CBD Q&A

What Does CBD Oil Taste Like?

There is a lot of natural curiosity around the taste of CBD oil. We can understand that the taste of a new food supplement can sometimes cause some hesitation, especially if friends and family have been sharing mixed feelings about the taste. Ultimately, the potential therapeutic benefits of a food supplement like CBD oil are far more important than the product’s taste.

When it comes to taste, we all have different preferences. Some food supplements have more unique tastes than others. However, it’s important to remember that the primary purpose of food supplements is not to satisfy your taste buds. There are plenty of food supplements that taste delicious, like CBD gummies, but they are not being consumed for their tasty flavor.

Overall, we feel that discussions on the taste of CBD oil have been greatly exaggerated. This shouldn’t be the focus of the conversation. Instead, we should be looking at the stunning scientific and anecdotal evidence that supports the many therapeutic benefits of this cannabis-derived chemical compound.

In this article, we are going to be addressing the taste of CBD oil whilst answering some of your common questions about this food supplement. The taste of CBD oil is wildly overstated. Many of the urban myths that circle the topic of CBD tend to stem from the stigma associated with the cannabis plant.

It should always be noted that CBD and cannabis are two very different things. CBD is just one component of the cannabis plant. This particular compound is non-intoxicating and cannot get you high. This high sensation that is often linked with cannabis comes from THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis. CBD products may contain trace amounts of THC, but this isn’t enough to result in a high or present any noticeable psychoactive effects.

We will be answering the following questions on CBD in this article:

  • What does CBD oil taste like?
  • Does broad-spectrum CBD oil taste different?
  • What are terpenes?
  • How do terpenes affect the body?
  • How does CBD oil make you feel?
  • How do you mask the taste of CBD oil?
  • Will CBD make you feel high?
  • Is CBD safe to consume?

Taste is subjective but let’s set the record straight and talk about what you can expect, based on anecdotal evidence, from a food supplement like CBD oil.

What does CBD oil taste like?

We all know that everyone’s taste buds are slightly different. Although, across the board, the same words seem to come up again and again when it comes to the taste of CBD oil. Those words are earthy, nutty, and grass-like. Most CBD oil is often described as having a grassy flavor. This isn’t necessarily unpleasant. Many people find this to be rather appealing.

If you like earthy flavors, the taste of CBD oil is probably going to appeal to you. Some people say that CBD oil has a little bite, much like dark chocolate. Depending on the products that you are using, flavor is going to vary considerably. CBD manufacturers use different extraction methods to create their products. This can cause significant variations in flavor and taste.

What might taste earthy to one person may taste completely different to another. Taste is such a subjective thing, it’s incredibly personal. You won’t know unless you try! With a product like CBD oil, you shouldn’t be able to taste too much of the flavor because it isn’t designed to be orally ingested. Instead, sublingual administration is the suggested method of consumption.

Sublingual administration is the process of placing a few drops of CBD oil under your tongue and holding them for up to 30 seconds. This gives the oil time to diffuse into the bloodstream through tissues in your tongue. This is a far more efficient way to get CBD into your system than orally ingesting the compound. You want the compound’s route to your bloodstream to be as short as possible, minimizing the potential for any CBD to be lost along the way.

Does broad-spectrum CBD oil taste different?

Broad-spectrum CBD oil can taste slightly different from CBD isolate – but what’s the difference? Well, broad-spectrum CBD oil utilizes a range of cannabinoids and terpenes, whereas CBD isolate consists solely of CBD. It can sometimes contain trace amounts of THC but this does not alter its effectiveness as a therapeutic in any way.

What are terpenes?

Terpenes are a group of chemical compounds found in many different plants, including cannabis. They usually have a rather strong odor and taste used as a defense mechanism to protect the plants from parasites and predators that may threaten their existence. Terpenes can also be found in plants like conifers, being directly responsible for their distinctive smell.

How do terpenes affect the body?

