Cannabis products have a very distinct “taste.” It’s kind of earthy—you can almost feel the green on your tongue. The same is true with CBD oil. Not everyone likes that organic flavor, but it would be a shame to throw the whole thing out and not get the full benefits of the CBD. So, what should you do? You can’t get rid of it (unless you have a chemistry background), but you can mask it. There are two options here. You can mix something into the oil or put the oil into something else, like an edible. So, let’s get down to how to flavor your CBD oil and make it tastier.
The Flavor Maker : Terpenes
Everyone knows about the cannabis compounds THC and CBD.
Terpenes often get left out of the conversation, but they are just as important. First, they are responsible for the differences in taste, smell, and the colors of the plant. Ever notice how one bud can smell like lemon and another can smell sweet like fruit? That’s the terpenes at work.
For our purposes, we’re focusing on the flavoring aspect. If you don’t like how your CBD oil tastes, you’re going to have to change the terpene profile of your concoction. The best way to do that is to mix it with an essential oil. We’ll hop right into that in our next section.
Learn more about the compounds inside the cannabis plant in “CBD & CBG: How Do They Compare?“.
CBD Oils, Essential Oils, and Carrier (Base) Oils
Let’s start with carrier (sometimes called base) oils. This is the most important part of the infusion because it facilitates the digestion and absorption of the wanted compounds, namely CBD. These tend to be oils that are high in fat content (coconut oil, for instance) because CBD is fat-soluble, meaning it will bind to lipids and other fat molecules. And simply put, the more fat in your oil, the more CBD in your oil.
You’re most likely familiar with CBD oil, but if not, CBD is short for cannabidiol. It’s a chemical found in the cannabis plant, and it’s been found to have a myriad of therapeutic and medical benefits. Some of these in pain relief, anti-inflammatory, helps with anxiety and depression, and the list goes on and on. The oil is typically extracted from the flowers, leaves, stems, and stalk of the plant.
Essential oils are essentially made the same. In fact, CBD oil technically is an essential oil, but it deserves its own place. There are a variety of essential oils extracted from nearly every plant you can think of: lavender, roses, chamomille. If it grows, there’s probably an essential oil for it. They are used for many different reasons, either through ingestion or aromatherapy. We’ll go over some of the oils you can use for flavor and what the extra benefits are. First, let’s talk about how to add them to your CBD oil and make it taste better.
Check out “Main Differences Between CBD Oil & Hemp Oil You Should Know” to see an inside look at the differences between these two oils.
Adding Essential Oils to CBD Oil
Now, that’s out of the way, if you have your food-grade essential oil ready, then it’s pretty simple from here. All of the hard work has been done for us. You want to add the flavoring oil to the main CBD container.
Start with a few drops, shake, and then taste. Keep adding a few drops at a time and tasting it until it is at the level you like. Some essential oils and extracts work better, like vanilla and peppermint. Depending on the plant and the potency of the extract, more or less drops will be needed.
But that’s it: Mix, shake, and taste. Let’s go over some essential oils that can be used for flavor and some of the benefits they bring.
Essential Oils for Flavor and Their Benefits .
- Anis – An herbal essential oil used by the Romans, anis is a digestive aid when taken orally and can be used to freshen breath.
- Bergamot – Another essential oil used in ancient times, this citrus-derived oil aids in digestion, lowers cholesterol and helps in the treatment of fatty liver. It also has anti-bacterial properties.
- Ginger – A well-known spice, ginger as an essential oil can be a great flavor for CBD oil. It has anti-bacterial properties, is a digestion aid, and can be used as a laxative.
- Grapefruit – Another citrus essential oil, the grapefruit oil is great for stress and anxiety.
- Lemon – Lemon’s flavor is familiar and great for CBD oil. Lemon oil is a digestion aid and an antioxidant.
- Peppermint – Another famous flavor, peppermint aids in digestion and freshens breath.
- Spearmint – Not as strong as peppermint, but still a great choice. Spearmint helps improve memory and has antifungal properties. According to a study in Phytotherapy Journal, it also promotes optimal hormone levels in women.
- Vanilla – Though, it’s not an essential oil, vanilla extract can be used to flavor CBD oil.
The list of essential oils is ridiculously long, so it shouldn’t be hard to find one that is to your liking. As noted above, be ABSOLUTELY SURE you are using FOOD GRADE essential oils. Some essential oils are extremely powerful and can be harmful if used in the wrong way.
The Second Choice: Masking the Taste
If you don’t want to go through the trouble of finding the right essential oil and then making sure you get it mixed properly, you can take an alternate route. You can simply add your CBD oil to your morning coffee, mix it in a smoothie, or any number of any treats. This is most likely the easiest path to choose. Here’s a quick list of things you can either do or eat to help gulp your CBD oil.
- Brush your teeth first, then you will only taste the toothpaste.
- Breathe out through your nose because of a lot of the “taste” is actually from the smell.
- Take it with a mint.
- Take it with honey.
- Eat it with chocolate, pizza, pasta, bacon; literally everything you want.
- Choose a different method to use. If the taste is really that bad, you can always try topicals or vaping.
There we go. If you are having issues with the taste of your CBD oil, hopefully, this article has given you some options to fully enjoy the benefits CBD has to offer. Now, tell me what’s your favorite way to deal with the taste of CBD oil?
Let us know in the comments below if you’re already using either CBD oil or hemp oil in your everyday life, and for what. Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram or Facebook for more inspiration and knowledge from the world of medical marijuana and CBD.
