When it comes to consuming Delta-8 THC products, certain forms are preferable than others. Edibles like gummies are usually a beginner’s favorite, as the soft and chewy form can be a rewarding treat at the end of a long day. Inhalables are the preferred form for vapers and smokers, as the acrid vapor and inhalation techniques are already familiar. But today’s product review hones in on the middle ground between edibles and inhalables: sublinguals. I’ll explain more of what products are categorized as sublingual, but right now, I want to mention the start of today’s product review: the Candy Watermelon Tincture by Premium Jane. Since most tinctures I’ve reviewed are flavorless, I was intrigued by the name and even more curious about the taste. But before I get to the full-blown product review, I’d like to briefly recap what Delta-8 THC is.
Delta-8 THC: A Brief Recap
Delta-8 THC, short for Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found within the cannabis plant. While marijuana and hemp both come from the cannabis plant, hemp contains 0.3% THC or less. When Delta-8 THC is derived from hemp, the cannabinoid is considered federally legal and is in compliance with the 2018 Farm Bill. Delta-8 THC is extremely similar to Delta-9 THC (the psychoactive compound responsible in marijuana that gets the user high) but offers a more subdued high. Delta-8 THC has a double bond on the 8th carbon chain, whereas marijuana has a double bond on the 9th carbon chain. This slight difference in the double bond allows the cannabinoid to react more comfortably with your body’s endocannabinoid system. Delta-8 THC (also called “weed lite: or “diet weed”) helps ensure you’ll enjoy a smoother and more clear-headed high. There are a myriad of products on the market that cater to literally any preference: edibles like gummies and softgels, inhalables like flower, pre-rolls, and vape carts, but there’s a specific category we’ll be talking about today that doesn’t get enough attention: sublinguals!
Sublinguals: What Are They?
Sublinguals refer to any consumption method designed to be placed under the tongue (i.e., dissolvable oral strips, tinctures, and oils). The cannabinoid is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, thus bypassing the digestion process entirely. Some users claim that sublinguals work faster than gummies or softgels, while others claim that the wait time is the same but the effects last for longer. Regardless, you should allot a few hours to truly feel the effects.
Now I’ve seen a few articles recommending that you sprinkle tinctures into your food or swirl some into your beverage. If you don’t like the oily feel under your tongue or dislike the flavor of the tincture you’re using, then this may be your go-to option. Yet this method is problematic due to the reduction of cannabinoid’s bioavailability. As the cannabinoid is processed by your digestion system, you’ll lose a sizable amount of the total mg count. The total amount is estimated to be around 50% less potent, compared to the 90%+ when used sublingually. Feel free to experiment with the intensity of your high orally versus sublingually, but ultimately, it all boils down to what you’re comfortable with. As a side note, you should never attempt to vape any sublingual oils. Not only will this destroy your vape’s coils, but it will taste terrible and will not have any of the desired effects. Sublinguals might look identical to vape juice, but they are designed for oral use only. Now that we’ve gone over what sublinguals are, it’s time to check out the Premium Jane Brand!
Premium Jane Brand Information
The Candy Watermelon Tincture is the first product I’ve tried from the Premium Jane brand, so I headed over to their website to check out what else the brand offers. The site had a crisp no-nonsense feel to it, coupled with glowing reviews and professional product photos. I noticed that while the site didn’t have a search bar, Premium Jane uses a unique categorization method. Rather than list the products by cannabinoid, the products are listed by product type. This method works well for users who aren’t quite sure the cannabinoid they want, but know the consumption method they prefer. For those focusing solely on Delta-8 THC products, there is a designated tab for gummies and oils. You can also choose to browse Premium Jane’s best sellers, category vs solution, or take a short quiz to see which cannabinoid-infused product is right for you. Lastly, there was a beautiful blog and small sections of the homepage devoted to empowering their customers with knowledge of all things hemp.
Once I finished my quick perusal of the site, I navigated to the Oils section to find more information about the product I’ll be reviewing. Premium Jane’s 1000mg D8 Tincture + 200mg CBG Oil comes in two flavors: Tropical Punch and Candy Watermelon. Both options are priced at $55 for a single purchase, but you can save 30% when you sign up for their customized subscription service. The tincture is crafted from premium full-spectrum hemp distillate and is flavored with natural terpenes from the hemp plant. The total mg count is one of the strongest I’ve seen, but the manufacturer recommends only ½ dropper for an initial dose. Which brings us to the moment you’ve all been waiting for: the product review of Premium Jane’s Candy Watermelon Tincture!
