Is whole melt extracts real or fake? Reviews and complaints

Are Whole Melt Extracts Real or Fake? Separating Fact from Fiction

As cannabis extracts continue to grow in popularity, there has been increasing discussion around a specific type of solventless concentrate called “whole melt extracts“. While these concentrates aim to provide a pure, natural high using only heat and pressure, some users have questioned if products labeled as such actually live up to the name. In this in-depth guide, we’ll take a look at what whole melt extracts are, the extraction process involved, and help separate real products from potential fakes on the market.

What are Whole Melt Extracts?

At its core, a whole melt extract is a type of solventless cannabis concentrate produced using heat and pressure alone rather than chemicals like butane or ethanol. The goal of the process is to isolate the resin glands, or trichomes, of the cannabis plant in their entirety – including all the cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds they contain.

When done properly, the resulting concentrate should fully “melt” or dissolve when heated without leaving any charred residue behind. This occurs because nothing but the pure plant material itself is being extracted. The term “whole” refers to retaining as much of the original trichome profile as possible without stripping away certain compounds.

Traditionally, whole melt extracts are produced using either dry sift methods or heat presses like rosin presses. Dry sifting involves agitating dried plant material over various micron sized screens to separate the trichome heads from unwanted plant matter. Heat pressing sandwiches cured buds between heated plates which liquefy the trichomes into a solventless oil.

Separating Quality Whole Melts from Potential Fakes

With the rise of whole melt extract’s popularity, not every product sold as such actually meets the standards of a true whole melt. Here are some signs that can help identify real whole melts versus potential fakes:

Color and Consistency: A professionally made whole melt extract should be a light to medium golden color resembling amber. It should be a consistent, translucent sticky texture and not chalky, sugary, or overly light/dark in appearance.

Taste and Smell: Terpene profiles should be loud and fully express the signature flavors of the flower strain used. Fakes sometimes have muted or artificial flavors that don’t match the plant.

Residue Test: Genuine whole melts will fully dissolve without any burnt ash or black specks when heated between two clean surfaces. Counterfeits often leave behind dark residue.

Company Reputation: Look for brands that provide lab tests, source top shelf flowers, and have a positive online reviews. Fly-by-night operations are more likely selling low grade product.

Packaging: Real whole melts usually come sealed in packaging indicating batch numbers and testing details. Poorly packaged concentrates with generic labels raise red flags.

Pricing: While costs can vary, whole melt extracts require labor intensive production and should generally carry a higher price point than common distillates or sugars. Extremely low prices often mean compromised quality.

By keeping an eye out for these indicators, consumers stand a better chance of getting authentic whole melt extracts crafted with care rather than poorly made knock-offs falsely advertised as such. Let’s look deeper at the extraction techniques.

Dry Sift Whole Melt Extraction

Dry sifting is one of the oldest and purest forms of solventless extraction dating back for centuries. The process is quite straightforward:

Cured and dried cannabis flowers are manually agitated over a series of mesh screens with ever-finer micron sizes. This causes the delicate crystalline trichome heads to dislodge from leaves and fall through the screens into pure whole melt powder form below.

Using multiple screens allows for a more refined separation of trichomes depending on size. For example, a 73-120 micron screen will collect the larger stalked trichomes while a 25-73 micron catches the ultra-pure glandular heads.

The resulting kief or hashish is then lightly pressed, such as with palms, to activate the resin for dabbing or other consumption. Additional pressing with heat can create firmer dry sift concentrates for ease of handling as well.

This screening process is how many whole melt extracts achieve their ultra-pure, full spectrum compositions from THC and CBD to terpenes and flavonoids. Done with care, dry sifting maximizes trichome preservation better than other methods.

Heat Press/Rosin Tech Extraction

An increasingly popular way to make whole melt extracts is via heat pressing techniques like those used for solventless “rosin”. The equipment and steps involved are:

Fresh or cured cannabis flowers are placed between hydrophobic parchment paper and compressed using mechanical plates with adjustable temperature and pressure settings.

As heat activates the resin glands, pressure causes them to rupture and express their contents between the paper in liquid rosin or whole melt form. Time, temperature and pressure levels are tweaked based on plant variety.

The end result is a beautifully golden solventless concentrate containing all the same genetics-derived cannabinoids and terpenes as the starting material. Care must be taken not to over-press and degrade terpenes however.

Many producers now utilize hydraulic heat press technologies able to deliver precise control for larger volumes of professionally made whole melts. Quality units allow users to replicate lab conditions repeatably.

Authenticating Whole Melts: Safety Tips for Consumers

While it’s undoubtedly worthwhile seeking out genuine whole melt extracts for their intact plant chemistry benefits, consumers must be cautious of fake products out there as well. Here are some best practices:

• Check brand reputation thoroughly by searching reviews online from trusted sources. Avoid unknown brands.

• Purchase from licensed provisioning centers or reputable online retailers – not through unknown social media “plugs”.

