Want to Know a Better Technology For Your Hemp Extract & Terpene Products? – Interview with Scott Riefler Chief Science Officer at SoRSE

The extraction process has officially stepped up its game. As technology in the cannabis industry grows, so too its extraction methodologies and its outcomes.

In short, people want high quality without the bitterness or taste that cannabis sometimes gives varying edibles, oils and products. Enters SōRSE, a better technology for your hemp extract and terpene products.

One of our primary goals in creating our technology was to remove the bitter cannabis taste and smell from CBD and THC products. With our product, we have isolated the taste and the smell successfully. – Scott Riefler, Chief Science Officer for SōRSE

SōRSE

What is the process that SōRSE uses to create their specific emulsion? Walk us through.

Scott: We set out to make a stable emulsion, which technically violates the laws of science. Thermodynamics says that there is no such thing as a stable emulsion. Ultimately, our goal was to make one that is as practically stable as possible.

To achieve this, our team combines oils with water in the presence of appropriate surfactants and related ingredients. We combine them in a manner that results in very small, uniform particles, giving us near-stable emulsion.

Our process also isolates the bitterness of the cannabinoids so that the final product has no cannabis taste, provides rapid and repeatable onset, and creates a uniform and homogenous food (beverage or gummy).

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A buzzword right now is nanoemulsion. What does this mean, what kind of effect does this have on the final product, and are there any other methods of emulsion? Are nanoparticles bad for you?

Scott: Nanoemulsion is a description of how big the emulsified particle is … the nanometer is a unit of length in the metric system. There are one billion nanometers in a meter.

The sizing of the emulsified particle can have numerous effects. The smaller the particle, the easier it is to develop stability. The particle size can also inform how it interacts with the body. The particle size is the result of the chemistry and processing that’s used.

Nanoemulsion science is still being developed. People want to know if nanoparticles are good for you. Nanoparticles more easily cross the blood-brain barrier. Ultimately, as with any active ingredient, the science and safety should be explored before it’s deployed

Why do some CBD/THC beverages smell and taste like hemp, but others don’t? How do you eliminate that?

Scott: One of our primary goals in creating our technology was to remove the bitter cannabis taste and smell from CBD and THC products. With our product, we have isolated the taste and the smell successfully.

Others use masking ingredients and flavor additives. Sugar is one of the most common ingredients added to combat bitterness. We wanted to make it possible to infuse products with THC or CBD without having to add ingredients to mask or overlay the bitterness.

Are there any benefits of consuming an edible or beverage over smoking or other forms of consumption? Why do we see consumers turning towards beverages and other edibles?

Scott: Americans have proven that they enjoy intoxicating — whether that’s through alcohol, caffeine, or other products.

Cannabis products are simply a new, interesting way for consumers to intoxicate — so there’s a lot of momentum around the curiosity and that general desire to intoxicate on some level.

Drinking or eating a cannabis product is less harmful than smoking, but one of the main reasons why consumers are turning to edibles is due more to the social aspects. Drinking or eating is much easier to incorporate into a social atmosphere; you could easily socialize while drinking a beverage at an event or party. Drinking or eating a product can also be done over time, so the experience is self-metered

What are some things the consumer should be looking for in their cannabis edible? Any key words on the label?

Scott: If the edible has been prepared using state of the art technology, you should look for the food platform to be enjoyable – you shouldn’t be able to tell that cannabis is in the product.

Look out for heavy sugars added, flavoring, look for masking agents primarily. Signs that the technology is not up to snuff. Strong flavor profiles (like cinnamon or peppermint) can also be an indicator.

Additionally, what are some things cannabis companies delving into the beverage world should be asking their emulsion supplier?

Scott: It’s critical to partner with the best possible supplier to ensure the quality, safety, and longevity of your brand/products. Here are a few important questions to ask:

• What is stability/shelf life of the emulsion as a stand-alone and in a finished product (of your category)? Does your supplier have at least 12 months of real-time stability data for their product as well as any finished products (consumer facing)?
• Does your supplier have third-party testing results to confirm the quality of their product?
• Are you GNP certified? What processes have you implemented to maintain food-grade quality and safety? Do you take a ‘Clean Label Approach?
• When does dosing (with the active ingredient) take place in the production process and is there specific packaging required to maximize the shelf-life of the product?
• There’s hype around all forms of CBD – CBD Isolate, Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum – How do I know which is best for my product?

Thank you for sharing all the things SōRSE is up to! This is pretty profound Scott!

Scott: Thanks for having me CM!

Scott Riefler – Chief Science Officer at SōRSE

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