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Kimberly Hooks, known by many as Madame Cannoli, is a cannabis expert and activist with a wealth of experience on the subject of developing a palate and understanding taste. She explores the world through taste and in this episode she shares some of her incredible insights and experiences with us. We also talk about her late husband Frenchy and the documentary film Frenchy Dreams of Hashish and how she is working to keep his legacy alive.
Get ready to be inspired and entertained by Madame Cannoli – let’s dive in!
- Ganjier Council Members
- Ganjier cannabis somelier program
- What is Terroir – wikipedia
- Developing the Palate – existing nomenclature as compared to what you know
- understanding the vocabulary for taste
- slow down and savour your food so you can notice flavours
- Factors that affect taste in foods:
- long travel time
- eating food out of season
- harvesting at peak of ripeness for a foods’ signature flavour
- Chocolate:
- grows in narrow area around hemisphere – best choco upper part of south america
- Venezuela, Northern Brazil, Peru, parts of Africa
- Some recommended chocolate brands:
- Tasting: what to look for in chocolate: with
- no lecithins
- no vanilla
- no other oils
- should merely contain cocao solids/butter, maybe a little sugar, 65%+ chocolate
- single source
- Sample as many different flavours as you can, keep a record of what you notice, like/don’t like
- Try blind sampling – choose 3 different types of chocolates – fun with a friend who has a great palate
- Madame Cannoli’s book recomendations
- Nose Dive: A Field Guide to the World’s Smells by Harold McGee
- Cork Dork – Bianca Bosker
- Secret of Scent: Adventures in Perfume and the Science of Smell by Luca Turin
- Trichome pics – know what you’re working with
- Traditional bhang can feature lots of black pepper – beta-caryophyllene (peppers dominant terpene) rounds out the anxiety caused by THC, reducing the impact of the THC
- When starting with cannabis – start low and go slow – the timeless advice from the sage herself
- Frenchy hash making videos
- Orange Turbo Group Grow for the 2023 #hashporn contest
- Apprentices -Laura Belle @cherryblossom_ belle, Lena Burns @cannamgardens
- Frenchy Dreams of Hashish documentary film
- Jiro Dreams of Sushi film
- Origins Council
- Where to find Frenchy and Madame Cannoli online:
- YouTube
- Facebook.com/groups/TheLostArt
- Instagram @FrenchyCannoli
- Books Frenchy wrote: History of Concentrates, Hash Making Manual, Book on Edibles edited by Madame Cannoli and for future release
- Try to be a little nicer to yourself and the world – Madame Cannoli
That’s it for this week friends. Please email me any questions, comments, pictures of your creations or anything else, I love hearing from listeners! Direct messages to [email protected] or the podcast hotline.
You can also support the show by using site resources, subscribing, sharing episodes, leaving a review or buying me a cookie! Whatever way you choose, I’m grateful that you’re listening.
Stay high,
Marge
Developing a Palate [00:02:06]
Madame Cannoli talks about how she developed her palette through cultural immersion in France and India, and the concept of terroir in food and cannabis.
Terroir and Cannabis [00:07:09]
Kimberly explains how the concept of terroir applies to various food products and how it can be used to protect the heritage of small outdoor cannabis farmers.
Developing a palate [00:08:54]
Kimberly Hooks talks about how developing a palette is like learning a language, and how exploring different flavors and nuances can expand one’s palette.
Terpenes and flavors [00:10:50]
Madame Cannoli discusses the importance of learning about terpenes and how they can be found in different plants, including cannabis. She also talks about the complexity of flavors and how they are influenced by the environment.
Seasonal food [00:14:50]
Madame Cannoli talks about the importance of seasonal food and how it can build anticipation and appreciation for certain foods. She also discusses the impact of air travel on the availability of food and how it may not be good for human health or savoring life.
Cannabis Concentrate Quality [00:16:42]
Discussion on the importance of allowing cannabis plants to mature fully before harvesting for the best quality concentrate.
Chocolate and Single Source Origin [00:18:37]
Explanation of the importance of single source origin in chocolate and the impact of large distributors on the industry.
Chocolate Flavor and Processing [00:21:09]
Discussion on how chocolate makers can put their signature on the flavor through processing and an experiment comparing chocolate bars made in different locations.
