If you’ve just tried making your first edibles, you might be asking yourself: ‘Are edibles supposed to taste like weed?’.
The answer is they don’t have to, which is good news if you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy the flavour of cannabis. So, how do you mask the taste of weed in edibles? We’ll show you!
Cannabis cooking can enhance the flavour profiles of edibles by integrating a variety of bold tastes and ingredients. This allows for creativity in exploring different cuisines while effectively masking the natural flavour of cannabis in dishes.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at why some edibles can taste like cannabis and provide some advice on making delicious edibles without that strong, grassy taste.
Understanding Edibles’ Flavour Profile
Weed edibles can sometimes have a strong, earthy flavour that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. This distinct taste often comes from the natural terpenes and cannabinoids found in cannabis. Terpenes are compounds responsible for different plants’ unique aromas and flavours, including cannabis.
They can contribute to the bitterness in edibles, as plants use these bitter compounds to ward off predators. So, how do you make edibles taste better? By understanding these flavour components, you can take steps to improve the taste of your edibles.
For instance, knowing that certain terpenes are more bitter can help you choose ingredients that either mask or complement these flavours, resulting in a more enjoyable edible experience.
Why Edibles Taste Like Weed
The taste of weed in your edibles isn’t due to THC, the compound in cannabis that gets you high. Rather, it’s caused by other parts of the cannabis plant, such as the unique combination of terpenes and flavonoids and the preparation of the plant material that gives each cannabis strain its distinct flavour.
While some edibles use extracts that are much stronger than regular flower, many of the terpenes often remain in the concentrate. Too much concentrate is a common reason why you might taste weed in your edibles. While this creates a potent high, it also adds plenty of weed flavour.
Some cannabis extracts like live resin and terpene sauce are focused on preserving as much as the terpenes as possible- the goal of these extracts is to retain the smell and terpene profile, so it still smells like the live cannabis plant.
On the other hand, there are distillates and isolates that have everything stripped away (including all the waxes, fats, and terpenes) except for the desired compound, which is usually THC or CBD.
Isolates and distillate are flavourless and odourless, making them ideal for edibles when you don’t want the weed taste.
If your edible is made from a concentrate, butter, or oil that doesn’t altogether remove the other cannabis plant elements, then it will likely taste like weed when you consume it. This isn’t all bad, however, because you may actually get more medicinal benefits when consuming edibles that contain the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes in a phenomenon known as the Entourage Effect. For more information on the Entourage Effect, click here.
Lastly, if you tend to go for traditional sugary edibles, you should know that they don’t often hide the flavour of cannabis very well. A vanilla cupcake, for example, probably won’t mask the underlying taste of weed in your edible as the vanilla taste is a lot more subtle. A bar of creamy, rich chocolate would mask the taste much better, which is one reason why weed brownies are so popular.
Choosing the Right Cannabis Oil
Choosing the right cannabis oil is crucial for making delicious and effective edibles. With so many options available, deciding which one to use can be overwhelming. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a cannabis oil:
- Potency: Consider the desired potency of your edibles. If you’re looking for a strong effect, choose a high-potency oil. If you prefer a milder effect, opt for a lower-potency oil.
- Flavour: Think about the flavour profile you want to achieve. Some cannabis oils have a strong herbal flavour, while others are more neutral-tasting.
- Type of Cannabis: Decide whether you want to use a sativa, indica, or hybrid oil. Each type of cannabis has a unique effect and flavour profile.
- Extraction Method: Consider the extraction method used to produce the oil. Some methods, like CO2 extraction, result in a cleaner and more potent oil.
Some popular types of cannabis oil include:
- Coconut Oil: A popular choice for making edibles, coconut oil has a high smoke point and a mild flavour, making it versatile for various recipes.
- Olive Oil: A healthy and flavorful option, olive oil is perfect for making savoury edibles.
- Avocado Oil: A mild and buttery oil, avocado oil is excellent for making baked goods and desserts.
By carefully selecting the right cannabis oil and creating a potent oil infusion, you can significantly improve the taste and effectiveness of your homemade edibles.
Infusion Methods and Techniques
Infusion is the process of combining cannabis oil with a carrier oil or ingredient to create a potent and flavorful oil infusion. Here are some common infusion methods and techniques:
- Decarboxylation: This process involves heating the cannabis oil to activate the THC and other cannabinoids, making them more effective.
- Steeping: This method involves steeping the cannabis oil in a carrier oil or ingredient, such as coconut oil or butter, to infuse the flavours and potency.
- Mixing: This technique involves mixing the cannabis oil with other ingredients, such as sugar or flour, to create a uniform and potent edible.
Some popular infusion methods include:
- Using a double boiler to infuse cannabis oil into butter or oil.
- Steeping cannabis oil in coconut oil or olive oil to create a potent and flavorful oil infusion.
- Mixing cannabis oil with sugar or flour to create a uniform and potent edible.
By mastering these infusion techniques, you can create delicious and effective edibles.
Enhancing Infusions with Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a superstar in the world of cannabis cooking, and for good reason. Its high-fat content makes it an excellent carrier for cannabinoids, ensuring a potent infusion. Plus, its mild flavour means it won’t overpower your recipes, whether you’re making baked goods or savoury dishes. Coconut oil also boasts a high smoke point, which means it can withstand higher cooking temperatures without breaking down, making it perfect for a variety of culinary applications. It’s a healthier alternative to many other oils, adding a nutritional boost to your homemade edibles.
How to Reduce the Weed Taste
Are you tasting weed in your edibles? If so, it likely has to do with how the edibles were made, and your best option is to mask those flavours.
