Systems and methods of cryo-curing

A method of cryo-curing a terpene-containing plant part to obtain a reduced moisture cured terpene-containing plant part having a moisture content between 8% and 20% by weight and a terpene content of about 0.2% to about 6% by weight, said terpene-containing plant part comprising a stem, a leaf, a flower, a bud, or a combination thereof, and said method comprising:

• a) freezing the terpene-containing plant part for a period of at least about 1 hour at a temperature of less than about −10° F. to obtain a frozen plant part;
• and
• b) curing the frozen terpene-containing plant part at a temperature maintained below 70° F. and at a pressure between about 50 millibars and about 0.167 millibars, said curing comprising the steps of:
• (i) heating a surface holding the frozen terpene-containing plant part to an initial temperature of about −5° F. to about 5° F. for a first time comprising about 30 to about 80 minutes;
• (ii) heating the surface to a second temperature of about 10° F. to about 40° F. for a second time comprising about 30 minutes to about 80 minutes;
• (iii) heating the surface to a third temperature of about 40° F. to about 60° F. for a third time comprising about 2 hours to about 4 hours;
• and,
• (iv) heating the surface to a fourth temperature of about 60° F. to less than about 70° F. for a fourth time comprising about 5 hours to about 12 hours,
• whereby the frozen terpene-containing plant part is cured at a temperature maintained below 70° F. under vacuum and obtains the reduced moisture cured terpene-containing plant part having the moisture content between about 8% to about 20% by weight and the terpene content of about 0.2% to about 6% by weight, with curing comprising steps (i) to (iv) having time comprising about 8 hours to about 18 and ⅔ hours;
• and wherein freezing and curing is performed within a time comprising about 19 and ⅔ hours or about 20 hours to about 36 hours.