As the cannabis industry grows, expectations about authenticity and taste increase. As the market for cannabis develops consumers are less satisfied with products simply that “work”. Instead they seek 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
What are Terpenes and How Do They Define Cannabis Identity
Terpenes are the source of the distinct flavor and aroma of cannabis strains. They impact the way a product’s perceived quality can be determined long before effects are experienced. Terpenes, when properly preserved can convey freshness, strain ancestry and overall product quality. Even a highly potent product could become fake or flat if it is handled incorrectly.
Cannabis flower terpenes can capture the aroma of the plant. This is fundamentally different from botanical terpene blends which attempt to imitate the cannabis profile using substances extracted from plants that are not cannabis. Blends of botanicals can be more efficient in terms of cost, but they do not have the same level of substance as genuine cannabis.
The extraction method influences the outcome
The way terpenes are extracted has a big influence on the end product. Hydrocarbons taken from fresh or recently frozen plant materials are typically used to capture vibrant, resinous-like scents. These methods conserve fragile compounds that can be easily lost in heat or drying.
CO2 terpenes can also provide an advantage. Carbon dioxide extraction produces pure, stable parts of terpenes, and allows for precision control. The aroma that results is more restrained compared to live hydrocarbon extractions, but CO2 derived profiles are valued for their consistency and purity, particularly when it comes to formulations that require balance more than intensity.
Both methods work equally well, however each serves a distinct purpose. Producers who are well-informed make their decisions based on desired result rather than marketing trends.
The distinction between the old and new materials is evident.
The quality of cannabis-derived Terpenes are determined by the harvest. Terpenes can be volatile and break down when exposed to oxygen, heat or over time. The original aroma is best preserved by using freshly frozen material or flowers which have been properly preserved.
Once degradation has taken place the extraction method won’t be able to recover all of the lost. This is the reason that experienced terpene makers are obsessive about sourcing and handling. Aroma clarity and depth are instantly different between the fresh and the compromised material.
What to be aware of when buying Cannabis Terpenes
When evaluating Cannabis Terpenes, it’s easy to overlook the glitzy descriptions. Transparency, however, is of greater importance. Buyers should know where the terpenes come from, the method of extraction and the products they’re transformed into following extraction.
Consistency is also an important factor. True cannabis-derived products should smell exactly the same from batch to batch, especially when they’re specific to a particular strain. The fact that there are large differences indicates that the company cares about the quality of its products.
Terpene Craft: A Focused approach
Others choose to focus. Others opt to focus on a specific area. Mass Terpenes, which focuses solely on terpenes rather than being concerned with multiple product categories, is in the second group. This narrow focus gives greater control over the aromas processing, as well as the final product.
Mass Terpenes’ small batch production and meticulous post-processing emphasizes the importance of letting aromas be the main focus. Instead of heavily relying on hype, Massterpenes will let the scent speak for itself.
Aroma as the Ultimate Quality Check
No lab report can ever replace the moment that the container is opened. High-quality cannabis derived terpenes reveal themselves instantly, with a complexity and familiarity which artificial blends aren’t able to compete with. Aroma is the most reliable method of evaluating the success.
Authenticity is the new differentiator in the business. Whether a producer chooses live-extracted profile, cold-cured varieties, or refined CO2 terpenes, the goal stays the same: preserve the original character of the plant. If terpenes are handled with respect and care They do more than improve the quality of products. They also carry the cannabis cultivation forward in the most recognizable form.