liquid diamond products are not far more expensive than, say, your average disposable vape made with a distillate/live resin combo, making them a sought-after product in the hemp market.
At The Calm Leaf, we carry liquid THCA diamonds in various product forms, so that you can see for yourself why people can’t stop raving about their experiences with these products. You will discover all the liquid diamonds we carry have been properly third-party-tested, and of course, come from the most trusted names in the hemp business today.