Cannabis Flavors: From Lemon to Grape, and How to Flavor Your Weed

Cannabis flavors come mainly from terpenes, with an assist from flavonoids, and today there are more than 40 recognized profiles, from lemon, grape and berry to coffee, cheese, pine and mint. Fruity, spicy, floral: those are just a few of the words people use to describe how weed tastes.

Every plant grown from a cannabis seed has its own mix of flavor, aroma and cannabinoids. The cannabis world offers a huge range of options, since different genetics can make for very different experiences. That means plenty of flavors and smells to try, so you can pick the one that suits you best.

Not that long ago, weed was said to come in just three flavors: fruity, earthy and floral. Today, thanks to crossbreeding, there are more than 40 flavors recognized by experts and consumers alike. You'll find fruity, coffee, cheese, woody, jasmine, mint, pistachio, lavender and plenty more.

Why does weed have so many flavors?

The huge variety of flavors and smells in cannabis comes from two kinds of organic compounds in the plant: flavonoids and terpenes. Flavonoids are pigment compounds being studied for their antioxidant properties (beta-carotene and lycopene often get mentioned here, though technically they're carotenoids, not flavonoids).

There's a massive palette of sweet flavors in weed, since sweet is one of the most sought-after profiles, and lots more have shown up in recent years thanks to the Cookies family, packed with pastry, dessert and even ice cream–flavored strains.

How can you make weed taste better?

There are several ways to flavor weed, either by adding natural essences and extracts or through specific growing techniques. Flavored weed can make for a more enjoyable, satisfying session if you're chasing a particular taste. Some of the most popular flavors are mint, strawberry, coffee and cheese. Some growers also say hydroponic and aeroponic setups can be used to shape a plant's flavor.

If you want better-tasting weed, a few tips go a long way. One: pick strains with flavors you like. Two: cure your weed properly so the flavors fully develop. And use the right drying and storage techniques to preserve those flavors. All in all, there are plenty of options if you're after unique flavors and aromas. Some of the best-known sweet strains on the market are:

• Critical +2

• Girl Scout Cookies

• Double Cookies

• Cereal Milk or Ice Cream Cake, among others.

Weed comes in all kinds of fruity flavors, especially citrus, thanks to the terpene limonene, but when limonene teams up with linalool, myrcene or caryophyllene you get blends that can taste like banana, pineapple, grape or mango, among many others.

Cannabis flavors you can find

Lemon:

Probably the most widespread fruity flavor in cannabis. You'll find it in old-school classics and modern hybrids like Limoncello or Amnesia Lemon, among others.

Grape:

The trendiest fruit of the past few years, since some of the most awarded hybrids of the last decade share this flavor. Grape Ape is one of the best-known grape strains in the US, right up there with the legendary Granddaddy Purple, but the most sought-after these days are no doubt the Purple Punch crosses, like Slurricane or the potent, tasty Wedding Crasher.

Tropical:

Tropical-flavored weed has always been considered exotic, since it's not as common as other fruity notes. Pineapple Larry OG is the move if you want a tropical twist in your sesh. 

Berries:

The famous Blue family of cannabis blew up worldwide thanks to its gorgeous colors and killer berry flavor. The standouts here are the great Blueberry, and what we consider its best offspring, Blue Dream.

Fruit salad:

Among strains that blend lots of fruity notes, Skunk stands out, but other seeds have become classics too, like Critical or Somango, which seem to dial up those taste and aroma qualities even more.

If this many flavors popped up despite all the hassles of cannabis prohibition, it's easy to imagine there'll be a flavor for every taste in the years ahead. Some seed banks are working on hundreds of genetic crosses to land all kinds of flavors, so we're pretty sure the best is yet to come.

How do you flavor a joint?

There are a few ways to flavor a joint. One of the most popular is flavored rolling papers, which come infused with flavors like strawberry, grape, mint and more. Another option is adding a small amount of natural flavor extracts or aromatic essences to the herb before you roll.

You can also go for strains that already come with the flavor built in, the result of crossing different strains to get specific tastes. Some of the most popular are mint, vanilla and mixed berry, among others.

Bottom line: you can flavor a joint with flavored papers, by adding extracts or aromatic essences, or by picking strains that already have the flavor you want. It's a fun way to experiment and explore the wide range of cannabis flavors out there.

How do you add flavor to cannabis buds?

To flavor cannabis buds, you can use essences or essential oils. There are all sorts of flavors, like honey, citrus, orange or earthy, among others. Just apply a small amount to the buds before you smoke them.

There are different methods and products on the market for making flavored weed. One option is liquid extracts or essential oils applied directly to the buds before use.

You can also use natural terpenes, the organic compounds responsible for cannabis flavors and smells. Mix a small amount of terpenes with the buds and let them sit for a few minutes. That way you can get weed that tastes like cheese, lemon, fruit, chocolate, strawberry and more. Pay attention to the quality of the products you use and the right amount, so you don't end up with off flavors or a worse experience.

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