• Request lab test results and examine packaging for professionalism, not mass produced generic jars.

• Look for consistency in color, aroma, taste and texture between batches from the same cultivator.

• Place a small amount on a dab tool and heat test for any residues left behind.

• Consider trying lower quality options first in case of unwanted effects from contaminants.

Following these authentication practices will help cannabis aficionados feel confident they are getting real whole melt extracts made using time-tested solventless techniques, not poor knock-offs trying to capitalize on the trend. With care, consumers can access the full benefits these purer extracts aim to provide.

Making Whole Melt Extracts at Home

For those curious about creation of their own whole melt extracts, it’s possible to perform both dry sift and heat press extractions in a home setting safely and effectively. Let’s cover some basic guidelines:

Dry Sifting at Home

To dry sift trichomes at home requires:

• Dried and cured cannabis buds
• A small series of pollen screens/sieves with 75-150 micron sizing
• Glass or plastic containers for catching kief
• Playing cards or other material for gentle agitation

• Place screens atop containers and pour buds onto top screen. Gently shake and rub buds with cards to dislodge trichome heads.

• Use multiple screens to separate different micron sizes of trichomes into different containers.

• Collect kief powders and shape as desired for smoking or pressing.

With care, small amounts of pure whole melt powder can be made from homegrown or high quality purchased flowers. Ensures freshest extracts.

Heat Pressing at Home

Solventless heat pressing rosin requires:

• Small hair straightener, arbor press or mini rosin press
• Hydrophobic parchment paper
• Adjustable temperature control if possible
• Digital pocket or jewelry scale

• Place small amounts of herb between paper sheets and clamp together securely in press.

• Slowly apply pressure and heat for 1-3 minutes depending on flower type.

• Carefully remove paper to reveal tongue of rosin. Let cool fully before handling.

• Start low on heat/pressure and work up gradually until getting returns without damaging terpenes.

While not commercial scale, home pressing allows artisanal small batch whole melt creations for personal medicine needs. Both approaches provide engaging creative outlets for exploring plant extracts. With care, great results can come.

Consumption and Effects of Whole Melt Extracts

Now that we’ve covered what whole melt extracts are made of and how they can be produced using traditional solventless techniques, let’s conclude by exploring effective ways to consume them and typical effects one may experience:

Consumption Methods

Whole melts can be enjoyed in several consumption methods:

• Dabbing – Using a heated surface device to vaporize small touches of extract. Allows controlling precise doses.

• Topping bowls – Microdosing sprinkles atop herb in pipes or vapes adds potency.

• Gummies/edibles – Cooking extracts into infused snacks extends longevity of high.

• Sublingual/oral – Allowing small amounts to dissolve under tongue or eating directly. Slower onset.

• Importing into prefilled vaporizer carts – Popular for discretion but efficiency varies greatly.

Regardless the method, microdosing whole melts initially is recommended due to their highly concentrated nature. Start low and go slow.

Expected Effects

True whole melts aim to recapture the entire cannabinoid and terpene profile of the source material. As such, the effects can provide a well-rounded experience reflective of the specific strain or blend used. Some common experiences may include:

• Uplifted, euphoric sense of mental and physical relaxation. Often described as “total body stone.”

• Creative, talkative states that promote socializing or solo activities. Potential for insight.

• Appetite stimulation without sleepy couchlock. Whole melts allow functional usage.

• Pain/stress relief that soothes without hampering focus or coordination too much.

• Vivid sensory experiences as terpenes augment flavors, scents are heightened. Visuals may intensify.

• Duration of roughly 2 hours on average depending on biology and dose size. Longer than some extracts.

• Comedown tends to be smooth and gradual rather than an abrupt crash afterwards.

It’s important to note whole melt effects will always correlate to the plant strain utilized, so sativas may energize more while indicas provide sedation. Overall they provide an intimate plant experience focused on full entourage benefits.

Sustainability of Whole Melt Extraction Practices

As sustainability remains an important issue within the legal cannabis industry, it’s worth examining how well whole melt solventless methods align with low-impact ideals. Several pros argue these extractions are amongst the most eco-friendly:

• No reliance on petroleum-based chemicals like butane or ethanol used in some other concentrates.

• Production creates zero hazardous chemical waste requiring disposal. All plant, no pollutants.

• Energy needs are relatively low, usually just heat and electricity to power machinery.

• Water consumption almost nil outside initial plant cultivation phase.

• Local small-batch artisanship empowers circular economies over mass produced goods.

• Ancient techniques like dry sifting require no sophisticated tools, just human hands.

• Retains full cannabinoid and terpene spectrum for less product waste versus isolating select compounds.

Of course sustainable practices still require addressed, such as sourcing organic flora, minimizing packaging, supporting ethical farming. But overall whole melts offer a low-impact pathway for uplifting the full spectrum of cannabis through traditional artisanal means. Their model of extraction holds promise for a greener future.

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