FAQ’s

What's the difference between Himalaya Original and Himalaya Live Sauce? ⌄

Himalaya Original is extracted from cannabis that's been slow-cured, just like flower. Then it's vapor refined for maximum potency and purity. This gives Original a deep, rich flavor, similar to cannabis flower. And it offers maximum potency at the most affordable price.

Himalaya Live Sauce contains live resin extracted from cannabis frozen fresh at the farm. This gives Live Sauce an explosively loud, fresh flavor. In general, Live Sauce batches are slightly less potent (in terms of THC percentage) than Original.

Both Himalaya Original and Live Sauce contain cannabis extract with the full-spectrum of cannabis-derived terpenes and other beneficial compounds.

Do Live Sauce cartridges contain real live resin? ⌄

Yes, Himalaya Live Resin Sauce cartridges contain real, unrefined and undistilled live resin. The proof? Just like dabbable live resin, Himalaya Live Sauce contains significant amounts of THCA. To geek out on the explanation for this, keep reading.

Here's the scientific details: THCA is the crystal form of THC that's found in the live plant. Live resin, which is extracted at cold temperatures from the fresh plant, contains lots of THCA. (THCA is what forms the crystals or "diamonds" in live resin.) But when heated, TCHA is converted into delta-9-THC. Distillate and "refined live resin" are heated A LOT during processing. This heat is why distillate and "refined live resin" are entirely delta-9-THC with zero THCA. The heat "cooks" the THCA into delta-9-THC.

In short, the amount of THCA indicates the degree to which an extract has been heated, and thus how "live" it is. Real live resin - extracted fresh at cold temps - contains lots of THCA. Products that are heated excessively - like distillate and "refined live resin" - aren't "live" and don't contain THCA.

Himalaya Live Sauce contains lots of THCA, becasue it contains real live resin that's never been distilled or otherwise heated. In fact, Himalaya Live Sauce cartridges contain more THCA than virtually every other brand of "live" cartridge on the market. (Many brands contain no THCA; most others contain very little.) This proves that Himalaya Live Sauce cartridges contain real, unrefined and undistilled live resin.

Are Himalaya carts safe and free of contaminants? ⌄

Yes. We take quality control seriously, and we rigorously test the cannabis we use, the cannabis oil we make, and the cartridges we fill. By the time a Himalaya cartrige reaches the dispensary, it's been tested multiple times by an independent laboratory. And because we make all Himalaya products ourselves at our spot in the City of Trees, we know exactly what goes in to each and every cartridge. We can guarantee that Himalaya is safe and free of toxic contaminants. To learn more, visit the Safety page.

I've noticed your potency percentages have gone up recently? Does this mean the amount of terpenes is lower than before? ⌄

No. Every Himalaya Originals cartridge still contains 6-8% of the cannabis-derived terpenes, just like before. Likewise, nothing has changed for Live Resin Sauce cartridges: 1G of live resin still makes a 1G cartridge. The recent increase in potency values is due to a two factors. (1) The independent testing laboratory we use recently completed a review of their procedures and eliminated some issues that were erroneously reducing potency values. As a result, reported potencies increased by 3-5% across the board. A batch that tested at 85% a year ago would now likely test at 90%. (2) We've improved our process to more effectively remove the stuff you don't want in the cartridge: waxes, chlorophyll, and lipids. We're getting out that last couple percent that we missed before, increasing potency values accordingly.

What is the difference between Himalaya cartridges, vs. cartridges with "natural terpenes"? ⌄

Every Himalaya Originals cartridge contains 6-8% of the original, cannabis-derived, strain-specific terpenes and other essential compounds.* That's how we're keeping weed real.

Products marketed as containing "natural terpenes" or "botanical terpenes" are flavored with terpenes derived from other plants: pine trees, lemons, etc. (Many of these same terpenes are used in plug-in air fresheners and perfume.) These cannabis products may contain few, if any, of the original cannabis-derived terpenes. We think of these products as "flavored THC".

Think of orange Kool-Aid vs. fresh-squeezed orange juice. This is the difference between "flavored THC" distillate cartridges and Himalaya cartridges.

What do you mean by "essential compounds" in the above question? ⌄

Along with over 100 terpenes, cannabis contains other light, volatile compounds with notable flavors and aromas. For example, esters - not terpenes - are responsible for flavors such as pineapple, banana and strawberry. We preserve the original cannabis-derived esters along with the terpenes.

Do you sell flavored carts? ⌄

Himalaya carts are "flavored"... with cannabis! Every strain has a unique flavor. Our process captures these fragile flavor compounds for your enjoyment.

Differences between strains extend beyond flavor. Strains have unique psychoactive effects as well. For example, Sativa strains are often stimulating, while Indica strains are typically relaxing. These differences between Sativa and Indica strains result from their distinct terpene profiles. This is one reason why many consumers prefer Himalaya over "flavored THC" cartridges. The benefits of cannabis require the full spectrum of beneficial compounds found in the plant. It's impossible to replicate the unique effects of cannabis generally - or each strain specifically - using non-cannabis terpene blends or other added flavors.

But do we flavor Himalaya cartridges with added artificial flavors? No. We like candy. And we like weed. But we don't like candy-flavored weed-substitute.

Why don't you offer this or that crazy ass strain? ⌄

Himalaya is not weed-like product. Himalaya is made from real weed; Himalaya IS real weed.

That means we only offer strains that folks actually grow. Sour Diesel plants make Sour Diesel cartridges, Gelato plants make Gelato carts, and so on. Pretty simple.

