Just a decade or two ago, the main way cannabis strains were compared was by potency (aka THC content). That's like comparing liquor to beer... kind of archaic. Again, to some, it was more than just the ABV% or THC% of getting drunk or high.
We then began to witness the introduction of beer produced in smaller batches from emerging microbreweries who really put time and effort in with the intent of honing their...Craft. As legislation started to ease up in certain states, the entire cannabis industry would soon follow suit. (Hemp at the time was mainly used for clothing and textiles, with nowhere near the mainstream popularity it has gained today thanks to the help of modern research discovering the wide array of health benefits CBD and minor cannabinoids are now known to possess)
In our Knowledge section we briefly discussed how terpenes are the compounds responsible for sending all the wonderful smells & tastes from your favorite fruits, trees, craft beers, wines & cannabis strains dancing all around your palette.
The simplest way to break it down is like this - You can think of each tincture's Terp Profile as it's "flavor" or "essence", but this would overlook the significance of each unique strain. Already familiar with cannabis strains? I'll stop Here.
For everyone else, let’s go a step further to make sense of all this by comparing something much more familiar - Food & Drink.
What's your favorite pasta sauce? Is it the creamy, garlic and parmesan taste you crave from Alfredo sauce? How about the herby, garlic and pine nut taste that comes with a great Pesto? Maybe its the classic tomato and herbs that go into a hearty Marinara sauce you're after. You won't mistake one of these sauces for the other because they each have their own unique taste and ingredients which greatly distinguish them from one another. Cannabis strains can be compared in this same way. Not a pasta fan? Let’s take the next step & compare wine instead.
Which is better, Red wine or White wine? It all comes down to preference. Preference for Reds, Whites, or even Rosé wines can be looked at very similarly to preference between Sativas, Indicas, or Hybrid strains. For some, its all about the taste or which one packs the best punch and that's perfectly fine; you don't need to be a sommelier to enjoy a glass of wine. But as you know, wine can get much more complex than that - everything from climate, to the types of grapes used, the barrels its aged in, etc. This extended interest can go well beyond the act of just getting drunk or high. That being said, we're narrowing the focus in this lesson down to one very important part we have not yet touched on - health benefits.
The elegance of a fine wine is parallel to the elegance of a great cannabis strain. Here's one example: A light-bodied, white wine may be preferable on a nice summer day in the way that a Sativa strain would be better for the Daytime.
A full-bodied, red wine on the other hand, might be better suited for the Evening due to its higher alcohol content (generally speaking) in the same sense that an Indica strain is more suited for evening relaxation and sleep.
Of course it's obviously more complex than this, as we haven't even touched on things like antioxidants or polyphenols content and don't worry, we won't. We want to keep it simple, but still give you a good understanding on the matter.
Here comes the 'Aha Moment' you've been waiting for: All of these vast aromas, tastes & effects you get from different wines and cannabis strains have one very important thing in common: TERPENES!
Terpene Strain Profiles – So now that we got that all out of the way, what exactly is a Terp Strain Profile?
Years of scientific research have been put in by industry leaders to create our Terpene Strain Profiles. Plant-derived terpenes are carefully formulated to closely match the profiles of their cannabis strain's namesakes. Think of a Deconstructed Cocktail or Salad and you will get the concept. Check out our Products for more details on the terpenes used in each of our Strain Profiles.
