How to Make Hemp Flower Extract

Hemp flower extract is the lesser-known counterpart of CBD oil. Think of them as siblings sharing the same mother, cannabis sativa, but extracted from different parts of the plant. Hemp flower extract is pressed from raw hemp, while CBD oil comes from the leaves, flowers, and stems.

Did you know that you can make your own hemp extract oil at home and steer clear of the additives found in some commercial products? Read on to find out how.

What You’ll Need to Make Hemp Flower Extract

The first thing you’ll need is a hand crank oil press machine. Here are some factors to consider when looking for one:

• Material: In this case, you want to cold press hemp seeds. So you should check out the types of oil press machines available in the market and choose one that’s suited for hemp seeds.
• Capacity: What is the capacity of the oil press machine? How much oil do you intend to produce? If you’re looking to produce average amounts of hemp extract oil, consider buying the screw oil press. It comes in different model designs with different oil production capacity that varies from 0.8 TPD to 20 TPD.
• Quality: Check the overall appearance of the oil press. It’s a good sign if it’s painted uniformly. You should also confirm if the spare parts are readily available.
• Price: Shop around for a cheap oil press machine. But don’t compromise quality over price.

Cold Press Extraction: How to Make Hemp Extract at Home

Ingredients:

• Five cups of whole hemp seeds

Equipment:

• Hand crank oil press
• Jar for collecting oil
• Bowl for collecting expelled refuse
• A lighter
• Bottle lamp featuring a wick
• Paraffin oil

Instructions

1. Clean your hemp seeds thoroughly to remove any leaves, sticks, rocks, or other debris. 
2. Remove the outer husks or shells on the seeds if they’re unshelled.
3. Mount the hand press oil press on a flat, sturdy table or workbench. 
4. Fill the bottle lamp with paraffin oil and attach it using a rubber band underneath the press. Light up the wick in the bottle lamp and wait for the press to get heated up.
5. Place a small container under the press to catch the cold-pressed oil. 
6. Add the shelled hemp seeds into the hopper until two-thirds full.
7. Start to turn the hand crank of the oil press at a slow, steady speed. If you have a motor drive oil press, switch on the motor.
8. Crank away the press to generate enough friction to heat up the hemp seeds. You should start seeing hemp seed oil pouring out into the oil container.
9. Gradually add more hemp seeds to the hopper even as you keep on cranking. 
10. Once all the seeds are pressed, remove the oil container from under the press. Pour the harvested hemp seed oil into a large glass container.
11. Put a lid on the glass jar holding the oil. 
12. Store the jar in a warm, dark place and allow the oil to detach from any moisture or other unwanted matter harvested during the cold pressing. 
13. Sieve the oil and store it appropriately.

What Are the Advantages of Cold Press Extraction

Cold press extraction is the best method of making hemp flower extract at home. It helps preserve more of the oil’s natural properties, such as:

• Purity
• Aroma
• Flavor
• Nutritional Value

That’s because the process does not use direct external heating, which can damage the properties of the hemp seeds. 

What Hemp Seeds Are You Going to Use?

Shelled hemp seeds are considered the best candidates for pressing because they’re tender and easy to crush. You could still use whole hemp seeds if you’re up for the challenge. But you’ll end up with a sour and coarse product. 

Before pressing, store the hemp seeds in a cool, dry, and dark place. Poorly stored seeds may contain higher-than-normal moisture content and won’t press well. Hemp seeds with extremely low moisture content aren’t good either. 

They tend to boost temperatures inside the oil press, thus reducing oil production. That being said, the ideal moisture range for hemp seeds is between 10% to 20%. 

Another key aspect that you should consider is seed quality. Non-ripe hemp seeds produce lower-quality oil flavors and aromas than mature seeds.

The Pros and Cons of Making Hemp Extract at Home

Buying commercially-produced hemp flower extract seems like the easier option. But think about the amount of money you’ll be saving on your monthly hemp oil expenditure if you make yours at home. 

Besides that, you’ll also have complete control over the ingredients used. You can ensure everything is fresh and free of additives or impurities. 

On the flip side, the DIY route isn’t meant for everyone. That’s because it produces a full spectrum extract, which means it contains all the compounds extracted from the hemp plant. These include THC, CBG, CBN, and other cannabinoids.

While this might be a good thing for most people, other users might be sensitive to THC, and would rather buy broad-spectrum or CBD isolates hemp extracts.

The Bottom Line

Hemp flower extract can reportedly do you some good, and making it at home is pretty easy. You only need an oil press and shelled hemp seeds, and you’re ready to start cranking out your oil. The good thing about the cold press extraction method is that it produces fresh and nutrient-dense hemp extract oil.

It also gives you a good bicep workout. So every time you come across hemp flower extract you will appreciate the effort and precision that goes into making them.