15 Ways to Make CBD Oil Taste Better
What if we asked you to describe the natural taste of CBD oil? You can sure bet there would be hundreds of ways to put it into words: raw, earthy, grassy, a bit nutty. People compare it to microgreens, cooking oil, wheatgrass juice, or even dark chocolate. Such a myriad of associations is not accidental. Our taste buds are different, so we uniquely perceive tastes and flavors. With hemp oil, it gets even trickier since manufacturers use various extraction methods to produce the product.
Where does the taste of CBD come from?
Did you know that the strong flavor of CBD oil comes down to one class of compounds found in many plants – terpenes ? They occur naturally and give a distinct aroma spectrum to cannabis, pine, lavender – you name it. A 2020 study from the Molecules chemistry journal shows that the hemp plant contains roughly 200 types of different terpenes. No wonder you might have a hard time verbalizing its complex flavor profile!
Now all this knowledge is excellent, but what to do if you’re still far from enjoying the taste of your CBD oil? No worries, we’ve found 15 ways to make your experience better:
1 Take it in capsules
If you want to go for an utterly flavorless option, the best way is to opt for CBD capsules . No need to come into “direct” palate contact with the oil at all. Just swallow it as a regular pill. It also takes away the need to count the drops and control the dosage since the capsules come in precisely set doses.
However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Unlike the sublingual consumption method, CBD capsules metabolize slower, and the absorption rate is somewhat lower. It happens because some of the substance is lost when going through your digestive system. It is a perfect choice for those who are only starting to get familiar with CBD and its effects.
If you still want to try this method and determine the dosage yourself, you can make your own capsules. There are empty pill capsules on sale in almost every pharmacy – fill them in with the necessary amount of your CBD oil and consume conveniently without the unpleasant taste.
2 Mix your CBD oil with something sweet
Organic honey is a great option many people prefer for its convenience. Simply add the CBD oil drops into a spoonful of honey and mix them with a toothpick or another spoon. Put the mix under your tongue and enjoy the sweet taste while absorbing CBD.
Another way is to place a small piece of your favorite chocolate under your tongue before adding the hemp oil drops. You will be surprised at how the flavor of CBD alters and enriches the taste of chocolate, making this combination an exciting experience for you and your taste buds. You can go even further and melt your chocolate a little to let it fully dissolve in your mouth together with CBD oil.
Remember: you can get as creative as you want here. Some people even take a sip of soda or sweet fruit juice right after putting CBD under the tongue. Then you just hold the drink in your mouth while the oil is absorbing. Although it can dilute the CBD a little, you will still feel the effect and enjoy the taste more.
3 Take CBD oil with yogurt
Not a sweet tooth? No problem, we got it covered. Natural yogurt is healthy, and it will do the job of masking the taste of your CBD oil. You can add the necessary amount of CBD oil to a spoonful of, say, Greek yogurt and take the combination sublingually. If it’s not your preferred method and you don’t want to hold it under your tongue, there’s an alternative, too. Just swallow the mix and enjoy the effects of oral consumption of CBD oil. Choosing yogurts with a higher percentage of fat is a good idea because it will help CBD absorb more efficiently.
4 Keep a snack nearby
We have already figured out that you can add your CBD oil to a snack, but what if the mix is not quite delicious either? Many people say it is actually the aftertaste of hemp oil that annoys them, not the immediate contact with the substance. It can stay in your mouth for a while, and drinking water doesn’t always help get rid of it. If that’s your case, then consider keeping a snack at hand to kill the aftertaste quickly. It could be anything from a chocolate bar to your fruit of choice.
Remember, with the sublingual method of CBD oil consumption; it should stay under your tongue for at least 60 seconds before you swallow it. That’s how much it takes for CBD to enter your bloodstream through the sublingual membrane. The longer, the better – it will maximize the absorption rate. But you don’t have to take it to the extreme and count the seconds before you can finally get it over with. Hold CBD oil under the tongue for as long as comfortable. Then you can take your food or drink.
5 Use mints
Simple enough! If eating or drinking every time you’ve taken your CBD oil seems excessive, why not mask the flavor with mints? Tic-Tacs, fruit, and vitamin drops – anything will do as long as you love the taste. You can grab a couple and eat them after consuming CBD oil sublingually, and the grassy aftertaste will disappear much faster.
Chewing gum is another option you can turn to. Chew for about 10-15 minutes after CBD oil consumption, and you won’t even notice how the traces of hemp taste in your mouth go away.
Want to save time and don’t mind mixing flavors? Some people put a few drops of CBD oil under their tongue together with a mint to mask the taste of hemp. No worries, this combination doesn’t interfere with the absorption rate of CBD. Fresh breath is a nice addition to the process.
