Everything You Want to Know About Strain-Specific Gummies in 2024
Are you looking to take your gummies routine to the next level? If you’ve never tried strain-specific gummies before, maybe it’s time. Today, we’re going to dive into this relatively niche product category, sharing everything that there is to know about them so that you can go ahead and try them out for yourself.
What are Strain-Specific Gummies and Aren’t All Hemp Gummies Available in Strains?
Most gummies on the hemp marketplace do not come in strain options. Traditionally, hemp gummies have been made with full spectrum hemp extract, broad spectrum hemp extract, or a cannabinoid distillate, with the latter containing no terpenes. Even full and broad spectrum hemp extracts, despite containing full terpene profiles, are typically not sold in specific strains.
Strain-specific gummies, as the name implies, can contain full spectrum hemp extract, but are sold in specific strains. Maybe you’re wondering why all gummies don’t come in specific strain options, whereas products like vapes, flower, and dabs do. And, honestly, we couldn’t tell you why, as clearly, the world of cannabis enthusiasts is more particular about strains than ever, and it would only make sense that being able to enjoy your favorite strain in gummy form would be super appealing to just about anyone who loves the effects of cannabis.
As you may have imagined, strain-specific gummies can come in any strain that exists in the cannabis world. There is no limitations on which sativa, indica, or hybrid strains can be infused into gummies, in extract form. So, if you already know which strains you like, you can very well enjoy them in the form of a tasty edible.
How Do They Differ from Conventional Hemp Gummies?
Like we said, strain-specific gummies may contain full spectrum hemp extract like many other gummies on the market, except they come in particular strains as opposed to offering a vague understanding that they contain terpenes as well as cannabinoids. Otherwise, they’re completely the same as other hemp gummies.
Like all gummies, they come in specific milligram strengths – that is, the number of milligrams of the active cannabinoid(s) in each piece – along with a variety of flavor options – although keep in mind that the flavor will be affected by the presence of terpenes. In fact, while full-spectrum gummies have always been a thing, many companies have used cannabinoid distillates without terpenes in their gummies, specifically so that they don’t have a “plant-like” terpene taste that interferes with the gummy’s fruity and sweet flavor profile.
Why are More People Craving Strain-Specific Gummies?
It’s easy to see why so many people are seeking out strain-specific gummies, now more than ever. Like we said before, cannabis enthusiasts are more particular about strains than ever, thanks to the explosion of legal weed and the resulting expansion of dispensaries in many states throughout the country, giving consumers choices that didn’t exist just years ago. Besides that, the hemp industry has been keeping up by offering vapes, flower, and dabs in rare and exciting strains that entice even the most seasoned users.
Presently, cannabis consumers are more educated than ever, and they even have a better understanding of how unique strains yield different experiences. For instance, certain indica strains are fantastic for cannabis users looking to get better sleep at night. And by enjoying these indica strains in a gummy form, you benefit from taking an edible, as edibles offer a much longer-lasting and mellowing type of ‘high’ due to how they’re processed by the body through ingestion.
How are Strain-Specific Gummies Made?
Now, let’s talk about the process of making strain-specific gummies. Of course, it all starts out with strain-specific hemp, which all hemp is. The buds are harvested at the right time for the cannabinoids and terpenes to be fully developed, and then they undergo an extraction process to create an oil that’s rich in these beneficial hemp compounds.
As a quick sidenote, you’ll notice that many companies now use live resin in their gummies and other hemp-based products. Live resin is a terpene-rich extract made from fresh, flash-frozen flower, whereas traditionally, dry-cured flower was used. The result of using live resin is a more potent concentration of terpenes, enhancing the flavor as well as the effects specific to the strain. So, don’t be surprised if most strain-specific gummies nowadays contain live resin, as it’s far preferable to traditional extract according to the majority of hemp users out there.
With that being said, live resin is easy to infuse into a gummy recipe, along with the cannabinoid distillate(s), i.e. delta 8 THC, delta 9 THC, THC-P, or whatever cannabinoids the company producing the gummies feels like using.
What Should You Look for in a Strain-Specific Gummy?
Alright, let’s say you want to purchase a strain-specific gummy so that you can start enjoying the unique benefits of your favorite strain in edibles form. Sounds like a good, straightforward plan. However, there are certain things to be on the lookout for, in order to ensure maximum satisfaction, such as the following:
- Lab Reports: Whenever buying any gummy product, always look at the third-party lab reports that verify that the product has undergone extensive testing for quality, safety, purity, potency, and legal compliance.
- Good Company Reputation: Make sure you’re buying from a company that has a good reputation, to avoid ending up with a low-quality formula that has consistently disappointed consumers.
- Type of Strain You Want: Naturally, if you’re going to buy a strain-specific gummy, you want to make sure you’re choosing the strain that matches your needs and preferences. For example, if you’re looking for a good strain to help enhance energy, focus, and creativity, you probably don’t want a heavy indica that’s going to make you want to take a nap, but rather an uplifting sativa that is popular to take at daytime.
- A Reasonable Milligram Strength: Keep in mind that you won’t be benefiting from a strain very much if you’re consuming too low of a dose. Look at the number of milligrams in a gummy to make sure you’re getting a high enough amount of cannabinoids and terpenes to actually feel the strain in action.
- Live Resin: While it’s definitely not required, live resin can enhance the effects and the flavor profile of the strain, to ensure you maximize each serving.
- The Ideal Cannabinoid(s): Don’t forget to pay attention to the cannabinoids, as that, of course, impacts how you will feel when taking the gummy. For example, if you’ve a low THC tolerance, a THCP gummy may be far too strong, since THCP is a very potent cannabinoid in hemp that’s 10x as intoxicating as delta 9 THC.
Are There Any Downsides/Drawbacks to Strain-Specific Gummies?
Good question. Well, nothing that we can think of, in reality, other than how the flavor will be affected by the presence of terpenes, which can result in something of a “plant-like” aftertaste. Just know that a lot of companies offer their strain-specific gummies in flavors that match or complement the natural taste of the strain – for instance, if a gummy comes in the strain Mimosa, infusing the gummy with peach flavor to complement the natural citrusy and fruity notes of Mimosa’s terpene profile.