Can you ship to another state? ⌄

No. Himalaya is only available in California through state-licensed cannabis retailers.

Why aren't you in my favorite dispensary? ⌄

Good question. You should ask them.

Q: The cartridge isn't working. ⌄

A: First, make sure you've removed the rubber cap from the mouthpiece, and that the bottom of the cartridge is uncapped and screwed onto the battery.

Q: I removed the mouthpiece plug. The cartridge still isn't working. ⌄

1. Make sure the battery is turned on and charged.
2. Unscrew and then re-attach the cartridge. (On certain batteries, just loosening or tightening the cartridge slightly can work.)
3. With low voltage batteries (2.7-3.0V), you may need to "warm up" the cartridge, as the first hit may not produce much vapor. (Very low batteries - less than 2.5V - may not work at all.)
4. Check for a potential obstruction by trying to draw air through the cartridge (when it's unscrewed from the battery).
5. If possible, try the cartridge on a different battery. HIMALAYA cartridges work well with most push-button and automatic batteries.

Q: The cartridge hits, but not very hard.⌄

A: Check to make sure that your battery is delivering enough juice: The battery may need a charge, or the voltage may be too low. Also, check to make sure the oil is at the bottom of the tank, covering the intake holes. (For example, if the cartridge was upside down and the oil can't enter the holes, the ceramic may be dry.)

Q: The cartridge still doesn't hit hard. Or else it hits well at first, but starts producing less vapor after many hits. ⌄

A: This sounds like a re-saturation problem. The cartridge vaporizes the oil by heating a ceramic core that sits just inside the intake holes at the bottom of the tank. Each hit vaporizes some oil within the ceramic, and then new oil flows in through the intake holes to replace it. But cannabis oil is pretty thick and moves slowly, so this doesn't happen instantaneously. Taking lots of hits in quick succession may vaporize all the oil within the ceramic (or de-saturate the ceramic) faster than new oil can flow in to re-saturate it. This can especially be a problem at cold temperatures, as cold oil flows more slowly than warm oil. The simplest solution is to wait a bit longer between hits, giving the oil more time to re-saturate the ceramic. Temperature makes a big difference, and a cold cartridge may de-saturate more quickly. A simple trick: rest the cartridge in your pocket or your hand. Your body heat will gently warm the cartridge, helping the oil to flow faster to keep the ceramic saturated.

Q: The cartridge seems clogged. I can't suck any air through.⌄

A: The fix for this is simple. (But first, please double-check that the rubber end cap is removed.) Simply take a paperclip, straighten it, and carefully insert it into the bottom of the cartridge (where the cart attaches to the battery). Push the paperclip in about half an inch. Gently slide the paperclip back and forth a few times before removing. If necessary, wipe off the paperclip and then repeat. This almost always works to clear an air path. If that doesn't work, try using a push-buttom battery to heat the cartridge for a few seconds. Then continue heating as you suck gently. This should warm up the oil and allow the internal clog to clear.

Q: An air bubble has formed around the intake holes. The oil is "stuck" and can't reach the intake holes.⌄

A: Gently uncrew the mouthpiece partially, until there is a gap between the mouthpiece and the glass tank (allowing air to enter the tank). Stand the cartridge upright, or if possible stand at an angle, overnight. The oil should fall and reach the wick holes. Screw down the mouthpiece until it's tight, and enjoy! If that doesn't work, try warming the oil gently by heating the glass. (Body heat is often enough, or else a hairdryer works well.) Once the oil is warm and begins to flow, uncrew the mouthpiece (as described above) and stand upright until the oil falls to the wick holes.

Q: The oil tastes burnt. ⌄

A: Your battery may be too strong! The authentic terpenes in Himalaya are delicate and burn easily. For best results, we recommend a maximum voltage of 3.4V, and even voltages above 3.2V may be too harsh for some people.

Q: The cartridge was stored upside down. There is no oil near the wick holes. ⌄

A: To use later, simply turn the cartridge upright and let the oil settle. (If the oil seems "stuck", try partially unscreweing the mouthpiece and leaning at a 45 degree angle overnight.) To use now, or to re-saturate a dry wick, gently heat the cartridge (until the oil inside flows visibly) and leave it upright for 30 minutes. (Be careful not to overheat: if the glass is uncomfortably hot to the touch, that's too hot!)

Q: The cartridge clogs whenever I fly or go to the mountains. ⌄

A: The air pressure is much lower at high altitudes and on airplanes. The resulting pressure difference between the pressure inside the cartridge (higher) and the pressure outside (lower) can increase the chance of a clog. (This is similar to what happens to your ears on a plane when taking off and landing.) The solution is to keep the cartridge fully capped (at both the top and bottom) whenever possible, sealing it off from the change in pressure.

Q: Do Himalaya batteries come fully charged? ⌄

A: Usually your Himalaya battery should come charged and ready to use, but not always. If it doesn't work out of the box, it probably just needs a charge.

Q: How do I know when my battery is charged? ⌄

A: Red lights = still charging. Green light = ready. When charging, the light on the USB charger will be red, and the red lights on your battery will illuminate. Once the battery is fully charged, the light on the USB charger will turn green, and the lights on your battery will flash and then turn off.

Q: When I plugged my battery in, the lights blinked three times and then turned off. Is it broken? ⌄

A: The battery will blink 3 times and then turn off when it's fully charged. Accompanied by a green light on the USB charger, this just means the battery is charged and ready to use.