You’ve heard that it’s the next best thing in natural health. It’s non-intoxicating, it’s legal, and it has tons of health benefits. What, exactly, is CBD, though — what does it look like when you hold it in your hand?

There’s no simple answer to this question since CBD comes in many forms. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to these forms, and by the end, you’ll know CBD distillate from isolate at a glance.

What Is CBD?

CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid naturally found in Cannabis sativa. Products containing CBD and other non-THC cannabinoids are usually protected under the 2018 Farm Bill, leading to a thriving domestic and international CBD industry.

Characterized by its lack of intoxicating attributes and apparent effectiveness against various conditions, CBD has become a spearheading force of the natural health movement, serving as a perfect example of a natural product that delivers on its promises without any unexpected drawbacks.

What Is CBD Hemp Extract?

CBD hemp extract is the concentrated plant material that is removed from CBD-rich hemp plants. This extract can take many different forms, each with its own appearance and unique set of benefits and restraints. Let’s take a look at the top 3 types of CBD hemp extract in more detail:

What Does CBD Oil Look Like?

CBD hemp oil is an unrefined form of extract that usually contains considerable amounts of chlorophyll, waxes, and other undesirable or unpalatable components of hemp flower that are removed with further extraction processes. Some CBD hemp oil products are more refined than others with a spectrum ranging from crude oil at the bottom to a product resembling distillate at the upper ranges.

Usually brown-to-amber in color, unrefined CBD hemp oil is very viscous and sticky, resembling a combination of sap and honey. It will pour slowly when transferring between containers, but it becomes more liquid at temperatures slightly exceeding room temperature.

What Does CBD Isolate Look Like?

CBD isolate is the most refined, the most simple, yet perhaps the least-useful type of CBD extract — at least in some ways. While other extracts contain trace amounts of minor cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial constituent parts of hemp flower, CBD isolate consists of solely CBD molecules — usually in purity levels exceeding 99%.

In most cases, CBD isolate takes the form of an unremarkable white powder, often containing chunks that, upon closer examination, are crystalline. CBD takes a crystalline structure when isolated, but the crystal is powdery and prone to powderization during handling and transport.

What Does CBD Distillate Look Like?

CBD distillate is an increasingly popular form of CBD extract that combines the benefits of CBD oil and CBD isolate. By refining CBD oil to the point that all unwanted substances are removed, CBD distillate mirrors the purity of CBD isolate.

However, it also offers the entourage effect due to the presence of minor cannabinoids and terpenes, which are preserved by some production methods better than others. CBD distillate usually takes on the appearance of clarified honey — it is light-yellow to amber in color, and it sometimes has a slightly more liquidy texture than CBD oil.

How to Identify High-Quality CBD

Now that you know how to identify the three major types of CBD extract, your job of finding a source of excellent CBD oil is one step closer to completion. Again, the major types of CBD extract can be recognized by these features:

• CBD oil: Dark-colored, viscous, sticky
• CBD isolate: White, powdery, sometimes chunks of crystal
• CBD distillate: Honey-colored, clarified, less viscous and sticky

Still ahead, though, is the task of selecting the ideal CBD extract for your purposes. After weighing the pros and cons of CBD oil, CBD isolate, and CBD distillate, you’ll need to choose a supplier within a highly competitive yet only lightly regulated market.

To make sure you choose the best CBD products made by the best producer, ensure any CBD source you’re considering provides detailed, up-to-date lab tests and has proactively sought out all available certifications and regulatory approvals. From there, scrutinize their methods: Did you know, for instance, that most methods of producing CBD distillate damage some of the most useful components of hemp flower?

When in doubt, ask for a CBD extract sample to test for yourself. Using this guide as a rubric, take a look at what the market has to offer, and make an educated choice for your CBD business.