Terpenes and Teas: Exploring the Relationship Between Cannabinoids and Catechins

This was initially published in the 6h Issue of Extraction Magazine published in 2019 and is being shared for educational purposes on this blog. Please cite as Bone, CB “Terpenes and Teas: Exploring the Relationship between Cannabinoids and Catechins” Extraction Magazine, Jan./Feb. 2019, Volume 2: Issue 6; 44–45.

Cannabis and hemp extract beverages are taking markets by storm to consumer and patient delight. Many of these beverages utilize cutting-edge technology to create versions of various cannabinoids that behave as if they are water-soluble, such as the numerous “CBD Waters” available at various retail, online, and other outlets. However, outside of the “Ready-to-Drink” assortment of THC and CBD beverages are steeped beverages, which include various types of ground and whole bean coffee as well as whole and loose leaf teas. As a manufacturer of THC-infused tea products with the Upward Cannabis Kitchen in Portland, Oregon, I have become intimately familiar with the synergistic relationship between these two plants, and have become a strong proponent of cannabinoid tisanes (i.e., herbal teas).

Teas are aromatic beverages made by pouring hot water over different types of plants. They have a long cultural history as herbal remedies in various Eastern cultures. As a beverage, tea incorporates a variety of sensory elements, including the heat of the water used to extract the delicate chemicals from the plants; the mouthfeel and texture of the liquor after the tea is steeped; as well as the aroma of the plant and drink—thereby creating a drinking experience that is holistically pleasant. Cultivation and preparatory techniques are crucial to creating proper beverages, and the potential blends (e.g., combinations of aromatics, tea cultivars, and other flavors) of teas are nearly endless. While the potential parallels between tea cultivars and cannabis cultivars are certainly worth discussing, the biochemistry of the two plants continues to be explored. From a cultural standpoint, both plants share the role of a health aid with tremendous social value. Delving deeper, these similarities persist as both plants contain a hearty array of similar compounds, the most important of which, for this discussion, are the catechins and cannabinoids, two defining classes of molecules that dominate these plants respectively. Catechins are a type of antioxidant that has been well-studied as a disease preventative and a scavenger of free radicals. A 2009 study illustrated how catechins operate through direct and indirect cell modulation and work in harmony with other flavonoids to magnify impact, similar to the way the endocannabinoid system relies on allosteric modulation. [1]

The most significant connection between the two is arguably their unique dynamic when combined. Cannabis exerts its effects by acting on the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). We have begun to learn more about how this system functions in the body. A popular metaphor to explain the interaction between the plant and body is the “Lock-And-Key,” where THC and CBD, acting as exogenous neurotransmitters, are the specifically shaped “keys” to the “locks” that are the body’s endocannabinoid receptors. While we can follow the metaphor further to say that, from this connection, a variety of potential medicinal benefits are “unlocked,” the nuances of ECS metabolism are certainly far more complex and in need of study.

As such, the research is still not completely positive. A 2010 study considering tea catechin’s affinity for cannabis receptors documented a modulating effect on the CB1 receptor. [2] Another study from that same year, however, failed to validate these findings. [3] The article, which focused on addressing other plants thought to contain cannabinoids, did discuss how the polyphenol content of tea may have modulating effects on the ECS, yet singular findings can’t be conclusive. Even though the science is still being sorted, the benefits of a warm cup of tea should not be dismissed, especially if only as an extension of a cannabis consumption ritual.

For many, the aroma of a cup of tea invokes a cascade of pleasant images and memories creating a sense of comfort. For those without these experiences, though, the aromatherapy aspect of tea is still an added benefit of the beverage. When crafting our Upward Indica blend, we add a touch of relaxing lavender (the plant most associated with the terpene linalool, which has been documented as a mild sedative in research contexts) to provide an aromatic nose and start the consumer’s experience from the moment they open the package.

The blend we use from our partners at the Jasmine Pearl Tea Company includes delicate white teas (high in catechins) and chamomile, another sedating herb. While less tangible benefits accompany drinking tea, such as the meditative effects of slowing down to brew a beverage, the sociability of tea, the warmth it brings internally and externally, as well as the benefits of hydration and satiation that come with it all combine to make it a healthy drink.

As the cold weather season descends on us, consider stopping by your local tea shop to pick up a quality tisane. I recommend using the same questions and mindset you would take when looking for a cannabis or hemp product in terms of flavor and effect; you may be surprised at how far this will get you in finding a good “match-a.” Further incorporating tea into your cannabis ritual can mean brewing a cup if a capsule hasn’t taken effect or a topical isn’t providing the complete sense of relief, rather than potentially over-consuming. Furthermore, when dealing with cannabinoid distillate and isolate, the robust entourage of tea can compensate for the lack of other plant terpenes.

Finally, when access to cannabinoids may be difficult, consider how scientists have come to recognize beta-caryophyllene, a major terpene in cannabis plants, as a modulator of the endocannabinoid system. Beta-caryophyllene meanwhile can also be found in spices like black pepper and cloves, making beverages like hemp milk chai lattes “Near Spectrum” cannabinoid products!

References

[1] Bode and Dong, “Epigallocatechin 3-Gallate and Green Tea Catechins: United They Work, Divided They Fail”, Cancer Prevention Research, 2009, 2(6): 514-517.

[2] Korte et al., “Tea catechins’ affinity for human cannabinoid receptors”, Phytomedicine, 2010, 17(1):19- 22.

[3] Gertsch et al., “Phytocannabinoids beyond the Cannabis plant – do they exist?”, British Journal of Pharmacology, 2010, 160(3): 523–529.