According to the Brightfield Research Report from February of 2022, the cannabis edibles market is anticipated to reach $10 billion in annual sales by 2025. It's one of the quickest-growing product categories in the United States, with the usual pack size containing 100mg of THC and taking ample shelf space.
This spike in popularity has helped edibles become one of the fastest-growing product types, capturing about one-third of the available shelf space for cannabis products.
However, because of federal restrictions on the amount of cannabis per packaged item, the Canadian edible market has experienced slower growth. These limitations have prompted many seasoned consumers to hesitate to consume edibles because of the quantity required to achieve desired results, the associated cost, and the sugary and potentially unhealthy nature of edibles.
Let's review some of the trends in cannabis edibles so you can stay ahead of the curve. We will also provide some recipes you can easily make if you want to venture into the edible sphere yourself.
Edible Consumer Trends
As consumers become more informed, so do their expectations for edibles. Here are some of the key trends we're seeing in the world of cannabis edibles, according to the Brightfield Research Report.
Types of Products
An important benefit of edibles is that there are many different products to choose from.
These are the popular types of products consumers described using in the report:
- 41% of consumers reported using gummies/candy
- 33% reported using baked goods
- 28% reported using chocolate
- 19% reported using drinks
So, what does this mean? Well, first of all, it looks like gummies are the most popular type of edible right now. This is likely because they're easy to dose and come in a variety of flavours.
Baked goods, chocolate, and drinks are also popular choices among consumers. These types of edibles offer a more refined experience for those who want something a little more sophisticated than your average gummy bear.
Customer Segments
The Brightfield Research Report also assessed the demographics most likely to consume edibles. Not surprisingly, younger cannabis consumers are more likely to gravitate toward the use of edibles. Interestingly enough, these users are more likely to be women who have children.
To provide more context, here are the key personas explored in the report:
- Daily pain attacker: Those using cannabis 5+ times a week for pain
- Wake and bake: Consumers who enjoy cannabis frequently throughout the day, including right after waking up
- Stressed out millennial: Younger cannabis users who enjoy cannabis to relieve psychological effects, like insomnia, anxiety, and depression
As you can see, there's a wide range of consumers who are using cannabis edibles. And with the market expected to grow exponentially in the next few years, it's essential to be aware of which consumers are using edibles and for what reasons.
Differentiating Edibles
With so many items for sale, it might be tough to distinguish between product sorts, flavours, and effects.
Edible brands with the highest market share have distinct branding and develop unique flavour combinations, using terpenes to flavour the edibles and formulate desired effects.
There are many different terpenes that can be utilized in edibles to modify their effects. For example, Limonene can provide a more energizing impact, while Myrcene can provide users with a more relaxing product.
The other major trend is ingestion technology, such as quick-acting sublingual strips and fast-dissolving powders. These offer more precise dosing than traditional edibles, which can have difficult to predict outcomes.
Desired Effects
For most cannabis users, the desired effects of their product are important. Most people use cannabis to unwind, while others use it for stimulating effects.
Here are the most popularly reported cannabis candy positionings, and the share of shelf space they utilize according to the Brightfield Group report:
- Relaxation (40%)
- Sleep (19%)
- Stress-relief (9%)
- Energy (9%)
- Focus (6%)
- Exercise (4%)
- Creativity (3%)
- Other (10%)
With such variability in desired effects, terpenes are expected to play an increasingly important role in formulating new edible products.
Cannabinoid Content
The cannabinoid content of edibles also plays a role in their effects. THC is the most prevalent cannabinoid, but CBD is also gaining popularity.
The Brightfield Group discovered that with cannabis baked goods, a THC:CBD ratio of 1:1 and 1:2 were most popular, taking up about 93% of shelf space.
This is likely because these ratios offer users a more balanced effect, with the CBD offsetting some of the paranoia that THC can cause.
CBD-dominant products were less popular, making up only about 4% of the shelf space for baked goods.
Top Flavours
Of course, you can't talk about edibles without mentioning flavour. After all, it's one of the most appealing things about edibles.
With edibles, chocolate is paramount. It takes up 18% of shelf space with cannabis edibles and can easily be infused into various recipes.
