SLĀB TĀLK w/ The Cannabis Sommelier: Indica - Sativa or Hybrid? The Terpenes of Fruit Slabs.
Finding out what Cannabinoids and terpenes are in your edibles can be more beneficial than knowing whether it is Indica, Sativa, or Hybrid. Education on terpenes, the essential oils found in plants; is becoming more widespread with people everyday learning how to manage their high simply by knowing the profile of the cannabis they choose to ingest. Terpenes are aromatic compounds that determine the smell of many plants, some of your favorite manufacturers use terpenes to create the scents that you love in your everyday products. (Mmmhmm! That Jo Malone candle we love so much!)
All plants synthesize several hundred terpenoid compounds with roles that include phytohormones, protein modification reagents, anti‐oxidants, and more. Some terpenes in plants attract pollinators while some actually repel predators.
Don’t confuse Terepenes with Terpenoids. Terpenes are the compounds that are in the live plant, once the plant is cut down and behind the process of drying and curing the Terpenes oxidize and become Terpenoids.
Do Terpenes Affect You?
Terpenes are bioactive. This means they affect the body. This varies based on the concentration of terpenes and how much the person consumes.
Many terpenes are used as the basis of essential oils and aromatherapy. Inhaling certain terpenes has been show to increase a person’s mood and decrease stress levels.
The Entourage “Effect” implies that terpenes can enhance the effects of THC in the body.
A study in Chemico-Biological Interactionsnotes that many terpenes have demonstrated beneficial effects on the body and could serve as alternative medicine or therapies.
A review in Frontiers in Neurology found that people with epilepsy who took a CBD-rich extract had improved symptoms and fewer side effects than those who took purified CBD. This suggests that the other components in cannabis, such as terpenes, may affect how the body uses CBD.
MYTH BUSTED - MYCERENE DOES NOT MAKE YOU HIGHER!
So knowing what terpenes you enjoy is a great key in knowing what edibles you will also enjoy without having to decipher whether the edible is an upper, downer, or somewhere in the middle.
Instead of relying on the terms Indica or Sativa to help you find your desired effect, make more informed choices about your edibles by focusing on your diet and what you know you like.
Let’s break it down easily! The only terpenes you will find in our fruit leathers are those from the naturally occurring terpenes and flavonoids in fruit. The THC we use has had the terpenes removed to be flavorless. In Fruit Slabs, there is are no actual “Sativa, Hybrid, or Indica”.
But we understand the culture isn’t quite ready to let go of the jargon so we made this list to make it easier.
Scientists have studied terpenes but there is not a significant amount of research available.
The Terpenes of Fruit Slabs
OG MANGO
Terpene Profile - Myrcene - Limonene
Myrcene has a pleasant sweet flavor and makes up about 65% of cannabis essential oil. Myrcene can be up to 40% of the weight of wild thyme leaves. β-Myrcene has sedative as well as motor relaxant effects.
Limonene is found in oranges, tangerines, lemons, and grapefruits, rosemary, juniper, peppermint. Repulsive to predators. Found in the rinds of many fruits and flowers. With the presence of other certain terpenes, Limonene can be an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-depressant, and anti- carcinogen. It can synergistically promote the absorption of other terpenes by quickly penetrating cell membranes.
GRAPE APE
Terpene Profile - (Grape) Geraniol, Nerol, - (Banana) Limonene, and Eugenol.
The isomer of nerol. As a flavoring, geraniol is often used to reproduce the sweet, deep summer fruit tastes of plum and watermelon. The list of the medicinal properties of geraniol is extensive, with studies demonstrating the terpene’s efficacy as an anthelmintic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer compound.
Nerol plays a significant role in determining the flavor and aroma profiles of rose and palmarosaoils, in which it can be found in large quantities. Thanks to its fragrant mixed rose and citrus aroma, the terpene is a common ingredient in the fragrances industry. With enticing tastes of fresh fruit and light floral touches, Nerol is often combined with other additives to create popular fruit flavors like raspberry and red apple. The terpene is used to treat sepsis along with bacterial infections and is also effective at soothing and healing topical conditions such as acne and minor contusions.
Grapes are the only fruit found to contain the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin, so by adding our Grape Slabs to your daily diet, you may enhance your natural sleep-wake cycle. This will help you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep for longer periods of time. Having a sleep mask helps tremendously as the pineal gland produces more Melatonin the less light it has during your sleep cycle. The darker it is in your room, the better you will sleep.
TROPICAL HAZE
Terpene Profile - Limonene - Caryophyllene Oxide
Limonene- With its sweet and citrusy odor, it’s one of the most common terpenes in nature. The medical properties of D-Limonene are well observed and include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antinociceptive, anticancer, antidiabetic, antihyperalgesic, and antiviral effects.
Caryophyllene Oxide has a sweet, woody aroma and is mainly found in lemon balm and geranium. It is the product of the oxidation of Caryophyllene. It is believed to be the only terpene in cannabis that has the ability to successfully bind with CB2 receptor. This unique skill makes it highly beneficial for medicinal uses,
MANGO MAUI WOWIE
Terpene Profile - Myrcene - Limonene
Myrcene has a pleasant sweet flavor and makes up about 65% of cannabis essential oil. Being one of the major terpenes in cannabis, Myrcene gives cannabis most of its earthy, musky, and herbal scent. In thyme, Myrcene can be up to 40% of the weight of wild thyme leaves. β-Myrcene has sedative as well as motor relaxant effects.
Medical research has shown that eugenol is powerful enough to eliminate fungal infections, prevent and treat parasites, and eradicate bacterial infections. It’s great for digestion and is given to patients suffering from candida, ulcers, bloating and gas, irritable bowel syndrome, and frequent nausea.
“We know that Fruit Slabs are only fruit, so why does it say Vegan?”
Because we are #notagummy. Gelatin is not vegan so the gummies you may purchase are not vegan. We will be discussing the interworkings of Gelatin in another post.
In conclusion….
Eating an edible is never as easy as a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book but if your only choices are up, down, and in the middle, it’s harder to make an educated decision. Knowing the terpene profiles of food can help you determine which flavor of Fruit Slabs you will want without having an expectation of what you are going to feel.
Always trust your nose and know that even edibles can give you clues as to what your experience with the edible will be like. The debate of Sativa-Indica-Hybrid will always be on the table but we can all understand that it’s not something to solely rely on.
At Fruit Slabs, we want you to be satisfied and that means not having a preconceived notion as to how our edibles will interact with you. As always, go low and go slow.
We have heard some hilarious stories of customers eating Fruit Slabs and laughing until they cried and crying until they laughed. Check out these great Youtube reviews from some of our favorites. Fruit Slabs are your new pandemic bestie.
Feel free to submit your Slabs Story to us on the Contact page and tag us on social media! Fruit Slabs pair well any time of day, we could say we are one of the best edibles of 2020 but our friends at Thrillist already did.
Shoutout to Yung Turpz.
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