Terpene extraction has long taken a back seat to fine-tuning phytocannabinoid levels and flower quality during the cultivation process. That’s because harvesting and collecting terpenes is a herculean task for many growers, taking lots of work for seemingly little yield, especially if the flower is destined for phytocannabinoid extraction.

However, as interest in terpenes grows, so do cultivators’ opportunities to invest in terpene extraction as another revenue stream. What are your options for maximizing cannabis terpene extraction opportunities in your next harvest?

How are terpenes extracted from cannabis?

There have been two main ways that cannabis cultivators have sought to extract terpenes from their crops: hydrodistillation or steam distillation.

Hydrodistillation

Hydrodistillation occurs when you boil the plant in a solvent like ethanol, butane, nitrogen, or CO2. One example of this method is when you take CO2, which is a gas, and heat it in a pressurized environment. The gas is turned into a liquid, which is then run through the plant. The resulting liquid that comes from the process is then dried, resulting in terpene isolation. This method can ensure you get the full or broad spectrum of all compounds found in the plant, including terpenes.

Steam distillation

Steam distillation takes place when you boil water in a vessel under a hanging basket of cannabis. As the water evaporates and steam escapes the vessel, it passes through the cannabis, capturing the lighter oils before it’s collected in a condensation flask. Once the liquid is cooled, the oils can more easily be extracted for effective terpene isolation.

Other methods

Cryo Cure machines employ other approaches to terpene isolation, yielding richer terpene profiles in a shorter timeframe.

• Live resin extraction: Through our patented process, our machines stabilize the terpene content of cannabis immediately after harvest. This happens early in the drying and curing process, capturing terpenes at a higher level before they can evaporate and degrade. It’s through this method that we capture the ultra-rare terpenes and monoterpenes that you don’t get from traditional dried and cured products — not to mention higher yields of common terpenes. The result is smokable flower that’s significantly higher in terpene concentration than other products.
• Recapturing terpenes: Our Cryo Cure machines have an ice bank that gathers terpenes typically lost during the drying and curing process. By capturing vapor and recondensing it into the ice bank, we collect and melt down the terpene-rich water removed from cannabis during our process. Once melted, we put the water into a centrifuge, removing 95 percent of the once-lost terpenes. It’s a great way of taking your crop and adding another revenue stream to it without depleting the quality of the flower.

Other terpene isolation methods that you may come across include:

• Solvent extraction: Solvents with low boiling points are useful for naturally isolating terpenes without damaging them. Though simple overall, this process yields relatively low-purity extracts.

• Supercritical CO2 extraction: Carbon dioxide is heated to 31 degrees Celsius under pressure, liquifying it. When pumped over cannabis flower, terpenes are extracted.

• Enfleurage: Flower is stored in fat for one to three days, resulting in the natural extraction of the flower’s terpenes. Enfleurage involving hot, melted fat into which flower is stirred is more effective than cold enfleurage.

• Pressing: Flower, hash, or kief is pressed between two rosin plates, resulting in a liquid resin rich in cannabinoids and terpenes. Although hot pressing may more effectively yield resin, the higher temperatures result in terpene degradation, so cold pressing may be preferable.

• Soxhlet extraction: The cannabis plant is submerged in a solvent that’s heated gently, yielding vapor rich in terpenes. When this vapor goes through a percolator and is then distilled, terpene isolation occurs.

Why are terpenes so difficult to extract?

Harvesting terpenes is simply not an easy feat. As short-chain hydrocarbons, terpenes are susceptible to a quick evaporation rate, particularly at warmer temperatures. Terpene loss begins the moment the plant is harvested, so preserving these precious compounds becomes a race against the clock. In fact, if you’ve ever walked through a grow room and immediately noticed the smell, you’re experiencing those terpenes evaporating off the plant.

Why is cannabis terpene extraction important?

Terpenes are the secret behind that telltale cannabis aroma and flavor. They hit both your sense of smell and your taste buds. Plus, research into individual terpenes has found they have a dizzying array of incredible properties, including pain-relieving, anti-anxiety, and stress-busting effects, all of which contribute to how cannabis makes you feel.

Terpenes play a major role in whether a cultivar (strain) will sedate or energize you — not whether the plant’s phenotype is classified as a sativa or an indica, a common cannabis myth. Additionally, terpenes are theorized to work together with phytocannabinoids like Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) to create what’s commonly referred to as the “entourage effect.” All in all, a very valuable compound!

