Avoid cannabis flavor pitfalls and make the best-tasting THC drinks the industry has ever tasted.

Between improved access, increased product variety, and changing consumer drinking habits, THC drinks are booming. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global cannabis beverage market “is projected to grow from USD 3.09 billion in 2024 to USD 117.05 billion by 2032” with North America dominating market share. 

Clearly, this category is performing well, and consumers are thirsty for more. Even consumers in states with less than favorable views of cannabis can purchase beverages infused with delta-9 THC derived from hemp. From high-strength THC drinks to low-dose CBD drinks, these beverages offer several practical benefits over other cannabis consumption methods and even over alcoholic beverages.

The issue? THC drinks don’t always taste great. A 2019 article in the Wall Street Journal even described them as having flavors of dish soap, urine, and “oily grass.” We don’t know about you, but that’s not particularly enticing to us.

Fortunately, advancements in cannabis flavor solutions are making it easier than ever for craft brewers to create THC drinks that meet consumer demands for great-tasting beverages.

What Do THC Drinks Do For You?

THC drinks let consumers ingest cannabis without smoking or needing to eat some of the more traditional edible options like gummies or cookies. For those who prefer not to smoke or who don’t wish to consume foods they view as “unhealthy,” THC drinks are a practical alternative. The dosing in each ready to drink beverage is simple, they’re easy to consume, etc. 

From here, it becomes about the experience. Whether it’s an infused seltzer, tea, coffee, or a THC soda, consumers generally want a specific sensation. For example, caffeinated beverages are already a go-to for those wanting a boost in energy, so an infused ready to drink coffee should provide an uplifting, energetic buzz.

THC drinks are also becoming a popular alternative for consumers wishing to reduce or eliminate their alcohol consumption. One writer explained that even after they chose to eliminate alcohol, they still found themselves wanting a “social lubricant” at parties. Cannabis-infused drinks were the solution.

Chala June

The Best THC Drinks That Taste as Good as They Make You Feel

Bon Appétit

This trend seems likely to continue its upward trajectory with studies showing U.S. daily cannabis consumption outpacing that of alcohol. The example above, however, was published recently. It’s taken several advancements in cannabis flavor solutions for THC drinks to taste as good as they do today. In the past, this wasn’t always the case.

Flavor Formulation Challenges for Cannabis Beverages

A lot of the complaints around early THC beverages had to do with the lack of water-soluble cannabis flavor solutions. Many cannabis extracts, which are usually oil-based, can impart earthy and/or bitter flavors. When oil-based ingredients are used in a beverage, they’ll naturally float to the surface. This makes that first sip less than desirable and can often taste “oily” and “grassy.” 

Fortunately, advancements in extracts, from THC in a water-soluble emulsion or water-soluble THC powder, have made it easier to infuse beverages with fewer undesirable flavors. Some don’t impart any flavor whatsoever, which is a big win for consumers who wish to consume cannabis without the actual taste of cannabis.

This has made it even easier for big players to enter the scene and create appealing products. For example, Pabst Labs of Pabst Blue Ribbon offers their “High Seltzers” in flavors like Daytime Guava, Midnight Berries, and Mango Blood Orange. They explain that “Each 12 oz has 10 mg of THC, or as we call it, the right amount to start having a good time… depending on your experience.”

In an interview with Food & Wine, Pabst Labs brand manager Mark Faicol explained that their loyal and passionate customers are open to embracing new products. “Though this is a limited initial launch, we’ve had a really enthusiastic and positive response from dispensaries and customers, and are looking forward to a wider rollout in the coming months.”

There are also those who wish to brew with the natural flavors of cannabis, and we don’t blame them. Cannabis naturally has complex flavors that range from herbal and spicy to tropical and fruity. They do, however, require no small amount of expertise to use in formulations. 

Some manufacturers use sweeteners to make these flavors more palatable, but this risks deterring customers who want low-calorie and sugar-free beverages. Like with any beverage formulation, selecting the right ingredients is crucial. In the end, a THC drink must taste great and feel great in order to be successful. That all starts with water-soluble flavor ingredients specifically designed for this beverage category.

Craft Cannabis Drinks With High-Intensity Fruit Flavors For Mass Appeal

THC drinks are in a unique position to appeal to more than typical cannabis consumers. From alcohol drinkers looking for a better-for-you buzz and “cali-sober” individuals avoiding alcohol altogether to the first-time canna-curious who may feel beverages are more approachable than other consumption methods.

With this in mind, designing beverages with familiar flavors, like fruit, can play an important role in creating THC drinks that appeal to a wide range of consumers. Plus, regardless of their actual calorie or sugar content, fruit-flavored drinks often appeal to health-conscious consumers. 

When they see a beverage with certain flavors, it can cue associations with “healthy” ingredients (citrus and Vitamin C, melons and hydration, etc.). None of this matters, however, if the beverage doesn’t actually taste good. This is where our water-soluble, TTB-approved Skyfarm Series enters the picture.

These beverage flavor solutions are perfect for a variety of infused beverages. Built from the ground up using isolated terpenes to provide the brightest fruit flavor expression possible, Skyfarm gives you the ultimate flavor consistency. There are no added sugar or calories, and you’ll be able to display a label with “natural flavors” on your ingredient list.

Plus, the terpenes used to craft Skyfarm will play into the entourage effect. This means that these beverages won’t just have psychoactive effects from THC, but they’ll also have sensorial effects. This allows manufacturers to “steer” the overall experience of their beverages similar to the differences experienced between whiskey, beer, and tequila.

Brew THC Drinks With Authentic True-to-Type Cannabis Flavors

For veteran cannabis consumers who enjoy the subtle flavor nuances of different cannabis cultivars, nothing but the real thing will do. Relying on your cannabis extract alone to impart this flavor isn’t really an option, though, since the extraction process often alters or destroys the natural aromatic compounds from the cannabis plant.

Fortunately, it’s simple for craft brewers to add water-soluble, TTB-approved BrewGas profiles to their beverages. These are true-to-type, botanically-derived cannabis profiles that can easily infuse drinks with all the complexities of cannabis flavor and aroma. They’re also flowable, they don’t stick to the tank, and they contain no THC or CBD. That means they won’t influence the dosing of your finished beverage. 

The best part? While they don’t actually contain cannabis, they still smell like you just opened a bag of the dankest cannabis flower. 

Want the dank tropical notes of Pineapple Express in your seltzer? How about the straight gas of King Louie XIII? With BrewGas profiles, you can easily add some of the gassiest, skunkiest cannabis flavors to your THC drinks with no added sugars, calories, and no workflow modifications.

Abstrax Hops | Create the Best-Tasting THC Drinks with Custom Flavors

At Abstrax Hops, we provide novel solutions for beverage manufacturers looking to streamline, innovate, and gain a competitive edge. With our knowledge, technology, and extensive resources, we’ve crafted our BrewGas Series to provide true-to-type “dank” cannabis flavors and our Skyfarm Series to make it easier than ever to add the most aromatic fruit flavor top notes to beverages.

We also recognize that creating a successful, consumer-friendly product sometimes means formulating custom flavors that have never been seen before. Want to complement the natural flavors of cannabis with high-intensity Passionfruit? Do your customers love your Super Lemon Haze THC soda, but want a Honeydew twist?