As the cannabis industry grows, expectations of consumers regarding flavor and authentic are on the rise. Customers are not satisfied with products which “work” any longer. They want to experience scents and flavors that represent the cannabis. This growing demand has placed Cannabis derived terpenes at the center of serious product development conversations.
Image credit: massterpenes.com
What are Terpenes and How Do They Define Cannabis Identity
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds responsible for the distinct smell and flavor of marijuana strains. They influence how a product will be perceived before any effects can be felt. When preserved properly Terpenes can communicate freshness and also quality and strain lineage. Even products with high potency that are mishandled can cause them to feel artificial.
Cannabis flower terpenes can capture the scent of the plant. This is distinct from the botanical blends of terpenes that attempt to replicate cannabis profiles by using compounds that are not derived from cannabis plants. Botanical blends may be more cost-effective but they don’t have the same amount of depth as real cannabis.
The extraction method influences the outcome
The method of extraction used to extract Terpenes can have a major impact on their final flavor. Hydrocarbon extraction of fresh or freshly frozen plants is preferred for capturing the vivid, resinous aromas. These techniques are employed to keep the delicate substances that would otherwise be destroyed through drying or high-temperature processing.
CO2 Terpenes are also an excellent alternative. CO2 extraction permits precise control and produces pure, stable terpene fragments. The aroma of the profile may be more muted when compared to live hydrocarbon extractions. But CO2 profiles offer the sameness and purity, especially when it comes to formulations that value balance more than intensity.
It’s not possible to pick between these two. Each has a different purpose and therefore producers must make a decision based upon their desired outcome, not market trends.
Fresh Material Can Make a measurable difference
After harvest, the purity of cannabis-derived compounds is determined. Terpenes can be volatile and quickly degrade if brought into contact with oxygen heat or time variables. Freshly frozen materials, or flower that has been properly preserved, helps to preserve the original scent profile.
When degradation has occurred and extraction techniques fail, they cannot bring back the amount of terpenes lost. It is for this reason that terpene makers who have experience are obsessive about sourcing and handling. Fresh and contaminated material is immediately identifiable by their clarity of aroma and the intensity.
What to look out for when purchasing Cannabis Terpenes
In evaluating Cannabis Terpenes, it is easy to miss the glitzy descriptions. Transparency, however, is of greater importance. Buyers must understand the process of extraction of terpenes and where they originate from and how they are processed.
Consistency is another important aspect. The scent of cannabis-derived items should be uniform from batch to. This is particularly important when the varieties are different. The fact that there are large differences indicates that the brand cares about quality.
Terpene Craft: a Focused Approach
Certain producers are all-rounders. Others opt to focus on a specific area. Mass Terpenes is in the second category. It is focused solely on the extraction of terpenes, rather than dividing attention between multiple product types. That narrow focus allows for more control over aroma, processing, and the final product.
Mass Terpenes puts an emphasis on letting the aroma do all of the talking. Instead of being a product that is hyped The quality is designed to be felt directly by tasting and smelling that feel unmistakably cannabis.
Aroma is the Ultimate Quality Check
Lab reports are not an equivalent to the first time that a cannabis bottle is opened. The smell of cannabis that is high-quality Terpenes is immediately noticeable, and it has a familiarity and depth that is difficult to duplicate in synthetic blends. Aroma is still the most authentic measurement of the success.
As the cannabis industry evolves, authenticity becomes the key distinguishing factor. This same principle applies to producers who choose live extracted profiles or CO2 refined terpenes. If terpenes are treated with respect and care and care, they are able to do more than just enhance the quality of the product. They also can help in bringing cannabis culture in its most well-known format.