Here’s part two of our primer on cannabis beverages, in which we talk about terpenes and the other ingredients that make drinkables, well, drinkable.
Truss Beverages
Date October 29, 2020
There’s a lot to love about the new wave of cannabis beverages. An alternative adult drink for hanging out and entertaining, these social beverages are made with ingredients that are delicious and flavourful.
On the premium end, the Truss family of cannabis beverages are made from high-quality ingredients and feature great, naturally sourced flavours. Taste is a prime objective here—the beverages are designed and formulated by mixologists and produced locally at a dedicated facility in Belville, Ont. Each beverage gives you a controlled dosage—which is key—resulting in a more consistent experience than with, say, traditional edibles.
Some cannabis beverages explore the use of terpenes. A newly added term to our lexicon thanks to the legalization of cannabis, terpenes refer to the aromatic oils that give cannabis and other plants, fruits and flowers their distinctive flavours, like citrus, berry, mint and pine. Many factors influence a plant’s development of terpenes, including climate, weather, age and maturity and terroir. If you’re consuming cannabis beverages, scent is as important a part of the experience as flavour, and the two things are inextricably linked. Just think about the scents and tastes you’re most drawn to. You gravitate to them based on genetic makeup or the fact that they might be tied to meaningful memories. Cannabis consumers, just like fragrance lovers, may be partial to certain terpenes. Some well- known terpenes include limonene (a citrus notes that can be found in fruit rinds and rosemary), myrcene (a peppery scent with an unexplored earthy spiciness), pinene (a hint of pine), linalool (a lavender scent), and more.
Truss specializes only in cannabis beverages, including sparkling tonics that elevate the taste of the cannabis plant and bring you previously uncharted flavour profiles. One of its brands is House of Terpenes, consisting of botanically sourced, terpene-forward tonics in two flavours; Limonene and Sparkling Tonic is bright and citrusy with notes of lemon, tangerine and thyme, along with West Coast hop flavours that add an elevated citrus flavour and a complex finish. Myrcene and Sparkling Tonic has notes of tarragon, clove and cinnamon, plus orange peel; pairing the tonic base with the bitterness of cannabis allows the myrcene flavour to shine through.
For more on the Truss portfolio of beverages, see here. Cannabis beverages can be a great alternative to what adult Canadians are used to sipping at dinner or at a get-together, in person or virtual. If you’re a newbie to their wonders and doses, one rule to keep in the back of your mind: start low and sip slow. Check in with yourself from time to time and adjust as you see fit.
Check out part one of the series here, in which we give an introduction on what cannabis beverages are. Up next in part three: Which cannabis beverage is right for you?