What Does CBD Oil Taste Like?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid compound derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant - also known as the hemp plant.

Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for the intoxicating feeling of being "high" that is associated with recreational cannabis use, CBD does not get you high, but it has become an incredibly popular food supplement in the last couple of years.

CBD oil can be made in a number of ways. A popular method is by using carbon dioxide at high pressure to extract the CBD out of the ground plant material. This extract is then refined and processed further, depending on the type of CBD product being produced, and ultimately added to a carrier oil to create CBD oil.

If you’re new to the world of CBD, however, you have one question on your mind - what does CBD oil taste like?

What Does CBD Oil Taste Like?

CBD oil can taste differently depending on the way in which it’s produced, but our full-spectrum CBD oils taste rich, earthy and can have quite a complex mixture of flavours. Some find them slightly spicy, while others note a subtle plant-like taste.

CBD oils made from broad-spectrum extracts can sometimes taste very similar, however, products made from a CBD isolate will be different, as they will have had all of the flavonoids, terpenes and other compounds refined and removed, all of which play an important role in the flavour.

What Affects The Taste Of CBD Oil?

Although the above applies to most products on the market, CBD oil taste can depend on many aspects, such as the additives, the hemp plant quality, and the extraction methods used.

Cannabis plants are great at absorbing the compounds found in the soil they’re grown in, so when they’re grown organically, as all of the plants we use are, they’re full of helpful nutrients when they’re ready to harvest.

However, plants grown by dishonest sellers could contain toxic contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides and solvents that end up in the finished CBD oil, and not only affect the flavour, but also pose a risk to those using it.

Assuming a CBD oil is made from a good quality extract, there are a few things that can have an impact on the flavour.

The Type Of Extract

Broadly speaking there are three main types of CBD oil: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and CBD isolates.

Full-spectrum is as close to the plant as possible, with the entire plant being refined to produce an extract that contains all of the compounds found in the plant, including very small trace amounts of THC.

Broad-spectrum is more similar to a full-spectrum extract but has been further processed and refined to have the THC, and some other compounds, removed from the extract.

CBD isolates, on the other hand, have been refined and processed so that only CBD remains. 

It’s effectively pure CBD, and while this may sound like a positive, products made from an isolate won’t benefit from the entourage effect.

Terpenes In The Plant

Terpenes are fragrant compounds found in all types of plants.

They’re responsible for keeping the plant safe from predators, and attracting insects and animals for pollination, and are behind the scents we associate with plants like lavender and rosemary.

While they don’t have an effect on the potency of CBD oil, they do play a role in its flavour profile, and it is terpenes that are responsible for some of the woody, earthy, hoppy notes associated with CBD.

The Carrier Oil

To create the finished CBD oil product, the refined raw extract is combined with a carrier oil to dilute it to the correct potency.

The carrier oil used can have a significant impact on the taste of a CBD oil, and some of the most common carrier oils for CBD oils are hemp seed oil, olive oil, avocado oil and MCT oil.

All of them come with their own unique flavour profiles, and so will result in a slightly different tasting oil.

We use Hemp seed oil as a carrier oil as it means we’re getting as much as we possibly can out of the hemp plant, and the flavours complement each other beautifully.

Flavourings Or Additives

Another way some brands alter the flavour of their CBD oils is by including flavours or additives in their finished products.

These will obviously affect the flavour in different ways, but we’ve seen a number of flavourings including everything from strawberry and honey to peppermint.

We like to keep our oils as close as possible to the way nature intended, so we don’t add anything to our oils to alter their flavour.

It can be a bit of an acquired taste, but we think it’s the best way to get the most out of the plant.

If you’re not keen on the flavour, we do have our Absorb range that can be added to any drink, and our CBD Patches and Complete+ Cream offer alternatives for those that don’t want to ingest anything.

The Bottom Line

CBD oil taste may vary between different brands and types of CBD, but generally speaking, the flavour should be a subtle, rich and earthy flavour - not dissimilar to black tea. 

While the flavour can take some getting used to, it’s certainly not an unpleasant taste, and we find that most of our customers get used to it very quickly - even learning to love it after they’ve been using our oils for an extended period of time!

If you’re really struggling with the flavour of CBD oil, take a look at our Absorb range, which can be added to any hot or cold drink, allowing you to get your CBD fix while drinking your morning cuppa!