As the marijuana industry matures and grows as do expectations of consumers. Consumers aren’t satisfied with products that “work” any longer. They want to experience the aromas and tastes that truly represent the cannabis. Cannabis extracts are being created to meet this need.
Terpenes are the main elements of the cannabis identity
Terpenes is the substance that gives the distinctive smell and taste of marijuana strains. They influence the impression of a particular product long before the effects can be felt. Terpenes, when preserved correctly convey the freshness of the product, its strain ancestry and overall product quality. Even products with high potency can be fake or flat if they are not properly handled.
Image credit: massterpenes.com
Cannabis Terpenes are extracted direct from the flowers of cannabis plants. They they identify the plant’s distinctive aroma. It’s a completely different product than botanical terpenes mixes that attempt to mimic the cannabis profile using compounds that are extracted from plants other than cannabis. Although botanical blends are lower price, they do not have the level of complexity that cannabis enthusiasts expect.
The extraction method determines the outcome
The way terpenes are extracted is vital to their final properties. Hydrocarbon extraction of fresh or frozen plants is preferred for capturing vibrant, resinous scents. These techniques are employed to protect the delicate compounds that could otherwise be destroyed through drying or high-temperature processing.
CO2 Terpenes offer an advantage that is distinct. Carbon dioxide extraction provides precise control and creates pure, stable terpene fragments. While the scent isn’t as in intensity than those of living hydrocarbons CO2 profiles are appreciated because of their consistency and purity. This is especially true in formulations when balance is more crucial than intensity.
Producers must choose their approach based on not trends, but rather on the result they wish to achieve.
The distinction between the old and new materials is measurable
The quality of Cannabis-derived terpenes begins at harvest. Terpenes are naturally volatile which means they break down quickly when exposed to heat, oxygen or even time. The use of fresh frozen materials and well-preserved flowers help to preserve the original aromatic profile.
After degradation and the process is not able to fully recover what was lost. This is why experienced terpene producers focus obsessively on sourcing and handling. The clarity and intensity of the aroma are immediately different between the fresh and the compromised material.
What should you look for when purchasing Cannabis Terpenes
It’s easy to overlook the glitzy statements and descriptions when it comes to evaluating Cannabis Terpenes. Transparency is the most important thing. Buyers need to be aware of where the terpenes originate from, how they’re extracted, and what they’re processed into after extraction.
Consistency plays a key role. True cannabis-derived products should smell exactly the same from batch to batch particularly if they’re a specific strain. Large variations are often a red flag for brands who care about the quality of their products.
Terpene Craft: A Focused Approach
Certain producers are multi-faceted. Others choose specialization. Mass Terpenes falls into the second category, focusing exclusively on the extraction of terpenes instead of spreading the attention to multiple product types. The narrow focus allows for greater control over the aroma, final output, and processing.
Mass Terpenes’ small batch production and meticulous post-processing emphasizes the importance of letting aromas speak for themselves. Instead of solely relying on a marketing campaign, quality is meant be felt directly through scent and flavor that is unmistakably marijuana-based.
Aroma as A Quality Check
No lab report replaces the moment a container is opened. Terpenes that are high-quality and derived from cannabis reveal themselves instantly, with a complexity and familiarity which artificial blends can’t compete with. Aroma is the most reliable method of evaluating the success.
As the industry is evolving authenticity is now the key element. No matter if a producer chooses to use CO2 terpenes that are refined from CO2 or live extracted profiles of cannabis, the end goal remains the same: preserve 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 quality of the product. They can also help to carry forward cannabis culture in the most well-known form.
