What Does CBD Oil Taste Like?

CBD oil, in its pure state, has an oily earthly bitter taste. However, most CBD oils are infused with flavourings to cover the unpleasant taste. The blog explains more about CBD oil, its taste, and what influences its taste.

CBD is the most popular cannabinoid in the medical field. Various health research and clinical trials have been performed to determine the therapeutic benefits the compound provides to its users. According to users’ reports, CBD can tackle discomforts like body pains and inflammations, anxiety, and stress. Various forms of CBD in the hemp market can help you harness these benefits. CBD oil is the most commonly used product. However, it is characterised by an earthy bitter taste which is not pleasant to consumers. Some people describe the taste as similar to the strong skunky odour in cannabis plants.

Understanding CBD Oil

CBD oil is a common cannabis supplement comprising carrier oilsand other flavourings. It is the main active ingredient making up to 70% of the entire product. This oil is mostly extracted from the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant,in which it is highly concentrated. Afterwards, the cannabinoid is diluted with organic carrier oils to create CBD oil. 

CBD is a healthy natural compound in the Cannabis Sativa plants with over 100 other cannabinoids. In 2018, the UK government legalised the public consumption of hemp products like CBD oil. However, they should contain less than 0.2% of THC level. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is another famous cannabinoid highly associated with sensations of highness, hallucination, and paranoia among marijuana smokers. According to Boggs et al. (2018), CBD oil has no psychoactive effects. Still, it is used to tackle body discomforts like pain, anxiety, stress, and mental problems.

The CBD extract is diluted with organic carrier oils like olive oil to create the oil. Afterwards, the oil is included in topicals, edibles, and tinctures.

The Taste of CBD Oil

Various things can influence the taste of CBD oil. However, its taste is a bitter and earthy in its unprocessed raw state. If you like natural grassy flavours,you will probably appreciate unflavoured CBD oil. However, most people find the taste unpleasant and prefer to include it in food recipes while cooking.It does not alter the food taste or texture, giving it the therapeutic effects of CBD deliciously. However, CBD is very sensitive to heat. Skopek et al. (2021) explained that high temperature degrades the composition of CBD oil, reducing its effectiveness. Therefore, it is recommended to drizzle the oil on a complete dish.

A light nutty flavour characterises some unflavoured CBD oils in the hemp market. It is because they are diluted using hemp seed oil extracted from hemp seed heart. Although the bitterness of CBD is still there, some consumers are comfortable placing this kind of CBD oil sublingually.

Flavoured CBD oils contain chemical or natural flavourings that mask the bitter taste. They are most recommended to newbies with no experience with hemp flavours.

Factors influencing the Taste of CBD Oil

CBD oils in the hemp market are different in taste and composition. For instance, if the oil tastes sweet or a bit chemical, it means there are artificial flavourings. Added flavourings, carrier oils, terpenes, and types of CBD can influence the different ranges of flavours.

Added Flavourings

Some CBD oils contain flavours to make them more palatable to the earthy bitter taste of hemp products. Thetwo types of flavourings in CBD oils are:

1. Natural flavourings, including mint and citrus, provide CBD oil with refreshed taste without interfering with the effectiveness of CBD and body health.
2. Artificial flavourings. They provide CBD oil with a sweet chemical flavour ideal formany. According to Lachenmeier et al. (2019), some chemicals are non-biodegradable and can trigger health complications like diarrhoea, dizziness, and allergies.

It is important to review the certificate of analysis (COA) to check the type and purity of the added flavouring in your CBD oil.

Carrier Oils

Carrier oils can greatly influence the taste and aroma of CBD oils. The commonly used carrier oils include:

1. Hemp oil: Provides CBD oil with a nutty sunflower flavour. However, it is not suited for users who prefer sweet or subtle CBD oils.
2. Coconut oil: Refined coconut oil has no flavour and serves as a neutral base when mixed with CBD. Therefore, you will only taste the earthy flavour of CBD.
3. MCT oil: It has no taste or smell and does not affect the natural flavour of CBD.This oil is mostly mixed with natural flavourings before being mixed with CBD since it does not conflict with the mint and citrus flavours.
4. Olive oil adds a grassy chocolate-like flavour to the earthy taste of CBD. It can be overwhelming in highly concentrated CBD tinctures.

Terpenes

Terpenes are aromatic compounds responsible for the scent present in cannabis or herb plants. They are responsible for the earthy flavours present in most CBD products. The types of terpenes present in CBD oils with different tastesinclude:

• Myrcene is the most common type and gives the latteraherbal and grassy taste.
• Pineneadds a pine flavour to your CBD oil.
• Caryophyllene adds a pepper taste to your CBD oil. It contains anti-inflammatory properties responsible for the relaxation and relief of feelings to cannabis users.
• Limonene provides the oil with natural citrus and mint flavour
• Terpinolene provide CBD oil with a fruity taste.

Upon processing CBD oils, not all of them contain the above terpenes. They are only present in broad and full-spectrum CBD oils. However, isolated CBD oils are mostly infused with flavourings for a delicious taste.

Type of CBD Oil

Companies use different extraction methods to derive CBD, resulting inthe following three types of CBD:

• Broad-spectrum CBD oil contains other plant compounds like terpenes, cannabinoids, and hemp oil, creating a hempy flavour. However, It does not contain THC.
• Full-spectrum CBD oil is often thick, syrupy, and brown since it contains all cannabinoids in the hemp, including THC,which has a bitter, oily taste.
• Isolated CBD oil has no taste or smell but uses the flavour of carrier oils to dilute it.

Conclusion

CBD oil is the most commonly purchased supplementation because it provides customers with various potencies, flavours, and dosages. Pure CBD oil has a bitter earthy flavour that can easily alter with added flavourings, terpenes, and carrier oils. However, be cautious while buying flavoured CBD oilssince some chemical flavours trigger allergies or other side effects.

References

Boggs, D. L., Nguyen, J. D., Morgenson, D., Taffe, M. A., & Ranganathan, M. (2018). Clinical and preclinical evidence for functional interactions of cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Neuropsychopharmacology, 43(1), 142-154.

Lachenmeier, D. W., Habel, S., Fischer, B., Herbi, F., Zerbe, Y., Bock, V., ... & Sproll, C. (2019). Are adverse effects of cannabidiol (CBD) products caused by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) contamination? F1000Research, 8.

Škopek, M., Heidler, J., Hnizdil, J., & Šulc, J. (2021). The effect of cannabidiol (CBD) on simple and complex reaction times.