CBD-a, Cannabidiolic Acid – A New Twist on Taste

The taste of cannabis products is an important topic as the interest in and methods of consuming cannabis products grow.  Taste is a very subjective characteristic, and one person’s delight may disgust someone else.  Interestingly, with the emergence of the cannabis acids, CBD-a and CBG-a as potential superstars, comes a new twist on taste.

Let’s back the bus up a bit first though.  The neutral cannabinoids, CBD and CBG, for example, don’t have a particularly strong taste or flavour and tinctures made from pure isolates without other components added, are typically very palatable.  The strong flavours of some CBD tinctures are derived, not from the cannabinoids, but from the terpenes, flavonoids, and other compounds that are natural component of the cannabis plant.  Generally, the less selective the extraction process, the more other components are extracted and the stronger the taste or flavour.

However, the cannabis acid, CBD-a, CBG-a and THC-a, are different, and unlike their neutral analogues, they all have a strong taste or flavor.  This is not surprising because they are organic acids, and they are tart, like citric acid, vinegar, or vitamin C.  As a result, products containing CBD-a are going to have a strong taste irrespective of what else is incorporated into the product.

A tincture taken sublingually is still one of the most effective methods to take your CBD-a product and there are techniques for reducing the impact of the flavor experience. 

1. First of all, because it is an acid, CBD-a affects the back of our mouth, not the front; so when the tincture is placed under the tongue, the CBD-a flavor is hard to detect, and it is only on swallowing that the tartness is experienced. 
2. By holding the dose under the tongue for at least 30 seconds, absorption and dilution help reduce things further. 
3. Taking a glass of water afterwards is also recommended, not only to help with the taste, but also because it is important to maintain good hydration when taking cannabinoids in general.

If a CBD-a tincture is not the right product for you, then there are other options available.

1. Capsules will provide a good alternative, keeping in mind that an oral dose will likely need to be larger than a sublingual dose.
2. You can also mix your CBD-a tincture with edibles provided you don’t heat or cook it, because that will convert the CBD-a to CBD. 
3. You can also apply cannabis acid tinctures topically to areas of pain, inflammation, and discomfort.