5 Ways to Make CBD Oil Taste Better

According to most people, CBD oil doesn’t taste that great. It’s sometimes described as “nutty,” “earthy,” or, in moments of honesty, “kind of like dirt.” However, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your taste buds to take advantage of its medical benefits. There are lots of ways that you can get the best of both worlds.

If you’re wondering why CBD oil tastes the way it does, it’s because of its terpenes like myrcene, limonene, and linalool. These are aromatic compounds that are found in many other types of plants (for example, myrcene is present in high quantities in mangoes). Terpenes give plants their distinct flavors and fragrances, but also lend some unique medicinal qualities, too. To illustrate, one common cannabis terpene called beta-caryophyllene has shown antifungal properties in studies, leading scientists to believe it could help fight scalp fungus. Yet as great as terpenes can be for the body, those found in CBD oil aren’t ideal for the palate.

This is a solvable problem, which the cannabis industry has addressed by offering up an enormous assortment of infused candies, drinks, and more. But if CBD jelly beans aren’t for you, you’re not out of luck.

5 Tasty Ways to Use CBD Oil

Depending on how you use CBD, masking its taste can be as simple as placing a Tic Tac beneath your tongue before swallowing a CBD capsule or a few drops of oil. However, if you’re looking for something a bit more adventurous, here are some tips for making your next dose more enjoyable.

Don’t Get It Too Hot
Anyone who’s cooked with CBD oil knows that the first rule of CBD-infused cuisine is: don’t overheat it. Temperatures over 365 degrees Fahrenheit can cause its chemical composition to degrade, making its flavor even more bitter and unpleasant. It’s also best to avoid direct flames and other sources of heat, as this can have a similar effect.

Put (a Little Bit of) It In Your Smoothie
Adding a dash of CBD oil to your favorite smoothie recipe is a fast, easy way to integrate it into your daily routine. Make sure that the other flavors are strong, though — tart berries and orange juice work well to mask the taste of the CBD successfully. Choosing your ideal CBD dose will depend on factors like your age and metabolism, but a good general rule is to “start low and go slow” — most experts recommend a dose of 5 mg for beginners, which can gradually be increased as needed.

Add It to Chocolate or Other Fatty Foods
Chocolate is high in fat, which allows it to absorb and overwhelm (in a good way) the distinctive flavor of CBD. It also allows the CBD to enter your bloodstream more easily — like other cannabis compounds, it’s a lipophile, meaning it must be dissolved in fat to become bioavailable. In other words, when CBD is delivered via fatty foods like chocolate, you’ll get the most from its effects.

Mix Less Refined Oils With Stronger Flavors
There are several different kinds of CBD oil, and each have been put through varying levels of refinement and processing. More refinement generally means fewer terpenes, and as a result, the less intense the flavor. On the other hand, if your CBD oil hasn’t been intensely refined, you’ll need to work harder to camouflage its taste.

As a result, if you’re using a minimally refined full spectrum CBD oil, you should pair it with stronger-flavored foods. On the other hand, if you’re using a CBD isolate which is heavily refined, you can pair it with more subtle flavors and still mask its taste.

Drizzle It Over Anything From Eggs to Salad to Oatmeal
Some people don’t have the time or inclination to whip up a culinary masterpiece every time they want a dose of CBD. If this sounds like you, then you may be pleased to know that you can get CBD’s effects simply from sprinkling it over your favorite dish. The flavor may be a bit more noticeable this way, but adding other condiments or ingredients can keep it from overpowering your taste buds.