As the cannabis industry develops consumer expectations regarding authenticity and taste are rising. As the market for cannabis matures consumers are less satisfied with products simply that “work”. Instead they seek 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
The Terpenes that Define Cannabis Identity
Terpenes are the compounds that are responsible for the distinct smell and flavor of marijuana strains. They influence the perception of a product’s cannabis aroma before any effects take place. When properly preserved, terpenes, communicate the freshness of the product, its strain ancestry and overall quality of the product. Even products with high potency can be artificial or flat if they are not properly handled.
Cannabis Terpenes are extracted direct from the flowers of cannabis plants. they are able to capture the unique aroma. This is fundamentally different from botanical terpene mixtures, which attempt to imitate cannabis profiles using compounds extracted from plants that are not cannabis. Although botanical blends are economical, the depth of flavor that consumers are used to from cannabis isn’t always available.
The Extraction Method is the Key to the Final Results
How terpenes are extracted has a huge impact on the final character. Hydrocarbons obtained from fresh or newly-frozen plant materials are often utilized to produce vivid, resinous-like scents. These techniques safeguard fragile compounds, which can easily lose their luster in high-heat drying processes.
CO2 Terpenes have the advantage of being able to extract CO2. CO2 terpene extraction gives precise control as well as clean and stable terpene fragments. The aroma that results may be less strong than hydrocarbon-based extractions. However, CO2-derived profiles are superior for purity and consistency in formulations.
Both methods serve distinct purposes, and producers who are well-informed choose the method that best suits their needs instead of relying on market trends.
Fresh Material is measurable
The quality of cannabis-derived terpenes starts at harvest. Terpenes by nature, are flammable, which means they degrade quickly when exposed to oxygen, heat or over a period of time. Freshly frozen materials, or flower that has been preserved with care will help preserve the original scent flavor.
When degradation has occurred, no extraction technique can bring back the amount of terpenes lost. For this reason, experienced terpene-producers are obsessed with sourcing and processing. The difference in aroma clarity, depth and complexity between fresh and compromised material is evident immediately.
What to look out for when purchasing Cannabis Terpenes
When evaluating Cannabis Terpenes it’s easy to overlook flashy descriptions. Transparency is the most important thing. Buyers must know how Terpenes were extracted and processed.
Consistency is yet another important factor. True cannabis-derived products must smell the same from batch to batch particularly if they’re a specific strain. Large variations can indicate unstable sources, or an overly fast production. These are both indications of a problem in the case of quality-focused brands.
A Specified Methodology for Terpene Craft
Others choose to focus. Certain producers opt to focus on a specific area. Mass Terpenes fits into the second group, as it is focused on terpenes in particular instead of spreading attention across different types of products. This focus on terpene extraction allows for more control over aroma, processing, and final output.
Mass Terpenes puts an emphasis on letting the smell take the lead. Instead of relying heavily on the hype, Mass Terpenes is determined to let the scent speak for itself.
Aroma: The Ultimate Quality Check
A lab report is not a substitute for the first time a cannabis container is opened. The scent of premium cannabis-derived Terpenes is immediately noticeable, and is a familiar aroma and complexity that is hard to duplicate in synthetic blends. Aroma is the most reliable indicator of success.
As the cannabis industry evolves in the future, authenticity is the main differentiator. It doesn’t matter if a product is produced using CO2 terpenes which have been refined or cold-cured, the final aim is to keep the original characteristics of the plant. When terpenes and cannabis are treated with care and respect, they produce more to improve the quality of the quality of products. They carry cannabis culture into the future in its most recognizable varieties.