What Does CBD Oil Taste Like?

If you've ever smelled somebody smoking CBD, then you know that CBD has a fairly distinctive smell. So what does CBD oil taste like if it smells like that?

People have described the taste of CBD oil as bitter, grassy, herbal, and earthy. But you might be surprised to learn how CBD oil tastes differently depending on a variety of factors.

Below, we'll go through those factors and even offer you some CBD products that mask the natural flavor of CBD. So you can enjoy CBD no matter what your palate prefers.

See Related: How Much CBD Chocolate Should I Eat?

Key Takeaways

• On its own, CBD tastes earthy, grassy, and sometimes bitter
• The taste of CBD oil changes depending on the type of CBD oil you're using
• Carrier oils and terpenes can alter the taste of CBD oil
• Many CBD products use different flavorings to mask the natural taste of CBD

The different tastes of CBD oil

Not all CBD products are made with the same type of CBD oil. In fact, the taste profile of each type of CBD oil boasts a unique taste and flavor profile that can't be ignored.

Full-spectrum CBD oil & Broad-spectrum CBD oil

Full-spectrum CBD oil and broad-spectrum CBD oil taste nearly identical. Both retain all additional cannabinoids found in the hemp plant.

But broad-spectrum gets rid of the trace amounts of THC while full spectrum retains it. As far as your taste buds go, you can expect to experience a host of other chemical compounds like terpenes and flavonoids that give CBD oil its signature herbal taste.

For those who don't know, terpenes are a class of aromatic compounds responsible for the unique scent of an herb or plant. In fact, all plants and herbs have terpenes, so it's not exclusive to CBD.

In fact, scientists have so far discovered over 20,000 different types of terpenes. And CBD is said to contain roughly 150 of them.

All of this is to say that different terpenes can change the taste completely of your CBD oil. Many find that full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oil can taste earthy, bitter, or even taste slightly citrusy due to the terpenes present.

Crude CBD oil

Already, the name "crude CBD oil" doesn't inspire much confidence. But crude CBD oil simply refers to CBD in oil form, having been freshly extracted from the cannabis or hemp plant and has not yet been processed.

This crude oil is typically dark green or brown in color and has a thick, syrupy consistency. Put all of this together and you get a pretty acquired taste out of the mix.

This unpleasant taste comes from the fact that different waxes and chlorophyll haven't been filtered out of the CBD oil yet. Many like to claim that unprocessed oil has certain advantages over processed oil, but those claims really have no backing behind them.

So you don't have to muscle through the crude taste of raw CBD oil. Instead, you can still receive the same compounds from full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD, and all without a gnarly taste you'll need to wash down.

CBD isolate

CBD isolate, on the other hand, is pure CBD in an isolated powder or crystal form. Every other chemical compound but CBD from the cannabis or hemp plant has been filtered out of this oil.

So you don't necessarily get those earthy flavors or even a grassy taste with pure CBD isolate. Most often, CBD isolate is easiest on the taste buds and can take on a minty or fruity taste depending on what natural or artificial flavors get added to it.

That being said, you don't get the entourage effect with CBD isolate. The entourage effect refers to the combination of all cannabinoids working together to boost their respective properties.

This is typically why folks reach for full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD over CBD isolate. But in terms of flavor, CBD isolate is definitely easier to control and manipulate with additional flavorings.

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Common CBD carrier oils

A carrier oil is the base of most CBD products (unless it's otherwise specified that the product is raw CBD oil). Carrier oils can alter or even mask the prominent taste of CBD as it literally carries the CBD oil into your bloodstream, allowing for maximum absorbency.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a fairly neutral carrier oil that allows the taste of full-spectrum CBD oil to take center stage. Some say coconut oil offers a subtle tropical taste, but for the most part, if you're taking CBD oil with coconut oil in it, you won't taste but a few drops of the carrier oil.

Many CBD manufacturers prefer coconut oil to other carrier oils because of its neutrality. This allows them to mask the bitter taste of CBD-rich extract with other artificial flavors.

