Have you ever wondered why strains like Cream Caramel or Royal Caramel taste so deliciously like caramel, or why other strains like California Orange taste fruity like oranges or lemons? The flavours of cannabis and the smell come from terpenes. Terpenes belong to a very large group of chemical compounds that occur naturally in organisms as secondary constituents. Over 8,000 terpenes and over 30,000 of the closely related terpenoids are known. Terpenes are substances of plant origin and can even rarely occur in animals. In nature, mainly hydrocarbon, alcohol, glycoside, ether, aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acidand ester terpenes occur.
Terpenes are the main component of essential plant oils and plant resins. They play an important role in nature in deterring insects, protecting against environmental stresses and can also be crucial components for more complex molecules such as cannabinoids , certain hormones, vitamins (vitamin A) and pigments.
Terpenoids also give eucalyptus its scent and cinnamon its aroma, just as they do in cloves and ginger. Plant terpenoids are largely used for their aromatic properties. They also play a role in traditional herbal medicine and are currently being studied for their antibacterial and anti-neoplastic (against cancer cells) effects as well as other pharmaceutical functions.
Cannabis is again very complex in this respect and an endless number of terpene combinations occur, resulting in a wide range of aromas and flavours.
Cannabis contains a relatively large amount of tepenes called beta-caryophyllene (BCP), which contribute to the flavour and aroma of marijuana. Recent studies have shown that these terpenes activate the CB2 receptors and therefore have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Alpha-pinene, for example, is an organic compound found in many pine species. This terpene also occurs more frequently in pine-scented varieties.
Myrcene, or ß-myrcene, is a monoterpene found in cannabis but also in other plants such as mangoes. Its taste is described as fruity, lemony and reminiscent of mango. The presence of myrcene plays an important role in the quality and enjoyment of the high.
Limonene is another terpene. It is a colourless liquid that gives off a very intense orange scent when heated in a room. In current cannabis research, limonene produces relaxation. It got its name from the lime because this and other citrus fruits contain high amounts of it. Interestingly, it has even been considered as a bio-fuel because it is combustible in its pure form. It is found in many cannabis strains.
There are over 120 types of terpenes in cannabis, some in trace amounts and others in double-digit percentages. These volatile compounds allow for an endless number of flavours in cannabis and therefore we can look forward to a wide variety of flavours and taste experiences in the future.
From theory to practice: which variety tastes like what and how?
Here we have listed some varieties and their flavours:
Lemon flavour:
- Amnesia Lemon (Barney's Farm)
- 60 Day Lemon (DNA Genetics)
- OG Kush (Reserva Privada)
- Shiva Skunk (Sensi Seeds)
- Wonder Woman (Nirvana)
- Masterkush (Dutch Passion)
- Nepal Jam (Cannabiogen)
- AutoWhite Widow (Dutch Passion)
- Kushadelic (Soma Seeds)
- Vertigo Auto (Paradise Seeds)
- Excalibur (Eva Seeds)
Orange flavour:
- California Orange (Dutch Passion)
- Power Kush (Dinafem)
- Tangie (Reserva Privada)
- Californian Orange Bud (White Label)
- MISSING in Barcelona (Eva Seeds)
- White Skunk (White Label)
Cherry:
Blueberry:
- Auto Blue Diesel (Advanced Seeds)
- Royal Bluematic (Royal Queen Seeds)
- Flash Back #2 (Sweet Seeds)
- Blue Rhino (Positronics)
- Blue Thai (Dinafem)
- Haze Berry (Royal Queen Seeds)
- White Berry (Paradise Seeds)
- Money Maker (Strain Hunters)
Strawberry:
- Original Strawberry Cough (Dinafem)
- White Strawberry Skunk (Strain Hunters)
- Strawberry Kush (Anesia Seeds)
- Veneno (Eva Seeds)
- Ice Kush (Advanced Seeds)
- Strawberry Cough (Dutch Passion)
Fruit cocktail/tropical fruit:
- Haze Mist (Advanced Seeds)
- Jamaican Dream (Eva Seeds)
- Pineapple Chunk (Barney's Farm)
- Super Cannalope (DNA Genetics)
- Pineapple Express Auto (Barney's Farm)
- OG Kush (Reserva Privada, DNA)
- Ed Rosenthal Superbud (Sensi Seeds)
Sandalwood / Cedarwood:
- Hindu Kush (Sensi Seeds)
- Damnesia (Strain Hunters)
- Santa Sativa (Dinafem)
- CBD Skunk Haze (Dutch Passion)
- Cole Train (Reserva Privada)
Cinnamon:
Mint:
- Black Widow (Positronics)
- Outlaw (Dutch Passion)
- Sweet Purple (Paradise Seeds)
- Snow Fruit (Sweet Seeds)
Honey:
- Afghan Express (Positronics)
- Nebula (Paradise Seeds)
- Northern Lights (Sensi Seeds)
- Biddy Early (Serious Seeds)
- Honey B (Barney's Farm)
Kandy:
- Kandy Kush (Reserva Privada)
- Super Cotton Candy (Anesia Seeds)
- CBD Kush (Dutch Passion)
- Royal Caramel (Royal Queen Seeds)
- Bubblegum Kush (Bulldog Seeds)
Caramel:
- Cream Caramel (Sweet Seeds)
- Royal Creamatic (Royal Queen Seeds)
- Fast Caramelic (Anesia Seeds)
- Pakistan Chitral Kush (Cannabiogen)
Bubble-gum:
- BubbleGummer, Female Seeds
- Bubble Gum (Serious Seeds)
- Bubblelicious (Nirvana Seeds)
- Big Band (Kannabia)
Pine:
Incense:
Raspberry:
Grapefruit:
- Jacky White (Paradise Seeds)
- Acid (Paradise Seeds)
- Iced Grapefruit (Female Seeds)
- Grapefruit (Positronics)
- Black Diesel (Advanced Seeds)
- Sweet Deep Grapefruit (Dinafem)
Banana:
Vanilla:
Coffee:
- Amnesia Mistery (Positronics)
- White Widow (Royal Queen Seeds)
- Psicodelicia (Sweet Seeds)
- Holy Grail Kush (DNA Genetics)
Grape:
- Canadian Kush (Medical Seeds)
- Grape Muerto (Barney`s Farm)
- Spoetnik #1 (Paradise Seeds)
- Opium (Paradise Seeds)