The world is vast and full of flavors, from sweet to salty and tangy to rich. Whether we’re talking about flavorful dishes, satisfying treats or the comforts of a glass of your favorite vintage, our taste buds get to experience so much in our short lives. A full bouquet of fruity flavors awaits you at the grocery store; salt, sweet, sour and savory crunch at the salad bar; rich, creamy, sweet and exotic flavors flood your senses with dessert. There are so many flavors and even more combinations to explore that make sustenance more of an art form than a science.
As much as we enjoy food & drink, cannabis can offer equally rare, unique and tantalizing experiences when it comes to flavors, aromas and textures. With all the millions of varieties of cannabis known today you can hunt down weed that smells like lemons, tastes like musky pine and has the aroma of chocolate-diesel. If your marijuana is a little bland there are even ways to make your weed taste better such as rendering an edible creation, adding a dash of trichomes from another cultivar, or infusing your cannabis extracts with whatever tastes tickle your fancy.
In this article we think it’s high time that we delve into the incredibly diverse and multitudinous world of cannabis flavors. What does weed taste like? What do terpenes taste like? How about cannabinoids? Is it possible to learn how to make your weed taste better? Open your minds and expand your palettes, it’s time to taste the rainbow of flavors of cannabis.
The Many Flavors of Cannabis
Exploring the flavors of cannabis in its many forms is like visiting an ice cream shop on steroids. Cannabis plants produce a wide variety of tastes, smells, textures, colors and sensory experiences to rival anything else on the planet. Cannabis can taste like fruit, smell like spices, have hints of herbs or overwhelm with notes of fuel. Sweet, spicy, savory, tangy, sour are just a handful of some of the tastes of weed, and what’s more each crop and every strain can be unique or diverse from the last.
Many of the strain names for cannabis hint at some of the flavor & aroma profiles of the buds, which has led to a categorization of the kinds of flavors you can expect to find in the vast variety of buds. Weed that smells like lemons, mangoes or other fruit are often given tropical names whereas skunky, sharp tasting buds are called “diesel” or “fuel”. Before we learn what terpenes taste like or how to make your weed taste better, we think our taste buds should be familiar with the general categories of cannabis flavors that are currently known.
DIESEL
Strains that taste and smell like the sharp, musky or semi-sweet fumes of fuel might not sound appetizing at first but they’re among the favorites of many stoners. Diesel strains don’t always have a fuel type in their name because this group of flavors is also referred to as “Chemical”. Strains like Chemnesia, Sour Diesel, Death Star or Chiesel (that’s cheese-diesel, in case you’re wondering) offer overpowering citrus, musk and metallic flavors that cut through your senses and linger for minutes after every puff.
BERRIES
Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries and a number of other dark fruits make their presence known in strains like Strawberry Cough, Berry White, Blueberry and Zkittlez. Not only do strains like these taste and smell like a fresh bowl of fruit but they often look just as colorful as they taste. Cool blues, deep purples, luscious reds and a myriad of other visuals compliment the rich, full-bodied bouquet of flavors from fruity-berry strains which is why they’re frequently among peoples’ favorites year after year.
TROPICAL
On the other side of the fruity spectrum we have a more tropical pallet of cannabis flavors. Pineapples, mangoes, tangerines and the odd coconutty flavor can be found in strains like Maui Wowie, Lodi Dodi, Mango Kush and – of course – Pineapple Express. These strains bring more airy, lighter but sweet and satisfying flavors you’d expect from a margarita on a beach somewhere (which is definitely part of their allure). Many stoners find tropical mango, pineapple, orange or guava tasting strains to be the most energizing or refreshing on top of those bold fruity flavors.
CHEESE
Cheese strains of cannabis can be an exquisite experience for your tastebuds. Nutty, bold, sharp and savory sensations are common with strains like Cheese, Blue Cheese, Royal Cheese and Lamb’s Bread. The aromas don’t always match the tastes that hit your tongue, but for some people this is okay because a lingering cheese funk can kind of spoil the ambience at a party. Some stoners find cheese-flavored strains to be a little heavy or too woody/nutty for their liking, however it still remains a favorite for many savory-flavor fans.
