How to Pair Food and Drinks with Cannabis Terpenes

Pairing cannabis terpenes and food can make you feel very happy. With such a wide range of terpenes and cannabis strains, you can make more pairings today than you could before. But you might not know the right way to match your beverage or dish with some cannabis. Whether you are looking for something to go with wine and cheese or even dessert, it is easier than you think to pair cannabis and food.

The Basic Steps

No matter what food or drink you are matching cannabis with, the right pairing will begin with understanding the terpenes. These are compounds that give each strain its flavour and aroma. You can find the terpenes in every strain, and the concentration will determine how strong it is.

For example, Jillybean has a tropical flavour because of myrcene. The pine notes of Jack Herer come from pinene. You can also find terpenes in food. For example, everything from seafood to tomatoes has terpenes.

The key to a great pairing is matching the flavour profile of your cannabis to food that will accent it. For example, if you are having salmon for dinner, you might add a bit of lemon juice to it. So, you would want to look for terpenes that were lemony, such as the ones in Super Lemon Haze. That would help to accent the flavour in the dish.

On the other hand, if you were making something that already had a lot of lemon in it, such as lemon bars, you would most likely want to go with another kind of terpene. Blueberry might be a good complement that could balance out the lemon flavour.

It is up to you to decide whether you want a contrasting or comparable flavour. There is no wrong answer here. Your personal preference will help you make the best pairing. As long as you like it, then the choice is good. 

Everyone experiences the effects of cannabis slightly differently. That means that you will most likely experience the flavours differently, as well. Your experience, body chemistry, and even region can affect how you taste something. 

Getting Started with Pairings

When you are pairing terpenes with food, you will want to find strains of cannabis that have high levels of terpenes. The flavours and aromas are very pronounced, which makes it fairly easy to match them with your food. Look for strains that have around 2% to 4% terpenes, which is considered fairly high. 

Smell the flower and think about whether it is spicy, sweet, or citrusy. Then think about what flavours might go with what you are smelling. For example, if you smell Power Plant, which is peppery, you may want to make a lemon-pepper dish. On the other hand, Tangie smells citrusy, so you might think of a glass of iced tea. Going with your gut is usually a good idea.

Some strains have descriptive names that can help you determine what kind of terpene profile they have. For example, Agent Orange has a distinct orange aroma. Think of foods that orange may go well with.

When you are making a pairing, it is a good idea to use a vaporizer instead of a joint or blunt to consume your strain. That helps you get the most out of the terpenes. It helps the flavour to shine without burning the terpenes off. If you have a more advanced vaporizer, you can easily customize the number of terpenes you are inhaling.

Basic Pairings to Try

To get started, you might want to make a spinach strawberry salad to pair with Blue Dream. Having a salad with sliced berries will go well with a berry strain. If you like Hawaiian pizza, then you may enjoy pairing it with Pineapple Express. The pineapple chunks from the pizza will go well with the tropical strain and highlight the flavour.

If you find sweets can get to be a little much for you, then consider pairing Sour Diesel with chocolate chip cookies. The marijuana strain can help offset the sweet dessert with a more earthy flavour.

No matter what you decide to pair, the cannabinoids, such as the THC, can help you enjoy textures, colours, and flavours a bit more. To get the most out of this pairing, look for foods that have bright colours, rich flavours, or interesting textures. Remember that cannabis will likely increase your appetite, and when you are hungry, many things taste better.

Beverages and Cannabis Pairings

If you decide to pair your herb with alcoholic beverages, you will want to keep safety in mind. If you are having weed and alcohol at the same time, try to start small at first. The effects can make it a little more challenging to come up with the right pair, but it can also make it more fun.

Closing Thoughts

No matter how experienced you are, practice is the best way to determine what works and what doesn’t. Luckily, that is the fun part for many people. Paring is not an exact science, which means you should play around a bit to see if you like something. If you try a pairing and like it, you should write it down, so you can better keep track of things that work for you.

The best food and terpene pairings will take into account both the effects and the flavours of your strain. Think about hybrids, sativas, and indicas. Indica is often relaxing, while sativa can be uplifting. For example, if you are having alcohol, you may not want to pair an indica that makes your body feel heavy — unless you want to spend the afternoon napping. And pairing an energetic sativa strain with an expresso after dinner may not be the best choice if you want to get some sleep at night. 

However, when it comes to pairing terpenes with cannabis, it is all about what makes you feel good and allows you to have the best experience.