Terpene harvesting pitfalls and challenges

Proper cannabis terpene extraction has historically been difficult and not worth the effort for growers. Below are the main reasons why — but newer drying and curing methods take the hassle out of terpene extraction and terpene preservation, making both processes cost-effective.

Prone to evaporation

As short-chain hydrocarbons, terpenes are fleeting. They evaporate very easily and from the moment cannabis is harvested. Even harder is the extraction of monoterpenes. These compounds boil off during traditional curing methods. One of these monoterpenes is the recently-discovered carene, which is believed to be found in all cannabis.

Known to have a sweet and citrusy smell, carene is regarded highly for its anti-inflammatory and bone-strengthening properties. Unfortunately, it boils off during the hang drying process, so the average consumer never gets to experience it for themselves. (Unless they’re trying Cryo Cure, which has tested positive for carene and several other monoterpenes!)

Highly fragile

Because terpenes are so incredibly fragile, the extraction process can be hard on them. Many terpenes easily break down altogether, making their extraction an even harder prospect. Some monoterpenes are so light that they will boil off no matter what you try to do in most traditional methods. Furthermore, solvent-based methods of terpene extraction run the risk of contamination. For example, ethanol destroys terpenes, leading to a very small yield.

Low yields

Even if your extraction methods are sound, the process often yields a small amount of terpenes since the terpene profile diminishes as time goes by — even from the moment you harvest your cannabis or hemp. As such, when using traditional methods, it’s incredibly difficult to extract terpenes and sell them on a large enough scale. Flash-freezing offers an efficient, cost-effective solution.

How flash-freezing cannabis improves terpene extraction

At below-freezing temperatures, evaporation comes to a halt, and with it, terpene loss stops too. Additionally, when cannabis is flash-frozen, its trichomes remain intact — and trichomes are especially rich in terpenes. Flash-freezing is the most efficient way to achieve robust terpene preservation and, later, isolation.

Common terpenes found in cannabis

Though numerous terpenes occur naturally in cannabis, some are more prevalent than others. The following five terpenes are high in concentration among the various strains of cannabis and are easily recognizable once you know what to look for.

• Myrcene: Considered possibly the most common cannabis terpene, myrcene is why cannabis often has an earthy, musky smell associated with it. Myrcene is known as a relaxing agent and has anti-inflammatory properties. It’s commonly found in cultivars with indica lineage, which may be why “indica strains” are associated with sedation and relaxation.
• Limonene: Cannabis flowers with a citrusy smell are often high in limonene, which makes sense since it’s also predominantly found in citrus fruits. This compound is commonly used in household and cosmetic products, but in cannabis it’s known to help reduce stress and improve mood. It’s also been found to improve the permeability of topical products.
• Pinene: You can find pinene in two variants: alpha pinene and beta pinene. Alpha pinene is more prevalent in cannabis than its cousin. Also commonly found in pine trees, rosemary, and parsley, the pinene terpenes have an anti-inflammatory effect, and may be a bronchodilator, or may open up the airways.
• Terpinolene: This terpene can sometimes smell a little citrusy and a little like a bouquet of flowers, while also tasting like mint or anise. Research into this terpene is ongoing, but it may be associated with relaxing effects.
• Beta-Caryophyllene: If you’ve ever experienced cannabis with a spicy smell and a hint of black pepper, then you’ve experienced this terpene in action. Commonly found in black pepper, cinnamon, and cloves, beta-caryophyllene is the only terpene we know of so far that binds to cannabinoid receptors like its phytocannabinoid and endocannabinoid counterparts. This terpene is an analgesic and can help stave off anxiety.

Cannabis terpene extraction with Cryo Cure: Don’t leave valuable compounds behind!

Here at Cryo Cure, we pride ourselves on the fact that our machines can consistently extract terpenes. Our process can support terpene-rich flower, terpene “recapture,” and the direct stripping of terpenes for extraction. Few methods are as efficient as our machines — which reduce the drying and curing process to less than a day — while adding an entirely new revenue source for your crop with their terpene extraction settings.

By preserving the fragile trichomes that house the plant’s phytocannabinoids and terpenes, our machines help you provide your customers with the freshest-tasting, freshest-smelling cannabis they’ve experienced. Contact Cryo Cure today to fully modernize your crop and all your operations!