What You Need To Know About Terpenes In Cannabis

By Author: Sativa Bliss Canabis
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Cannabis has a distinct odor that is both musky and skunky, making it easy to identify even before seeing it. Cannabis gets its odor and flavor from aromatic compounds called terpenes, which also determine the scent of many other flowers and herbs.

Terpenes are found in abundance in cannabis, with over 150 different varieties present. While the majority of terpenes are only present in minute quantities, the more dominant ones work in concert to give different cannabis strains their distinctive aromas. Sour Diesel has a terpene profile that betrays its pungent, gassy nature, while Cherry Pie recalls the sweet and sour aroma of a freshly baked cherry pie.

Terpenes play a number of important roles in the cannabis plant and can have a wide range of therapeutic and mood-altering effects on users.

What are the origins of terpenes?

Terpenes are organic compounds that are exclusively produced by female cannabis plants and can be found in their trichomes. Trichomes, which are sticky, translucent glands, cover the surface of buds and, to a lesser extent, leaves and stems. Resin glands, which create terpenes, ...
... are located in trichomes, and are therefore crucial.

In order for a cannabis plant to thrive, terpenes are essential. These organic compounds contribute to the flavor of cannabis as well as the aroma it gives off. They also enhance the color and pigmentation of the plant's leaves and buds. Terpenes, in a nutshell, both attract beneficial insects to the plant and repel harmful ones.

Some terpenes, such as geraniol, deter insects and herbivores that might otherwise enjoy munching on cannabis. Terpinolene and linalool are two other terpenes that draw in animals that help disperse pollen. The immune system of a plant is aided by aromatic compounds by their ability to relay information about the environment, to provide defense against environmental stresses and pathogens, and to aid in the induction of immune responses.

The amount of terpenes a cannabis plant produces can be affected by a wide range of factors. Terpene concentrations can be affected by many factors, including whether the plant is grown indoors or outdoors, its exposure to light, temperature, growing medium, nutrient levels, and the timing of harvesting.

The standard methods of cannabis extraction often result in the loss of many terpenes because they are volatile compounds. As more people learn about terpenes' therapeutic potential, however, more nuanced extraction techniques, such as using live resin, are being developed.

Live resin is extracted from freshly frozen cannabis plants while still being frozen, protecting the plant's terpenes and other volatile compounds for a more aromatic and flavorful high.