As the cannabis industry develops, expectations regarding authenticity and taste continue to rise. Customers are not satisfied with products that “work” no longer. They want scents and flavors that are a reflection of the cannabis. Terpenes derived from cannabis are in the forefront of discussions on product development because of the growing demand.
What are Terpenes and How Do They Define Cannabis Identity
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds responsible for the distinct smell and flavor of marijuana strains. They impact how a particular product is perceived before it is felt. When properly stored Terpenes are a way to signal the freshness of a product and also strain lineage. They also convey the overall quality. Even the most potent of products may become fake or flat if it is handled incorrectly.
Image credit: massterpenes.com
Cannabis Terpenes are extracted directly from the flowers of cannabis plants, and they are able to capture the unique aromatic fingerprint. This is an entirely different method from the botanical terpene blends that mimic cannabis profiles by combining compounds from plants other than cannabis. While botanical blends are cheaper, they do not have the same depth that cannabis experts associate with it.
The extraction method affects the result
How the terpenes were extracted will have a major impact on the final product. Hydrocarbons extracted from fresh or freshly-frozen plant materials are typically utilized to produce vivid, resinous-like scents. These methods preserve delicate substances that are easily destroyed during drying or heat processing.
CO2 terpenes, however, have a different advantage. Carbon dioxide extraction yields pure, stable fractions of terpenes and allows to control them with precision. The aroma that results is more restrained compared to extracting live hydrocarbons, however CO2-derived profiles are admired for consistency and purity especially in formulations where balance matters more than the intensity.
A producer should choose their method not based on trends but rather the outcome they want.
Fresh Material Can Make a measurable Difference
The quality of Cannabis-derived terpenes begins at harvest. Terpenes are naturally volatile that is, they degrade rapidly when exposed to heat, oxygen or even time. Fresh frozen material, or a flower that has been carefully preserved helps to preserve the original scent character.
After degradation has occurred the extraction method won’t be able to recover all that was lost. This is the reason experienced terpene producers focus obsessively on sourcing and handling. Fresh and compromised material are instantly distinguishable by their clarity of aroma and the intensity.
What to Look out for when buying Cannabis Terpenes
When evaluating Cannabis Terpenes it’s easy to overlook overly-exaggerated descriptions. Transparency is more important. Buyers should know how the terpenes were extracted, processed and reprocessed.
Consistency plays a significant part. A truly cannabis-based product should smell the exact same from batch to batch regardless of whether it’s strain-specific. If there are significant differences this could be a sign of unsteady sourcing or rushed production. Both of them are red flags to brands who care about the quality of their products.
A Specific Approach to Terpene Craft
Some producers try to be all things at once. Some prefer specialization. Mass Terpenes falls into the second group, which focuses exclusively on the extraction of terpenes instead of expanding their focus to other kinds of products. This focus on terpene extraction allows for greater control over aroma, processing, and final output.
Mass Terpenes’ small batch production and meticulous post-processing highlight the importance of letting the aromas be the main focus. The flavor should be experienced in the moment, not through hype.
Aroma as A Quality Check
Lab reports are not an equivalent to the first time that a cannabis bottle is opened. The aroma of high-quality cannabis-derived Terpenes is evident immediately, and is a familiar aroma and complexity that is hard to duplicate in synthetic blends. The aroma is the main measure of success.
As the industry continues to evolve authenticity is the key element. The same goal applies whether producers choose live-extracted profiles or CO2 refined Terpenes. When terpenes used with intention and vigilance, they’re more than just a way to improve the quality of products. They also assist in bringing cannabis’ culture forward.