6 Brush your teeth before taking CBD oil
Speaking of fresh breath. Sounds a bit counterintuitive, doesn’t it? We all know that some foods (oranges, anyone?) taste stronger and weirder right after your morning oral hygiene. However, brushing your teeth before taking CBD oil sublingually makes sense.
First, the minty taste of your toothpaste will mask the flavor of the oil if you find it unpleasant. More importantly, though, a toothbrush removes the thin film of bacteria that accumulate on the mucus lining in your mouth. This way, CBD absorbs faster and leaves less aftertaste on your tongue since it doesn’t stick to the film.
You may also try brushing afterward to get rid of the aftertaste, but it’s not necessary. There will barely be any.
7 Mix CBD oil into a drink
You may be surprised at how many drinks go well with CBD oil. For starters, you can add a couple of drops to your morning tea or coffee. Hot water is perfect since it makes it easier for CBD oil to dissolve without leaving a film on top of the drink. If you seek something more refreshing, mixing hemp oil with smoothies is a way to create some exciting taste and flavor combinations as well. Don’t want to bother mixing stuff? Opt for CBD shots , then. It is an excellent on-the-go choice to boost your day.
One more important note: check and double-check the dosage – both with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages! It may be tempting to add a generous amount of your favorite CBD oil or tincture to a drink, especially if it’s a big cup of coffee. A drop in the ocean, you might say. Still, always refer to the label first to see what the safe dose is.
8 Add CBD oil to your favorite meal
Those familiar with CBD and its effects claim that adding it to food is an art of its own. Sprinkle it over your fresh green salad or let a few drops melt into your crunchy morning toast. Better yet, introduce CBD oil to your recipes! Say you’re cooking something with olive oil. Why not replace part of it with your CBD oil to enjoy the effects of CBD with the taste of the meal? We know it’s easy to get carried away by the creative cooking process but remember not to overdo it. Follow the recommended dosage of CBD oil at all times.
By the way, research supports the idea of taking CBD oil with food. A 2019 study on the therapeutic effect of CBD shows that people who take their CBD oil with a meal absorb much more of the substance. That’s especially the case with fatty foods that seem to maximize the absorption of CBD into your bloodstream. So if you’re interested in discovering the full potency of your CBD oil and don’t mind waiting for the effects to manifest, adding it to your meal is the way to go. And it’s delicious, too!
9 Try CBD gummies
Who would say no to gummies, right? All the better if you can savor the treat together with the benefits of CBD oil. Essentially, CBD gummies are a type of CBD product for those on-the-go, and they are very easy to use. Pros? They’re yummy, obviously. You can find numerous kinds of CBD gummies with natural ingredients and added flavors of your choice.
Not to mention, you get to enjoy the fun shapes and the soft, squishy texture. Besides, the effect of hemp oil lasts longer, like with other edibles. Last but not least, CBD gummies are a discreet way of CBD consumption if you don’t want to reveal the content of your snack. There is no way to tell the difference between regular store-bought gummies and CBD-infused ones as they look the same.
As for the potential cons, gummies take longer to work since they first need to go through your digestive system, similar to when you take it in capsules. Again, part of CBD in the gummies gets dissolved by saliva and in the stomach. Also, watch out for the ingredients. If you’re not a big fan of sugar, for example, choose gummies made with other natural sweeteners. To learn more about CBD gummies, check out this material .
10 Seek flavored options…
There’s definitely no lack of flavored alternatives to your “naked” CBD oil out there. Flavored CBD tinctures are probably the most convenient format if you take the taste seriously. Vanilla, mint, chocolate, peach, strawberry – possibilities are endless. If you think you’ve come up with the most exotic flavor to add to CBD oil, be sure somebody has already made it happen. Just take a look ! You’ll never get bored with such variety.
The presence of other carrier oils doesn’t take away any of CBD potency, so you can experience the full range of its effects in flavored tinctures. Their bioavailability is also high, so you’re not losing anything by choosing this option. Quite the opposite, really – you get terrific flavors to go along with the potential benefits of CBD. A total win-win.
11 … or flavor CBD oil yourself
Want to feel a bit like an alchemist? Then you can flavor CBD oil yourself! Simply add organic cold-pressed oils or terpene isolates to your CBD drops and shake thoroughly. Then consume as you normally do.
You can experiment with proportions but start with small doses to see how the taste and flavor change. This way, you won’t ruin the whole bottle of your CBD oil if you don’t like the unique flavor combination you’ve crafted. There’s a wide variety of cold-pressed flavors on the market, and you will indeed find something appealing.
