At the State level, acceptance of and regulation around CBD products varies. At the individual level, CBD still remains mysterious for many consumers and producers alike. The reality is, CBD is a versatile and approachable ingredient for a variety of products – here are a few reasons why CBD should be allowed in food and beverages:
CBD IS NOT INTOXICATING.
Although very similar in molecular structure to the THC strain of cannabis, CBD is not intoxicating. This makes it a great option for infusion in various edible products and should remove a great deal of consumer concern over safety.
AMERICANS ARE ALREADY USING CBD REGULARLY
Nearly 7 percent of Americans are already using cannabidiol (CBD), placing the potential market opportunity for the much-hyped cannabis compound at $16 billion by 2025, according to a new analysis by Cowen & Co.
MANY CONSUMERS CLAIM TO USE CBD AS A WELLNESS PRODUCT.
Almost 62% of CBD users reported using CBD to treat a medical condition. The top three medical conditions were pain, anxiety, and depression. [A Cross-Sectional Study of Cannabidiol Users]
THE 2018 FARM BILL
The federal 2018 Farm Bill lifted a nationwide ban on producing hemp, from which the oil is made, and which formerly was classified as a controlled substance. But the bill left states to follow their own laws, many of which still classify hemp as illegal, reports The New York Times. The federal-level acceptance of hemp is a good indicator for future product development and widespread acceptance of hemp-infused products.
Because CBD and terpenes can now be so easily integrated into food and beverage products with greater stability and consistency, we are almost certain to see a surge of new functional applications and products for retailers to stock their shelves. But before brands rush to create their own CBD-infused product, it’s important to understand how to best work with a supplier. Below are five guiding questions that should lead you to the best possible partnership for your product!
1. Stability: What is stability/shelf life of the emulsion as a stand-alone and in a finished product?
Currently, the highest quality water-soluble emulsion is meeting (and exceeding) food-grade stability testing up to 12 months.
What to confirm:
Real-time data. The supplier should provide at least 12 months of real-time stability data for their product, as well as any finished products.
2. Testing: Does your supplier have third-party testing results to confirm the quality of their product?
What to confirm:
Request that suppliers provide a Certificate of Analysis (COA) from a third-party testing facility to confirm quality.
Verify that the COA is through a third-party, not conducted internally.
Never work with a supplier who can’t provide any COA.
3. Food-grade Quality & Safety: what processes have you implemented to maintain food-grade quality and safety?
Since the CBD space is still in its adolescence, it’s important to ensure that the CBD supplier is compliant with all FDA regulations and applying a ‘food science perspective’ to the production procedures. Suppliers who are not taking necessary precautions can be problematic for the longevity, scalability, and success of a brand.
What to confirm:
Confirm the supplier can provide all requisite quality documentation. This includes, but is not limited to, COAs, allergen statements, regulatory compliance, third-party audits, etc.
A supplier’s facility should be CPMG / FSMA compliant. This is separate and in addition to the product’s food-grade rating.
4. Seamless Integration & Packaging: When does dosing take place in the production process and is there specific packaging required to maximize the shelf-life of the product?
Today, there are emulsion technologies available that allow small and large batch dosing with seamless integration.
Determine whether a supplier’s emulsion requires major disruption to existing manufacturing and packaging procedures.
Ask if the supplier has technical team members who can work with you directly to develop the best approach to dosing and product development.
Packaging does matter and some are better than others for water-soluble emulsion technology in finished goods. Ask about their experience – the successes, as well as the failures.
5. Offerings & Associated Taste & Smell: There’s hype around all forms of CBD – CBD isolate, full spectrum, broad spectrum – how do I know which is best for my product?
Each CBD form impacts the taste, smell, and texture of the finished product. These forms can impact the added ingredients, mainly sugar and flavor additives, and overall nutrition of the finished product.
Confirm the suppliers can achieve the desired flavor profile (with or without CBD flavor and aroma presence)
Welcome to the best new — and easy — cocktail of 2019: Vertus sparkling cannabis drink and juice. Breakfast in bed? Vertus and juice. Fireworks under the stars? Vertus and juice. Mind on your money and money on your mind? Vertus and juice. Laaaaaaaiiidddd baaccckk! You get the idea.
But, one important question remains for you: which Vertus and juice best suits you? Thankfully, we’ve set up this helpful guide to illuminate the possibilities before you. Choose wisely!
Orange
Traditional champagne has gotten a pass for too many years! Orange juice needs more brunch options. So, if you’re someone who loves a glass of this delicious citrus stuff, then take back your orange juice — you brunch revolutionary, you! Say goodbye to traditional champagne and say hello to Vertus bubbly in your fresh-squeezed favorite.
