THC gummies have become an increasingly popular way to consume cannabis, especially as legalization spreads across North America. But how exactly are these tasty treats produced on a commercial scale? Making consistent, effective edibles requires careful formulation and quality control.
What is THC?
THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main psychoactive compound found in cannabis. It is responsible for the “high” associated with marijuana use. THC gummies allow people to experience the effects of cannabis in a tasty, portable form.
Sourcing Quality Cannabis
The first step in making THC gummies is sourcing high quality cannabis. Commercial manufacturers only use cannabis from licensed growers who follow strict quality control procedures. The cannabis is usually dried and cured before being processed into concentrated THC oil.
There are a few methods for concentrating the THC from cannabis plants:
- Solvent extraction uses solvents like butane or ethanol to separate cannabinoids like THC from plant material.
- CO2 extraction uses pressurized carbon dioxide to selectively extract THC and other compounds.
- Distillation purifies crude cannabis extracts into highly concentrated THC oil.
These extraction and distillation processes require expensive equipment and technical expertise, which is why most gummy manufacturers source their THC oil from specialized providers rather than producing it themselves.
Choosing Other Ingredients
In addition to concentrated THC oil, commercial THC gummies contain other ingredients like:
- Sugar – Corn syrup gives gummies their chewy texture, while cane sugar adds sweetness.
- Gelatin or Pectin – These natural products act as a gelling agent when heated to form the solid gummy texture.
- Flavorings – Natural flavors replicate popular candy flavors like cherry, lemon, and strawberry.
- Colors – Dyes give gummies vibrant, appetizing colors.
- Citric Acid – Provides a tangy flavor.
Manufacturers may also add ingredients like coconut oil, sunflower lecithin, or guar gum to finetune the texture and consistency of the gummies.
Formulating Recipes
Turning all those ingredients into a delicious THC-infused gummy requires careful formulation. Manufacturers experiment with different recipes and ratios of ingredients to achieve the perfect gummy with a consistent dose of THC throughout.
Here are some key considerations in formulating THC gummy recipes:
- The amount and quality of cannabis oil – More concentrated oil means higher potency THC gummies.
- The desired flavor and colors.
- Getting the right texture – The gummies must set up firm enough to handle but still be chewy.
- Achieving consistent THC distribution – No gummy should have much more or less THC than another.
- Shelf-life and storage conditions – What ingredients and production methods are needed to maximize shelf-life?
Finding the optimal balance between great taste, texture, and effects takes much trial and error. But the result is a winning edible that consumers love.
Infusing the Gummies with THC
Once a recipe is perfected, it’s time to infuse the gummy mixture with concentrated THC oil. This is done in large batches or kettles.
First, the main ingredients like corn syrup and gelatin are combined in a heating kettle. Next, concentrated THC oil is thoroughly mixed in to fully incorporate it. Heating and stirring the kettle evenly distributes the THC infused oil throughout the entire gummy mixture.
The key is to keep the temperature low enough to preserve potency of the THC oil. Extended heating can degrade THC levels. Proper infusion results in gummies with predictable, consistent doses of THC.
Molding the Gummy Mix
After the THC gummy mixture is cooked and infused, it moves on to the molding and cooling phase. Gummy mixture is thick and viscous when hot but sets up into chewy solids as it cools.
The mixture is poured into cornstarch or silicon molds to shape the individual gummies. Cornstarch molds are inexpensive but can only be used once. Silicon molds hold their shape better and allow hundreds of uses.
The gummies are allowed to fully set and solidify in the molds as they cool down to room temperature. This may take a few hours. Once cooled and firm, the gummies are easily popped out of the molds.
Coating and Finishing
After molding, some gummy manufacturers apply coatings like sugar, citric acid, or cornstarch. These coatings prevent stickiness and give the gummies a crunchier texture.
THC gummies may also be stamped with brand logos or sprayed with concentrated flavors and colors. The finishing touches result in an appetizing candy-like appearance.
Packaging the Finished Gummies
The final step is packaging the THC gummies for distribution and sale. Packaging serves a few key functions:
- Child-proof containers protect kids from accidentally ingesting the THC treats.
- Opaque packaging prevents THC degradation from light exposure.
- Packaging displays dosage, cannabinoid content, and other details for consumers.
Gummies are carefully counted and placed into packaging containers either by hand or machine. Then the packages are sealed, labeled, and ready for shipping.
Testing and Quality Control
Throughout the production process, rigorous quality control testing is performed to ensure safety, potency, and consistency:
- Microbial testing – Samples are tested for dangerous microbes like E. coli, salmonella, and mold.
- Potency testing – HPLC or GC testing determines the exact THC and CBD concentrations.
- Pesticide testing – Making sure no residual pesticides are present from cannabis cultivation.
- Solvent testing – Confirming no toxic residual solvents remain from extraction.
- Homogeneity testing – Ensuring THC is evenly distributed throughout batches.
Any batches that fail these quality control tests do not proceed to packaging and distribution. This rigorous testing results in safe, reliable THC gummies consumers can enjoy.
Equipment for Mass Production
Producing THC gummies involves specialized equipment to handle large batches efficiently:
- Industrial mixing kettles with temperature control and agitators
- Flow wrap machines to package large quantities rapidly
- Conveyor belts for cooling and transporting
- Ovens or dehydrators for drying fruits and herbs
- Seeders to insert chewy candy centers
- Laser cutters to shape novelty gummies
- Spraying machines for flavorings and coatings
The initial capital investment is significant. But over time, the equipment allows cost-effective mass production ideal for the commercial gummy market.
Common Types of THC Gummies
Using this manufacturing process, THC gummy producers have created many fun varieties including:
- Fruit flavored – Imitating popular candies like Froot Loops, peach rings, and tropical mixes.
- Sour – Coated in sour sugar with a powerful tart flavor.
- Gummy colas or root beers – Fizzy and flavorful.
- Bears or worms – Gummy classics in cannabis form.
- Rings – Large donut-shaped gummies, sometimes with THC oil in the center.
- Exotic – Like pineapple chili or watermelon hibiscus.
With quality ingredients and efficient manufacturing, THC gummy producers offer a wide assortment of flavors, textures, shapes and potencies to please every consumer.
| Gummy Type | Description | Potency |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit flavored | Replicates candy flavors like peach, berry, tropical | 5-10 mg THC per gummy |
| Sour coated | Tangy sugar coating with intense flavor | 10-25 mg THC per gummy |
| Gummy soda | Fizzy cola or root beer flavors | 2.5-5 mg THC per gummy |
| Gummy bears | Classic bear shaped gummies | 10-50 mg THC per bear |
| Gummy rings | Oversized donut gummies, may have liquid center | 50-100 mg THC per ring |
Conclusion
Creating high quality THC gummies requires extensive cannabis extraction expertise combined with professional candy manufacturing capabilities. Each ingredient must be carefully sourced. Recipes are meticulously crafted to achieve ideal flavors, textures and THC dosing. Automated processes allow mass production of thousands of gummies per day, but each batch still undergoes rigorous quality control testing. The result is a delectable and convenient cannabis edible that consumers can enjoy anywhere.