Popular chocolate infusions include:
- Blueberry
- Espresso
- Peanut butter
- Mint
With edible baked goods, chocolate products and the chocolate infusions above account for 24% of the shelf space. Other baked goods flavours you can find on the shelf include:
- Peanut butter (8%)
- Honey (5%)
- Brownies (4%)
- Cinnamon (4%)
- Marshmallow (4%)
Cannabis candies are a bit different. Consumers generally tend to favour more fruity flavours, like:
- Grape
- Mango
- Orange
- Coconut
With such diversity in flavour, experimenting with known favourites is a great way to explore the world of cannabis edibles.
Why Add Terpenes to Edible Products?
Terpenes are aromatic oils found in cannabis and other plants. These molecules play an important role in the effects of cannabis by interacting with the body's endocannabinoid system.
If edibles are your ideal method of consuming cannabis, understanding how terpenes can modify the effects of your product is important.
Terpenes can help maximize the effects of your cannabis product. When used in combination with cannabinoids, terpenes can produce what's known as the entourage effect. This theory suggests a synergistic relationship between cannabinoids and terpenes that enhance the potency and effects of cannabis.
Furthermore, terpenes can provide pleasant flavours and aromas to edibles, making them more enjoyable to consume. As consumers become more educated about cannabis, they are increasingly looking for products that taste good and offer the desired effects that certain terpenes can bring.
In the future, we can expect to see more products on the market formulated with these special molecules in mind.
Try These Recipes for Yourself
Summer Super Lemon Haze Drop
- 1/4cup sugar
- 2 drops of Super Lemon Haze
- 1 lemon
- 1oz simple syrup
- 2oz vodka
- 1/2oz Cointreau
- 1 lemon candy fruit slice or lemon twist – garnish
Step 1. Infuse the Sugar – Grab a small bag and add ¼ cup of sugar and 1 drop of Super Lemon Haze terpenes. Shake and seal the plastic bag or glass jar and allow it to sit overnight or for a few hours to infuse.
Step 2. Preparing the Glass – Cut a lemon into quarters and rim the glass with the lemon juice and then rim the glass with your infused sugar. Also cut a smaller piece of lemon for garnish.
Step 3. Preparing the Cocktail – Take the quartered lemon and squeeze it into a shaker – Muddle the lemon and add a teaspoon of infused sugar. You can also add in your favorite summer herbs to experiment with different flavours.
Step 4. The Final Ingredients – Add the Vodka, Cointreau and the simple syrup. Shake, strain and garnish. Add 1 drop of Super Lemon Haze to the middle of the glass and serve.
Sweet Dreams Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup room temperature, unsalted butter
- ½ cup brown Sugar
- ½ cup icing Sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla Extract
- 2 drops CannTerp’s Dream terpene blend
- 5 cups all Purpose flour
- 3 tbs cornstarch
- ¼ tsp salt
Blend together the butter, brown sugar, icing sugar and CannTerp’s Dream terpene blend. Add in the flour, cornstarch, salt and mix until fully combined. Wrap the dough tightly in 2 even logs and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Remove from fridge and slice dough into desired cookie thickness. Place cookies on a lined baking sheet, leaving room in between. Bake at 325 degrees F until the edges begin to brown, approximately 12 minutes depending on the thickness of the cookies. Remove from the oven and let cool. Enjoy your dreamy shortbread cookies!
Lively Lemon Squares
Ingredients:
Base:
- 1 cup cold butter cubes
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 cups flour
- ¼ tsp baking powder
Filling:
- 5 cups white sugar
- ¼ cup flour
- 4 eggs
- 2 lemons, juice and zest
- 2 drops CannTerp’s Limonene terpene isolate
Combine ingredients for the base by cutting the butter into the sugar, flour, and baking powder then fully mix. Once blended, add the mixture to a prepared 9x13 pan and press down to create an even bottom layer. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 325 degrees F until the edges begin to brown, remove from oven. While this is baking, combine the ingredients for the filling by whisking together the remaining sugar, flour, eggs, lemon zest and juice, and CannTerp’s Limonene terpene isolate. Allow filling to rest while the base is baking, then mix again thoroughly and pour the filling onto the base. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 325 degrees F until the edges begin to brown and filling is set. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Sprinkle with icing sugar and enjoy!
CannTerp is a top terpene resource for buying high-quality terpenes for sale if you’re searching for terpenes near me. We offer a wide variety of terpene products, including terpene isolates, terpene boosters and strain profiles that are perfect for those looking to enjoy the benefits of terpene therapy. Check out CannTerp’s website for more information on terpenes and how they can help you! CannTerp products are made in Canada.
Available online and in various Greater Toronto Area stores