If you’re not up for the trial-and-error method, that’s okay. Some people simply add a bit of stevia to CBD oil to tone down the hemp flavor without eliminating it completely. You can find stevia drops at any organic food store and enjoy the natural sweetness without sugar. This option is also great because it allows you to take CBD sublingually and still appreciate the taste of CBD oil. That is, if you want to try and get used to it or finally discover its hidden appeal.
12 Hold your nose while CBD oil is absorbing
Did you know that your sense of smell plays a vital role in how you perceive the taste of the foods and liquids you consume? That’s because your nose recognizes much more types of molecules than your tongue, introducing you to a fuller flavor of what you eat or drink. There’s even a famous experiment some of you may have tried in school. If you hold your nose (and close your eyes, ideally), an apple and a raw onion would taste the same.
While we cannot vouch for this apple-onion hypothesis, it is actually true that blocking the airflow through the nose makes the taste of CBD oil much less pronounced. No need to do it for a long time. Just hold it while the CBD is absorbing sublingually. People who consume CBD regularly say this method takes away at least half of the hemp flavor profile of the oil.
13 The colder, the better
You probably know that the best way to store CBD oil is in a dark, cool place. This way, the qualities of CBD will be most prolonged. Exposure to heat and light accelerates CBD degradation, and we sure don’t want that to happen. Guess what? This recommendation may also extend onto the process of consumption! People who take CBD frequently report that the taste will be much more muted if you cool it down before consuming sublingually. Perhaps that’s because your tongue immediately reacts to the cold temperature and freshness rather than the flavor profile. In other words, your taste buds get distracted from the taste. A simple trick, but it sure does work. Give it a try.
14 Use CBD isolate
Full-spectrum CBD oil has a profound, deep hemp taste profile because it contains a lot of cannabis plant material, including multiple terpenes and essential oils. If this richness doesn’t appeal to you, CBD isolate is a way to go. It is a pure substance in the form of powder or crystals. Simply put, CBD isolate is just that, devoid of other components of the hemp plant. The process of extraction of CBD isolate takes away much of the initial color and flavor. So what you have in the end is a product that has a less prominent taste. Besides, CBD isolate has zero THC in it, so it’s the best fit for those who want to experience the benefits of CBD without any other additives.
Another advantage: you can try CBD isolate powder with MCT oil with different flavors. MCT oil is easy for the body to digest, which makes the absorption rate higher. Plus, you can add a mix of CBD isolate and MCT oil to food. The cherry on top – CBD isolate is hypoallergenic. If you’re concerned about being sensitive to THC or other hemp-based products, CBD isolate carries no risk of provoking an allergic reaction.
15 Choose high-quality CBD oil
With the popularity of CBD-infused products growing, you should watch out for low-quality brands and items. Among other things, poor manufacturing methods and practices can make CBD oil taste pretty bad. For instance, companies that prioritize cost-cutting may use petroleum solvents to extract the necessary compounds from the hemp plant. These solvents may leave a residue that stays in the end product – your CBD oil, that is. As a result, you get a lower concentration of CBD, and the taste profile suffers as well.
Proper extraction and filtration methods ensure a better flavor of your CBD oil. Besides, responsible companies choose high-quality hemp crops to ensure that plants contain no pesticides or other potentially harmful substances. That’s why the best CBD oil comes from the hemp plants from local licensed farmers in the United States. The lack of farming regulations in other countries makes it more challenging to determine the quality of the CBD oil they produce. Needless to say, high-quality CBD oil is always organic. You can learn more about how to recognize quality in CBD products here .
Conclusion
It’s safe to say that the taste of CBD oil is far from conventional, and now you know why. Hundreds of terpenes in the hemp plant comprise its complex, rich taste and flavor profile. And it’s totally fine to find it strange or even slightly off-putting, especially if you’re new to the product. It shouldn’t stop you from reaping all the benefits of CBD, though!
A little creativity goes a long way when it comes to improving the taste of CBD oil. You can get rid of the hemp flavor completely by taking CBD capsules or CBD gummies. If you don’t want to kill the taste completely but only mask it a little, choose from various combinations with food and drinks. Managing the aftertaste is easy, too – grab some mints, brush your teeth, or take a sip of something sweet or fizzy right after you’ve taken your CBD.
And we can’t stress this enough: choose only the best quality CBD oil. Whether it is CBD isolate, flavored CBD oil, or edibles – you don’t want to go for the mediocre here. Here at Nu-X®, we guarantee top quality and the best CBD experience for you.