Terpene Tuesday: Guaiol
Terpene Tuesday: Guaiol
Guaiol is one of the terpenes that we still don't know very much about. It does seem to be an effective insecticide, particularly against aphids. It's also part of an essential oil shown to kill mites and ticks. It has a woody, pine-like fragrance with rose undertones and it's actually found in a variety of different woods.
Read MoreTerpene Spotlight: Humulene
Terpene Spotlight: Humulene
Alpha humulene, also known as alpha caryophyllene, has an earthy/woody scent. It’s found in hops, so it’s responsible for the distinctive smell of beer. Like many terpenes, it fights harmful insects, but it also has some interesting medical potential for humans.
Read MoreTerpene Spotlight: Valencene
Terpene Spotlight: Valencene
Valencene is found in citrus fruit in abundant quantities, particularly Valencia oranges. Unsurprisingly, it has a sweet, fresh, citrusy scent that occasionally has notes of wood or fresh herbs. It contributes a rich, bitter scent to the cannabis strains it's found in.
Read MoreTerpene Spotlight: Caryophyllene
Terpene Spotlight: Caryophyllene
Caryophyllene is one of the most abundant terpenes found in cannabis. In fact, it’s so abundant that caryophyllene oxide is what drug-sniffing dogs smell when they identify cannabis. It is well-studied and offers some exciting medical potential, particularly for people dealing with pain, cancer, or alcohol abuse.
Read MoreTerpene Spotlight: Phytol
Terpene Spotlight: Phytol
Phytol is our focus for this week’s Terpene Tuesday. It’s the by-product of chlorophyll breaking down and a precursor to both vitamin E and vitamin K — if you take a multivitamin, this terpene probably contributed some of the vitamins.
Read MoreTerpene Spotlight: Bisabolol
Terpene Spotlight: Bisabolol
Bisabolol, also known as levomenol, is a terpene found in many different strains of cannabis. It has a light, floral fragrance, reminiscent of the chamomile it’s usually derived from. It’s been used in cosmetics and skincare products for centuries because it helps the skin absorb other molecules, increasing their effectiveness.
Read MoreTerpene Spotlight: Terpinolene
Terpene Spotlight: Terpinolene
Terpinolene is a somewhat elusive terpene — at least when it comes to cannabis. Most strains don’t have any at all and those that do tend to have very low quantities. Fortunately, Jack Herer consistently shows high levels of this terpene and it’s a popular, and thus easy to find, strain.
Read MoreTerpene Spotlight: Ocimene
Terpene Spotlight: Ocimene
Ocimene is another terpene found in many strains of cannabis. While more research needs to be done before we can truly understand this terpene, it has some interesting characteristics.
It might help differentiate indicas from sativas.
Read MoreTerpene Spotlight: Delta 3 Carene
Terpene Spotlight: Delta 3 Carene
Have you ever experienced red eyes or a dry mouth after using cannabis? You have this week’s terpene to thank for that! While cottonmouth is annoying, strains high in carene can help dry up a runny nose, excessive perspiration, or heavy menstruation.
Read MoreTerpene Spotlight: Nerolidol
Terpene Spotlight: Nerolidol
Nerolidol is useful terpene found in several strains of cannabis. It has multiple therapeutic uses, but it seems to excel at killing things that can harm plants and humans. Bacteria, fungi, parasites, spider mites, head lice, and malaria all quail in the face of this mighty terpene. Despite its mercenary qualities, humans can safely ingest it and inhale it.
Read MoreTerpene Spotlight: Camphene
Terpene Spotlight: Camphene
Like most aspects of cannabis, camphene’s medicinal properties are under-researched. Despite that, it does appear to be excellent for cardiovascular health. Unfortunately, there’s just so much we don’t know about this common cannabis terpene.
Read MoreCooking with Cannabis
Cooking with Cannabis
So how do you cook with cannabis? One of the first things I learned as a pastry chef is that someone actually has to eat what I make. That means it should taste good, look good, and smell good. There are plenty of recipes out there, so I’m going to focus on the theory of cooking with cannabis instead.
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