As the market for cannabis develops, expectations regarding flavor and authenticity are rising. As the market for cannabis develops, consumers are less satisfied with products that simply “work”. Instead they are looking for authentic tastes and scents of real cannabis. Terpenes that are derived from cannabis are currently in the forefront of product development due to the growing demand.

Terpenes are among the most important components of cannabis identity

Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that are responsible for the distinctive scent and flavor of marijuana strains. They can affect perceptions of a product’s cannabis aroma before effects even occur. When preserved correctly, terpenes convey freshness, strain heritage, and quality. If handled improperly even a product with a high potency can feel flat or artificial.

Image credit: massterpenes.com

Cannabis Terpenes are extracted direct from the flower of cannabis plants, and they are able to capture the unique aromatic fingerprint. It is a fundamentally different product than botanical terpenes mixes which attempt to replicate the cannabis profile using compounds taken from non-cannabis plants. Although botanical blends are economical, they don’t always provide the depth and layering that experienced users associate with real cannabis.

The extraction process determines the result

How terpenes have been extracted has a big impact on the end product. Hydrocarbon extraction is typically used to capture the vibrant aromas of resin. These methods protect fragile compounds that can easily be lost in high-heat or drying processes.

CO2 terpenes, however, provide another benefit. CO2 extraction allows for precise control, and also produces pure and stable terpenes. The aroma of the resulting profile may be more muted as compared to hydrocarbon extractions that are live. But CO2 profiles offer quality and consistency, particularly when formulas are based on balance over intensity.

It’s impossible to pick between these two. Each serves a different purpose, and producers should choose based on the outcome they want to achieve, not marketing trends.

Fresh Material is measurable

The quality of Cannabis-derived terpenes begins at harvest. Terpenes can be volatile and are degraded when exposed to oxygen, heat or over time. The original aroma is best preserved with fresh frozen flowers or other materials which have been properly preserved.

When degradation begins, there is no way to recover fully what has been lost. This is why seasoned producers of terpenes are extremely focused on the sourcing process and handling. The smell and the clarity of the product will instantly tell you if it is fresh or deteriorated.

What should you look for when purchasing Cannabis Terpenes

You can easily ignore the exaggerated descriptions or flashy claims when looking at Cannabis products on sale. Transparency is what matters most. Buyers need to know how terpenes were extracted and processed.

Consistency is also a crucial role. True cannabis-derived products should smell the same from batch to particularly if they’re specific to a particular strain. The large variations could indicate insecure sources, or an overly fast production. These are both red flags for quality-oriented brands.

Terpene Craft: A Focused method

Some producers attempt to be all things at once. Others choose to specialize. Mass Terpenes fits into the second category because it is focused on terpenes in particular instead of spreading attention across various types of products. Terpenes are the focus, which gives more control of the end product’s the aroma, and the processing.

Mass Terpenes prioritizes small-batch manufacturing and post-processing to let the aroma speak for itself. The flavor should be experienced in the moment, not through hype.

Aroma is the Ultimate Quality Check

Lab reports are not a substitute for the first time a container of cannabis is opened. Terpenes that are high-quality and derived from cannabis reveal their true nature immediately, with the complexity and familiarity that artificial blends can’t match. The aroma is the best indicator of quality and success.

The cannabis industry continues to grow, authenticity has emerged as the key differentiator. It doesn’t matter if a producer chooses to use CO2 terpenes derived from CO2 or live-extracted profiles of cannabis, the final goal remains the same: to preserve the original character of the plant. When cannabis and terpenes are treated with intention and respect, they produce more to enhance the quality of the quality of products. They bring the cannabis culture forward with its most famous forms.