Organic hemp cultivation, harvesting by hand, gentle extraction & quality control

We are passionate about CBD. We do everything we can to manufacture our products to the highest quality. From seed to harvest and extraction to sale - every single step is our responsibility. This is ultimately reflected in our products.

The hemp plant is like a sponge.

It absorbs what it finds with its long roots in all the layers of soil. That's why we only plant our cuttings in fields that have been cultivated organically for over 25 years.

In spring, we plant our cuttings in BioSuisse fields, outdoors & in the greenhouse

It all starts with the seed. The cultivation intention, be it for seeds, fibers, food or CBD oil, determines the choice of hemp variety and the time of sowing. The seedlings find their place in the soil in spring, as hemp is sensitive to frost. Planting before April or May is avoided to prevent temperatures below 0°C.

We grow our hemp plants both outdoors and in greenhouses on ecologically sustainable soil. In the greenhouse, the plants are grown in the field, but under a protective roof that allows them to absorb all the valuable nutrients from the soil.

In nature, hemp flowers after the summer solstice, the longest day of the year (usually June 20 to 22). In the greenhouse, this process can be influenced by targeted darkening and lighting, which in turn enables several harvests per year.

More information about our cultivation

What type of hemp do we grow?

Hemp, a plant from the hemp family, consists of two main species: Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica. Hemp has been cultivated and used by humans for thousands of years and is considered the oldest useful plant.

At ALPINOLS we exploit the full potential of Cannabis Sativa.

Why do we grow organically?

Hemp is a deep-rooted plant. This means that the roots grow very deep into the soil. The hemp plant can therefore get enough water from deeper layers of soil even in dry conditions. However, it can also absorb harmful substances in the soil if the soil has not been cultivated organically for long enough. This is why we at ALPINOLS grow our hemp sustainably in accordance with the Bio Suisse guidelines.

Why is our hemp cultivation legal?

We use hemp varieties from the EU industrial hemp catalog, which lists all EU-certified industrial hemp varieties that may be grown in the EU for commercial purposes. Only officially recognized farmers are authorized to grow hemp. These farmers must use special seeds that have been approved by the relevant national authority.

Our CBD products at ALPINOLS meet strict THC limits and we are committed to transparent hemp cultivation. However, please note that CBD-enriched foods and food supplements are classified under the Novel Food Regulation in the EU. In order to sell them, a successful novel food registration is required. Our CBD oils are classified as cosmetics and labeled accordingly.

Harvesting in the fall - traditionally by hand

Harvesting takes place in the fall when the flowers are ripe or after a simulated time in the greenhouse. Flowers and leaves are separated from the stem. For our CBD oil, we use the fine leaf edge around the flowers, known as the trim. This is gently harvested by hand.

The trim undergoes further processing and enters an oven where the shredded leaves are dried at over 200 degrees. This converts the inactive cannabinoid CBD (present in the plant as CBDA) into active CBD - a process known as decarboxylation.

From the plant to the extract - our gentle CO2 extraction

CBD, cannabinoids, terpenes and plant substances are obtained by extraction. There are various methods for separating these substances from the plant matter, whereby the method influences the purity and quality of the CBD oil. At ALPINOLS we use gentle CO2 extraction.

This process uses carbon dioxide. Although CO2 is associated with exhaust gases, it plays a special role here. CO2 is gaseous at normal room temperature, but becomes liquid under high pressure. In CO2 extraction, the CO2 flows in liquid form under pressure over the plant mass in order to dissolve the desired components.

It then evaporates at normal temperature, leaving no residue in the extract. What remains is a pure CBD extract including cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids.

More information on extraction

What other types of extraction are there?

Oil extraction
Cannabinoids are fat-soluble. The hemp leaves are mixed with oil and heated to around 100°C, whereby the cannabinoids dissolve in the oil. However, vegetable oil is quickly perishable and the CBD content with this extraction is also low.

Solvent extraction
Ethanol is used as a solvent for this extraction method. The finely chopped leaves containing the CBD are mixed with the solvent and then heated until only the CBD extract remains. However, not only CBD is extracted here, but also the chlorophyll, which can be harmful to humans in large quantities. In addition, residues of the solvent may be present, which would be very harmful to health.

How is THC-free oil produced?

After CO2 extraction, a full-spectrum extract is obtained, which does not exceed the legally permitted maximum amount of THC. This full-spectrum extract can be converted into a broad-spectrum extract by removing the THC.

This first requires filtration, also known as winterization. Winterization involves freezing the full-spectrum extract with ethanol. This dissolves the vegetable fats of the hemp. The mixture is then filtered and distilled.

The remaining CBD extract is freed from THC using flash chromatography. Due to the different molecular sizes of the cannabinoids, the THC is extracted and removed under pressure.

Quality control - the finishing touches

After extracting the CBD extract from the plant matter, it is mixed with a carrier oil to produce CBD oils with different concentrations. At ALPINOLS, we use organic sunflower seed oil, among other things.

After this process, the in-house laboratory subjects each batch to a test. To ensure quality and guarantee transparency, our own products are also tested by an independent laboratory. This is followed by the bottling of the oil, the application of labels and the packaging of the bottles.

The quality of the CBD oil depends on various factors, from the soil to the harvest, the extraction method and the choice of carrier oil. Each of these components is crucial. To be certain of high-quality CBD oil, it is advisable to research the cultivation and production methods.

More information on quality control

How do you recognize good CBD oil?

The quality assessment of CBD oil requires attention to various factors: Hemp cultivation under strict conditions - ideally organic, without pesticides; gentle CO2 extraction for optimal cannabinoids and terpenes; tested cannabinoid content and compliance with THC limit; choice between full-spectrum and CBD isolate; transparency through third-party lab testing; carefully chosen carrier oil; reliable reviews; caution with extremely cheap options; consult with professionals if necessary; consider individual reactions. Start with a low dosage and observe the effect.

What do the lab reports show?

The cannabinoid lab reports provide insights into the composition of our CBD products. You will find:

  • Cannabinoid contents: Amounts of CBD, THC, CBG, CBN and more are listed to clarify the cannabinoid distribution in the product
  • THC content: Important for possible intoxicating effects, the THC content and its compliance with the legal limits (below 0.2% THC) is indicated
  • Analysis method and laboratory: The test method used and laboratory details are listed to ensure standardized procedures
  • Details of the analysis: date of analysis, sample type, lot/batch number and sample name