Candy Watermelon Product Review
With a name like “Candy Watermelon,” I was extremely curious to see how accurate this flavor tasted. I quickly unscrewed the childproof dropper bottle and held the bottle to my nose. I was immediately surprised to detect a sweet and warm flavor of sugared melon, true to its name! While the dropper wasn’t graduated, I noticed that it only sucked up the oil to about halfway, coincidentally the recommended dosage amount. I noticed that the liquid itself was a very light yellow but very clear. Despite a vigorous shaking of the bottle before opening, I didn’t see any separation in the oil.
It took me about a minute to calculate how much Delta-8 THC & CBD was in a full dosage, especially since the recommended amount of ½ a dropper was all that could be sucked up in the dropper. Since my sweet spot for Delta-8 THC is between 20-30mg, II decided to take a full dropper (essentially a double dosage). I released the first half-full dropper under my tongue, waited the recommended 90 seconds, and swallowed. There was very little flavor while the oil was under my tongue and it was slightly difficult to keep the oil completely under my tongue. I also noticed a gentle warming sensation under my tongue as the room-temperature tincture was warmed to my mouth’s temperature.
After the allotted time, I swallowed the remaining oil and was delighted to taste a sweet and candied flavor. This delicious watermelon flavor tasted identical to the smell I had detected when I first opened the bottle. I eagerly refilled the dropper once more, again with the same half-full dropper amount. I waited another 90 seconds before swallowing and was rewarded with the delicious candied watermelon taste. I did not detect any hemp flavor whatsoever and was pleased that there was no residue left on my tongue or teeth after swallowing. I didn’t taste any bitter aftertaste or overwhelming flavor, meaning I didn’t need to rinse my mouth out with a swig of water. I noted the time and settled in to wait for the effects to start.
The Effects
I expected the effects to kick in after about 45 minutes, as many articles claim that tinctures work faster than traditional edibles. Since they bypass digestion via the sublingual absorption, tinctures are touted as being a more rapid alternative to gummies and softgels. I had eaten about an hour beforehand, so I was anticipating a quick and heady high. Yet after an hour, I began to wonder if my body had finally become immune to the effects of Delta-8 THC. I grew increasingly frustrated with every passing minute and steeled myself for a night of disappointment.
Yet at almost exactly 90 minutes, I began to feel the effects! I sank into a deep euphoria that settled upon me like a warm blanket. I felt incredibly relaxed and drowsy, savoring the rich high that had finally begun. I experienced some slight disorientation as well as some dizziness, most likely due to the fact that I had taken a double dose. Yet the heightened sense of touch and taste more than made up for this. I was delighted that I didn’t feel any intense cotton-mouth, but even a single sip of water tasted deliciously cool and refreshing. The high came hard and fast, and time seemed to slow down. I felt a gentle tingling in my hands, chest, feet, and face, commonly called a “body high.” As the high progressed I enjoyed the high for several hours before succumbing to a deep and heavy slumber.
I awoke the next morning with a bit of a hangover high, which left me a little dizzy as I prepared to start my day. The haziness faded after about an hour and I was left with a bemused memory of the previous night’s high. I’ve experienced this before with other tinctures, so I probably should have expected this. If you’re trying a Delta-8 THC tincture for the first time, be prepared for some of the effects to carry over into the next day. If you prefer to use Delta-8 THC during the day, just know that the high may last for longer than you anticipate.
Keep in mind that the Delta 8 THC effects and side effects will vary per person. Your weight, metabolism, age, and other factors play an important role in how your body reacts to this semi-psychoactive cannabinoid. Some users can enjoy the high during the day, while others prefer to take Delta 8 THC products at night to aid with relaxation and sleep. Whatever time you prefer to take your Delta 8 THC products, make sure you’re in a safe and comfortable environment where you can enjoy the high to the fullest extent. As you continue to use Delta 8 THC, you’ll know how much of a dose to take and what to expect once you establish a routine. Delta 8 THC is an excellent way to relieve anxiety, stress, sleeping disorders and can even stimulate your appetite! Just make sure that you start off slowly and listen to your body’s needs.
