6 Foods You Never Knew Contained Terpenes

Curious about what fruits have terpenes in them or which terpenes are in your favorite spices? Discover 8 foods you never knew contained terps!

If you’re new to the world of terpenes, the first thing to know is that you’re probably already enjoying them! 

Sure, you can purchase terpene isolates, blends, or profiles and infuse them into a variety of products. However, before cutting-edge science made that possible, you likely experienced a wide variety of naturally occurring terpenes present in many plants — including a LOT of the food you eat!

From fruits and vegetables to herbs and spices, many of your favorite foods likely owe some of their flavors and aromas to terpenes. Want to explore more? Get ready to add these items to your grocery list, because you’re going to want to stock up!

1. Mangoes are Rich in Myrcene

It didn’t feel right NOT to start with Myrcene-rich Mangoes. 

For years, consumers have been claiming that eating mangoes while ingesting cannabis increases their high due to their high β-Myrcene content. Some theorize that this terpene influences the blood-brain barrier making it easier for cannabinoids to reach the brain. While there’s some debate about the efficacy of such practices, there’s no question that it makes for a delicious pre or post puff snack.

The flavor of this juicy stone-fruit is sweet, tropical, and lands somewhere between a peach and a pineapple with a delicate pine finish. On its own, Myrcene is complex with notes of earth, wood, and distinct notes of cloves, cardamom, fruit, and musk. 

Want to explore how this terpene isolate influences other food and beverage items? The hop varietal Strata® has LOTS of Myrcene and you’ll REALLY be able to pick up on tropical notes of mango in single-hopped beers!

2. Green Apples are High in Terpinolene and Alpha-Farnesene

One of the coolest things about apples is the huge variety of them! You can have apples that are sour, like Granny Smith Apples, or ones that are sweeter, like Honeycrisps. If you’re a fan of Granny Smith apples, Farnesene might just be your new favorite terpene isolate. 

Unfortunately, Farnesene corrodes quickly, as it exists only on the outermost layers of produce. Other sources of Farnesene aren’t well known, but its overall aroma is quite complex and manages to be floral, woody, citrus, and herbal all at once. Want to practice picking up on this unique terpene? Enjoy a beer with LOTS of Motueka™ hops and pay attention to its delicate floral background.

Due to the way apples have been cultivated over the years, newer varieties don’t have as many terpenes as their heirloom counterparts. CannaCon says, “The Royal Gala had 5-15 times less terpene content than heritage varieties such as King David, Belle Bonne or Adam’s Permain. Additionally the Royal Gala had a much less diverse profile, with a narrow variety of terpenes.”¹

Terpinolene, on the other hand, is more common throughout apple varieties. Woody overtones mesh with a subtle hint of citric sweetness for a complex aroma that’s hard to forget. It also occurs in tea tree, lilac, cumin, nutmeg, and allspice, and it plays an important role in some of the most beloved cannabis profiles like Super Lemon Haze.

3. Citrus Fruits Have Lots of Limonene

Almost all citrus fruits have large amounts of d-Limonene in them — the name should have been a big hint! 

This terpene isolate is prominently found in the rinds of citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, limes, and grapefruits. It should be fairly obvious that d-Limonene has a loud citrus flavor and a smell that’s also a bit sweet. It’s one of the most well-studied isolates and, as such, it’s used in a variety of industries for its aroma and flavor.

4. Lots of Spices Contain beta-Caryophyllene

Since terpenes are all about scent and flavor, it makes sense that a lot of herbs and spices are abundant in terpenes. For example, there are likely a LOT of items in your spice cabinet that are full of the terpene isolate beta-Caryophyllene. This spicy isolate can be found in a variety of spices, such as:

• Basil
• Rosemary
• Cinnamon
• Oregano
• Lavender
• Cloves
• Black Pepper
• Black Caraway

While those plants all have distinct flavors and aromas, on its own, β-Caryophyllene is spicy, woody, and subtly sweet. You’ll also find that it’s a dominant terpene in many hop profiles, from Cascade and Citra® to dank Simcoe®. While the former have juicy citrus notes, you’ll notice an earthy or woody quality to them thanks to the addition of beta-Caryophyllene. 

5. Broccoli Has High Levels of beta-Caryophyllene

That spicy terpene isolate isn’t just relegated to your spice cabinet. If you’re one of those people who pushes broccoli around your plate without actually eating it...knock it off! Broccoli is full of Vitamin K and C, folic acid, potassium, fiber, and, it turns out, beta-Caryophyllene.

Just like the previous list of spices, broccoli is a great addition to your terpene-heavy food list. Plus, if you’re looking for a heavy dose of beta-caryophyllene consider creating some sort of broccoli casserole seasoned with rosemary, oregano, and black pepper. 

It’s a beta-caryophyllene match made in...terpene heaven. Yup, that’s a thing now. 

6. Head to Your Nearest Brewery for a Heavy Hit of Terpenes

By now, it should be no surprise that beer has a LOT of terpenes. More specifically, it’s the hops in your beer that has all those delicious terps.

Mother nature went and decided that hops would be used to create the perfect after-work beverage, and as if beer needed to get any more awesome, you can enjoy a variety of terpenes from different types of beers.

Because the hops plant produces an essential oil, it produces terpenes as well. The general formula would lean to a hoppier beer containing a higher amount of terpenes, and this tends to work out… but there is a catch.

In particular, three specific terpenes are most commonly found in the essential oil of hops — myrcene, alpha-Caryophyllene, and Caryophyllene. Because of the water insolubility of these terpenes, you likely won’t find them in high quantities within bottled or canned beer. The exception to this is if terpenes are added during the dry hopping process, as is the case with a number of hoppy IPAs on the market.

Abstrax | Enjoy Terpenes in Food and Beverage Products!

Everyday, whether we’re aware of it or not, we use food and beverage to define and highlight portions of our daily routine. That vibrant breakfast smoothie amps us up for the day ahead. A lunch break sustains our momentum and keeps us going strong. The combo of herbs and spices in a home cooked meal brings us back to our roots. 

It’s easy to see how so many of our memorable moments happen within the context of the food and drink we take into our body — and terpenes are there, in abundance, quietly coloring our experiences and lending a helping hand.   

Curious about using terpenes in your beverages? We can help!

Contact us today and let's formulate the next trending drink that can become an integral part of your customer’s day.

1. Terpene profile of Apple. CannaCon. (2018, September 21). https://cannacon.org/the-terpene-profile-of-the-apple/