Ok, here is a quick background for those not familiar with cannabis or its history:
Up until 1942, cannabis extract was regularly prescribed by doctors in the United States for rheumatism, labor pains, nausea, etc. I think it’s safe to say that cannabis demonization is a relatively recent phenomenon. Studying cannabis has led to further understanding of the chemicals that influence our behavior and how we experience them. After the THC was isolated in 1960, researchers followed its path into the body, leading them to discover the endocannabinoid system, which is a more complex biochemical system than they had anticipated.
The endocannabinoid system, first identified in the late 1980s, is a network of cell receptors found in specific brain regions and throughout the body. This system consists of CB1 receptors predominantly located in the nervous system, connective tissues, gonads, glands, and organs; and CB2 receptors, primarily found in the immune system and also present in the spleen, liver, heart, kidneys, bones, blood vessels, lymph cells, endocrine glands, and reproductive organs. These receptors can be stimulated and modulated by compounds called endocannabinoids produced naturally in the body, like anandamide (ananda is the Sanskrit word for bliss). These cell receptors respond to chemical triggers that influence everything from sleep and appetite to muscle reflexes, mood, and deep-thinking skills. marijuana edibles have a completely different delivery system. The THC in edibles is absorbed through the bloodstream rather than the respiratory system, which means it takes longer to work but has a much more potent effect.
Cannabinoids and terpenes can interact with the endocannabinoid system, triggering medicinal and psychoactive qualities. What you might not realize, however, is that this remarkable attribute of weed stems from the fact that the human body produces its own “endogenous” cannabinoids (chemicals otherwise unique to the cannabis plant). Marijuana consumption through edibles has a completely different delivery system. The THC is absorbed through the bloodstream rather than the respiratory system, which means the drug takes longer to work but has a much more potent effect. A cannabis terpene-dense flower is rich in antioxidants and coated in anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial compounds. Research has shown that cannabis effectively treats asthma, cancer, depression, epileptic disorders, pain, fibromyalgia, PTSD, and addiction. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as cannabis has shown tremendous promise as a potential treatment for many more ailments.
Here in California and many other places, cannabis consumption is legal and recreational, which means it is not exclusively permitted only to patients, and that is a growing industry where activities related to cannabis like growing your own is seen as a regular artisanal activity just like brewing your beer or producing your wine. As you probably already know, unlike water, potatoes, and many top-selling pharmaceutical drugs, it’s virtually impossible to overdose on cannabis fatally, so enjoy it and relax.
The cannabis strains consumed today are Indica and Sativa or a Hybrid of the two. They are cultivated to contain a high percentage of cannabinoids. Ruderalis (the third strain) has a low THC content and is difficult to harvest, so it is rarely used for consumption. Indica strains have a sedative, pain-relieving, and time-slowing effect. In contrast to Indica, Sativa creates an uplifting, giggly, appetite-inducing high. Sativa produces a light and fluffy bud that take some time to finish flowering than Indica. A famous saying goes: “Indica for the sheets, Sativa for the streets.”
Cannabis breeding has come a long way in the last few years. For example, a high-CBD, low-THC variety called Charlotte’s Web has garnered praise for the ability to reduce seizures without making patients feel the typical high. Joel Stanley founded this strain for a little girl called Charlotte (hence the name). Due to her Dravet syndrome, she used a wheelchair at age five, had up to 300 grand mal seizures a week, and had trouble speaking. The strain drastically reduced seizures in Charlotte, who used to have 300 tonic-clonic seizures every week. One year after starting regular CBD treatment, Charlotte experienced a seizure 2–3 times per month. It is a sad, factual, ironically beautiful, interesting, and educational story that I suggest you look up and read because it is mind-blowing.
The light cycle to which a cannabis plant is exposed during its lifetime has a marked effect on the plant’s growth and the expression of phytocannabinoids and terpenes (the most crucial part in cooking). The number of hours in the day to which cannabis is exposed to light will determine the type of growth the plant will experience: vegetative occurs with more than 16 hours of light per day, and flowering happens when the light is limited to 12 hours per day.
Once cannabis has been successfully grown and flowered, it’s ready for processing. The flower needs to be dried and trimmed for consumption or concentrate production. The freshly harvested plant can also be sent immediately to processing for creating live resin concentrates. After the cannabis has been processed in the desired manner, it’s ready to consume or cook.
Different strains have unique tastes
Although many edibles and cannabis cooking aim to eliminate the herb flavor in the product and see it as a vessel or just a way to consume cannabis, I like to treat it like any other herb in the kitchen, work with its flavor in a way that is pleasant and not overpowering. It can be done, and it’s delicious. The flavor profile does not work on every preparation like any other flavor. Still, in many recipes, it elevates your dish to the next level in terms of flavor, bringing a unique, familiar, but not common flavor profile. In my opinion, cannabis is just another herb that is an excellent addition to many drinks and dishes, especially savory ones. It makes a great pesto, compound butter for steak or pasta, a nice vinaigrette, etc. It is a very flavorful ingredient that can easily elevate different kinds of preparations and, with the proper infusion, enjoy a pleasant feeling while eating it and afterward.
Going back to breeding programs, they have created cannabis hybrids that taste dramatically different than one another. Growers give these hybrids names that often reflect specific properties such as taste, smell, color, or origin. The famous Blackberry Kush is an example. Sativa strains are often considered tastier than Indica because Indica strains were initially produced mainly for their effects and high yield rather than flavor.
Terpenes
Terpenes are a keyword in terms of flavor. A collection of flavor molecules known as terpenes are responsible for cannabis’s distinct scent and taste. Terpenes not only occur in cannabis but are thought to be the most widespread group of natural products on our planet. Trees, plants, and even insects secrete them into the air, spurring a burst of chemical reactions nearby plants and animals.
The most prevalent flavor terpenes in cannabis are pinene, myrcene, and limonene. As the names suggest, pinene is behind the wood and piney taste found in many cannabis strains, limonene heavy strains may have a strong fruity and sweet citrusy aroma, and a bud heavy in myrcene has the strong, pungent scent and hops-like flavor also found in India pale ales. Mangoes contain one of the most dominant terpenes in marijuana, myrcene. Mangoes’ myrcene enables THC to go through the blood-brain barrier more easily. This barrier lines the brain and keeps substances in the blood from getting to the brain. By allowing more THC in the brain, there is a good chance it can make you feel a little higher than usual, as many consumers claim.
Terpenes serve as a plant’s external immune system in the natural world, producing compounds that ward off harmful parasites, viruses, and bacteria while attracting pollinators. In humans, terpenes also act as powerful antioxidants, reducing cancer-causing free radicals, protecting cells from damage, and offering antifungal and antibacterial properties. In marihuana, terpenes work in conjunction with cannabinoids like THC, modifying the plant’s psychoactive and medicinal effects. Terpenes act as accents to cannabinoids, slightly coloring how they interact with your body.
Now that you have a basic background of the herb and its flavors let’s get cooking!
To get started with the extraction process, visit: https://foodies420.com/2022/02/23/cooking-with-cannabis
The author shall not be liable for any damage or injury alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by the information provided here. Neither is responsible for any allergic reaction or adverse reaction to any ingredient (including cannabis). No legal or medical advice is intended with this information, and under no circumstances should any cannabis product be given to children without professional medical guidance.