Premium Jane General Information
Lab Testing
The FDA doesn’t regulate the cannabinoid industry yet, which means there literally anyone can create a product and market it as premium in terms of potency and purity. One way that brands have found to combat this is through independent third-party lab testing. Premium Jane is one of those brands and proudly displays the results of eight unique tests for their tinctures (4 for each flavor). The lab results are easily accessible on the product page under the tab “Labsheets.” Once you click on any one of these links, a PDF will load and you can read the information listed for that specific test. There is also a QR code listed on both the product packaging and the product label, both of which will allow you to view the results on your mobile device.
Hemp Information
Premium Jane offers a wealth of information when it comes to their hemp. Their FAQ states that their hemp is grown, harvested, and formulated completely within the United States. Premium organic hemp is grown and harvested in Oregon, and is then shipped off for final processing in Michigan. Premium Jane utilizes a solvent-free CO2 extraction method for their Delta-8 THC, a process they fully explain in layman’s terms. I encourage you to visit the site’s FAQ section as well as their About Us tab to learn more about this incredible brand.
Product Packaging
I loved the sleek and calming colors of Premium Jane’s Candy Watermelon packaging. The tincture came in a professionally designed paper box: the bottom was a clean white, while the top section was a lime green with abstract pink lines. The inside of the paper box was a pale pink color, evoking imagery of a cold and refreshing slice of watermelon. The front of the packaging listed the cannabinoid content (1000mg of Delta-8 THC + 200mg of CBG), flavor (Candy Watermelon), and bottle size (30mL). The back of the packaging listed the supplemental information such as suggested serving size (.5mL/half a dropper), servings per container (60), ingredients list, consumption instructions, and customary warnings for use and storage.
The 30mL ceramic bottle was completely painted white, leaving no way to see how much tincture remained within. The bottle had the same design of the box (white on the bottom and green with pink stripes on the top) and contained the same information as paper box…with one noticeable difference: the ingredients list.
Normally I take a quick glance at this and move on, but this ingredient list actually gave me reason to stop and stare. While the flavor is listed as “candy watermelon,” the ingredients list on the product packaging lists three fruit extracts that are used in this flavoring: pineapple, orange, and raspberry. I was shocked that there was no mention of watermelon, so I checked the bottle of tincture as well. I was even more surprised to find that the fruit extract listed on the bottle’s label was natural watermelon flavor! I can only assume that someone made a mistake with this package, as those fruits seem like the extracts that would be used in their Tropical Punch tincture. I will reach out to Premium Jane to confirm, but I’m sure it was a simple error that will no doubt be corrected on future packaging.
CONCLUSION
The Candy Watermelon Tincture was the first product I’ve tried from the Premium Jane brand, and I must say I was very impressed! The sweet flavor of the candied watermelon translated beautifully in this tincture and was a true delight for my taste buds. I didn’t taste any bitter aftertaste or undertones of hemp and was very pleased with the authentic flavor. My only complaint would be the lengthy wait time of 90 minutes for the effects to kick in. Tinctures are reportedly quicker than other edibles, but this sublingual product took much longer than many gummies I’ve tried before.
While I didn’t expect the effects to take so long to kick in, my patience was rewarded with a rich and euphoric high. I thoroughly enjoyed my high for several hours, but I was a bit put off by the lingering effects I felt upon waking up the following morning. If you end up trying Premium Jane’s Candy Watermelon Tincture, make sure you allot enough time to enjoy the high and be prepared to experience a slight hangover high when you wake up. I realize that there are many factors involved with start times and effects, such as metabolism, age, gender, weight, and previous exposure to THC. I also understand that your high may differ from mine, but hopefully this review will give you some idea of what to expect.
If you’ve tried any other products from Premium Jane, whether it be their sublinguals, edibles, or inhalables, I encourage you to share your experiences in the comments below! I don’t often get the chance to review cannabinoid-infused tinctures, but I can honestly say this was one of the best tasting ones I’ve tried. In my next product review, I’ll be tackling one of the industry’s hottest products: a THC-infused beverage called Strawberry Lemonade by Ray’s Lemonade! If you’re looking for a refreshing beverage that delights your taste buds, quenches your thirst, and gets you high all at the same time, this is one review you won’t want to miss. Check back soon for this and other full-blown product reviews. Hope to see you there!
