As the cannabis market matures the expectations of consumers regarding authenticity and taste are rising. As the cannabis market matures consumers are less content with products that simply “work”. Instead, they want authentic flavors and smells of genuine cannabis. Cannabis Terpenes derived from cannabis have become the main area of research and development because of the increasing demand.
The Terpenes that Define Cannabis Identity
Terpenes are the source of the distinct flavor and aroma of cannabis strains. They influence how a product is perceived prior to any effects can be felt. Terpenes, when preserved correctly convey freshness, strain ancestry and overall quality. If they are not handled properly even the most potent products may seem artificial or flat.
Image credit: massterpenes.com
Cannabis terpenes are extracted directly from the flowers of cannabis plants, and they identify the plant’s distinctive aroma. This is fundamentally different from botanical terpene mixtures, which attempt to mimic cannabis’s characteristics using compounds derived from non-cannabis cannabis plants. While botanical blends can be inexpensive, they do not provide the level of depth and depth users associate with real cannabis.
Extraction Method Shapes the Outcome
The method of extraction used to extract Terpenes can have a major impact on their final flavor. Hydrocarbon extraction from fresh or frozen plant material is usually popular for its ability to create vibrant, live-resin-like scents. These techniques protect delicate compounds that can easily disappear in high-heat or drying processes.
At the same time CO2 terpenes provide a different advantage. CO2 terpene extraction gives exact control and solid and clean terpene fragments. The aroma that results may be less intense compared to hydrocarbon extractions. However, CO2 derived profiles are superior for consistency and purity in formulations.
Producers should select their method not based on trends, but rather on the result they would like to achieve.
Fresh Material Could Make a measurable difference
The quality of Cannabis-derived terpenes begins at harvest. Terpenes can be volatile and degrade when exposed oxygen, heat or over time. If you use a fresh, frozen flowers or a material that has been carefully preserved, you can preserve the original aroma.
Once degradation occurs it is impossible to recover fully what was lost. This is the reason experienced terpene producers focus obsessively on the sourcing process and handling. Aroma clarity and depth are instantly different between fresh material and compromised material.
What to look out for when buying Cannabis Terpenes
You are able to easily overlook extravagant descriptions or exaggerated claims when you are evaluating Cannabis products for sale. More important is the transparency. The buyer must understand the source of the Terpenes, the extraction process, and processing after extraction.
Consistency is a further aspect. It is important that cannabis-derived goods smell exactly the same, regardless of batch size. If there are large differences, it could be a sign of insecure sourcing and rush production. Both are warnings for companies that are concerned about quality.
Terpene Craft: A Focused Method
Some producers try to do all things at once. Others opt for specialization. Mass Terpenes is in the second category. It concentrates solely on the extraction of terpenes, rather than dividing attention between different types of products. This focus on terpene extraction allows for greater control of aromas processing, as well as the final product.
Mass Terpenes’ small batch production and careful post-processing underscores the importance of letting aromas be the main focus. The quality should be felt immediately, not via hype.
Aroma is the Ultimate Quality Check
When you open a bottle, there is no lab report that will be able to replace it. The complexity and familiarity of cannabis-derived terpenes are evident immediately and can’t be matched by artificial blends. Aroma is the sole measure of success.
As the cannabis market develops and becomes more authentic, it is the primary differentiator. No matter if a producer decides to use CO2 terpenes that are refined from CO2 or live-extracted profiles of cannabis, the ultimate aim is the same: to maintain the essence of the plant. Terpenes when handled with respect and care can do more than just improve the quality of products. They also help carry the cannabis tradition forward.
