A First Look at Terpenes

Do terpenes affect the final outcome of your hard earned edible?  Wait what is a terpene anyway? This episode Marge touches on terpenes that you might consider for food pairing, but do those scents and aromas found in your cannabis make much of a difference in your edible, listen and find out?

Also, what happens when the Post intercepts a letter from Canadian Marge to a listener in the USA, not what you’d expect.

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Some common Terpenes found in Cannabis:

Myrcene
Earthy and musky with a hint of herbs, prevelent in most cannabis strains.  Known to enhance THC uptake and has anti-depressive and anti-inflammatory effects as well as pain relief.  Strains high in this terpene pair with savoury dishes.  Strains high in this terpene would include Girl Scout Cookies and Bubba Kush.

Limonene
Present mostly in sativa strains, this terpene has a distinct citrus smell.  Thought to have the unique ability to quicken the absorption of other terpenes in the body.  Has anti-anxiety, anti-depressive, antifungal effects.  Use to brighten up dishes where you’d use lemon.  Strains high in this terpene include  Lemon Diesel and Orange Cookies.

Linalool
Floral and spicy, some strains exhibit scents that are light and fragrant.  Not surprising since cannabis is a flower! Great as a sleep aid, strains high in this terpene have calming stress-releasing effects.  Works well with desserts, drinks and sauces.  Strains high in this terpene include Blackberry Kush and Purple Urkle.

Pinene
This terpene has an aroma that is fresh and reminiscent of a pine forest. It is the most common and abundant naturally occurring terpene.  Known to aid the memory and breathing while being anti-inflammatory.  Cultivars high in this terp would be a nice addition to olive oil for Mediterranean cuisine.  It stands up to grilled foods and dishes where you’d use culinary herbs.  A couple of examples of strains high in this terpene would be Trainwreck and Jack Herer.