Not to mention that coconut oil boasts plenty of antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Those looking for a robust CBD oil with these additional qualities can rest assured that coconut oil will be the best carrier oil for them.

Olive oil

CBD oil drops with an olive oil base similarly have a subtle flavor to them. But some users complain that it reminds them too much of cooking oil.

That said, olive oil on its own tends to have a slightly nutty or grassy flavor. So if you're looking for a carrier oil that will mask the terpenes found in the cannabis plant, you'd better hope there are other ingredients to enhance the CBD product too.

Even still, olive oil is said to contain a large number of antioxidants and even has strong anti-inflammatory properties to boot. So you're not necessarily choosing a bad option when you go with olive oil.

MCT oil

MCT oil is another popular carrier oil for CBD oils. Namely, because it has virtually no taste or smell.

Some prefer the natural CBD oil taste when consuming CBD oil. So MCT oil checks off all the boxes for those looking for a natural taste profile.

That being said, this oil is also popular among those who want a fruity flavor to take over the entire product. Because MCT is so neutral, it can easily take on any additional flavors with ease.

Hemp seed oil

Hemp seed oil is another common carrier oil among CBD oils. But some find that the additional hemp seed oil base only ups the hempy flavor of the cannabis plant found in CBD oil.

Still, other users say that hemp oil offers notes of walnuts and even sunflower seeds. And when it comes to potential health benefits, hemp extract contains significantly fewer saturated fats than other oils like olive oil.

Safflower oil

As for us at Clean Remedies, we mix our CBD oils with safflower oil. Extracted from the safflower plant, safflower oil has a fairly neutral aroma and tastes similar to that of canola oil.

We've found it the perfect carrier oil for those who don't like the hemp-like taste of CBD oils. Because it's malleable enough to take on additional natural flavors like strawberry, mint, and even chocolate.

Plus, safflower oil is a healthful source of fatty acids and may help your body process oil-soluble vitamins better than other carrier oils.

Masking the earthy taste of CBD oil

So, how do you find CBD oil that doesn't taste grassy? Take a look at the options we offer in our store below.

CBD gummies

When it comes to CBD gummies, we've got you covered. Our Delta 9 THC Gummies come in a natural blueberry flavor while our Delta 8 THC Gummies offer you a gentle strawberry flavor profile.

But if you're looking for zero THC in your gummies, you can always try our CBG & CBD Optimal Wellness Gummies in a natural cherry flavor. Or, maybe our Relax & Calm CBD Gummies in a flavor assortment of cherry, lemon, and grape are just what you're looking for.

As you can see, we don't shy away from offering you any assortment of flavors. Because we want you to enjoy your fruit gummies without any of the grassy aftertaste CBD can sometimes leave behind.

CBD tinctures

Not everybody loves the fruity flavors that accompany CBD gummies. So, to please every crowd, our CBD tinctures offer a different blend of flavors for you to enjoy.

Those looking for a purely natural flavor will love our Full Spectrum CBD Tincture as well as our Broad Spectrum CBD Oil Tincture. Both are made from Safflower Oil and Hemp Extract.

And just to level the playing field, we also offer these tinctures in a Natural Orange or Natural Peppermint flavor. Our natural fruit flavors also make an appearance in our CBG & CBD Optimal Wellness Tincture which combines equal parts CBG with CBD.

CBD chocolates

We understand some users aren't interested in only fruit flavors or minty flavors. That's why we recently introduced our THC chocolate bars.

Our Delta 8 THC Chocolate Dream uses premium dark chocolate for those with a discerning palate. And our Delta 8 THC Chocolate Haze offers you indulgent and delicious milk chocolate for maximum enjoyment.

Many find the chocolate flavor to successfully overpower any residual grassiness. So for those looking for a simple treat without any hint of CBD flavor, these chocolates are for you!

Final thoughts

CBD has a rich flavor profile on its own. But when combined with the right ingredients, it can offer even more amazing flavors to match users' needs and preferences.

We hope you found this helpful and learned a little something about CBD along the way!

Keep Reading: CBD vs CBG vs CBN vs CBC: A Guide To Cannabinoids