Are you ready to create extracts and concentrates with unique flavors, scents, and effects? Well, before getting started here are a few tips. Read on and learn how to mix terpenes with extracts and concentrates.

Learning how to use terpenes in your extracts and concentrates may seem pretty daunting at first. Luckily, a steady hand and some basic science knowledge will take you pretty far. You might think you can just mix your preferred terpenes into your products. Before you start playing mad scientist, however, there are a few items you’ll need to consider...

What kinds of terpenes should you use? What terpene ratio is best? Should you focus on flavor or effects? Can you do both?

It can definitely feel overwhelming at first. That’s why today we’re going to break it down so you can safely use terpenes to get the desired flavor, scent, and effects for your products. Keep reading to discover exactly how to mix terpenes with extracts and concentrates.

Reading Time -  7 min

How to Mix Terpenes With Extracts and Concentrates

You’re busy, we get it. Here’s the short and sweet of what we’ll be talking about today.

• Cannabis concentrates have had any unwanted plant matter removed so only the desirable compounds (cannabinoids) are left. Extracts are a type of concentrate that require the use of solvents.
• Some of the methods for creating concentrates or extracts (such as distillate) can alter or destroy the natural terpene profile of the original plant matter. That’s why adding terpenes back into extracts and concentrates is so desirable.
• It also ensures that you’ll have consistent flavors, scents, and effects across your entire line of products.
• Before getting started, make sure you have all necessary materials and that you understand all the required safety precautions.
• When mixing terpenes, start with a low amount (less than .5%) and increase the amount as necessary. Mix your terpenes when your product is still viscous and pliable; otherwise, thoroughly mixing the terpenes will be difficult.

What Are Extracts and Concentrates?

You’re probably already familiar with these products (otherwise, why would you be here?). That being said, we’ll keep this part short so you can get to the good stuff as quickly as possible. While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there are some important differences between the two. First, all extracts are technically concentrates. However, not all concentrates are extracts. Let us explain…

The wide world of concentrates is made up of products that include the most desirable compounds from something while removing other unwanted items. Technically, coffee is a concentrate. You get all that caffeine and flavor without having to crunch on coffee beans. For cannabis concentrates, some (but not always ALL) plant matter is removed and you’re left with cannabinoids and some flavor and aroma (think kief, rosin, etc.)

Extracts are technically a type of concentrate, but they require solvents to pull out the desired compounds. If you’ve ever used vanilla or mint extract to bake, you’ve already got some experience with extracts. In this example, alcohol is used to remove and preserve the flavor and aroma of these plants without having to keep any of the original plant matter. 

In the world of cannabis extracts, there’s a LOT to work with. There’s shatter, budder, crumble, badder, and the list goes on and on. Common solvents include butane, CO2, ethanol, and even propane. Each type has its own texture and experience, but luckily there’s so much variety that both manufacturers and buyers can almost always find what they’re looking for.

Why Should You Mix Terpenes With Extracts and Concentrates?

While concentrates and extracts manage to draw out some of the flavor and aroma of the original plant matter, some naturally gets lost in the process. That’s because terpenes are sensitive. Even before you start the process of creating these products, things like weather, soil quality, and even farming practices can impact the terpene content of a plant. 

So, rough handling of the plant matter, any processes that involve heat, and even too much light can all damage the terpene content. Terpenes are what dictate the scent and flavor of a plant, so you definitely don’t want to lose those. Plus, while the cannabinoids are often considered the most prized compound of the cannabis plant, it’s the terpenes that dictate the overall experience.

If you’ve ever wondered why some cannabis strains give you more energy and some give you couch-lock, it’s because of the different terpene profiles each strain has. So, not only do terpenes influence the flavor and scent of your concentrates, they determine the effects of them as well. 

To overcome the natural loss of terpenes during production, terpenes can be added back in at a later stage. This ensures that your products will have the taste, smell, and experience that your customers are looking for. 

Before Getting Started…

Make sure you have all the necessary equipment AND that you understand how to use terpenes safely. Our terpenes are of the highest purity and should be handled with extreme care.

Depending on your product, and the size of your operation, you’ll most likely need the following list of equipment:

For more details on the type of equipment you may need, optional diluents, and some helpful conversions, click here.

How to Select The Right Terpenes

If you simply want to make sure your products smell and taste like the strain you’ve used, you can easily add in a terpene blend with an identical terpene profile. Seriously, it’s that easy. Have products that use Blue Dream? Add the Blue Dream terpene blend. Want your customers to experience the creamy, desert-like flavor of Gelato? Add a Gelato terpene blend to your products! 

You can also get creative by combining unique terpene blends to your products. Think a Hot Cakes flavored budder or a Mojito flavored shatter. If you’re looking for something totally different, you could even work with our team to come up with a brand new terpene blend for your products. The opportunities are seriously endless.

You even have the ability to select terpenes based on their effects. If you check out our Flavor & Effects Chart, you can determine which terpenes have the taste and experiences you’re looking for. 

How to Mix Terpenes With Extracts and Concentrates

Finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. While there may be a few differences depending on your concentrate of choice, here are the steps you’ll want to follow…

Select Your Terpenes

Whether you’re using a pre-mixed blend, relying on isolates, or even getting creative with a new blend, make sure you’ve finalized your terpene choices.

Follow All Safety Measures

We know we already covered this, but it warrants repeating. If you are unsure about any of the necessary safety procedures, feel free to contact us before moving forward. We love our terpenes, so we want to make sure you have the best (and safest) experience possible.

Start Low and Go Slow

When adding terpenes to inhalable products, you’ll want to start with a very low amount (usually around 0.5%). With edibles or beverages, you’ll want to use even less at first. The purity of our terpenes means that they’re highly concentrated, so you might not need as much as you think. 

Mix Your Terpenes

Since most concentrate products are hard or dry when they’re finished, this should be done at a specific part of the process. For example, if you’re making shatter you’ll have to add your terpenes and mix them thoroughly before it dries. 

Enjoy

That’s it! Depending on your product, you may seal it and let it rest for twenty-four hours so the terpenes can fully infuse the product. Expect to notice more vibrant flavors, aromas, and a truly unique experience from your newly infused products.

Mix Terpenes With Confidence

We love what we do, which is why we’re constantly raising the bar on terpene science and terpene purity standards. Regardless of the size of your brand, we would love to work with you and help create terpene infused products that completely blow your customers minds. 

If you ever have questions about mixing, storing, and/or handling terpenes in your facility, don’t hesitate to contact us with questions. This is what we love, so we want to make sure you, and your customers, are getting the best terpene experience possible.