Cranberry
Vertus and cran is for the folks looking for a little pizzazz. It’s for the folks who like to wear pearls or cufflinks when they hit the town. For the folks who like a little romance in their life. Go ahead, pour two and wait for a daring stranger to propose a chat. You might just find your true heart match.
Grapefruit
Vertus and grapefruit is most assuredly for the sensible-minded. The early to bed, early to rise folks who like a bright and shiny morning to get things done. Lawn need mowing before the holidays? Vertus and grapefruit. Have to paint a wall in the apartment? We got you.
Grape
For the playful, late night partiers, there’s Vertus and grape juice. Drop a few sliced fruits to go along with it and you have yourself a deliciously infused sangria that you can sway in your chalice as the music goes on and on into the night. Turn it up and have another round, you’ve earned it!
Pineapple
Vertus and pineapple are for the beach-loving peeps who just want to feel the summer breeze on their faces, the sand between their toes and to read a good book between dips in the waves. Let the sun glisten as the bright beverage combination whisks you away to a foreign land without a grey cloud in the sky.
To find your own bottle of Vertus, check out our product map, then call your closest retailer for availability.
Here at SōRSE, we pride ourselves on producing the best cannabis-infused beverages like Utopia Sparkling Water and Happy Apple. Sometimes though that means reinventing the wheel, which was what we did with Vertus. The first and only cannabis-infused champagne. You can add it your mimosas or drink it straight, both are proven methods to making you feel like a straight up baller. Watch the video above to learn all about your new favorite party drink.
In the beverage business, the name of the game is evolution. Sure, there are the longstanding, traditional drinks like Coke and Pepsi, which have been around for millennia. But for every Classic Coca Cola, there’s a Cherry Sprite or Vanilla Rootbeer or caffeinated Jolt.
And now, in case you haven’t noticed, there’s a new thirst out in the world for low-calorie, flavored – and even spiked – seltzer water. Call it the LaCroix effect, but many folks out in the big wide world want a subtler flavor and a drastic cut on the calorie count. While we don’t think Coke or Pepsi are going anywhere, we do recognize that many palates are evolving. People want a kiss of fruit flavor instead of the heavy, syrupy sodas. And who could blame them?
In Seattle, the sister companies Two Beers Brewing and Seattle Cider Company are set to premiere a new hard seltzer they call Sound Craft Seltzer in August. A naturally gluten-free beverage option, Sound Craft Seltzer will use simple, whole, fresh and organic ingredients with no added colors or artificial flavors. Upcoming flavors will include Rosé, Cucumber and Grapefruit and the stuff will clock in at about 5% alcohol by volume.
Sound delicious? We think so too!
But what about if you aren’t a drinker in the traditional alcoholic sense? What if you’re more of a THC fan rather than ABV? Well, we at SōRSE have invented a cannabis-infused sparkling beverage that just might wet your thirst! While the mainstay sodas likely aren’t going anywhere and while innovations like Sound Craft Seltzer are about to hit the market, we have been creating, honing and sharing one of our crown jewels for the past six months: our Utopia Sparkling Water.
This cannabis-infused sparkling beverage is available in three delicious, calorie-free flavors – Cherry, Grapefruit and Lime – Utopia. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the summer, get your buzz on and chill by the pool behind your favorite shades. Available in 10, 50 and 100 MG bottles, Utopia puts a little relaxation in your afternoon sun bathing session.
And while tastes will always continue to change – what’s next, dehydrated astronaut infused milkshakes??? – we know that right now, what the people want is the low-calorie, subtle, fruit-flavored seltzer beverages that are perfect for the summer season. Cheers!
Here at SōRSE we’re all about incorporating cannabis into our lives in beautiful ways, and one way to do that is with our cannabis-infused sparkling beverage. Gardening while is high is great! But we also encourage you to let the beverage inspire the color palette of your garden. If you don’t have that yard of your dreams, there are still plenty of ways to incorporate Utopia Sparkling Water into your potted plant situation. Start with your favorite sparkling water flavor or incorporate all of the Utopian colors for plants that celebrate summer well into fall.
Utopia Lime
Sip some Utopia Lime sparkling water while reveling in the beauty of your Double Phalaenopsis Green Orchid. These are easy to find at stores like Home Depot, even grocery stores. We know what you’re thinking…orchids are difficult to keep alive. Here are some quick and easy tips for keeping an orchid alive. If you can do this, you’re one step closer to becoming a French Bulldog mom or dad.
Light – Give orchids bright light, but no direct sun.
Water – Water them thoroughly once or twice a week (twice when it’s warmer outside)
Fertilizer – Fertilize them when they are growing.
