As the market for marijuana matures and grows, so does consumer expectations. The customers aren’t content with products that “work” anymore. They want the aromas and tastes that truly represent cannabis. Cannabis extracts are being developed to satisfy this demand.
Image credit: massterpenes.com
The Terpenes that Define Cannabis Identity
Terpenes is the chemical responsible for the distinctive taste and scent of cannabis strains. They influence the perception of a product’s quality can be determined long before effects are felt. If properly preserved, terpenes have the ability to convey freshness and also quality and strain lineage. Even the most potent of products could become fake or flat when handled incorrectly.
Real Cannabis terpenes are sourced directly from cannabis flower, capturing the plant’s natural aromatic fingerprint. It’s a distinct product from the botanical terpenes blends that try to recreate the cannabis profile using compounds taken from non-cannabis plants. Although botanical blends are economical, they don’t always provide the depth and layering that experienced customers associate with genuine cannabis.
The extraction method influences the outcome
The method used to extract Terpenes plays a huge role on their final flavor. Hydrocarbons are extracted from plant materials that are either fresh or frozen, and this technique is able to capture the vivacious flavors of live resin. These techniques are employed to preserve the fragile compounds that would otherwise be destroyed by drying or high heat processing.
CO2 Terpenes have a distinct advantage. CO2 extraction is highly precise and yields stable, clean terpene fractions. While the smell is less in intensity than those of live hydrocarbons CO2 profiles are appreciated for their purity and consistency. This is particularly true in formulations when balance is more important than intensity.
It’s impossible to choose between the two. Each serves a different purpose and therefore producers must make a decision based upon their intended outcome instead of the latest trends in marketing.
The distinction between the old and new materials is evident.
The quality of cannabis-derived terpenes starts with the harvest. Terpenes can be volatile and break down when exposed to the elements of heat, oxygen or over time. If you use a fresh, frozen flowers or material that is carefully preserved, you will be able to preserve the original aroma.
Once degradation occurs the extraction method cannot completely restore the amount of terpenes lost. The terpene industry is focused on the sourcing of raw materials and the handling of them. Fresh and compromised material are immediately discernible by their clarity of aroma and the intensity.
What to Look out for when purchasing Cannabis Terpenes
Flashy descriptions and exaggerated statements can be ignored when evaluating Cannabis Terpenes. Transparency however is more important. Buyers need to be aware of where the terpenes originate from, how they’re extracted, and what they’re processed to after extraction.
Consistency, too, is an important factor. True cannabis-derived products must smell the same from batch to particularly when they’re a specific strain. The large variations could indicate insecure sourcing, or rushed production. These are both indications of a problem for quality-oriented brands.
Terpene Craft: a Focused Approach
Certain producers are multi-faceted. Some choose to specialize. Mass Terpenes, which focuses exclusively on terpenes instead of having a focus on different categories of products, falls into the second group. This narrow focus gives greater control over aroma, processing, and output.
Mass Terpenes prioritizes small-batch manufacturing and post-processing, letting the aroma speak for it. The flavor should be felt in the moment, not through hype.
Aroma: The Ultimate Quality Check
A lab report isn’t an alternative to the first time a cannabis container is opened. The complexity and familiarity of cannabis-derived terpenes are evident immediately, and they can’t be matched by artificial blends. Aroma is the most reliable method to determine the quality of the blend.
Genuineness is the new distinguishing factor in the business. The aim is the same regardless of whether the producer is using CO2 terpenes, or cold-cured varieties. When terpenes are treated with respect and care, they do more than enhance products they carry the cannabis cultivation forward in the most well-known shape.