CBD tinctures are usually the way to go if you’re looking for a good bang for your buck with potencies. CBD tinctures are a liquid format made from an extract containing cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis plants, and a carrier oil (hemp seed, MCT oil, or olive oil). Tinctures can come in a range of potencies and flavors, but they tend to go in higher CBD concentrations than other CBD products, like edibles or capsules. They come in bottles with dropper tops, allowing users to measure precise amounts.
CBD gummies are chewable, flavored candies infused with cannabidiol extract. They’re designed for ease of use with pre-measured doses and usually do a better job of masking the natural hempy flavor of the extract.
Differences Between Tinctures & Gummies
The biggest difference between gummies and tinctures is that one is a liquid, and the other is a cannabis edible. Believe it or not, even though they are both meant to be consumed orally, each format has unique experiences.
Form and Consumption:
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CBD Gummies are pre-dosed, chewable edibles, making them easy and discreet to consume.
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CBD Tinctures are liquid extracts, typically taken sublingually (under the tongue) for faster absorption or added to food and beverages.
Absorption Rate:
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CBD Gummies must pass through the digestive system, leading to slower onset (30-90 minutes) but potentially longer-lasting effects.
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CBD Tinctures are absorbed directly into the bloodstream when taken sublingually, offering faster effects (15-45 minutes).
Dosing Precision:
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Gummies provide a fixed dose per piece, making them convenient but less flexible for dose adjustments.
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Tinctures allow for precise dosing with a dropper, offering more control over the amount consumed.
Portability and Convenience:
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Gummies are portable, easy to use, and don’t require measurement, so they’re ideal for on-the-go use.
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Tinctures are more versatile but less discreet and may require a stable setting for accurate dosing.
Taste and Preference:
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Gummies come in various flavors and are great for masking the earthy taste of CBD.
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Tinctures often retain the natural hemp flavor unless flavored, which some may find off-putting.
Types of Gummies & Tinctures:
You've got more options beyond the CBD gummies and tinctures categories. First off, you can choose your extract type: full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate for either gummies or tinctures.
Then you’d look at the strength or potency (how much mg of CBD it has), and finally, functional ingredients like melatonin or herbs that may help with a more targeted use case — like for sleep, energy, or sex — for your product.
Extract Types for CBD Gummies and Tinctures
Full spectrum is an extract made by preserving as much of the natural cannabinoid and terpene profile of the hemp plant for a much more balanced and more potent effect profile (this may include up to 0.3% THC). Isolate extracts only contain CBD for a more focused use case and may be more appropriate for those looking to steer clear of any trace of THC.
Broad spectrum is an in-between type — it’s a full spectrum extract with an extra step to remove THC. With broad spectrum, you still get a more balanced effect profile but are guaranteed the absence of THC.
If you must go without THC, we recommend broad spectrum CBD as we believe you get more benefits from CBD when it's combined with its complimentary hemp compounds.
Potencies of CBD Oil or Tincture and Gummies
You’ll find a wide range of CBD potencies within CBD oil and gummy categories. Usually, they’re indicated by the amount of mg of CBD in the product.
You want to choose a product that has the closest dosage serving that suits your needs. One isn’t necessarily stronger than the other. For example a 20 mg dose with CBD oil will feel about as strong as a 20 mg dose from a gummy.
With CBD oils, you may have to do a bit of math to understand the serving size unless it’s stated on the label how many mg you get with each dropper full.
If it doesn't, then the math equation is the amount of CBD divided by the ml of liquid in the bottle.
Ex:
2000 mg CBD/ 30 mL = 66.6 mg of CBD per 1 mL (which is usually the size of one full standard dropper).
With gummies, these are more straightforward, as labels usually indicate how much CBD is in each gummy square.
One of the pros of using a High Potency CBD Oil is that you can reach higher doses with less product as each drop contains a higher concentration of CBD — meaning a little goes a long way.
Functional Ingredients
CBD is a compound that’s best known for its ability to promote a sense of balance in the body — which makes it a good all-rounder cannabinoid. Still, when you want more targetted use cases, for instance, for sleep, focus, or energy, you want to look for functional ingredients that help push the benefits of CBD in a particular direction.
For instance, our CBD Gummies for Sex contains 57 mg of full spectrum CBD per gummy along with libido-supporting ingredients like maca root and epimedium (horny goats weed) that help to make those intimate moments a little more exciting.
Our CBD Sleep Gummies pack 60 mg of full spectrum CBD and 3 mg of melatonin (a natural hormone that promotes sleep).
You can also find the same types of formulations in CBD oil tinctures, though sometimes functional ingredients don’t mix as well in an oil-based solution.
Which Is More Popular?
While CBD gummies attract higher search interest, indicating strong consumer interest, CBD tinctures lead in sales on our site by approximately 4%. The slight sales advantage of tinctures on our platform suggests that, despite the popularity of gummies, consumers may prefer tinctures for their versatility and dosing flexibility.
This preference could be due to tinctures' faster absorption rates and customizable dosing, which some users find more suitable for their wellness routines. However, a 4% difference in sales is rather a small difference, so it’s fair to say that these products are nearly equal in popularity.
Which Type I Would Pick
I would pick CBD gummies. I’m usually looking for a slower onset with longer-lasting effects, so gummies are a great option as they are absorbed through digestion. I’ve created my wellness routine around receiving the benefits of CBD throughout the day, which CBD gummies’ longevity provides. While I also reach for CBD oil to add to a smoothie when I’m in the mood for more immediate results, my everyday choice is always CBD gummies.