Air movement – Provide gentle air circulation for the plant.
If you know you’ll kill an orchid immediately, succulents tend to hang on for a lot longer and look less pathetic when neglected!
Utopia Cherry
If you can’t get enough Utopia Cherry in your life, go for Fuschia or Pink Petunias. They might sound overly precious, but they’re super easy to take care if high gardening is your M.O. Incorporate these into your flower garden ASAP. They’re heat tolerant, and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Bird watching after a bottle of Utopia Cherry? Yes, please.
Utopia Grapefruit
For a splash of Utopia Grapefruit, go for readily available pink dahilas. You can plant these inside, too! Soak the roots of the bulbs in a pan of lukewarm water for a few hours. Fill a pot with potting soil or garden pebbles; insert the bulbs but leave the top two-thirds out of the dirt. Gently tamp down the soil or pebbles around the bulbs. Water until damp, then place in a sunny spot. Don’t forget to have some Grapefruit Utopia around for when they finally bloom — it’ll be Instagram gold.
Need more gardening ideas? Bonus points for nabbing some Supertunia Picasso with Green Edges(also available from places like Home Depot) to incorporate both cherry and lime Utopia into your garden.
You can find cannabis-infused sparkling beverage, Utopia, in Washington. We recommend calling the recreational marijuana retailer to check on inventory before arriving. Good luck keeping your plant babies alive!
Don’t look now, but it’s already June. We’ll take a second for you to exclaim, “Where the heck did May go?!” With the summer months comes hot weather, which means less clothing, which means bathing suits, which means bathing suit bodies. Believe us, we aren’t here to tell anyone how they should look, but we also know you want to look your best. So that means putting down the Uber Eats app and picking up a veggie or a fruit appetizer.
What about those shindigs where everyone is having fun, though? Where food and drinks are splayed on the table and everyone is checking everyone else out? Is it possible to throw a ZERO-calorie summer party and still let your mind, buzz and taste buds run wild? It is! And here’s how in seven easy steps.
Start the party with some fruit: There are many “zero-calorie” fruits – which just means that the small number of calories the food contains are burned during digestion. Want to know some delicious ones? Grapefruit, apricot, oranges, tangerines, strawberries, watermelons and apples all count. So, put out a trey poolside with some sliced fruits and make the first course colorful with nature’s candy.
Spike the watermelon: Watermelons are amazing on so many levels. Did you know a slice of watermelon can absorb liquid? Well, it’s true. And to get the party to the next level, take out a Pearl2O Mini and douse the watermelon slices in some good ol’ fashioned THC.
Now snack on some veggies: “What’s up, Doc?” That’s right, it’s Bugs Bunny carrot time! Or bite into broccoli and crunch into cauliflower. If you don’t like them raw, you can steam or grill the vegetables to keep their flavor. And if you want to add a little low-cal dip – like whipped caramelized onion dip with zero-calorie cream cheese or blended chickpea hummus – feel free!
Bring out the Utopias: The party’s pièce de résistance. The people won’t know what hit them when they see a glorious tray of brightly colored Utopia Sparkling Waters. All are zero-calorie. Pick from tart Grapefruit, subtle Lime or delicious Cherry. And remember 10 MG is a serving so please enjoy responsibly!
Vodka, if you need booze: If your party NEEDS booze, there are a few options, but the one we’d recommend is vodka. One vodka soda equates to only about 60 calories. So, if you bump up your buzz with a shot or two of vodka, it’s more than possible to work off those 120 calories with…
Indoor/outdoor games: Games! Frisbee, volleyball, corn hole, flip cup (with water), tag, catch, indoor mini golf, duck-duck-goose. These are all super easy and fun games to play that will assuredly burn off any extra calories you might have consumed with the vodka or cream cheese. Move your body, people!
Drink water: But at the end of it all, the best way to flush out your system and stay hydrated is by drinking a glass or two of water before leaving the get-together. Put a big cooler by the front door and encourage all your guests to chug a glass before going.
Emulsification. If you’ve read any tech-related news about cannabis-infused products including beverages, you’ve probably come across the term “emulsification.” Emulsification refers to technology that converts oil-based cannabinoids into water-soluble emulsions.
Here, we’ll break down what that means and why is it important for product developers and consumers to understand its role when deciding to purchase an infused beverage or edible.
Distillation: The first step in making cannabinoids beverage-friendly
Distillation is the process of stripping away the cannabinoids from the plant material and terpenes, leaving pure, isolated cannabinoids that can then be emulsified and added to food and beverages. After the cannabinoids are extracted using extraction techniques like CO2 and ethanol, they are then refined to remove the waxes, lipids and other compounds that are part of the plant. Refinement is the process of activating the cannabinoids to bring out their effects. The resulting material is distilled again to remove the terpene and isolate the desired cannabinoid.
