Knowledgebase

knowledgebase Category: Flavors

Strawberry Lemonade. Blueberry Muffins. Sour Banana Sherbet. Cookie Face. Jack Herer. Technically, they’re all the same plant, but they couldn’t taste more different.

What makes your favorite cannabis strain smell and taste the way it does? Where does its flavor come from?

Terpenes Decide How Your Cannabis Will Smell and Taste

Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in cannabis and a wide variety of plants, spices, and fruits.

Terpenes give strains their distinctive smell and taste. For example, when you take that first whiff of fresh flower and detect a strong scent of citrus, what you’re smelling is the terpene known as limonene.

On the other hand, if you’re picking up a scent that makes you feel like you’re in a pine forest, chances are you’re smelling pinene.

There are over a 100 different types of terpenes found in the cannabis plant. And cannabis breeders work hard to combine different strains in order to generate specific flavors.

Here’s a list of popular cannabis terpenes and their corresponding flavors, courtesy of Leafly:

TERPENE FLAVOR
Pinene Pine
Myrcene Cloves, Earthy, Herbal
Limonene Citrus
Caryophyllene Pepper, Spicy, Woody, Cloves
Linalool Floral
Humulene Woody, Earthy
Ocimene Sweet, Herbal, Woody
Terpinolene Pine, Floral, Herbal

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Why Cannabis Sometimes Smells Like Skunk

Even though different strains have different aromas, many of them have the same, unmistakable baseline smell: skunk.

The smell of skunk might be an acquired taste for first-time users, but it’s not uncommon for people to grow to love the smell (when someone describes a batch of cannabis flower as “skunk,” it’s usually a compliment, indicating that it has a high degree of potency).

But why does cannabis smell like skunk in the first place? Is it because of the terpenes?

Here’s what we do know: Skunk spray itself contains chemicals known as thiols, which are responsible for its pungent order.

Cannabis, on the other hand, contains alpha-linolenic acid. According to one scientist’s theory, when this acid is exposed to UV light, it starts to break down, which produces methyl and butyl thiols. Hence the smell of skunk!

How to Get More Flavor Out of Your Cannabis Products

If you’re a cannabis connoisseur or just happen to be flavor-sensitive, here are some tips to preserve your product’s flavor:

  • Store it properly. UV light, heat, and air all degrade the flavor of cannabis. And the older the flower is, the worse it will taste. Store your cannabis inside a Mason jar and keep it in a drawer or cabinet.
  • Use a humidifier pack. Even if you follow the above instructions, some degree of flavor degradation is inevitable, especially in dry environments like Las Vegas. But you can purchase a humidifier pack and place it in the Mason jar along with your cannabis, which will help preserve its freshness and flavor.
  • Experiment with vaporizing. When cannabis is smoked, you’re getting the taste of burnt plant material along with the cannabinoids and terpenes. A vaporizer can heat your cannabis to a temperature that will release those active ingredients, allowing you to inhale and taste them without combusting the flower itself.