As the cannabis market matures, consumer expectations regarding authenticity and flavor are on the rise. As the cannabis market matures consumers are less satisfied with products that just “work”. Instead, they want authentic flavors and aromas 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, the aromatic compounds which give cannabis its distinctive smell and taste, are responsible for this. They influence how a product is perceived even before the effects can be felt. When properly stored, terpenes communicate freshness, strain lineage, and overall quality. If they are handled badly even a product with a high potency can feel flat or artificial.
Real Cannabis Terpenes come directly from the cannabis flower, and capture the aroma of the plant’s. It’s a completely different product than botanical terpenes mixes which attempt to replicate the cannabis profile using compounds that are extracted from plants other than cannabis. Blends of botanicals can be more cost-effective but they don’t have the same level of substance as genuine cannabis.
The Extraction Method determines the Outcome
The way terpenes are extracted is vital to their final character. Hydrocarbon extraction of fresh or frozen plants is preferred to capture the vivid, resinous aromas. These techniques preserve fragile compounds that can be easily lost when drying or heat processing.
CO2 Terpenes have the advantage of being able to extract CO2. Carbon dioxide extraction is precise and yields stable, clean terpene fractions. The resultant aroma could be more solitary than live hydrocarbon extractions, but CO2-derived profiles are admired for consistency and purity especially in formulations where balance matters more than intensity.
Neither method is inherently “better.” Each method serves an objective that is different, and informed producers choose according to their goals instead of marketing trends.
Fresh Material Could Make a measurable difference
The quality of the cannabis-derived terpenes begin with the harvest. Terpenes are volatile and degrade when exposed the elements of heat, oxygen or over time. Utilizing fresh frozen material and properly preserved flowers can help to keep the original aromatic profile.
When degradation begins, there is no way to completely recover the amount of loss. The terpene industry is focused on the sourcing of raw materials as well as the handling of them. The clarity and intensity of the aroma are immediately different between fresh material and compromised material.
What to be looking for when buying Cannabis Terpenes
When evaluating Cannabis Terpenes, it is easy to miss flashy descriptions. Transparency is what matters most. Buyers must know how Terpenes were extracted and processed.
Consistency is yet another important factor. The smell of cannabis-derived products must be uniform from batch to. This is particularly important when the strains are different. Wide variations are usually an indication of brands who care about the quality of their products.
Terpene Craft: A Focused approach
Others choose to specialize. Others choose specialization. Mass Terpenes is in the second class. It concentrates solely on terpenes extraction, rather than dispersing attention between different types of products. That narrow focus allows for more control over aroma processing, and output.
Mass Terpenes places a high priority on small batch production, and a careful post-processing. This allows the scent to speak for the product. Instead of relying on a marketing campaign the quality of the product is experienced directly by scent and taste that are unmistakably marijuana-based.
Aroma as the Ultimate Quality Check
The lab report will never replace the moment that an open container has been opened. The aroma of high-quality cannabis-derived Terpenes is instantly noticeable and it has a familiarity and complexity that is hard to match in artificial blends. Aroma is the only true measurement of the success.
The cannabis industry continues to grow authenticity has emerged as the key distinguishing factor. No matter whether a product is produced using CO2 terpenes, which are refined or cold-cured, the final objective is to preserve the original characteristics of the plant. If terpenes are used with care and care, they’re more than just a way to enhance the product. They also assist in bringing cannabis’ culture forward.