There has been some evidence to suggest that terpenes, such as limonene and linalool, can potentially have a profound effect on your mood and state of mind. This can add to the overall therapeutic effects of full-spectrum CBD oil when it is consumed. Strains of CBD that are rich with linalool have been found to offer a calming effect. In contrast, limonene-rich strains of this chemical compound are said to be mood-lifting, elevating your spirits when you’re down.

How does CBD oil make you feel?

CBD oil can offer a sense of calm and overall wellbeing. It achieves this by creating a balance between all of your core functions, helping you to feel grounded. This is more commonly known as homeostasis. To function at an optimal level, the core functions in your body need to be working in harmony with each other. You can think of your body as being like a brass band. If just one player in the brass band is out of sync, the output will lack rhythm and harmony.

CBD can bring balance to your body and influence homeostasis through the endocannabinoid system. We recently wrote an article all about the endocannabinoid system, but if you haven’t had the chance to check it out, we’ll give you a quick run-through here. This is a complex cell-signaling system that is located in many different areas of the body.

The endocannabinoid system’s mission is simple: it wants to bring balance to your body and keep everything functioning optimally regardless of any external challenges that you may be presented with. It’s a tough mission and sometimes your body needs a helping hand. This is where CBD comes in. CBD can interact with cannabinoid receptors in the body to trigger cascades of homeostasis, strengthening the ECS and helping it to do its job effectively.

Some people have stronger endocannabinoid systems than others. In other words, there are often people that are naturally more balanced than others who may be looking to add more harmony to their inner wellbeing. Things like stress can contribute towards a weak ECS, disrupting the system’s ability to create a balance between your core functions.

The consumption of cannabinoids like CBD is not the only way to give your ECS a boost. General wellbeing tips such as having a healthy diet and getting plenty of sleep can help to support your endocannabinoid system and its ability to perform when you need it most.

After taking CBD oil for several days in a row, the compound will gradually start to build up in your system. You may not notice any effects in the first few days. As time goes on, the therapeutic effects are likely to be more profound, but this can vary from person to person.

How do you mask the taste of CBD oil?

If you are just periodically placing a few drops of CBD oil under your tongue, you shouldn’t be able to taste too much of the oil. Inevitably, your tongue will come into contact with the oil at some point whilst it sits under the tongue. When this happens, you may start to become familiar with the taste of CBD oil. With just a few drops of oil going under the tongue at a time, the taste of CBD oil is unlikely to be particularly noticeable.

To begin with, if you are concerned about the potential taste, start by placing just a single drop of CBD oil under your tongue using the dropper. This will give you a subtle introduction to the compound without overwhelming you. Whenever you try a new food supplement, the taste tends to be more profound than usual because you have a heightened sense of awareness.

We encourage those that dislike the taste of CBD oil to not abandon the supplement entirely. After a few rounds of using the dropper, you will start to get used to the taste of CBD oil. You need to stay focused on why you are using CBD oil. Nobody is consuming CBD oil for the taste. Consumers want to see therapeutic results from this compound. If it can deliver, does the taste matter in the grand scheme of things?

Some recommend the use of small mint refreshments before or after the use of CBD oil to quickly extinguish the taste. Much like the rest of the process for administering CBD oil, this is very straightforward and can easily still be part of your daily wellness routine. If you were to follow this method, you would simply suck a mint for a few minutes either side of placing a few drops of CBD oil under your tongue for up to 30 seconds.

We’re sure that you can think of some other creative ways to reduce the taste of CBD oil and turn the consumption of this food supplement into more of a pleasant experience. For the vast majority of people, the taste of CBD oil is not an issue. Whilst it certainly has a unique taste, most consumers just take it for what it is and focus on the therapeutic benefits that will follow.

It isn’t worth dwelling on the taste of CBD oil. Even if you are concerned about what it might taste like, how do you know you won’t like it if you’ve never tried it? Artificial flavoring can be added to food supplements to improve their taste, but this is rarely done to CBD oil. You are more likely to find artificial flavoring in products like CBD gummies than you are in oils.

