Caryophyllene, often written beta-caryophyllene, is the terpene behind the warm bite of black pepper. If you have ever ground fresh pepper over a plate and felt that little catch in the back of your nose, that is caryophyllene at work. It shows up throughout cannabis and across the spice rack, and it holds a genuinely unusual place in terpene science, because it is the one terpene scientists point to when they want to show that terpenes can do more than smell nice.

Where you find it in nature

Black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, basil, oregano, and rosemary. It is one of the most common terpenes in the food you already eat, which is a big reason it is so thoroughly studied and so well understood from a safety standpoint.

Aroma and flavor

Warm, spicy, and peppery, with a woody edge. It adds depth and a little heat to a flavor profile, the savory counterpoint to brighter, sweeter terpenes. In a chew it reads as the grown-up note, the thing that keeps a sweet flavor from being one-dimensional.

What the research says

• In a landmark 2008 study in PNAS, Gertsch and colleagues reported that beta-caryophyllene binds to the body's CB2 receptor, and described it as a dietary cannabinoid. That is unusual: a terpene that interacts with the endocannabinoid system, without any of the intoxicating activity tied to the CB1 receptor.
• Later work, such as Klauke and colleagues in 2014 in European Neuropsychopharmacology, explored anti-inflammatory and pain-related effects in mice linked to that CB2 activity.
• Caryophyllene is also widely used as an approved flavoring ingredient in food, which is part of why it is so well characterized.

The honest frame is the same as always. The receptor-binding finding is real and genuinely interesting, but the follow-on effect studies are largely in mice, and none of this is a statement about what a chew will do for you. It is what makes caryophyllene a fascinating molecule to read about.

Strains rich in caryophyllene

Caryophyllene is nearly universal in cannabis, but it stands out in the spicier, dessert-leaning strains. Read more about Animal Mints, Lemon Cherry Gelato, and Gelato #33.

Frequently asked questions

Does caryophyllene get you high?

No. Although research shows it can interact with the CB2 receptor, that receptor is not the one responsible for the cannabis high. Caryophyllene is not intoxicating. See do terpenes get you high.

Why is caryophyllene called a dietary cannabinoid?

Because a 2008 study found it binds to the CB2 receptor, part of the endocannabinoid system, which is rare for a terpene. It is dietary because it is common in everyday food like black pepper. It still does not cause a high.

What does caryophyllene smell like?

Warm and peppery with a woody, spicy character, like fresh-ground black pepper and clove.

Caryophyllene in MONDAYS

Look for it in Wild Things (Animal Mints) and Main Squeeze (Lemon Cherry Gelato).

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References

1. Gertsch J, et al. Beta-caryophyllene is a dietary cannabinoid. PNAS. 2008;105(26):9099-9104.
2. Klauke AL, et al. The cannabinoid CB2 receptor-selective phytocannabinoid beta-caryophyllene exerts analgesic effects in mouse models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014;24(4):608-620.
3. Russo EB. Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2011;163(7):1344-1364.