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Terpenes
True Blue is a leading provider of food-grade terpenes online for both personal and wholesale use. Unlike cheap alternatives, our terpenes and natural flavoring have no fillers or additives of any kind. They are made with pure, food-grade terpenoids and natural flavors that are isolated from natural sources - that’s the True Blue difference. Our terpenes contain no THC or CBD and are not extracted from cannabis plants. This allows you to reap the medicinal benefits and flavor of your favorite terpenes without additional psychoactive effects, and makes it a cinch to buy terpenes online.
Terpenes are naturally occurring organic compounds found mainly in plant life. Terpenes are the chief component of essential oils, and help to build flavor and aroma. They are used in everything from aromatherapy to perfumery to modern and alternative medicine. While terpenes are most often associated with cannabis (we’ll touch more on this later), they occur in high concentrations in conifer trees, and many aromatic flowers, herbs, and fruits. Some insects even product terpenoids, such as termites and some butterflies. Terpenes aren’t just for our benefit, though. In nature, terpenes act as a defense mechanism by emitting a strong odor, warning predators that a specific plant or insect might be poisonous, even if it is not.
What Are Terpenes Used For?
So if terpenes occur naturally in marijuana plants, why do people add them to their cannabis concentrates? Terpenes are at their strongest before a marijuana plant is cut, harvested, dried, and cured. These steps all diminish the power of the terpenes in terms of flavor, aroma, and effect.
Terpenes, when consumed either through inhalation or are ingested, interact with the cannabinoid receptors in your brain, just like THC or CBD does. While terpenes alone won’t get you high, they can assist the cannabinoids to help increase the effects of marijuana. Terpenes can also affect the production of certain hormones and chemicals that are responsible for mood. Scientists believe this is why certain cannabis strains have different effects and sensations. Even if the level of THC is the same in two different strains, the high might feel different and it might affect your mood differently. For example, one strain might make you feel a fuzzy head high and sedated, while another might give you an ethereal body high with an elevated mood. Terpenes are especially beneficial for those looking to get medicinal benefits from their cannabis products. Understanding different types of terpenes and what their effects are can help you choose the right cannabis strain for your needs.
Continue reading to learn more about the five most common terpenes found in marijuana.
Common Terpenes Found In Cannabis Plants
There are tens of thousands of terpenes that occur naturally throughout the plant and animal world. However, cannabis plants have some of the most complex and abundant terpenes, with over 200 terpenes found in cannabis alone. However, of those 200 terpenes, the cannabis products that often go to your local dispensary usually only contain about 10 or so in detectable levels. Below, we’ve outlined the five most common cannabis terpenes you should be aware of. Understanding not only the flavors and aromas, but also the effects, can help you make a better decision when it comes to choosing your next strain.
Pinene - The terpene pinene is distinguishable from its scent alone. As its name suggests, this terpene smells a lot like pine trees. In fact, pinene is one of the most abundant terpenes in pine needles, conifers, and familiar flavors such as rosemary, dill, and basil. It is also found in orange peels and the rinds of other citrus fruits. Pinene is known to have mental effects such as better short-term memory and alertness, as well as physical benefits such as anti-inflammatory properties and is believed to help with asthma. Strains known to be high in pinene include a fan-favorite, Jack Herer, and Trainwreck.
Myrcene: Myrcene is believed to be the most abundant terpene among cannabis plants, and most strains test high for an abundance of myrcene, especially in indica strains. Myrcene has been shown to have sedating, relaxing effects, and can also heighten the effects of THC. This terpene is believed to be one of the causes for the super-stoned high you might get from an indica-heavy strain. Myrcene has an overwhelmingly musky aroma, with hints of spices like cloves, earthy scents, and fruity flavors. Myrcene is also found in heavily in mangoes, bay leaves, and thyme. For a sedating, myrcene heavy strain, try Blue Dream, Granddaddy Purple, or Green Crack.
Limonene: This marijuana terpene, unsurprisingly, has a very recognizable citrus aroma and flavor. Limonene has a beneficial mood-boosting effect such as working like a stress-relieving antidepressant. It also is believed to have antifungal and antibacterial properties, and when used topically, can help the absorption of other terpenes and chemicals. You can probably guess that the limonene terpene is found in citrus fruits, but it is also found in peppermint and juniper. You don’t need to look any further than your favorite citrusy-sweet strains to find one that is heavy in limonene. Try out our Sour Diesel, Tangie, or Super Lemon Haze terpenes.
Linalool: The linalool terpene has a sweet, floral aroma with just a hint of spicy warmth. Linalool has a calming, sedating effect, and is also used medicinally to help with proper motor function in people with epilepsy. Linalool is popular with cannabis users looking to treat insomnia, stress, anxiety, and even pain, tremors, or convulsions. This terpene is found in an array of different flowers, including lavender and laurel, and is also found in some citrus fruits, birchwood, and rosewood. For a relaxing, linalool heavy strain, opt for Skywalker OG or any strain that smells like lavender.
Caryophyllene: This terpene is most often associated with hops used in brewing your favorite craft beers. Knowing this, it might not come as a surprise that caryophyllene is a pungent, peppery, and spicy terpene. Along with hops, it is also found in black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, basil, and rosemary. Caryophyllene doesn’t have the same proven mental effects that other terpenes have, but is believed to help with anxiety and depression, and can be used medically as an anti-inflammatory element or for pain relief. For a spicy caryophyllene terpene heavy strain, try Girl Scout Cookies or Northern Lights.
