The Benefits of Using Water-Soluble Emulsions for Infused Gummies

Strawberry, pear, huckleberry, lemon – these are just some of the many flavors of infused gummies available for today’s cannabis consumer. Gummies are one of the most popular products in the edibles category for a few reasons. One is that they come in a variety of doses and flavors, giving the consumer many options to choose from, and another is that they offer an easy, discreet way to consume cannabis.  

 That said, not all gummies are created equal – given inconsistencies that can occur with dosing and flavor profiles that might taste a little too….weedy.  

Below, we share information on the cannabinoids featured in gummies today, the benefits of using water-soluble CBD in a gummy format, and other considerations to take into account when formulating gummies.

Types and Forms of Cannabinoids in Gummies  

CBD and/or THC are the cannabinoids most commonly found in today’s gummies. The two are often paired so that the consumer can experience the Entourage Effect (the idea that the cannabinoids are more efficacious when working together).

In terms of gummies featuring CBD, there are a few different options available: 

• CBD Isolate: Pure CBD with no traces of THC. 
• Full Spectrum: The maximum amount of phytochemicals and plant material are retained during extraction, including THC.  
• Broad Spectrum: A large amount of phytochemicals and plant material is retained during extraction, but the amount of THC is under .3%. 
• Water-soluble: Using emulsion technology, tiny cannabinoid oil droplets are converted into a platform that allows the cannabinoid to be added to food and beverages while remaining stable and evenly distributed throughout the product.   

In today’s edible marketplace, you can also find gummies featuring some of the minor cannabinoids like CBG, CBC, CBN and THCV, often being paired with either THC or CBD.  

The Benefits of Water-Soluble CBD  

Improved Bioavailability and Effectiveness: It is easier for the body to digest and absorb cannabinoids in a water-soluble platform than oil because the body has to break that oil down in the digestive tract before it moves into the bloodstream.  Consumers who ingest products infused with water-soluble cannabinoids will generally feel the effects in 10-20 minutes. 

Consistent Dosage: Because most water-soluble CBD in an infused edible are evenly dispersed and stable for up to 12 months, the dosing and the label claims will be near-perfect.

Better Taste: Emulsion technology can make ingredients like cannabinoids that are bitter by nature more palatable by masking them, making it easier to control a product’s flavor profile.

Typically water-soluble CBD will remain stable for 12 months, but the cannabinoid can degrade and lose potency over time and when exposed  to light. 

The Benefits of Making Gummies with Water-Soluble CBD  

• Efficient Production Process: Water-soluble CBD comes in liquid and powder form, and both are easy to incorporate into a production process. Moisture content of a finished gummy is typically 9-16% of the total weight, which includes more than just the water-soluble emulsion content. Thus, the emulsion is a very small fraction of that total amount. 
• Flavor:  Water-soluble CBD works well in gummies featuring the following flavors: dark berries (blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, marionberry) and citrus (lemon, orange, lime) and can reduce the cannabis notes.
• Softer Texture: Using water-soluble CBD in a gummy will result in a softer texture, but too much moisture in the formula may lead to a gummy that is too soft and might lose its shape.
• More Accurate Dosing: Because the oil droplets disperse evenly and uniformily in a water-soluble platform, the dosing of the gummy product will be more accurate, as dosing a product with oil-based CBD can lead to inconsistency between batches.
• Easier Absorption: Because it is easier for the body to digest and absorb water-soluble CBD than it does oil, a consumer will feel the effects of a gummy more quickly.

Other Gummy Ingredient Considerations

Low dose vs high dose: If you evaulate the wide range of gummies on the market today, you will find a wide range of doses on the market. Here are just a few examples of dosing per gummy.

• CBD only — 10-25mg
• CBD/CBC — 20mg CBD/10mg CBC 
• CBD/CBG — 20mg CBD/10 CBG 
• THC only  – 10mg-50mg
• THC – 100mg unit that can be divided into 10 pieces 
• THC/CBD ratio — 10mg THC/1mg CBD  or 5/10mg THC and 5/10mg CBD
• THC/CBD ratio + functional ingredients ( ex. Melatonin for sleep) — 10mg THC/2mg CBD/2mg Melatonin

Gluten free, sugar free, vegan and similar options: For consumers interested in gummies that best fit their dietary needs, reading the ingredients label is critical. Typically gummies either have a pectin or gelatin base, and that can determine whether they are vegetarian/vegan friendly. Pectin is a fruit-based setting agent, making it vegan-friendly,  while gelatin is an animal-based setting agent, which means it is not vegan-friendly. Sugar-free options might use artificial sweetners, which tend to have a strong flavor, especially in a small format. 

How to Choose the Right Water-Soluble CBD for Your Gummy Brand

Here are some factors to consider when choosing a water-soluble CBD product: 

• Dosing – Typically a water-soluble emulsion like SōRSE works best when the ratio is 1mg cannabinoid in a 1 gram gummy because it will not require masking adjustments in the formulation. 
• Gummy Flavor Profile – Water-soluble cannabinoids pair well with citrus and berry flavors. If you’re looking for a lighter fruit flavor like apple, it could be paired with a stronger flavor like cranberry or blackberry.   
• Pectin-based vs Gelatin-based: Producers making a gummy with a pectin base will need to be mindful of the total amount of water in the gummy that both the emulsion and the other ingredients provide. Both types of gummies have tight water parameters, but pectin-based gummies are more sensitive to the addition of water because of its soft texture. Typically gelatin-based gummies are easier to execute because they can handle larger formulation adjustments. An experienced food scientist will be able to adjust the gummy formula to substitute an oil-based cannabinoid for a water-soluble emulsion in it.

These are some tips for selecting the best water-soluble cannabinoids for gummies: 

• Request a variety of samples for formulation so you can test how the emulsion in powder and liquid formats work in the formula and how they pair with the flavors you’ve chosen.  
• Work with an emulsion supplier that has an R & D team that can support you through the formulation and production process. 

• Work with an emulsion supplier that prioritizes safety and quality, that can provide COAs for their products so that the potency of your product matches the information on your label.

Conclusion 

Infused gummies present developers a great opportunity to offer consumers a hemp or cannabis product that is easy to consume and quite discreet.  The category also gives product developers the opportunity to innovate with major cannabinoids paired with minors, as well as with flavor profiles that will resonate with consumers.

If you are looking for a water-soluble solution to use in a gummy, let us be your RESōRSE! The SōRSE R & D team is a group of experienced food scientists who have helped many of our customers bring new products to market, sharing their knowledge and expertise working with our liquid and powder emulsions. Book a meeting with our team today to talk about your product development needs!