As cannabis marketing experts, we’ve heard every joke about consuming marijuana and getting the munchies. But only recently has cannabis and food pairing become a thing.
That’s because there are now thousands of cannabis strains with so many different taste profiles. And that means the possibilities for pairings are infinite.
So how do you go about finding the perfect match for your favorite dish or beverage and its cannabis counterpart?
The Basics of Pairing Cannabis and Food Pairing
The whole affair starts with understanding cannabis terpenes. We’ve covered terpenes in previous blogs, but in a nutshell, they’re the naturally occurring compounds that make cannabis strains smell and taste as they do.
There are tons of terpenes. And they vary in flavor and concentration. For example, pinine (fittingly) has a pine flavor. The terpene myrcene, on the other hand, imparts a tropical fruit flavor. Terpenes are also in food and do the same job there giving things like fruits, veggies, and herbs their aromas and flavors.
Matching the aroma and flavor profiles of different kinds of food and cannabis strains can be a lot of fun. But knowing where to start can be overwhelming.
Don’t Sweat It
Finding cannabis strains with high terpene levels starts with asking your budtender for those that have a terpene content of between two and four percent. You can also ask for strains that have a particular profile you’re seeking.
For instance, a super lemony strain would pair well with a dinner of fish or seafood. Meanwhile, if you’ve made something chocolatey for dessert, you could seek out a strain that tastes like cherry, strawberry, or raspberry to accent it.
If you’re working with flower, you can also take a whiff. Stick your nose in the jar and revel in what you smell. Something that smells peppery is probably going to pair well with a dish that has pepper. Or if it has a citrus scent, maybe it would give that orange chicken an extra boost.
You may not even need to put your nose to work. A lot of strains are descriptively named so that you’ll know the aroma and flavor. Agent Orange or Blueberry Kush are perfect examples. And they may pair well with a nice tea.
Best Way to Consume
The ideal way to consume the strain you’ve selected is with cannabis flower that can it vaporizer compatible. Vaporization lets terpene flavors really shine without the danger of burning them off. Advanced vaporizers even allow you to tweak the temperature settings so you can customize which terpenes you inhale.
At the end of the day, there’s really no right or wrong way to pair food and cannabis. So much of it is subjective and will depend on your body chemistry, past experiences, and personal preferences. So get creative and have some fun with it.
Hungry for More Cannabis News and Articles?
We hope you’ll explore the many cannabis and food pairing options out there. It could change the way you see munchies from now on.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for more interesting articles on cannabis and the industry at large, keep checking back with our blog.