Everything You Wanted to Know About Terpenes (But Are Too Shy to Ask Your Budtender)
Since the recent wave of legalization across states and countries, buying cannabis has become as routine as purchasing a gallon of milk. However, unlike milk, cannabis is a complex and varied product, encompassing numerous terms and concepts the average consumer might be unfamiliar with.
One of those terms? Terpenes. You might have heard a brand touting their bud as “terpene-rich,” or heard a budtender rave about the terpene profile in a given strain. But what exactly are terpenes? What’s their role in the cannabis experience, do they have any benefits, and how can you preserve them?
If you’re too shy to ask your budtender for an explanation, you’ve come to the right place. Here are your “Cole’s Notes” on cannabis terpenes.
What Are Terpenes?
The scientific answer is that terpenes are naturally occurring biosynthetic building blocks of unsaturated hydrocarbons. The slightly more straightforward answer is that they are chemical compounds that comprise the essential oils of various plants, responsible for giving multiple herbs, trees and – of course – cannabis their unique aromas and flavors.
If you’ve ever buried your nose in a lemon zest or breathed in the sweet smell of a pine forest, you’ve experienced terpenes. In cannabis, these terpenes give strains their trademark aromatic profiles. Some common terpenes include:
- Myrcene: Found in things like mango and lemongrass, this fruity and sweet terpene crops up in several cannabis strains.
- Limonene: Commonly associated with citrus fruits, this zesty terpene gives specific cannabis strains a fresh, zippy aroma and taste.
- Pinene: Occurring in pine needles, rosemary and basil, pinene naturally evokes a woodsy, earthy aroma. It’s common in numerous strains.
- Caryophyllene: Found in black pepper and other warming spices, this terpene has a kind of Christmas dessert aroma that rounds out a strain’s terpene profile.
There are several other terpenes out there, but these are the main ones worth mentioning in a hurry.
Do Terpenes Have Effects or Medicinal Benefits?
A great deal of research is currently underway to answer this question. The best one can say for sure is that terpenes are a critical part of cannabis’ “entourage effect,” interacting with common cannabinoids (THC, CBD) to create a holistically therapeutic experience.
Some peer-reviewed research, like this journal article, argues that “Terpenes have a wide range of medicinal uses,” varyingly alleviating pain, lowering stress, sharpening focus, etc. Again, research into the countless terpenes and their potential medicinal benefits is still in its infancy.
How Do You Preserve Cannabis Terpenes?
To maximize the flavors, aromas and potential health benefits of terpenes, you need to preserve your cannabis correctly. Terpenes primarily reside in the trichomes of a cannabis bud – those fine hairs dusting the surface. If cannabis is stored in overly dry or moist environments, those trichomes shed, taking essential terpenes with them.
For long-term flavor and aroma, invest in a humidor for weed, which you can achieve by storing your cannabis in a tightly sealed container with 2-way humidity control packs. By controlling the relative humidity surrounding your cannabis, you ensure that those terpenes remain locked in place, ready to reveal their complexities and benefits.
Hopefully, this article has taught you everything you wanted to know about terpenes. Next time you buy cannabis from your local budtender, you can confidently shop for the flavors you want.
