As the cannabis sector matures, consumer expectations regarding authentic taste and authenticity are rising. The customers aren’t content with products that “work” any longer. They want scents and flavors that reflect the cannabis. This growing demand has placed Cannabis derived terpenes at the center of serious product development conversations.
Image credit: massterpenes.com
Terpenes are among the most important ingredients of cannabis’s identity.
Terpenes produce the distinctive flavor and aroma of cannabis strains. They influence how a product is perceived before it is experienced. If properly preserved Terpenes convey freshness, strain lineage, as well as overall quality. Even high-potency products that are mishandled can cause them to appear artificial.
The real Cannabis terpenes come directly from the cannabis flower and capture the aroma of the flower. This is in stark contrast to botanical terpenes which are derived from non-cannabis sources, and attempt to replicate the cannabis profile. Although botanical blends are economical, they don’t always provide the layered depth that experienced users associate with real cannabis.
The extraction method affects the result
The way terpenes are extracted is a significant factor in their final character. Hydrocarbon extraction from fresh or frozen plant material is usually preferred for its ability to capture vibrant, live-resin-like scents. These techniques preserve fragile compounds that can be easily lost when drying or heat processing.
CO2 Terpenes have a distinct advantage. Carbon dioxide extraction yields clean, stable parts of terpenes, and allows to control them with precision. CO2 extractions can produce a more subdued scent than hydrocarbons that are live, but still have a place in the market for purity and consistency, especially in formulations that emphasize the balance of intensity over intensity.
Both strategies are equally effective, but each serves a distinct reason for using it. Producers who are well-informed make their choice based on the desired result rather than marketing trends.
Fresh Material is Measureable
The quality of cannabis-derived Terpenes is determined by harvest. Terpenes are degraded quickly when exposed to heat, oxygen or prolonged time. Utilizing fresh frozen material and properly preserved flowers can help to keep the original aromatic profiles.
Once degradation has taken place the extraction method won’t be able restore everything that was lost. The most experienced terpene producers concentrate on sourcing and handling constantly. The difference in the clarity of aroma as well as depth and complexity of fresh and compromised materials is immediately apparent.
What to look for when purchasing Cannabis Terpenes
When looking at Cannabis Terpenes, it is easy to miss the glitzy descriptions. The most important factor is transparency. Buyers must know where Terpenes originate from and how they were extracted and how they are transformed following extraction.
Consistency, too, is a major factor. It is essential that cannabis-derived items smell identical, irrespective of batch size. Wide variations could signal unstable source of production, or the rush to produce. Both of these are red flags for quality-focused brands.
Terpene Craft: A Focused approach
Some producers try to do all things to all people. Others choose specialization. Mass Terpenes falls into the second category, focusing solely on the extraction of terpenes instead of spreading the attention to multiple product types. The emphasis on terpenes gives more control of the end product, aroma and processing.
Mass Terpenes places a high priority on small batch production, and a careful post-processing. This allows the aroma to speak for itself. Instead of being a product that is hyped the product’s quality is intended to be felt by the smell and taste that feel unmistakably cannabis.
Aroma: The Ultimate Quality Check
A lab report isn’t a substitute for the first time a cannabis container is opened. Cannabis-derived terpenes of superior quality are immediately identifiable, displaying an amount of quality and sophistication that cannot be matched by any artificial blend. The aroma is the best indicator of success.
Genuineness is the new distinguishing factor in the industry. No matter if a producer opts for CO2 terpenes derived from CO2 or live-extracted profiles of cannabis, the end objective is the same: protect the original character of the plant. When terpenes are handled with care and respect and care, they are able to do more than enhance the product. They can also help in bringing cannabis culture in the most well-known form.