COOKIE/CAKE
You could just call this category of what weed tastes like “sweets” but with so many strains named after cookies and cakes we thought this made more sense. Hints of vanilla, honey, cinnamon, spice, herbs or chocolate are the real draw for these kinds of sweet dessert strains. Cherry Pie, Slymer Cookies, Jungle Cake or Wedding Cake are a few of some popular strains that make you feel high on sugar while enjoying the wholesome goodness of pastries, pies, cakes and cookies.
SOUR
As puckering as a lime, more bitter than swedish bitters and as sour as lemons are good ways to describe some of the more famous sour strains of cannabis. Sour Diesel, Tangie, Sour Bubba, Lemon Haze and Girl Scout Cookies are some of the sourest of sour strains along with some real heavy hitters like Sour OG or Chemdawg. Overpowering sensations of herbs or fruits like limes, oranges, grapefruits make these kinds of weed taste like lemon wedges. A lot of sour strains can seem musky or have chemical aftertones like diesel strains, but sour tasting cannabis typically offers a more complex flavor experience that focuses on bitter fruitiness.
SPICE
Jack Herer, Pennywise, Chem Fruit and Holy Grail are some examples of cannabis strains that provide a wealth of diverse herbal, floral or spice flavors and aromas that can keep your senses guessing each time you light one up. Cinnamon, cedar, chili and clove are very common spice-inspired flavors of these kinds of strains, while others can soothe or relax under tones of sage, lavender or rosemary. Spice strains are nice strains that usually pair well with chill environments, but they can also enliven the mind when you’re looking to find your second wind.
EARTHY
A lush peppermint, earthy bong hit of LA Kush Cake? Or a citrus hit that will trick you into thinking you’re walking through the woods in Fall after a toke from Rockstar? These are the kinds of earthy, woody, musky and mineral flavors and aromas that come from this category for cannabis tastes. Sometimes mimicking the tastes & smells of tobacco, fresh cut grass or decaying wood, earthy strains of cannabis are as comforting and relaxing as they are satisfying.
These flavor profiles pertain to cannabis flowers as they are found in nature, which is pretty incredible when you consider that this is one genus of plants that has hundreds – if not thousands – of flavor combinations. There are a lot of different kinds of cannabis products like edibles, concentrates and vape cartridges that have flavor additives to enhance or modify your taste experience. For this blog we’re going to be focusing on the natural flavors of cannabis flowers because it’s truly impressive just how terpenes can combine for diverse flavors & aromas. Speaking of terpenes…
To understand what weed tastes like you need to answer a particular question: what do terpenes taste like? There are over 400 terpenes identified (so far) in cannabis alone, but what is known about their individual significances is still under study. We won’t take up your entire morning/afternoon/evening by detailing the flavor profiles or aromatics of each terpene – unless you’ve got 400+ minutes of reading time today?!
To understand what do terpenes taste like let’s just cover the most widely explored ones to date. These terpenes can shed some light on why cannabis tastes and smells the way it does, but keep in mind that there is still a lot of research to be done to truly comprehend the inner workings of cannabinoids, terpenes and cannabis at large.
LINALOOL
The floral scents and herbal tastes of some cannabis can be linked to this terpene. Linalool is often associated with lavender, birch, rosewood and other calm-inducing aromas that help with moods, anxiety, restlessness and more.
LIMONENE
The ‘mood booster’ terpene Limonene is one of the best well-known anti-anxiety and antidepressants of the bunch. With aromas and flavors of mint, citrus fruits like limes, lemons (hence the name) Limonene is also what some consider a ‘gatekeeper’ terpene: it can assist your body in absorbing other terpenes & cannabinoids more efficiently.
