Cooking with Terpenes: A Tutorial, with Recipes
When you tear a piece of basil or cut open a lemon, what you smell are terpenes, a wide and diverse group of organic compounds found in plants, fruits and vegetables that make them smell and taste the way they do.
Tyler Bowditch
They help plants attract insects for pollination and repel predators. Beyond their adaptive and evolutionary purposes, terpenes make your food smell and taste delicious, and some claim that they have a wide range of health benefits. Each terpene is associated with unique effects. Linalool, a terpene found in lavender, is widely used to reduce anxiety and promote stress relief. Limonene, a terpene found in citrus, is said to increase focus, boost metabolism and relieve heartburn.
Terpenes are also responsible for the taste and smell of cannabis. There are hundreds of strains of cannabis, each with a different makeup of dominant terpenes. More than 100 different types of terpenes have been found in the cannabis plant, which explains why the plant can sometimes smell skunky, floral and piney. Strains like Sour Tangie and Lemon Haze have notes of lemon and lime due to high concentrations of the terpene limonene. The diverse bouquet of terpenes found in cannabis is pretty cool, but perhaps the most interesting aspect is the way terpenes interact with cannabinoids, the chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant, most notably tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
A phenomenon known as “the entourage effect” suggests that terpenes and cannabinoids work together to produce a number of therapeutic effects. Terpenes work with CBD, THC and other cannabinoids to create a union of compounds that can achieve better results as a group than they would in isolation. The levels of THC and CBD and presence of certain terpenes influence what effects the strain will have on your mood and health. This might explain why people with certain medical conditions seem to benefit more from one strain over another with a similar THC level.
Currently, there isn’t enough research to confirm the entourage effect, mainly because of massive roadblocks in clinical trials due to the fact that cannabis has been illegal. We are just beginning to scratch the surface of the nuances associated with cannabis connoisseurship. This burgeoning research will allow us to determine the potential health benefits of cannabis terpenes and the prospective tastes and smells they offer the palate. I’ve created a few recipes that were inspired by the terpenes found in cannabis. Make note that these recipes don’t have any cannabis in them, so if you or someone you are cooking for is shy about getting high, rest assured these recipes are safe for everyone.
Lavender Chamomile Honey Tart
This tart is infused with a variety of terpenes that are said to help with stress relief. Linalool, a cannabis terpene also found in lavender, and bisabolol, a cannabis terpene found in chamomile, have anti-anxiety properties that can help you relax and sleep better. This tart is perfect for a weekend with afternoon tea or as an after-dinner sweet.
Cannabis strains that exhibit linalool-rich terpene profiles include Amnesia Haze, Lavender and LA Confidential.
INGREDIENTS
For the pastry:
1¼ cups all purpose flour, plus more for dusting
½ tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1½ tbsp lemon juice
4 to 5 tsp ice water
For the custard:
2 cups table cream
3 tbsp loose chamomile tea (or 2 tea bags)
1 tbsp dry lavender
2 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
4 cardamom pods
3 egg yolks
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ cup wildflower honey
1 cup mascarpone cheese
edible flowers (optional)
Melon Salad with Fennel, Lemon Verbena and Feta
This salad is an unlikely combination of melon and fennel and a magical mixture of fragrant herbs. Lemon verbena and thyme contain the terpene myrcene, which is one of the most abundant terpenes found in cannabis and is said to have pain-relieving properties. Limonene, another terpene found in cannabis that is also found in sumac and lemon, can elevate your mood, reduce stress and create a state of euphoria. So get happy and eat some salad!
Cannabis strains that exhibit limonene-rich terpene profiles include Lemon Haze, Durban Poison and Jack Herer.
INGREDIENTS
½ small canary melon, seeded, peeled and cut into 1-inch-thick slices
1½ cups thinly sliced fennel
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp sumac
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
2 tbsp lemon verbena
lemon juice
salt and pepper
Charred Broccoli with Coriander and Cumin Seeds
Broccoli gets a hip makeover in this recipe. The green vegetable gets dressed with loads of nutty cumin and fragrant coriander and sits on a thick, creamy bed of yogurt. Humulene, a terpene described as nutty and earthy, is found in many strains of cannabis and is also present in coriander. It’s known to have anti-inflammatory, cancer-fighting and pain-relieving properties. Broccoli has the terpene beta-caryophyllene, which is said to have a wide range of disease-fighting properties. Dive into this dish and let the healing begin.
Cannabis strains that exhibit humulene-rich terpene profiles include Northern Lights, Durban Poison and Platinum OG.
INGREDIENTS
1 head broccoli, cut into florets
3 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp raw apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp coriander seeds
1 cup Greek yogurt
salt and pepper
Wow! I’m creating a blog about regulate ADHD symptoms with a diet focused on cannabinoids and terpenes. I just find your blog out, and I’m so inspired because cooking focus on terpenes is such a new topic around and even cannabis users are so skeptical about it. Please keep working!
wonderful !!!!!
This is interesting, fresh, inspiring, and beautiful! Thanks!
Nice job!
Great job! Super informative.
Enjoy your terpene-infused, lovingly prepared dinner! Terpenes will quickly become a pantry staple if you start incorporating them into your recipes. Terpenes have been studied for a variety of medical purposes and have a number of health benefits. Antiviral effects of terpenes have been explored. Certain terpene isolate have also been linked to the treatment of cancer and diabetes. Terpenes are known to give cannabis consumers a better experience without the usual side effects. In addition to these benefits, terpenes are known for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-bacterial, and anti-depressant properties.