The temperature used during cannabis drying plays a crucial role in preserving terpenes and removing water. It has been widely accepted that lower drying temperatures can help preserve more terpenes at the same final moisture level as higher temperatures.
A fundamental question arises, why do lower temperatures slow down the loss of terpenes more than water during the drying process? One possible explanation is that terpenes coexist with cannabinoids in a blend that exists in three different states at varying temperatures. The blend exists in a liquid state at higher temperatures, allowing molecules to move quickly and volatile terpenes to escape rapidly. At lower temperatures, the blend exists in a leathery/rubbery state, where molecules’ lower mobility slows down terpenes’ escape. At even lower temperatures, the blend exists in a glass state, where everything is “frozen,” and the loss of terpenes is further reduced.
On the other hand, the state of water in cannabis flowers does not vary significantly within the same temperature range. Therefore, lower drying temperatures can help preserve terpenes without significantly impacting water removal from the flowers.
Understanding the impact of temperature on terpene preservation and water removal during cannabis drying is critical for cultivators to produce high-quality cannabis with maximum potency and flavor. Lower drying temperatures can be advantageous in preserving more terpenes due to the way terpenes coexist with cannabinoids in a blend that exists in different states at different temperatures.