From energy drinks to relaxing teas, terpenes can add natural flavor to beverages without added sugar and calories.  

Everyone has a go-to beverage. For some, it’s a sports drink before working out or a calming evening tea. Sometimes a nice sparkling water helps people feel fresh and bougie. No matter what though, you want to make sure YOUR beverages are the ones people reach for. That’s why more brands should consider using terpenes in their beverages.

Terpenes are jam-packed full of benefits and can add flavor to drinks without adding calories or sugar. If you’re on the run though, here’s the summary of what we’ll be covering today:

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Why More Brands Should Use Terpenes in Their Beverages

1. Benefits of using terpenes in beverages

2. What kinds of beverages can benefit from terpenes

3. Cannabis-infused beverages and terpenes

Benefits of Using Terpenes in Beverages

Terpenes are organic hydrocarbons produced by most plants and they’re responsible for many of the tastes and aromas we’re so familiar with. Love the mouth-watering scent of oranges? Thank the terpenes myrcene, limonene, and beta-pinene! 

So many of the flavors we’re familiar with are actually several terpenes working together. The ability to create terpene isolates, however, means manufacturers can experiment with one terpene OR create a unique terpene blend specifically for their beverages. 

Here are just a few other benefits of using terpenes in beverages...

• Our terpenes are 100% natural

At Abstrax we pride ourselves on the purity of our terpenes. We create solvent-less, GMO-free, filler-free, food-grade terpenes free of any heavy metals that can be used for any number of products. 

For beverages, in particular, this is a phenomenal advantage. This allows drink-designers to add completely natural flavors without the risk of chemical additives.

• Terpenes don’t add calories

For those making zero-calorie or low-calorie beverages, terpenes are a great option because they won’t add any additional calories or sugars. This allows manufacturers to create unique flavors without sacrificing the health-conscious attitude of their brand.

• Terpenes can increase desired effects

Energy drinks, obviously, want to help energize people. Other drinks are designed to help people focus, relax, or even sleep. Well, not only do terpenes add flavor, they can help boost whatever effect your drink is designed to create! 

Terpenes like alpha-pinene can help people feel more alert and possibly improve their memory, while terpenes like linalool help people relax because of its sedative properties. If you have a particular effect in mind then contact us and we can help you design the perfect terpene blend for your drinks!

   

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• Terpenes can infuse beverages with potential therapeutic benefits

For the many wellness brands on the market, this is an invaluable tool. We’re seeing more and more wellness drinks designed to help people reduce anxiety, balance digestive issues, stay alert without feeling jittery, or even to boost immunity. This is where terpenes can really shine.

First, terpenes are powerful antioxidants and many have powerful anti-inflammatory properties as well. One scientific review even says, “Due to their antioxidant behavior terpenes have been shown to provide relevant protection under oxidative stress conditions in different diseases including liver, renal, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes as well as in aging processes.”

Honestly, we could go on and on about the potential therapeutic benefits of terpenes (Seriously, we’ve already done it. Check it out here). But a short list of other possible benefits includes being an antimicrobial, gastroprotective, mood-enhancing, sedative, and potentially even anti-tumor.  Each terpene has its own unique properties, so contact us with any questions you might have.

What Beverages Can Benefit From Terpenes?

You might be thinking that YOUR beverages wouldn’t benefit from terpenes...but you’d be wrong. The following is just a short, broad list of beverage categories that can absolutely benefit from terpenes.

• Energy Drinks

This could include energy drinks designed to get people through the 3 p.m. lull, morning drinks to give people a pep in their step, or even sports drinks to help people power through workouts. 

Terpenes are a good addition to energy drinks because they can boost the energizing, mood-enhancing effects without adding calories, sugar, or extra caffeine. 

• Cocktails

Mixologists have long known how the subtle nuances of terpenes can impact a cocktail. But terpenes are making their way into the mainstream when it comes to wines and spirits. We even have several terpene cocktail recipes you could play with if you felt so inclined.

When it comes to the alcohol people drink, it’s all about that experience. It’s the perfect combination of how a drink smells, tastes, AND how it makes them feel. Terpenes give you the tool to manipulate all three of those items!

So whether you’re crafting beer or cocktail mixes, consider using terpenes to boost flavor!

• Wellness Drinks

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve probably noticed the wellness trend taking the world by storm. From mushroom coffee to beautifying water drops, these drinks are meant to help you FEEL better (and sometimes look better too).

Considering that these drinks are often designed to focus, relax, boost immunity, or even clear your skin...why WOULDN’T you use terpenes?! The potential therapeutic benefits of terpenes would add another layer of wellness while also providing flavor. 

• Sparkling Waters

Flavored sparkling water is having a moment, and terpenes are a simple way to add flavor without adding anything unnecessary. This means that your sparkling water can get a boost of flavor while staying crisp and effervescent. #win

For those wanting to get really creative though...

Our terpenes are 100% cannabis free, but you do have the option of mimicking the aroma and effects of particular cannabis strains in your sparkling water. With more people interested in canna-culture, this is a great way to introduce people to those flavors without having to use cannabis at all.

But, speaking of cannabis….

• Cannabis-Infused Drinks

Cannabis-infused drinks are the next big thing, and their versatility means there’s a product for everyone. Don’t want to get high? Stick to a CBD drink. Want to feel the psychoactive effects of your favorite strain without having to inhale them? Find a THC beverage!

HealthMJ, who released their Top 10 Best CBD Energy Drinks just last month, even said, “hemp-derived CBD-infused energy beverages are poised and positioned to have an explosive 2020 decade due to all of the benefits associated with the most-prized cannabinoid.” So how do you make sure your cannabis-infused beverage stands out?

Terpenes! Through the manufacturing process, a lot of cannabis products lose the natural flavor and aroma of whatever strain they’re working with. So if someone wants to make a cannabis beverage that tastes and smells like Blue Dream, they can simply add back all the terpenes that make up the particular terpene profile of that strain. This takes out all the guesswork and makes your life WAY easier.

Final Thoughts

Luckily for the beverage industry, people will always be thirsty. 

But to thrive in that market you need to stand out from your competitors, and there’s a lot of competition. More people are interested in drinks with clean ingredients, natural flavors, and drinks that offer specific health benefits. Plus, they have to taste good too. 

The lack of added sugar and calories in terpenes is just the icing on top of the cake. They’re capable of so much more. Terpenes not only give you flavor and potential health benefits, but they also give you control over the specific experience you can offer your customers. 

If you’re ready to take your beverages to the next level, contact us today. We can help you design the perfect blend of terpenes to make your drinks even more mouth-watering than they already are. Plus, don’t forget to give us a shoutout for a chance to be featured on our Instagram!