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A Guide to Emulsification & Its Role in Cannabis Infused Food and Beverage Products

glass of liquid with colors emulsifying

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.  

[Related Post: Why Do Cannabis Products Taste So Bad? (and What We’ve Done About it]

What is Emulsification?

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

hand pouring SoRSE cbd emulsifier into plastic cup

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.  

 

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Pearl Mixer Valentine’s Day Cocktail Cookbook

cocktails

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.

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Utopia Pairing Menu

Chicken, ramen, egg on toast

For centuries, if you wanted to pair a libation with food, all that pleasant society would allow you to consider was wine. Then, more recently with the onset of craft beer, IPA’s and other suds were brought into the mix. But now, because the world is lovely sometimes, we have cannabis beverages to consider. THANK GOODNESS!

And the newest cannabis beverage for your food pairing pleasure is Utopia Sparkling Water, which comes in three delectable flavors: Grapefruit, Cherry and Lime. So, for all you foodies out there, here is our suggested pairing menu for Utopia in all three of its glorious flavors. Cheers!

Grapefruit Utopia Menu

Breakfast: Grapefruit is the most breakfasty of all the citrus fruits. While orange may get most of the juice love, grapefruit is the only fruit actually served as a meal for breakfast. So, we suggest pairing Grapefruit Utopia with a classic bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwich. Whether you use toast, a croissant or a bagel, the savory sandwich brightens with the tart taste of grapefruit. Enjoy!

Lunch: For lunch, we recommend the perfect winter meal: soup. But not just any soup. We suggest Pho, the staple of the Pacific Northwest broth culture. The aromatic Pho pairs perfectly with the effervescence from the citrusy grapefruit. 

Dinner: End the day with a hearty black bean burger and a glass of Grapefruit Utopia. While normal beef burgers are delicious, there’s something tangy and even a bit lighter with the black bean burger. It can take a heavy bun, cheese, whatever you want to throw at it. And to enliven the meal further, Grapefruit Utopia is a superb compliment.

Cherry Utopia Menu

Breakfast: Take your blender, some frozen berries, yogurt, and a bottle of Cherry Utopia, mix them all together and turn yourself about! Or, just enjoy your morning like a boss.

Lunch: Fried chicken is the lunch you always wanted but never quite knew it. The salty crunch of the batter around a drumstick is proof there’s magic in the world. And between bites, wet your whistle with the subtle kiss of a Cherry Utopia.

 Dinner: Finish off the night with a few slices of pepperoni pizza. Warm up on the winter evening with melty cheese, tangy tomato sauce and a slightly sweet bottle of Cherry Utopia. After the Little League games when you were a kid, you’d get a slice of pizza and a cherry soda. That dream doesn’t have to end now, as a cannabis-loving adult!

Lime Utopia Menu

 Breakfast: Frosted flakes. Remember, as a kid, pouring over a giant cereal bowl, watching cartoons and just believing in pure joy? Well, that can happen again. Lime Utopia + Frosted Flakes. Cartoons will feel like Scripture!

Lunch: Tacos are the only way to go here. You know how people take a lime wedge and spritz it on their Carne Asada tacos? This pairing is like a bajillion times better.

Dinner: Maybe the most popular dish for the modern food-loving citizen is Ramen. The hearty dish made with noodles, pork and, if done right, a 6-minute egg, is filling, nourishing and just plain amazing on a cold night. And, to compliment the downright lovely dish, we recommend a bottle of Lime Utopia. The subtle citrus flavor bolsters Ramen better than any wine could.

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What Does Your Utopia Say About You?

fruit and fruit drink

Have you ever wanted to play The Dating Game? That game show where you sit behind a curtain as three lucky contestants describe themselves and vie for your attention? Well, now’s your chance! Here is the Utopia Sparkling Water Dating Game! Check the options below and, at the end, choose which Utopia flavor is perfect for you – which one is the Utopia of your dreams!

Contestant Number One!

Our first contestant is effervescent through and through. They say there is no taming a wild spirit, but Cherry is just as ready to Netflix and chill as he is psyched about packing up a basket with some cheese and crackers and going out for a picnic by the lake. But watch out, Cherry may coax you into a game of Frisbee between bites of gorgonzola – he’s just that sporty! But, at the end of the day, Cherry will gladly get a blanket, turn on a favorite show, and wind down in comfy slippers.

Contestant Number Two!

Our next contestant is all about the laughs. Lime is a cutup – there’s a reason he was voted class clown senior year, ladies and gents! A bundle of energy, Lime is a joke-a-minute. Favorite Jim Carrey line? Lime will recite it! Want to shoot a web series, Lime will have the camera ready and a few ad-libs to add in. Lime loves going to the movies, getting some late-night food and putting on a comedy when you get home before falling asleep.

Contestant Number Three!

Our third contestant is all about the finer things in life. Grapefruit loves splurging on an expensive dinner: lobster linguini with an elegant gelato sundae for dessert? Yes, indeed! Take Grapefruit to the symphony, the opera or the ballet and he’ll profess his affection for you in poem afterwards. Grapefruit is the kind of drink you want to introduce to your parents or leaf through wedding magazines with. He’s loyal, loving and just longing for your affection.