The Science of Terpenes: How They Impact the Flavor and Effects of Pre-Rolls

In the years since legalization, the science behind cannabis has grown leaps and bounds. As a result, today we have a wealth of knowledge about the best ways to cultivate, process, and store cannabis to ensure customers experience the very finest attributes of flowers. Much of this effort is dedicated to preserving precious compounds like terpenes.

While growers work hard all year to produce flowers rich in cannabinoids and terpenes, it's a shame to see this effort wasted with improper handling, processing, and packaging techniques. Whether it be drying harvest or grinding flowers for pre-rolled cones, quality production practices lead to better terpene retention. Since terpenes are extremely volatile, pre-rolls that are properly processed will better retain their smell, taste, and potency.

To help our customers offer the best pre-roll products they can, Custom Cones USA wanted to walk you through this exploration of terpenes and discuss the best ways to preserve them during commercial pre-roll production.

What are Terpenes?

Terpenes are the chemical compounds that give tree and plant species their unique smells. Whether it be the taste of mint or the scent of a pine tree, terpenes are the visceral connection between people and the plant world. When it comes to cannabis, terpenes profiles are one of the most defining characteristics of different strains.

Cannabis plants produce terpenes in trichomes, which are the same plant parts that manufacture precious cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Including all the diverse plant species in the world, scientists speculate there could be as many as 20,000 unique terpenes found in nature.

Trichomes

In order to take the appropriate steps for processing flowers into pre-rolls, it's important to know what parts of the cannabis plant produce terpenes. If you have ever seen the white crystals on cannabis flowers, then you have seen trichomes.

Since they produce valuable chemicals like terpenes and cannabinoids, trichomes are one of the most important parts of cannabis flowers. The presence of trichomes directly dictates the potency of cannabis, as well as the bag appeal of any given batch. It goes without saying, damaged and lost trichomes greatly diminish the value of cannabis in the open market. As such, it's important that you handle your plant material properly when manufacturing pre-rolls.

How Do Terpenes Affect Impact Pre-Rolls?

Other than visual indicators like bright green leaves and orange hairs, terpenes are responsible for giving different cannabis strains their unique characteristics. These traits include smell, taste, and therapeutic effects.

Aroma

If you are familiar with cannabis, then you have certainly heard of strains named after their particular aromas - such as Banana Kush and Blueberry. These names are derived from the terpene profiles of different genetics. While some terpenes might give off a citrusy or piney smell, others are known for fruity fragrances.

Taste

As seen with your sense of smell, terpenes also directly dictate how different cannabis strains taste when they are consumed. The better you preserve your trichomes and terpenes, the better your flowers will taste in the end. It's for such reasons that manufacturers produce products like live resin that capture the essence of terpenes in their freshest and most expressive state.

Therapeutic Effects

While we are just beginning to learn about the therapeutic effects of terpenes in cannabis, they have been utilized in the health and wellness industry for many years. For example, terpenes are the most important ingredient in essential oils used for aromatherapy. Looking at cannabis, different terpenes are known to produce specific effects - such as energizing and relaxing.

Common Terpenes Found in Cannabis and Their Characteristics

As we come to learn more about terpenes, we're beginning to understand how they contribute to the different therapeutic effects that come with cannabis. Here are a few of the most widely known terpenes found in cannabis:

Pinene: is a common terpene that is found in cannabis as well as pine trees. Pinene is known to help you relax, while also being a natural anti-inflammatory. Its “piney” smell stands out in many popular cannabis strains.

• Limonene: is a well-known terpene that is also found in many citrus fruits - including oranges, lemons, and limes. With strong anti-inflammatory properties, limonene can also help with injuries and respiratory issues.
• Beta-Caryophyllene: is found widely in nature, but is most noticeable in herbs and spices like cloves, basil, oregano, and black pepper. Beta-caryophyllene is used to treat a variety of ailments - including chronic pain, anxiety, and seizures.
• Myrcene: is another popular terpene found around the world, including both hops and lemongrass. In fact, myrcene is the most common terpene found in cannabis today. People commonly use myrcene as a means to treat anxiety and sleeping disorders.

Can Terpenes Help in Selecting Pre-Rolls Based on Desired Flavors or Effects?

Terpenes are gaining more importance among cannabis consumers shopping at dispensaries for pre-rolls and other products.

While people have primarily used potency / THC percentages as the primary means for judging the quality of cannabis, this trend is slowly starting to change. Since terpenes influence the bag appeal of different strains as well as their therapeutic effects, they offer great guideposts for choosing cannabis products to match very specific needs.

The terms "sativa" and "indica" have traditionally been used to delineate the different psychoactive effects of cannabis. While sativas are generally considered more energetic and cerebral, indicas are known to relax people with a calming body buzz. Interestingly, terpenes give us the ability to go beyond these generalities and choose cannabis strains more suited for people’s particular wants and needs.

For example, if you want a cannabis experience that is more relaxing, look for a strain or pre-roll product that contains myrcene or pinene. In the event you are injured or need help treating inflammation, keep an eye out for cannabis strains containing limonene or beta-caryophyllene.

How Production Practices Impact Terpene Retention

While terpenes directly contribute to the quality pre-rolls, they are also extremely volatile compounds. How cannabis is handled during the pre-roll production process has a direct impact on how well terpenes are retained. In turn, pre-rolls with intact terpene profiles offer the best consumption experiences.

From the harvest process to product packaging, there are many opportunities for terpenes to get damaged in the cannabis supply chain. Since flowers and trichomes are quite delicate, it's important that growers and manufacturers take the correct steps to preserve terpenes. After all, it's in the best interest of your customers that you provide them with the highest quality cannabis products that you can.

When it comes to manufacturing pre-rolls, there are some specific steps you can take to protect terpenes. You want to make sure your flowers are at the right moisture content to be ground into even size particles. Most industry experts agree that a moisture content of 10-12% is ideal for grinding flowers.

When it comes time to finally grind your flowers, be sure to use a low-rpm industrial grinder. Importantly, low-rpm grinders are gentle on flowers, which keeps terpenes intact. This is a big difference from high-rpm machines like blenders. High-rpm motors put off a good deal of heat that can quickly degrade terpenes.

Custom Cones USA & Premium Pre-Roll Production

Whether it be processing equipment, rolling supplies, or packaging materials, Custom Cones USA has the solutions you need to protect valuable terpenes throughout pre-roll production.

At Custom Cones USA, we understand you want to offer the best possible products to your customers. Our machinery has advanced to the point where you longer degrade flowers during production. Our low-rpm machines process cannabis in a way that retains terpenes. Similarly, our Automated Infused Pre-Roll Machine allows you to effortlessly infuse hundreds of joints every hour.

Custom Cones USA also offers premium rolling papers and blunt wraps that don’t smother the delicate taste of terpenes in your pre-rolls. If you take the time to produce premium flowers, we want to ensure customers experience the fruits of your labor firsthand.

Since the improper storage of cannabis can also diminish terpenes, you are well-advised to only package your pre-rolls in air-tight packaging. Custom Cones USA offers an array of packaging solutions designed specifically to preserve delicate cannabis products.

Get Started with Custom Cones USA Today!

At Custom Cones USA, we can’t emphasize enough that good production practices directly lead to better terpene retention. As such, we offer a wide variety of manufacturing and packaging solutions that cater to commercial pre-roll production, while also allowing you to produce boutique-quality products.

Contact Us today to get started!