As the cannabis market matures, consumers’ expectations about flavor and authenticity are increasing. As the market for cannabis matures consumers are less satisfied with products that simply “work”. Instead, they want authentic flavors and aromas of real cannabis. This growing demand has placed Cannabis derived terpenes at the center of serious product development conversations.
Image credit: massterpenes.com
Why Terpenes Define Cannabis Identity
Terpenes, which are the aromatic compounds that give cannabis its distinct smell and taste are the main reason for this. They influence the perception of a product’s quality before any effects are experienced. When preserved properly Terpenes signal the freshness of the product, its strain lineage and overall quality. Even the most potent of products can become artificial or flat if handled improperly.
Real Cannabis Terpenes come directly from the cannabis flower, capturing the natural aroma of the plant. This is a distinct distinction from botanical terpene blends, that attempt to replicate cannabis’s characteristics using compounds derived from non-cannabis cannabis plants. Botanical blends may be more efficient in terms of cost, but they do not have the same depth as true cannabis.
The method of extraction influences the final outcome
How terpenes are extracted has a huge impact on their final flavor. Hydrocarbons extracted from fresh or freshly-frozen plant materials are typically utilized to create the vibrant scents of resinous. These methods preserve delicate compounds which are easily lost during drying or heat processing.
CO2 Terpenes possess the advantage of being able to extract CO2. Carbon dioxide terpene extraction offers exact control and solid and clean terpene fragments. The aroma that results may be less intense compared to hydrocarbon extractions. However, CO2 extracted profiles are superior for consistency and purity formulations.
The two methods serve different objectives, and those who are well-informed choose the method that best suits their needs rather than relying solely on marketing trends.
Fresh Material makes a noticeable change
The quality of cannabis-derived Terpenes are determined by the harvest. Terpenes by nature, are volatile, which means they will degrade rapidly when exposed to oxygen, heat or even time. If you use a fresh flowers, frozen or material that is carefully preserved, you can preserve the original aroma.
No extraction method can bring back the value lost once degradation has occurred. This is the reason that terpene makers who have experience are meticulous about their source and handling. The difference between a fresh and compromised product is immediately noticeable in smell clarity and in depth.
What to look for when buying Cannabis Terpenes
When evaluating Cannabis Terpenes, it’s easy to overlook the glitzy descriptions. The most important factor is transparency. The consumer must be able to comprehend the origins of the Terpenes, their extraction and their processing following extraction.
Consistency is another key aspect. The scent of cannabis-derived items must be uniform from batch to. This is especially true when the varieties are different. Wide variations could signal unstable sourcing, or rushed production. Both of these are warning signs when it comes to high-quality brands.
Terpene Craft: a Focused Approach
Others choose to specialize. Certain producers opt to focus on a specific area. Mass Terpenes is in the second class. It focuses exclusively on the extraction of terpenes instead of dividing attention among various types of products. This narrow focus gives greater control of aromas, processing, and the final product.
Mass Terpenes’ small batch production and meticulous post-processing emphasizes the importance of letting the aromas be the main focus. Instead of relying on hype the product’s quality is intended to be felt directly by tasting and smelling that are unmistakably cannabis-like.
Aroma is the Ultimate Quality Check
Lab reports are not an alternative to the first time a cannabis container is opened. Terpenes that are high-quality and derived from cannabis announce themselves immediately, displaying sophistication and a familiarity that synthetic blends are unable to meet. The aroma is the best indicator of success.
As the cannabis market develops, authenticity becomes the key differentiator. It doesn’t matter if a producer opts for CO2 terpenes derived using CO2 or live extracts of cannabis, the ultimate objective is the same: preserve the essence of the plant. If terpenes are handled with intention and respect, they do more than make products better, they also bring cannabis cultivation forward in the most recognizable shape.