As the cannabis market develops, consumer expectations about flavor and authentic are increasing. As the market for cannabis matures, consumers are less satisfied with products that simply “work”. Instead they seek 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
Terpenes comprise the primary ingredients of cannabis’s identity.
Terpenes, which are the aromatic compounds that give cannabis its distinctive scent and flavor are responsible for this. They impact how a particular product is perceived before the effects can be felt. When preserved properly Terpenes can communicate freshness, as well as quality and strain lineage. When handled poorly even a product with a high potency may be a bit spongy or synthetic.
Cannabis flower is the main source of the real Cannabis terpenes, which captures the natural aroma of the plant. This is fundamentally distinct from the botanical blends of terpenes that attempt to replicate the cannabis profile by utilizing compounds extracted not from cannabis plants. While botanical blends can be cost-effective but the flavor that consumers expect from true cannabis isn’t always there.
The Extraction Method is the Key to the Final Results
Terpenes’ final flavor is largely determined by how they’re extracted. Hydrocarbon extraction is usually preferred for capturing vivid, resin-like scents. These techniques preserve compounds that can be easily destroyed in high-temperature processes or drying.
CO2 terpenes can also provide advantages. Carbon dioxide extraction is precise and results in pure, stable terpene fragments. The resultant aroma could be more restrained compared to live hydrocarbon extractions, but CO2-derived profiles are admired for their consistency and purity particularly in formulations where balance is important more than the intensity.
A producer should choose their method not based on trends, but rather on the result they would like to achieve.
Fresh Material Can Make a measurable difference
The quality cannabis-derived terpenes begin when the plants are harvested. Terpenes have a volatile nature and break down when exposed to either to heat, oxygen or time. Freshly frozen material or a flower that has been preserved with care helps to preserve the original aroma character.
After degradation has occurred, no technique of extraction can restore what was lost. The industry of terpenes is concentrated on the source of raw materials and the handling of them. The difference between fresh and compromised material can be immediately felt in scent clarity and intensity.
What to Look for when buying Cannabis Terpenes
In evaluating Cannabis Terpenes it’s easy to ignore the glitzy descriptions. Transparency however is more crucial. Buyers need to be aware of where the terpenes originate from, how they’re extracted and processed to after extraction.
Consistency is a key aspect. True cannabis-derived products should smell the identical from batch to batch particularly if they are strain-specific. If there are significant differences in smell, it could be an indication of unstable sourcing and rushed production. Both of them are warnings for companies that are concerned about quality.
Terpene Craft: A Focused approach
Others opt to focus. Others choose to specialize. Mass Terpenes, which focuses only on terpenes, rather than dealing with different product categories, is in the second group. The narrow focus allows for better control of the aroma, final output, and processing.
Mass Terpenes places a high importance on small batch production, as well as a meticulous post-processing. This allows the scent to speak for the product. Instead of heavily relying on the hype, Mass Terpenes wants to let the aroma speak for it’s own voice.
Aroma is the Ultimate Quality Check
When you open a bottle, no lab report can replace it. Terpenes derived from cannabis that are of high quality can be instantly recognized, showing a level of sophistication and familiarity that is unmatched by any artificial blend. Aroma is the most reliable gauge of a successful blend.
The new standard for authenticity is authenticity. It’s the most important thing in the business. No matter whether a product is created using CO2 terpenes which have been refined or cold-cured, the final goal is to maintain the plant’s original character. If terpenes are used with care and care, they are more than just a means to enhance the quality of products. Instead, they help carry cannabis’ tradition forward.
