Cannabis Derived Terpenes

Are you looking to recreate your favorite cannabis strain or harness the benefits of a specific terpene? Let’s break down how to use your terpenes the right way.

Terpenes — sometimes called terpenoids — are the largest and most diverse group of naturally occurring aromatic compounds, mostly produced by plants. They’re the reason fruits and flowers smell and taste the way they do. That sharp, citrusy scent from lemons, limes, and oranges? That comes from a terpene called limonene. Another familiar one is myrcene, found in both cannabis and mangos. Endocannex’s cannabis-derived terpenes recreate the authentic flavor of your favorite strain. You can mix them into distillates, dabs, or tinctures to personalize and elevate your cannabis experience.

WhAT ARE tERPENES?

Cannabis has been cultivated and spread around the world for over 10,000 years. Along the way, this plant developed complex, one-of-a-kind terpene profiles that give each strain its unique scent, flavor, and effects. In fact, cannabis contains about 400 known terpenes, and a single strain can carry anywhere from 20 to 50 different ones.

Many terpenes appear in small amounts, yet they play a significant role in defining a strain’s unique character. To capture those minor, strain-specific terpenes, you need cannabis-derived terpenes (CDTs). Most terpene products on the market use botanically-derived terpenes (BDTs), which come from plants like lemons, lavender, or pine trees. While BDTs can provide general flavor, CDTs — such as those offered by Endocannex — deliver a full, authentic, strain-specific experience that BDTs cannot replicate.

dO TERENES OFFER MORE THAN JUST TASTE AND SMELL?

Certain terpenes can directly interact with endocannabinoid receptors. For example, beta-caryophyllene acts as a CB2 receptor agonist and may help with depression. Humulene, another terpene you’ll find in both cannabis and hops, plays a role in managing inflammation and could be useful for treating inflammatory diseases. If you dig a little deeper, you’ll find that most terpenes naturally have antiviral or antibacterial properties — which makes sense since plants produce them as a defense mechanism. Research into the medical benefits of terpenes is still growing, and new studies keep coming out. If you’re after specific effects or flavors, it’s always a good idea to check the Certificate of Analysis (C.O.A.) for each product to see exactly which terpenes are present in your strain.

You can reproduce your favorite strain!

Here is a hypothetical scenario to describe how you could use terpenes and cannabinoids to recreate the strain Runtz.

A Certificate of Analysis (C.O.A.) for Runtz from a Florida dispensary revealed some interesting details. The cannabinoids in the sample included THCA/THC at 18%, CBDA at 0.07%, and CBGA/CBG at 0.25%. Along with these, the lab identified a range of terpenes — including beta-caryophyllene and alpha-humulene — out of up to 15 different terpenes tested.

Now, while labs typically test for around 20 terpenes, the plant likely contains many more. These other minor terpenes might not show up in lab results, but they still contribute to the strain’s unique aroma and effects. That’s one of the reasons why replicating the full terpene profile of a strain like Runtz is so tricky — those tiny percentages still matter.

That said, you can get pretty close. By using cannabis-derived terpenes from Runtz itself, you can closely mimic the strain’s original flavor and aroma. Theoretically, you’d start by making a solution with the same 18:0.07:0.25 ratio of THC, CBDA, and CBGA/CBG. Then, you’d blend in the Runtz CDTs (Cannabis-Derived Terpenes) to recreate the experience. It won’t be 100% identical — because of those untested minor terpenes — but it’s about as close as you can get outside of the fresh flower itself

How to add terpenes to distillate?

Now that you have decided to try and reproduce your favorite strain, you purchase your desired cannabinoids and terpenes Typically, ideal mixes used in vape cartridges have a terpene percentage of anywhere from 4-7% terpenes; 5% can be a good starting point. The process of mixing involves first heating the cannabinoids up to around 160 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature most solid isolates will turn into a liquid form without boiling off any of the cannabinoids or terpenes. Once your cannabinoids are in a liquid state, you add terpenes in the amount calculated to achieve the percentage you desire. An example if you were making 10 ml of distillate and wanted 5% terpenes, you would add 0.5 ml of terpenes to 9.5 ml of cannabinoids. The key is very thorough mixing after introduction of the terpenes, being careful the temperature of the solution does not exceed 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Often the use of magnetic stirrers can really speed this process along. Once the terpenes are mixed in, you are now ready to fill your favorite cartridge or pod and enjoy your favorite strain.

How to add terpenes for dabs

Typically mixes for dabbing have a slightly lower terpene percentage, with a typical amount being 3% but can range from 1-3%. It can get a little trickier with dab mixes, because if you have solids like diamonds in the mix, you may not want to melt them. In this case, typically the terpenes are stirred in by hand diligently. Although the mixing may not be as thorough, letting the mix sit for a couple days will allow the terpenes to “seep”, making it more evenly distributed throughout the mix. Once you get the percentages dialed in, you will find mixing your own dabs a rewarding and tasty experience.

how to add terpenes to tinctures

You can easily add terpenes to your tincture to enhance both the flavor and the effects. Just be careful not to go over 1% terpenes by volume. Too much can overpower the taste and throw off the balance of your tincture.

Making tinctures is pretty straightforward. Most people use MCT, or coconut oil, as the base. Start by gently heating the oil to about 160°F, just like you would with distillate. Next, mix in whatever cannabinoids you’ve decided to use. Once those are combined, add your terpenes and stir everything together thoroughly. Let it cool, and it’s ready to go.

What to look for when buying Terpenes

When considering possible vendors for purchasing terpenes it is very important to read where the terpenes originated. If they are CDT’s, the description will clearly state that terpenes are extracted from cannabis. While CDTs are often more costly then BDTs, the price difference is always worth it. Vendors who sell BDTs will often not clearly state where the terpenes originated from. Try to avoid vendors known for questionable products and give misleading information in products description. Once you have narrowed down to your favorite strains always ensure there is a 3rd party C.O.A. or lab results available. These reports will give you all the information needed to make a fair assessment on the quality of the product. For all terpenes, you want to ensure it contains less than 0.03% D9 THC and ensure that solvents and heavy metals were tested for, and the test results show none detected.

The bottom line

The bottom line is that CDTs can bring an authentic cannabis experience with the robust full spectrum taste that can only come from real cannabis. Adding terpenes to your favorite cannabinoid products is relatively easy. Depending on the preferred method of intake of your cannabinoids will determine what terpene percentage will go best. For example a 5% distillate mix would be perfect while a 1% distillate would not have much taste at all. Anyone who handles terpenes in concentrated form needs to very careful and insure you familiarize yourself with safety precautions when handling terpenes. Terpenes in their concentrated form are very flammable and can soak directly into your skin possibly causing adverse conditions, while terpenes diluted to 5% are benign. NEVER use terpenes in any manner in their concentrated form without mixing. CDTs can offer more than the flavor and experience with many terpenes offering additional medical benefits.