Will CBD make you feel high?

Once you’ve administered your CBD product of choice, you will gradually start to notice some of the therapeutic benefits. These will become more profound after several weeks of taking CBD regularly, creating a build-up effect. The potential benefits of CBD are not instant. You will need to be patient and give the compound time to build up in your system.

Sometimes, you can start to experience the therapeutic effects of CBD within 15 minutes of consumption. This is more common with products like oils and vapes because the compound has a shorter route to your bloodstream. CBD edibles can take far longer to offer therapeutic benefits because the route to the bloodstream is longer.

As we said earlier, CBD cannot make you feel high. This is one of the big misconceptions about this cannabis-derived chemical compound and we believe that it stems directly from the stigma that surrounds the cannabis plant. People that do not understand CBD often assume it’s a form of medical cannabis. This is not the case.

The big difference between CBD and medical cannabis is THC content. CBD isolate only contains trace amounts of THC, whereas medical cannabis can contain vast quantities of the chemical compound that is known to result in a euphoric high sensation. Medical cannabis consists of the whole plant, whilst CBD is just one isolated compound found in the plant.

The cannabis plant contains a group of chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. Each of these compounds has its unique properties. As a collective, this group of compounds makes up the overall characteristic profile of cannabis. CBD and THC share the same molecular structure, but the two compounds could not be more different.

Is CBD safe to consume?

CBD products on the market are regarded as safe to consume. Certain products, such as CBD vape, may have age restrictions in their usage guidelines. In a case like this, you should always refer to the specific guidance on the product packaging. It is not possible to overdose on CBD because it is a non-intoxicating substance that is not known to have any poisonous effects.

Although you cannot overdose on CBD, this doesn’t mean that you should suddenly start consuming excessive quantities of this chemical compound. If you are new to the world of CBD, you need to recognize that your body is going to need some time to get used to this chemical compound. In extremely rare cases, some people can suffer from mild side effects after taking CBD.

If you are new to CBD, there is always a small possibility that you may have an adverse reaction to the compound. This is why it is advisable to start small before gradually increasing the dosage over time. By doing this, you are keeping your intake low at the beginning, so that you can wait to see how your body reacts. This is an approach you should take whenever you are introducing a new food supplement to your diet.

Taking CBD as part of your daily wellness routine should be an enjoyable experience for all. There are many exciting CBD food supplements on the market that can help you to take control of your wellbeing. You cannot use CBD in place of prescribed medications. This is why we are constantly emphasizing that CBD is a food supplement, not medication.

Whilst several scientific studies have indicated that CBD has potential medicinal properties, the relevant regulatory bodies are not yet comfortable with calling this compound a medicine. There’s still much that we do not know about CBD, even though it has been used for thousands of years. As public interest continues to grow, we expect to see more scientists starting to take an interest in this compound.

Final Thoughts

We hope you have enjoyed finding out more about what CBD oil tastes like. Ultimately, if you’re looking for a definitive answer on what CBD tastes like, you’re going to need to get a bottle and try some yourself. At Spero CBD, we offer tinctures in both pure and peppermint flavor. Our peppermint flavored tincture will take the edge off the taste of CBD, offering a refreshing experience.

For those who have tried CBD oil and dislike the taste, we would highly recommend that you consider trying some of our CBD gel capsules which can be orally ingested with a sip of water. If you don’t like the taste of CBD, this does not mean that the compound cannot still be a core part of your daily wellness routine. There are many CBD products on the market for you to consider.

Are you ready to begin your wellness journey? Explore our CBD product range today!

Dr. Jordan Talley

Dr. Talley is a Physician Anesthesiologist who completed his medical residency at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Prior to medical school, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Physiology & Biophysics from Georgetown University. He completed his medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM - Bradenton Campus). During his Anesthesiology training at Johns Hopkins he completed rotations in Chronic Pain Management and continues to manage acute and peri-operative pain for his patient as a private practice anesthesiologist in Virginia.