As the cannabis market develops, expectations regarding flavor and authenticity continue to rise. As the cannabis market matures consumers are less content 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
What are the Terpenes that define Cannabis identity?
Terpenes produce the distinctive flavor and aroma of marijuana strains. They affect how a product will be perceived before any effects are experienced. Terpenes, when preserved correctly convey the freshness of the product, its strain ancestry, and overall product quality. If they are handled badly, even a high-potency product may feel stale or fake.
The authentic Cannabis Terpenes originate from the cannabis flower and capture its aroma. This is a distinct distinction from botanical terpene blends that attempt to replicate cannabis profiles using compounds extracted from plants that are not cannabis. Blends of botanicals can be more efficient in terms of cost, but they do not have the same amount of depth as real cannabis.
The Extraction Method Determines the End-Result
How terpenes extract is crucial to their final character. Hydrocarbons extracted from fresh or freshly-frozen plant material are commonly utilized to produce vivid, resinous-like scents. These techniques preserve fragile compounds which are easily lost when drying or heat processing.
CO2 terpenes, however, provide another benefit. Carbon dioxide terpene extraction offers precise control as well as safe and stable terpene fragments. The resulting aroma may be less pronounced than live hydrocarbon extractions, but CO2-derived profiles are admired for their consistency and purity particularly in formulations where balance is important more than intensity.
Producers must choose their method not based on trends, but rather on the result they would like to achieve.
The difference between new and old material can be measured
The quality of the cannabis-derived terpenes begin at harvest. Terpenes are volatile and are degraded when exposed to oxygen, heat or over time. Fresh frozen material, or flower that has been preserved with care helps to preserve the original aroma flavor.
Once degradation occurs and the process is not able to fully recover what was lost. It is for this reason that the most experienced terpene makers are meticulous about their source and handling. The distinction between the fresh and the compromised material is evident in the scent clarity and intensity.
What to look for when purchasing Cannabis Terpenes
Flashy descriptions and exaggerated statements are easy to overlook when evaluating Cannabis terpenes. Transparency is what matters most. Buyers should know how the Terpenes were extracted and processed.
Consistency is another key element. The smell of cannabis-derived products must be constant from batch to batch. This is particularly true when the cannabis strains differ. Wide variations are often a sign of unstable sources or production that is rushed, and are a red flag for companies who are focused on high-quality.
Terpene Craft: A Focused method
Some producers try and be everything all at once. Others choose specialization. Mass Terpenes fits into the second category, since it is focused on terpenes in particular instead of spreading attention across different types of products. This narrow focus allows better control over aromas, processing, and the final product.
Mass Terpenes’ small batch production and meticulous post-processing highlight the importance of letting aromas be the main focus. Instead of relying solely on a marketing campaign Quality is to be experienced directly by scent and flavor that is unmistakably marijuana.
Aroma as the Ultimate Quality Check
There is no lab report that can replace the moment a container is opened. The scent of premium cannabis-derived Terpenes is instantly noticeable and it has a familiarity and complexity that is hard to duplicate in synthetic blends. The aroma is the best indicator of quality and success.
As the industry grows authenticity is the real differentiator. The goal is the same regardless of whether a producer makes use of CO2 terpenes, or cold-cured varieties. If terpenes are handled with care and respect, they can do much more than enhance the product. They also can help in bringing cannabis culture in its most recognizable format.