Experimenting with different flavour profiles in marijuana edibles, both sweet and savoury, can significantly improve the taste experience compared to traditional options like brownies and gummies.
Certain flavour profiles do an excellent job of masking the taste of weed in edibles. In this regard, bitter and savoury flavours should be your go-to options. Adding a savoury or bitter kick to your edible can hide the weed flavour quite well. Adding bitter dark chocolate to something sweet, for example, can be a big help.
Unfortunately, suppose you don’t have any foods complimenting your edibles. In that case, it can be hard to mask the flavour of weed—especially if the edible is made with a large amount of potent concentrate, oil, or butter.
Chocolate is a great way to mask the weed taste!
Balancing the Flavour
Balancing the flavour of your edibles is crucial for creating a delicious and enjoyable experience. Here are some tips for balancing the flavour:
- Start with a small amount of cannabis oil and adjust to taste.
- Use bold flavours, such as dark chocolate or melted chocolate, to mask the herbal flavour of the cannabis oil.
- Add a savoury or bitter kick to your edible to balance out the sweetness.
- Experiment with different flavour combinations to find the perfect balance.
Some popular flavour combinations include:
- Dark Chocolate and Coconut Oil: For a rich and decadent flavour that masks the herbal notes of cannabis oil.
- Mashed Potatoes and Cheese: For a savoury and comforting flavour that complements the herbal twist of cannabis oil.
- Cocoa Powder and Melted Chocolate: For a bold, chocolatey flavour that effectively hides the weed taste.
By experimenting with these flavour combinations, you can create edibles that taste good and provide a pleasant experience.
Choosing Ingredients for Better Edibles Taste
The key to making edibles that taste good lies in choosing the right ingredients. You want to pick flavours that either complement or mask the herbal notes of cannabis. Dark chocolate is a fantastic option because its rich, bitter profile can effectively hide the weed taste.
If you’re leaning towards savoury dishes, consider using ingredients like mashed potatoes or cheese biscuits, which blend well with the herbal flavour. Tomato basil soup is another great choice, as the robust flavours can easily overshadow any cannabis taste.
You can find the perfect combination that works for you by experimenting with different ingredients and flavour profiles.
Enhancing the Potency
Enhancing the potency of your edibles is crucial for creating a strong and effective experience, and a potent oil infusion can play a significant role in this. Here are some tips for enhancing the potency:
- Use a high-potency cannabis oil to start with.
- Add a small amount of cannabis oil to your edible and adjust to taste.
- Use a concentrate, such as distillate or THC isolate, to add an extra boost of potency.
- Experiment with different infusion methods and techniques to find the most potent combination.
Some popular potency-enhancing techniques include:
- Using a double boiler to infuse cannabis oil into butter or oil.
- Steeping cannabis oil in coconut oil or olive oil to create a potent and flavorful infusion.
- Mixing cannabis oil with sugar or flour to create a uniform and potent edible.
By following these tips, you can create potent and enjoyable edibles.
What’s the Best Type of Edible?
With so many edibles currently available on the market, it’s best to choose an option that masks the weed’s flavour. While you’ll still need to choose a producer that offers reliable quality, it’s a good idea to target specific types of edibles if you want to avoid too much weed flavour. All of the edibles on our website have been personally tested by our team to ensure they meet our standards. Most of the edibles on our menu contain cannabis distillate- a highly potent extract that’s up to 99% pure THC- that has little to no flavour or aroma, so you won’t notice any weed taste at all.
If you’re making your own edibles, consider going for savoury foods over sweets and candies. Even though they may not completely mask the taste, the savoury flavours can often complement the taste of weed much better than candies or gummies. For example, if you use cannabutter, a tincture, or cannabis oil to infuse mashed potatoes, a bit of weed flavour may even give the potatoes a pleasant, herbal twist.
Bitter foods also do an excellent job of masking the taste of weed, so edibles loaded with bitter chocolate are the perfect way to enjoy a non-savoury cannabis treat that doesn’t taste like weed.
How to Make Edibles That Don’t Taste Like Weed
If you want to make edibles that don’t taste like weed, you have two options: use a concentrate such as distillate or THC isolate, or use ingredients that either mask or complement the taste of cannabis.
If you enjoy a particular type of edible, utilizing a distillate or isolate is the best way to reduce the taste of weed as these concentrates have a high level of THC with minimal flavour.
It’s important to keep in mind that these concentrates are incredibly potent. This means you won’t need much to create a potent edible, and many people who don’t enjoy the taste of marijuana will employ this strategy to produce edibles without the taste of weed.
While so much of edible culture involves sweet foods—such as gummies, candies, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and more—many such foods do little to mask the taste of weed. Savoury foods are an excellent alternative if you want to avoid an unwelcoming cannabis flavour in your food. Look up recipes for mashed potatoes, cheese biscuits, tomato basil soup, and more!
As mentioned previously, some of the best edibles to mask the weed taste involve chocolate. Using bitter chocolate to hide the taste of weed is one of your best options if you don’t want a savoury treat. Consider overloading your edible with dark chocolate if you’re going to use bitterness to mask the taste of cannabis.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to make weed edibles taste better, it’s time to put those methods into practice. Whether it’s overloading chocolate to mask the taste of cannabis or incorporating a relatively small amount of concentrate into your edibles, find a way that works for you. If you’re new to edibles, experiment with small doses to avoid overwhelming yourself.
Alternatively, check out some of the excellent edibles on our website. We sell affordable brands of professionally-made edibles that don’t taste like weed.
