Cold-Pressed vs. Cold-Extracted

Don't get it twisted. Cold-Pressed is 𝗡𝗢𝗧 the same as Cold-Extracted.⠀

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Cold-Pressing is a mechanical extraction process that yields hemp oil rich in CBD and phytocannabinoids. Cold-Pressing also maintains nutrients from plant material by physically pushing the oil out. [No solvents anywhere.]⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Cold-Extracted, on the other hand, is a clever marketing term used by companies that utilize ethanol or CO2 extraction methods. Ethanol and CO2 extraction methods are solvent methods that remove [extract] the cannabinoids from plant material at incredibly low [cold] temperatures. Though they are legally allowed to use the designation "solventless", they technically are not solventless; ethanol and CO2 are solvents used to remove cannabinoids. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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That being said, Upstream Organics owner, Brittney, is a chemist. Our position on the subject is this: solvents and chemicals absolutely have their place in this world - they are not inherently bad. It's a bummer there is a negative connotation associated with these words because literally everything is a chemical [water, Vitamin C, CBD, etc.] and we use solvents daily [think coffee; water is the solvent in which caffeine is solvated]. We do consider cold-pressing to be the best method for cannabinoid extraction [versus solvent-based methods] because maintaining the full and complete nutrient and cannabinoid profile from plant-to-product is important for product efficacy; solvent-based methods remove too many plant components for our liking.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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We firmly believe it’s up to you as a consumer to decide where and how solvents/chemicals are used by manufacturers in your CBD products. By being transparent about how we make our products and shedding light on other methods, we hope you feel informed when you shop. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Questions? Let us know below!