As the cannabis industry develops, consumer expectations about authenticity and flavor are on the rise. Customers no longer seek out products that just “work”. They are looking for aromas from the plant that help them identify it, and tastes that resemble real cannabis. Cannabis Terpenes that are derived from cannabis now make up the basis of all serious discussions about products.
The reason Terpenes define Cannabis identity
Terpenes provide the unique taste and aroma of marijuana strains. They affect the way a product’s perceived quality is long before the effects are felt. If properly stored Terpenes communicate freshness and strain lineage. They also communicate the overall quality. Even the most potent of products could be fake or flat if not properly handled.
Image credit: massterpenes.com
Cannabis flower is the source of the real Cannabis Terpenes that capture 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 extracted non-cannabis plant. Although botanical blends are economical but the flavor that consumers expect from true cannabis isn’t always there.
The Extraction Method Determines the Result
How terpenes have been extracted will have a major influence on the end product. Hydrocarbons obtained from fresh or newly-frozen plant materials are typically used to capture vibrant, resinous-like scents. These techniques preserve compounds that can easily be destroyed by high-temperature processing or drying.
CO2 terpenes provide another benefit. CO2 extraction is highly precise and yields pure, stable terpene fragments. Although the aroma is less in intensity than those of hydrocarbons that are living CO2 profiles are valued for their purity and consistency. This is particularly true in formulations when balance is more important than intensity.
Both methods serve distinct objectives, and those who are well-informed choose the method that is most suitable for their requirements rather than relying solely on marketing trends.
Fresh Material is Measureable
The quality of Cannabis-derived terpenes begins at harvest. Terpenes are degraded quickly when exposed to oxygen, heat or time. If you use a fresh, frozen flower or material that is carefully preserved, you can retain the aroma of your original.
The extraction process cannot bring back the value lost once the degrading has occurred. This is why it is that experienced terpene makers are obsessive about sourcing and handling. The clarity and intensity of the aroma differ immediately between the fresh and the compromised material.
What to look out for when purchasing Cannabis Terpenes
When evaluating Cannabis Terpenes available for sale extravagant descriptions, exaggerated claims are easy to ignore. More important is the transparency. Buyers must know how terpenes were extracted and processed.
Consistency is yet another important element. It is crucial that cannabis-derived goods smell identical, irrespective of the size of the batch. The existence of huge variations is a sign that the brand cares about quality.
A Focused Methodology for Terpene Craft
Certain producers are multi-faceted. Others opt for specialization. Mass Terpenes fits into the second category because it is focused on terpenes in particular instead of spreading attention across various types of products. This focus is narrow and allows for more control over the scent, final output, as well as processing.
Mass Terpenes places a high importance on small batch production, and a careful post-processing. This allows the scent to speak for the product. Instead of relying upon marketing the quality should be experienced through scents and flavors that are distinct cannabis-based.
Aroma as the Ultimate Quality Check
Lab reports are not a substitute for the first time a cannabis container is opened. Terpenes that are high-quality and derived from cannabis announce themselves instantly, with a complexity and familiarity that artificial blends struggle to compete with. Aroma is the most reliable measure of success.
As the industry grows authenticity is the real differentiator. Whatever the producer chooses to use CO2 terpenes derived using CO2 or live extracts of cannabis, the end objective is the same: to maintain the natural character of the plant. Terpenes, when treated with care and a sense of purpose, do more than improve products. They also bring the cannabis culture forward.