As the market for cannabis matures, expectations around authenticity and taste continue to rise. As the market for cannabis develops consumers are less content with products that simply “work”. Instead, they want authentic flavors and scents of real cannabis. This growing demand has placed Cannabis derived terpenes at the center of serious product development conversations.
Image credit: massterpenes.com
The reason Terpenes define Cannabis identity
Terpenes give the distinct taste and aroma of marijuana strains. They can affect perceptions of a product from cannabis before the effects begin to manifest. When properly stored, terpenes have the ability to convey freshness as well as quality and strain lineage. Even high-potency substances handled improperly can make them appear fake.
Cannabis flower terpenes can capture the scent of the plant. It is a fundamentally different product from the botanical terpenes blends which attempt to replicate the cannabis profile using compounds extracted non-cannabis plant. While botanical blends are more affordable, they do not provide the same level of depth that cannabis experts associate with it.
The Extraction Method Determines the Result
The method of extraction of terpenes is a significant factor in their final flavor. Hydrocarbon extraction is usually preferred for capturing the vibrant aromas of resin. These methods are used to preserve the fragile compounds which would otherwise be destroyed due to drying or high temperature processing.
The CO2 terpenes provide another benefit. Carbon dioxide extraction allows for precise control and produces clean, stable terpene fractions. The aroma of the profile could be less pronounced than with live hydrocarbon extractions. But CO2 profiles offer consistency and purity, particularly when it comes to formulations that value balance more than intensity.
It is not possible to decide between the two. Each method serves a different purpose and the producers must choose based on their intended outcome instead of market trends.
Fresh Material Could Make a Measureable Difference
The quality of cannabis derived Terpenes is determined by harvest. Terpenes break down quickly when exposed to heat, oxygen or even time. The original scent is best preserved using freshly frozen material or flowers that have been properly preserved.
Once degradation has taken place the extraction method won’t be able to recover all that was lost. The most experienced terpene producers focus on handling and sourcing in a constant manner. Aroma clarity and depth are immediately different between fresh material and compromised material.
What to look out for when purchasing cannabis Terpenes
When evaluating Cannabis Terpenes available for sale, flashy descriptions and over-inflated claims are simple to dismiss. Transparency is more important. Buyers need to know where the Terpenes originate from the source, the method of extraction, and how they are transformed following extraction.
Consistency is a further aspect. Cannabis-derived products, especially those that are specific to a particular strain, must possess the same scent from batch to batch. Large variations can indicate unstable sourcing, or rushed production. Both of these are warning signs for quality-oriented brands.
Terpene Craft: A Focused Approach
Some choose to focus. Others choose to specialize. Mass Terpenes, which focuses exclusively on terpenes instead of being concerned with different categories of products, falls into the second category. This narrow focus allows better control over aromas, processing, and the final product.
Mass Terpenes places a high emphasis on small-scale production, as well as a meticulous post-processing. This allows the aroma to speak for itself. The flavor should be felt immediately, not via the hype.
Aroma: The Ultimate Quality Check
No lab report can ever replace the moment that a container is open. The highest-quality cannabis derived terpenes show themselves instantly, with a complexity and familiarity which artificial blends can’t beat. The aroma is the best indicator of quality and success.
As the cannabis market develops, authenticity becomes the key distinguishing factor. No matter whether a product is made with CO2 terpenes, which are refined or cold-cured, the final goal is to maintain the original flavor of the plant. When terpenes have been handled with care and respect they will do more than enhance the quality of the product. They can also assist in bringing cannabis culture in the most well-known form.