What Does CBD Taste Like?

How Does CBD Taste and What if You’re Not a Fan?

People often wonder, what does CBD taste like? It depends, really. Some companies add flavorings such as lemon or mint to their CBD oils or tinctures. At Saving Grace, we like to keep our CBD oils as pure and organic as possible. So, we don’t add flavoring. 

Earthy, grassy, tea-like, mildly bitter. These are some of the words often used to describe the taste of CBD.

These flavors may not be for everyone, but the benefits of CBD certainly are. 

A popular natural medicinal, CBD is known for its use as a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and sleep aid, among others. 

If you’re curious about using CBD but aren’t sure about the taste, or if you’re looking to bring something new to the table, read on to find out more about what CBD tastes like and how to find a flavor you can savor.

Does CBD Taste Like Weed?

A common question for first-time CBD users is whether or not CBD will taste like marijuana. The answer is no; CBD does not taste like weed. Here’s why: 

Marijuana and hemp plants are both subspecies of the cannabis plant, so they share plant anatomy and material compounds, but that’s where most of the similarities end. 

Weed contains high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical compound in marijuana responsible for inducing psychoactive effects, whereas CBD does not. 

Marijuana is also most often ingested through inhalation, so its flavor usually comes through its smell and the taste of smoke. 

When it’s not smoked, any taste is masked by the marijuana being mixed in with edibles or the occasional sprays, tinctures, or topicals.

Typically, however, most marijuana users prefer to smoke weed through various inhalation methods. 

What’s more, weed is seldom applied directly into your mouth or under your tongue. 

On the other hand, CBD is often consumed orally, and applying it directly onto or under the tongue is a popular method of consumption. 

This is called sublingual ingestion, and it is the most effective way to take CBD because its onset is immediate and intense. 

That being said, sublingual ingestion still requires a mouthful of CBD. 

Because of this, it’s not uncommon for regular CBD users to explore different consumption options, and it is possible to find CBD products that provide benefits without bitterness. 

The Taste of CBD Depends on the Type of CBD Extract

There are three standard CBD extracts, and the taste of cannabidiol can change depending on which one you use. 

Full-spectrum CBD extract contains multiple cannabinoids and terpenes found in the cannabis plant, including low levels of THC. 

Terpenes are aromatic compounds inside plants that produce their scent. They are what enable us to smell flowers, herbs, and leaves. 

Our sense of smell can often elevate, enhance, or change the way flavors taste, and CBD is no exception. 

Cannabinoid compounds and terpenes are also found in broad-spectrum CBD. This extract, however, contains no THC at all. 

CBD is made from the hemp plant, and because both full-spectrum and broad-spectrum extracts carry terpenes and other cannabinoid compounds, they are often described as tasting like dirt and being slightly bitter.  

CBD isolate does not contain terpenes or other compounds and solely contains CBD. Because of this, CBD isolate has almost no taste at all and will have a reasonably low impact on flavor. 

The Effect on CBD Taste That Carrier Oils Bring to the Bottle

Carrier oils are combined with extracted CBD and used to make edible and ingestible CBD products. 

When CBD and the carrier oil mix, so do their flavors. There are various carrier oil options, and each brings its own flavor to the table. 

Coconut or MCT oil, two of the most commonly used carrier oils, is bland and almost tasteless. This carrier oil offers a mild and neutral foundation for CBD, allowing its flavor to be a bit more discernible. At Saving Grace CBD we use organic MCT oil for our carriers. 

Hemp oil is another popular base oil that tastes somewhat nutty. Less subtle than coconut oil, the taste of hemp oil carriers will be more apparent in your CBD and are a good option for those who like a more savory, biting, or earthy flavor.    

Olive oil can taste herbal, fruity, or like vegetables, depending on the kind and concentration. The higher the quality of the olive oil, the more flavorful it will be. Olive oils can be some of the most noticeable carrier oils in CBD but offer more variety. 

How Can I Make CBD Taste Better?

Some people don’t like the taste of CBD- but that doesn’t mean they can’t use it. 

For those users that don’t enjoy the flavor of CBD, there are a few options to help mask it. 

One option is to consider the differences in extracts above and switch to see if full-spectrum, broad-spectrum is more to taste. 

If You Can’t Get Past The Taste of CBD, Another Option is Edibles or Capsules  

CBD capsules are taken orally as a pill and are ingested through your digestive system. 

Taking capsules allows the CBD to bypass your taste buds and head straight into your stomach.

CBD edibles are digested in a similar fashion, dispersing throughout your system via the digestive tract. They will, however, require a taste test. 

Edible CBD doesn’t always have to be bought, either. The taste of CBD can also be disguised by mixing oils and tinctures into drinks or food at home. 

Common homemade concoctions involve mixing a few drops of CBD into coffee or tea.  

Though edible CBD makes for yummy options, it’s not without downsides, namely longer onsets and less intense effects. 

Consuming CBD digestively is a much longer process, and it can take up to two hours to feel the effects. 

Because the process of digestion is lengthier, by the time the CBD effects can be felt, its compounds will have been further broken down, and the effects will not be as intense. 

For users looking for faster or more immediate relief, consuming CBD through digestive ingestion may not be optimal. However, edibles may be the way to go for those looking for a tastier, more proactive dosing of CBD.  

Does Vaping CBD Taste Better?

Suppose you can’t get past the natural flavor of CBD. In that case, the taste of CB can be avoided by refraining from using CBD sublingually or digestively and instead can be consumed through inhalation. 

The natural taste of CBD is much less apparent when inhaled or vaped, and the onset is just as fast. The only downside here is that inhaling CBD doesn’t work as effectively as sublingual ingestion, so you may need to adjust your dose. 

The Taste of CBD – It can be Aquired

Finally, the taste of CBD is something you might get used to. Much like the taste of black coffee or spinach, CBD can be something your taste buds learn to like. 

Sometimes an acquired taste, CBD may not be on your preferred palate. But keep CBD’s flavor wheel in mind the next time you search for new products online. 

Trying something new may be the trick your taste buds need.