As the marijuana industry expands and matures and expands, so do consumer expectations. Consumers aren’t satisfied with products which “work” any longer. They want to experience scents and flavors that reflect the cannabis. Cannabis derived terpenes now form the core of serious product debates.
Image credit: massterpenes.com
Why Terpenes define Cannabis identity
Terpenes is the aromatic substance that gives the distinctive taste and scent of cannabis strains. They can influence the perception of a product long before its effects are evident. When properly stored, terpenes have the ability to convey freshness as well as strain lineage and overall quality. Even products with high potency can be fake or flat if they are not handled correctly.
The real Cannabis Terpenes originate from the cannabis flower and preserve its natural aroma. This is distinct from botanical terpene blends, that attempt to replicate cannabis’s characteristics using compounds derived from non-cannabis plants. While botanical blends might be more affordable, they do not have the same depth that cannabis experts associate with it.
The Extraction Method is the Key to the Final Results
How the terpenes were extracted can have a significant influence on the final product. Hydrocarbons are extracted from plant materials that are either frozen or fresh, and this technique can capture the vibrant scents of live resin. This technique is used to keep the delicate substances that would otherwise be destroyed through drying or high-temperature processing.
At the same time, CO2 terpenes offer a different advantage. CO2 extraction permits precise control and creates solid, clean terpene fractions. While the smell is less in intensity than those of living hydrocarbons, CO2 profiles are highly valued for their purity and consistency. This is especially the case in formulations where balance is more important than intensity.
Producers should select their method based not on trends, but rather on the result they would like to achieve.
The distinction between new and old material can be measured
The high-quality terpenes of cannabis begin with the harvest. Terpenes have a volatile nature and break down when exposed to either to heat, oxygen or time. The aroma of the original is best preserved using fresh frozen flowers or other materials that have been properly preserved.
The extraction process cannot bring back the value lost once degradation has occurred. The terpene industry is focused on the source of raw materials as well as their handling. The difference in aroma clarity as well as depth and complexity of fresh and compromised material is evident immediately.
What to look for when purchasing cannabis Terpenes
When looking at Cannabis Terpenes, it is easy to overlook overly-exaggerated descriptions. Transparency is the most important thing. Buyers should be aware of where the terpenes originate from, how they’re extracted and processed into following extraction.
Consistency is also a crucial element. True cannabis-derived products should smell exactly the same from batch to, especially when they’re a specific strain. If there is a lot of difference, it could be a sign of unsteady sourcing or rushed production. Both are red flags to brands who care about the quality of their products.
A Specified Approach to Terpene Craft
Some producers try to be all things to all people. Some producers decide to concentrate on one thing. Mass Terpenes is in the second class. It is focused solely on the extraction of terpenes, rather than dispersing attention between different types of products. This narrow focus gives greater control over aroma, processing, and the final product.
Mass Terpenes’ small batch production and meticulous post-processing highlight the importance of letting the aromas speak for themselves. Instead of relying on hype, the quality is meant to be felt directly through scent and flavor that are unmistakably cannabis-like.
Aroma: The Ultimate Quality Check
A lab report isn’t an alternative to the first time that a cannabis bottle is opened. The smell of cannabis that is high-quality Terpenes is instantly noticeable and has a familiarity and depth that is difficult to duplicate in synthetic blends. Aroma is the most reliable method to determine the quality of the blend.
Genuineness has been a crucial factor in differentiating the industry as it continues to evolve. The objective is the same, whether a producer uses CO2 Terpenes or cold-cured varieties. If cannabis and terpenes are treated with intention and respect, they can do more that enhance products. They carry the culture of cannabis into the future with its most famous varieties.