Terpenes are an important component of cannabis. They give the cannabis its own unique flavor, smell and also taste. High-quality strains such as those from Medizin are renowned due to the amount of research that goes into developing each strain. Each terpene can offer something special in terms of aroma and taste, but can also affect the medicinal and therapeutic benefits that you can expect to receive from the cannabis.
However, terpenes aren’t found only in cannabis. In fact, you can find terpenes in a lot of naturally-occurring sources such as foods and plants. A good example would be myrcene, an abundant terpene that has potential health benefits and is actually found in mangos. Since many terpenes are actually found in food, it’s possible to pair your favorite strain of cannabis with a suitable food item, much like pairing wine with cheese or beer with salty snacks. So in this article, we’re going to talk about a couple of sources of natural terpenes that you can find in everyday food, and how you can incorporate them into your diet and cannabis use.
Terpenes in Cannabis
The terpenes that give each cannabis strain its unique flavor profile come from many different sources, have multiple properties and even varying flavors. Here are the most common terpenes, their flavor profiles and also where they come from.
- Myrcene – One of the most common terpenes produced by cannabis, it’s described as having a musky and earthy flavor and is often found in citrus fruits, bay leaves, and lemongrass.
- Limonene – As you might guess from the name, limonene has a strong citrus flavor that is reminiscent of lemons and oranges. It’s an uplifting terpene that is found in citrus fruit rinds, pine needle oils, and even peppermint.
- Pinene – Pinene has a distinct forestry aroma that is similar to pine and is found in pine woods, some citrus fruits, and balsamic resin.
- Caryophyllene – Found in Thai basil, cloves, and black pepper, it’s known to have a peppery and spicy flavor.
- Linalool – Known for its soothing properties, linalool is described as having a floral lavender aroma and is found in various tropical and boreal plant species.
- Camphene – Another woodland-scented terpene that is a minor component in many different essential oils. It’s typically found in food items like fennel and dill.
- Terpinolene – Found in sage and rosemary, this terpene is typically used for soaps and perfume and has a sweet citrusy fragrance.
- Terpineol – A floral terpene that possesses soothing effects and naturally occurs in pine trees, lilacs, and lime blossoms.
- Phellandrene – Often described as having a spicy mint aroma with citrus undertones, this terpene is found in eucalyptus oil, cinnamon, garlic, parsley, and ginger.
- Carene – With its sweet and pungent aroma, this terpene is typically used in essential oils and occurs naturally in pine extracts, bell peppers, and citrus fruits.
- Humulene – Known for potentially having anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, this terpene comes from hops and is typically described as having a hop-like aroma.
- Sabinene – A very nostalgic aroma that has hints of spices and pine. Often found in plants like spruce, basil, and even black pepper.
- Pulegone – Pleasing peppermint aromas with potentially fever-reducing properties and is found in oils derived from plants.
- Geraniol – A sweet, rosy aroma that is popular in bath products and found naturally in small quantities in lemon, geranium and essential oils.
Terpene and Food Combinations
In most cases, you can figure out simple food and terpene combinations by combining like-flavors. For example, limonene comes from citrus fruits and can empower citrusy foods, sauces, and desserts. Similarly, pinene’s woodland aromas make it a great pairing with herby dishes such as herb-crusted lamb chops or a French soup. It’s also possible to mix contrasting terpenes with strong flavors, such as adding the complexity of caryophyllene to something sweet for a spicy kick.
There are plenty of different combinations to try out and it’s all about experimentation. Great food pairings will make your high far more enjoyable. There are endless options to choose from that will take your cannabis consumption to the next level.
If you’d like to learn more about excellent food pairings, then our budtenders at Planet 13 will be more than happy to help you. As the world’s greatest cannabis entertainment complex, our staff know all about the many different food and cannabis terpene combinations and will have plenty of ideas for you to try out, so don’t hesitate to pay a visit to our dispensary here in Las Vegas.