The bitterness of the distillate is a challenge for food and beverage manufacturers in the infused products space. This is why many beverages containing cannabinoids contain a lot of sugar and added flavors to mask the bitterness. When product developers choose to use a SōRSE emulsion, that bitterness is not an issue, as our technology provides a clean sensory experience with no cannabis taste or smell.
The act of emulsification reduces a cannabinoid’s oils, or any oil for that matter, to very small, protected droplets. An emulsifier is brought into the equation so that the oil droplets will remain dispersed as individual droplets as opposed to grouping back together and separating from the water again. With this process, the new liquid is an oil and water combination that plays nicely together. In fact, when done correctly, the oil droplets prefer to be uniformly and equally distributed throughout the surrounding liquid.
If the cannabinoids were left in their-oil based state and a beverage product developer tried to add that oil to water, the oil would rise to the top. Not only would the first sip be a less than appealing one, the cannabinoids would not be evenly dispersed throughout the beverage, which is an important factor to consider for a safe, consistent experience.
An easy way to think about how emulsions behave is to imagine dropping food coloring into a glass of water. The color will eventually disperse evenly and completely transform the color of the water.
Most food and beverage product developers are likely familiar with liquid emulsions. Some companies also offer emulsions in powder forms – which can be added to baked goods, and other food items, and agglomerated powder, which are ideal for Ready To Mix beverages. The video below illustrates how easy it is to add SōRSE liquid and powder emulsions to water, and how uniformly they are distributed after stirring.
Important Considerations for Evaluating Emulsions
Safe Ingredients
It’s critical that emulsions are made using safe ingredients that are widely accepted by the food industry and commonly found in food products.
Homogeneity
Homogeneity means that the emulsion disperses evenly throughout the product; no separation will occur. You won’t find an oil layer at the top or sedimentation at the bottom. The contents of the emulsion will be distributed evenly and uniformly.
Stability
It’s important that an emulsion remain stable over the life of the product for a consistent consumer experience. SōRSE emulsion has proven to remain stable for 12 months.
Accurate Dosing
If an emulsion is homogeneous and stable, this will allow for accurate label claims and near-perfect dosing. This is critical for ensuring consumer trust in the product. If a buyer is purchasing a beverage with 30mg of CBD, they want to be sure they are getting what they pay for.
Sensory
When it comes to infused products, the sensory experience is everything. If a beverage or food item doesn’t smell good, the consumer likely won’t try it. If the product doesn’t taste good, the consumer won’t purchase it again. Emulsion technology masks the bitter, grassy notes that come with cannabinoids, resulting in a pleasant sensory experience. Emulsion technology also allows product developers to enhance their product’s flavor profile by utilizing terpenes and other flavors.
Bioavailability
Bioavailability refers to the body’s ability to absorb the cannabinoids in the emulsion. Emulsion technology blankets the small particles of cannabinoids, which allows the body to absorb them more quickly and more completely. This results in feeling the effects faster, usually between 10 – 20 minutes.
Proven in Market
When product developers are evaluating emulsions, and consumers are evaluating products utilizing emulsion technology, it’s important to look at the emulsion company’s track record. For example, SōRSE is currently powering over 75 market-leading products, from beverages to chocolate to energy bars. Many of SoRSE’s customers include the “Powered by SōRSE” moniker on their packaging, because it represents safety, quality, consistency, and accuracy.
Cannabis Emulsion Partners
Emulsions are not new in the food and beverage industry, but not all emulsions are created equal. If you are a product developer planning to launch an infused product, beer, or similar and are looking for a trusted supplier and a valuable partner in your journey to market, come to the SōRSE and schedule an exploratory call today.
Our VP of science, Scott Riefler, weighed in about how to make cannabis drinkable in the latest article from Big Buds Magazine. If you want to learn more about the science behind how cannabinoids are extracted, then read You’ve Heard of Edibles, Now Wash Them Down With Drinkables.
February 14th might mean flower bouquets and fancy restaurants with your lover. Maybe it’s a “treat yo self” type of Galentine’s Day. For some, it’s just another Wednesday. Whatever it means, we have something new for you.
We just finished producing our brand new cocktail cookbook. It’s chock-full of drinks using Pearl Mixer creative water — perfect for sipping with loved ones or solo, however you roll.
Download it here to start mixing up some lovable creations. You’ll find recipes for every level of the home bartender. You can pick up your bottle of 100 MG THC/100 MG CBD, or Pearl MINI’s at any of your favorite retailers.
