As the cannabis industry develops the expectations of consumers regarding authenticity and flavor are growing. As the market for cannabis matures, consumers are less satisfied with products that just “work”. Instead they seek authentic flavors and smells of genuine cannabis. Terpenes that are derived from cannabis are currently in the forefront of product development due to this growing demand.
Image credit: massterpenes.com
Why Terpenes Define Cannabis Identity
Terpenes give the distinct aroma and flavor of cannabis strains. They affect how a product will be perceived before any effects are felt. When properly stored Terpenes convey freshness and strain lineage. They also communicate the overall quality. Even a highly potent product can become artificial or flat when handled incorrectly.
Cannabis flower terpenes are a way to capture the aroma of the plant. This is a distinct distinction from botanical blends of terpenes which try to mimic cannabis profiles by using compounds extracted not from cannabis plants. Although botanical blends are lower price, they do not have the level of complexity that cannabis enthusiasts expect.
The extraction process determines the result
The way terpenes are extracted is vital to their final characteristics. Hydrocarbons taken from fresh or recently frozen plant material are commonly utilized to produce vibrant, resinous-like scents. These methods protect compounds that can easily be destroyed during high-temperature processing or drying.
At the same time, CO2 terpenes offer a different advantage. CO2 extraction permits precise control and creates pure, stable terpene fragments. The aroma of the profile could be less pronounced when compared to live hydrocarbon extractions. But CO2 profiles offer the sameness and purity, especially when it comes to formulations that value balance over intensity.
Producers should select their method based not on trends, but rather on the result they wish to achieve.
The distinction between new and old material can be measured
The quality of cannabis-derived terpenes starts when they are harvested. Terpenes are degraded quickly when exposed to oxygen, heat or prolonged time. Freshly frozen materials or carefully preserved flower helps to preserve the original aroma profile.
Once degradation occurs and the process is not able to recover fully what was lost. Terpene producers with experience focus on handling and sourcing constantly. The clarity and intensity of the aroma differ immediately between fresh and damaged material.
What to look out for when buying Cannabis Terpenes
It’s easy to ignore the glitzy claims and descriptions when evaluating Cannabis Terpenes. Transparency is the most important thing. Buyers must know where Terpenes originate from the source, how they were extracted, and how they’re processed following extraction.
Consistency plays an important role. It is important that cannabis-derived items smell the same, regardless of batch size. The large variations could indicate insecure sources, or an overly fast production. Both of these are red flags in the case of high-quality brands.
Terpene Craft: A Focused Methodology
Some producers try to do all things at once. Some producers choose to specialize. Mass Terpenes fits into the second category, since it focuses on terpenes exclusively instead of spreading attention across various types of products. This specialized focus permits greater control of aroma processing, output and extraction.
With a focus on small-batch production and careful post-processing, Mass Terpenes emphasizes letting the scent speak for itself. Instead of relying upon hype quality, it must be felt through the smells and flavors that are distinct cannabis-based.
Aroma as A Quality Check
The lab report is not replaced the moment a container is opened. The complexity and acquaintance with cannabis-derived terpenes are evident immediately, and they can’t be duplicated by artificial blends. Aroma is the only real test of success.
Genuineness has been a crucial aspect in separating the market as it continues to develop. It doesn’t matter if a producer opts for CO2 terpenes that are refined from CO2 or live-extracted profiles of cannabis, the ultimate objective is the same: preserve the original character of the plant. If cannabis and terpenes are treated with care and respect they do more that enhance the quality of products. They bring cannabis culture into the future with its most famous form.