MYRCENE
A real musky, earthen mix of strong tastes & smells makes Myrcene quite recognizable. This terpene is linked with THC-absorption that is associated with Indica-dominant strains. Notes of spices and herbs like thyme or hops can be undercut with hints of mangoes under the musky, piney flavors of Myrcene.
TERPINOLENE
Despite sounding like “trampoline”, Terpinolene doesn’t make you feel bouncy or energized – quite the opposite. Like many terpenes, Terpinolene is known for its sedative effects in addition to being investigated as having anti-tumor/anti-cancer properties. This terpene brings wildflower aromas and has powerful herbal flavors like sage and rosemary for an overall perfumey, floral experience.
EUCALYPTOL
Guess what kinds of aromas you can expect from a terpene called ‘Eucalyptol’? Strong sensations of eucalyptus combines enervating flavors and spicy undertones for a truly refreshing experience. Eucalyptol has an ayurvedic history to it but it also makes a good antibacterial and analgesic remedy.
HUMULENE
Humulene brings the “humus” to the table – not the chickpea dip, we’re talking about the earthy brush and detritus of the forest floor. This musky, woody, earthy smelling terpene can also have sharp mineral tastes to it, bordering on metallic flavors that some associate with Diesel cannabis strains. Humulene is known to both stimulate and suppress appetite depending on the person in addition to helping with swelling.
PINENE
Whenever you light up a bowl of buds that are high in Pinene you’ll feel like you’re walking in the trees on a starlit night. Pinene is one of the most common terpenes you’ll find throughout the cannabis world. Citrus, pine and sage characterize its recognizable aromas. This particular terpene isn’t just very abundant in the plants but it also stays with you – Pinene has been studied as having profound memory-boosting effects amongst other cognitive benefits.
CARYOPHYLLENE
This terpene is very comforting and wholesome with its notes of cedar, wood, and spices like cinnamon or pepper. Caryophyllene has got some bite to it, but it is known to help with sleep, inflammation and muscle spasms.
CAMPHENE
A very distinct smelling and tasting terpene like Camphene has less known about it but its flavors of ginger, oregano and cilantro make for a notable sensory experience. This predominantly herbal/spicy terpene has some antioxidant and antifungal properties that have made it popular as a natural remedy.
How to Make Your Weed Taste Better
Have you ever been in the unenviable position of pouring all your time, efforts and funds into a crop of buds, only to harvest, dry & cure them and find out they’re just no good?! Growing cannabis can be a lot like cooking in many ways: turning a paltry dish into a supper-time hit is sometimes as simple as adding a blend of spices or garnish. When it comes to jazzing up your ganja, however, there’s a lot more to it than using “grandma’s special blend of seasoning”. Like we demonstrated throughout this article, how cannabis tastes depends on a number of factors: the cannabis genetics, the type of cannabis product, its age, terpene & cannabinoid makeup, and the presence of any flavor/aroma enhancers.
To turn your skunk nugs into tropical buds of paradise can mean a lot of chemical alterations – i.e. flavor additives, additional processing, longer storage/curing, etc. Sometimes the investment you’d be required to make isn’t worth the final product. Sometimes skunk weed is just skunk weed meant for those people without taste buds or for gifting to your enemies in mock displays of a truce.
On the flip side, if you’ve got a very distinct cannabis cultivar that you think is good bordering on greatness, then a little cannabis salt, honey oil, added terpenes or unique blend of these kinds of things can take your weed flavors to the next level. We want to know how to make your weed taste better by asking you, the readers: how do you make your weed taste better? Do you know of any savvy tricks that can salvage this year’s bunk crop or to enhance some already decent tasting buds into something truly transcendent?
Share your experiences and ideas on all our social media channels for a chance to end up in one of our near-future blogs about growing tips & tricks. Whether you grow weed that smells like lemons, berries, diesel or cedar share your knowledge and help your fellow growers & stoners.
