Vape Cartridge Colors Decoded: Is Your Cart’s Color Normal?

So you just bought a new vape cartridge, and are wondering, “Why is my cart orange” or “Why is my cart clear?”

These convenient pods contain cannabis distillate, which can give off different colors depending on the extraction method, amount of terpenes, and other elements like exposure to oxygen over time. 

Sometimes, the color can indicate that something is wrong with your cart. Other times, a seemingly-off color can actually be normal.

Although you can’t tell if a cartridge’s hardware is faulty until you try it, we’ll help you figure out if the distillate inside the cartridge is safe and good quality.

See below for indicators of a good-quality vape cartridge based on the color of your distillate.

Inside cartridges are distillate, which is a concentrated form of cannabis that can contain different cannabinoids like Delta-9 THC, CBD, Delta-8 THC, THCP, etc. 

The first thing you’ll notice about your vape cartridge is the color of the distillate. This can be a clear indicator of whether your distillate is good quality or unsafe. The following are normal colors of distillate within vape cartridges:

• Light Yellow
• Yellow
• Light Amber
• Amber
• Gold
• Orange

These are all indicators of good quality distillate. If it looks brown or very dark, it’s not good quality. It could be counterfeit, but if you’ve purchased it from a legal brand, chances are it’s simply bad quality.

Another way to tell if your cartridge is good quality is by watching how quickly/slowly the distillate moves. Do so by placing your cartridge on its side for 5 minutes. During the first minute, your distillate should move slowly but not too fast. 

If it moves too fast, it’s likely poor-quality distillate. If it doesn’t move at all, it might be counterfeit and/or contain harmful additives that should never be inhaled.

Finally, the last way to tell if your cartridge is good quality is the taste test. There should be flavor, which should taste like earthy cannabis or the flavor of what’s marketed, like Blue Raspberry or Strawberry Banana, for example. If the cartridge is bitter, unpleasant, sour, or tasteless, it’s gone bad, or it’s poor quality.

After using a vape cartridge for a while, some users report a change in color in their distillate. This is where things get a bit tricky.

If your cartridge was already dark brown, to begin with, it shouldn’t be consumed. However, if it turns darker with time and after many uses, it doesn’t mean your distillate has gone and needs to be thrown away.

Instead, good quality oil that uses natural ingredients without additives or preservatives will change over time due to oxidization. With each draw, your oil interacts with heat and oxygen, which can change the color of the distillate and make it darker over time.

As long as your oil wasn’t too dark when you purchased it, using a distillate that has changed color over time is A-OK.

A new weed vape cart should typically not be dark brown or black.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that the distillate is “bad” per se, but, it does mean that it could have potential issues, like the oxidation, or poor quality material we mentioned.

Sometimes, a dark-colored distillate cart can happen when there’s a presence of impurities or contaminants.

With Binoid’s premium vape carts, you never have to second-guess if your oil color is off. Their extracts are clean, potent, and true-to-color, so you get nothing but smooth hits and top-tier quality—no weird discoloration, no sketchy additives.

And their disposables are in the same ballgame.

The THCA + Delta9P 5 Gram Disposable – Blazed is a true heavyweight in the hemp world thanks to its unique blend of cannabinoids and whopping 5-gram size. This disposable comes available in 10 powerful strains, so tailoring your effects to personal preference is easy.

This disposable vape combines premium liquid diamonds THCA, Delta 9P, and THC-JD distillate alongside flavorful live resin terpenes for an enhanced entourage effect.

Designed not to clog or leak, these vapes are convenient from every angle.

Save 25% at Binoid with code HERB25 at checkout.

There’s a reason PAX Live Rosin Pods get a lot of hype from vapers. 

Inside each one-gram pod is premium live rosin from flower that was frozen at the peak of harvest. After some fresh pressing, the result is an intensely flavorful draw every time. 

These live rosin pods pack a potent punch across various popular strains, depending on which state you’re in. Some top picks include:

• Northern Lights
• Cranberry Haze
• Bread & Butter
• Blueberry OG
• Blue Lobster
• Blue Dream

And if you’re in Massachusetts or California, you’re in luck. PAX recently launched their NEW High-Performance ERA system to provide an even more powerful experience.

Order now and take the guesswork out of concentrate quality.

A good cart deserves a battery that brings out its full potential—smooth hits, customizable power, and reliability for the long haul. If you’re still using a basic 510 thread battery, consider this your sign to upgrade.

Whether you’re at home, on the go, or just looking for the best way to get the most out of your favorite cartridges, the Yocan UNI 3.0 delivers everything a frequent vaper could need.

Key Features of the Yocan UNI 3.0:

• Customizable Sessions: Adjustable 1.8-4.2V voltage range for precise control.
• Long-Lasting Battery: A powerful 650mAh battery keeps you vaping longer.
• Smooth Hits Every Time: Features a 1.8V 10-sec preheat function for consistent, clean draws.
• HD Animation Screen: A 1.93-inch display provides real-time updates on:
  • Battery life
  • Voltage settings
  • Puff count
  • Animated visuals for a more interactive experience
• Three UI Modes to Customize Display:
  • Classic
  • Planet
  • Shiny Cat
• Universal Fit:
  • Adjustable width fits cartridges between 11-16mm
  • Height adjustment ensures a snug, comfortable fit
• Fast & Safe Charging:
  • USB-C charging for quick power-ups
  • 15-second safety cut-off prevents overheating
• Color Options: Available in black, white, light blue, rosy, green, rose gold, and violet

The Yocan UNI 3.0 is easily the best way to bring out the full potential of your vape cartridges.

So, if you opened your first cart and wondered to yourself, “Why is my cart light yellow,” which is quickly followed by, “Well…what color should my cart be?” you’re not alone.

But, now, armed with our knowledge of weed vape carts and their colorings, you can likely sigh with relief knowing it’s perfectly normal to have a certain hue to it (just not dark brown or black, which can indicate poor quality or oxidation).