As the market for cannabis grows, expectations about flavor and authenticity increase. As the cannabis market matures consumers are less satisfied with products that simply “work”. Instead they are looking for authentic tastes and smells of genuine cannabis. Cannabis Terpenes derived from cannabis have become a major focus of product development due to the rising demand.
Image credit: massterpenes.com
What are the Terpenes that define Cannabis identity?
Terpenes are the compounds that are responsible for the distinct scent and taste of cannabis strains. They affect how a product is perceived before effects are experienced. When properly stored Terpenes signal freshness and strain lineage. They also signal overall quality. Even high-potency substances handled improperly can make them appear artificial.
Real Cannabis terpenes are sourced directly from cannabis flower, capturing the plant’s natural aromatic fingerprint. This is fundamentally unlike botanical terpenes, which are made from non-cannabis sources and attempt to imitate cannabis profiles. Although botanical blends may be less expensive, they don’t provide the same level of depth that cannabis experts associate with it.
Extraction Method Influences the Outcome
The final character of terpenes is mostly determined by the way they are extracted. The extraction of hydrocarbons from fresh or fresh-frozen plants is preferred to capture the vivid, resinous aromas. These techniques protect delicate compounds, which can easily be lost in high-heat or drying processes.
CO2 terpenes provide another benefit. CO2 extraction is highly precise and results in stable, clean terpene fractions. While the scent isn’t as intense than that of hydrocarbons that are living, CO2 profiles are highly appreciated for their consistency and purity. This is especially true in formulations when balance is more important than intensity.
A producer should choose their method not based on the latest trends, but rather on what they wish to achieve.
Fresh Material Makes a Measurable difference
When the harvest is completed, the purity of cannabis-derived compounds is determined. Terpenes are naturally volatile which means they break down quickly when exposed to heat, oxygen or prolonged time. Fresh frozen material, or flower that has been properly preserved, will help preserve the original scent character.
Once degradation takes place, no technique of extraction can bring back what is lost. This is the reason experienced producers of terpenes are extremely focused on the sourcing process and handling. Fresh and damaged materials are instantly distinguishable by their aroma clarity and the intensity.
What to look out for when purchasing cannabis Terpenes
The exaggerated and flamboyant descriptions are easy to overlook when it comes to evaluating Cannabis terpenes. What matters more is transparency. Buyers should know how the Terpenes were extracted and processed.
Consistency, too, is an important factor. Cannabis-derived products, especially strain-specific ones, should have the same scent from batch to batch. The large variations could indicate insecure sourcing, or rushed production. Both of these are red flags for quality-focused brands.
Terpene Craft: a Focused Methodology
Some producers try to do all things to all people. Some choose to specialize. Mass Terpenes fits into the second group, as it is focused on terpenes in particular instead of focusing attention on different types of products. This focus is more focused and allows for better control over the aroma, processing and output.
With a focus on small-batch production and meticulous post-processing, Mass Terpenes emphasizes letting the flavor speak for itself. Instead of relying heavily on hype, Mass Terpenes is determined to let the scent speak for it’s own voice.
Aroma as the Ultimate Quality Check
Lab reports are not an alternative to the first time a cannabis container is opened. The variety and familiarity of cannabis-derived Terpenes are readily apparent and cannot be replicated by synthetic blends. Aroma is the only real test of quality.
Authenticity is the new differentiator in the industry. No matter if a producer decides to use CO2 terpenes derived from CO2 or live-extracted profiles of cannabis, the final objective is the same: to protect the original character of the plant. When terpenes are handled with care and respect, they can do much more than enhance the product. They also can help to keep the cannabis culture alive in its most recognizable format.