The Entourage Effect
The Entourage Effect is a synergistic phenomenon achieved when marijuana is consumed as a “whole plant.” Before you go pick a bud off your plant and pop it in your mouth like a grape, “whole plant” isn’t meant to be a literal statement. Essentially, it means consuming cannabis in a way that protects the integrity of both the cannabinoids (such as THC or CBD) and the terpenoids. The combination of cannabinoids and terpenoids creates a result that is greater than the sum of their separate effects.
Let’s go back a couple of decades to the 1960s when marijuana was used for medicinal purposes such as loss of appetite and pain relief. By that point, morphine had already been isolated from opium poppies and cocaine had been isolated from coca leaves, both of which were, or had been, used medically. However, nothing had been isolated from cannabis, yet smoking the plant had been shown to have real medical benefits. A young scientist named Raphael Mechoulam was extremely interested in this, and spent years researching the active ingredients in marijuana. He came to the conclusion that THC was responsible for the psychoactive effects and, he believed, the medical benefits of marijuana. He noticed, though, that there were other cannabinoids in the plant, and found a way to isolate them from one another.
Although Mechoulam isolated THC for medical purposes, he soon began to realize that cannabinoids work best when they are together, rather than by themselves. Later on, synthetic isolated THC, mostly known by the name Marinol, became available for medicinal use. However, Marinol, while still used today, is often described as having too strong of psychoactive and intoxicating effects for medical use. For this reason, many medical marijuana users prefer to use “whole plant” options that contain multiple cannabinoids, as well as terpenes. These cannabinoids and terpenes balance each other out and become more effective to create the desired results. Mechoulam is believed to be responsible for naming this phenomenon The Entourage Effect.
Terpene Advice
When shopping for cannabis products, don’t just look at THC content. Sometimes you’ll get a more desirable high from a killer terp blend than a high THC percentage. If you’ve read all about the benefits of a particular strain and are disappointed when you try it, it might need a terpene boost. Or if you can’t find your favorite strain at your dispensary, adding strain-specific terpenes can mimic the effects you’re looking for.
Terpenes are great for all cannabis consumers, but especially those who use low-THC, high-CBD strains for medicinal use. Terpenes can heighten the healing effects of your high-CBD strains that might be lost throughout the life of the harvested cannabis. Whether you use medical cannabis for pain management, to lower anxiety, or anything in between, there are terpenes that can boost these benefits.
Know what’s in your cannabis. It’s not a secret that taking a marijuana plant and turning it into a concentrate or dried flower robs it of terpene-power. Concentrate producers know that a product devoid of terpenes isn’t going to be as good, and they sometimes spike their products with aftermarket terpenes. While we suggest adding terpenes to your concentrates, when you choose True Blue, you know you are getting natural, high-quality terpenes that are safe to consume. You don’t know what brand of terpenes might be added to your concentrate, and not all bottled terps are natural and devoid of fillers and harmful additives. Shop smart and be sure you are getting a food-grade product.
Safely Use Weed Flavor Drops And Food-Grade Terpenes In Your Cannabis Products
Many people are confused about how to use our natural weed flavoring drops and terps. It’s easy to find information about the benefits of terpenes, but how do you get those benefits? Our terpenes are made without any fillers, propylene glycol, or other controversial carrier ingredients found in many cheap terps. Our terpenes are designed to help replicate or enhance the flavor of your favorite strains, as well as the medicinal and mental effects.
It is important to remember that terpenes are potent - like, really potent. Remember, this isn’t exclusive to cannabis-strain terpenes. Terpenes are a type of essential oil, and like most essential oils, they need to be diluted in order to use safely. Terpenes and essential oils should never be directly consumed, applied to the skin, or inhaled before being diluted.
Terpenes can safely be diluted in diffusers, topical lotions, concentrates, edibles, among other cannabis consumption methods. True Blue Terpenes recommends starting at about a 3% concentration, and slowly working your way up in .5-1% increments. We don’t recommend exceeding an 8% concentration by weight. You can learn more about how to safely use our terpenes on our Frequently Asked Questions page. Of course, reaction to terpenes varies from person to person, and you should always consult your physician if you have any specific concerns.
One of the main ways that people use our true terpenes is to enhance their weed concentrates like weed wax, shatter, and tinctures. While these products give people the high they are looking for, they often lack in those classic flavors and aromas they fell in love with.
Terpenes can also be used in edibles, especially our food-grade terpenes sold at True Blue. This is a great option for people who don’t love that earthy, pungent flavors of cannabutter. Terpenes can help add more desirable flavors to mask the marijuana flavor, as well as heighten the effect.
To use terpenes to enhance flower that’s been sitting on the shelf for a little too long, just add a few drops and restore the flavor and aroma, or create new flavors that mimic your favorite strains you can’t always find at your local dispensary.
If you have any questions at all about how to use your True Blue terpenes, feel free to give us a call or send us a message. We want you to get the most out of your cannabis, and we’re always willing to answer questions!
Try Terpenes From True Blue
Want to get the most out of your cannabis products? Our strain-specific terpenes and natural weed flavor drops can help restore both the flavor and aroma of your favorite strains that are lost when the marijuana plant is cut and processed. More importantly, the right terpenes can help increase the medicinal benefits and effects of cannabis. True Blue Terpenes have been specifically formulated for this purpose. Shop our collection of terps and natural flavors, or create a sample pack to try out five different terpenes.
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