Orange Turbo Group Grow [00:23:05]
Explanation of the Orange Turbo group grow project and the upcoming hash porn contest.
Exploring Artisanal Chocolate [00:25:23]
Tips on how to explore artisanal chocolate by looking for packages that only contain cacao solids and cacao butter.
Chocolate Tasting Tips [00:25:41]
Kimberly Hooks shares tips on how to taste chocolate, including buying single-source chocolate and sampling different flavors.
Blind Chocolate Tasting Exercise [00:26:43]
Madame Cannoli describes a blind chocolate tasting exercise she does with friends to develop their palates and notice different flavors.
Improving Your Palate [00:31:03]
Madame Cannoli explains that while some people may have a deficiency of taste buds, most people can improve their vocabulary and develop their palate through practice and learning the language of flavor.
Parallel Areas of Interest [00:33:53]
Kimberly discusses other areas of interest that are similar to cannabis sommelier program, such as wine sommelier and perfume making.
The Importance of Developing Sense of Smell [00:35:23]
The hosts discuss the underdeveloped sense of smell and how it can be improved through simple exercises.
Travel Experience in India [00:39:02]
Kimberly shares her experience of hiking up a mountain in Pushkar, India, to witness the sunrise and moonset, and how it was one of the most incredible things she has ever seen.
Blessed to be a Hippie in the 1980s [00:42:48]
Kimberly talks about the confidence gained from being a hippie in the 1980s and the limitations of the previous generations.
Misinformation about Quality of Cannabis [00:45:27]
Kimberly discusses the misinformation about the quality of cannabis and the importance of protecting legacy farmers.
Corporate Weed and Greed [00:47:33]
Kimberly talks about the negative impact of corporate weed and greed on small growers and the destruction of the agricultural area in Northern California.
Investment Opportunities and Quality [00:49:17]
Kimberly and Frenchy’s approach to investment opportunities and the importance of knowing the basics of the plant.
Kimberly’s Surprising Fact [00:51:25]
Kimberly reveals that she no longer smokes and hasn’t for a long time, after a 10-day silent meditation retreat in India.
THC levels and anxiety [00:52:02]
Discussion on how high THC levels can cause anxiety and how breeders may be doing a disservice to some consumers.
Low THC levels in traditional cannabis [00:52:46]
Mention of a study done in Israel that found low THC levels in traditional cannabis and the importance of terpenes.
Terpenes as medicine [00:54:56]
Discussion on the therapeutic aspects of terpenes and their use in aromatherapy.
Pepper in edibles [00:57:35]
Mention of traditional Indian recipes for edibles that include pepper to reduce anxiety caused by THC.
Experience with edibles [00:58:35]
Personal anecdote about meeting Frenchy Cannoli at a full moon party in Nepal and consuming a high-THC edible. Reminder to start slow with edibles.
Frenchy Cannoli’s Impact on the Cannabis Community [01:00:54]
Madame Cannoli talks about Frenchy Cannoli’s impact on the cannabis community, his workshops, and how he introduced people to traditional cannabis concentrates.
How-to Videos and Articles on Making Hashish [01:02:09]
Frenchy Cannoli made a series of how-to videos on making hashish using ice water methodology, and wrote a six-part article series on hash making. The videos have been translated into six languages.
Frenchy Dreams of Hashish Documentary [01:07:56]
Kimberly Hooks funded a documentary called Frenchie Dreams of Hashish, which chronicles Frenchy Cannoli’s life and artistry. The film captures a moment in history during the transition from medical to adult use cannabis in California.
Frenchy Dreams of Hashish Live Stream [01:10:00]
Information about the live stream of the documentary “Frenchie Dreams of Hashish” and how to participate.
Importance of Sharing Knowledge [01:11:02]
Discussion about the importance of sharing knowledge and how it was a fundamental part of Frenchie’s legacy.
Frenchy’s Books [01:15:25]
Information about the three books that Frenchie wrote during the pandemic and Kimberly’s plans to finish and publish them.
Various topics [00:00 – 01:18:44]
The section covers various topics related to cannabis, including hash making, activism, the Cannabis Sommelier Program, and chocolate connoisseurship. The host also thanks the listeners for tuning in and encourages them to share the episode with others.
[…] Wanna learn more? Find more information on the film, the legendary Frenchy Cannoli and check out my recent episode with Madame Cannoli. […]