Steam Distillation
Steam distillation is an extraction method rather than a terpene itself, but it's the traditional technique used to isolate volatile aromatic compounds from cannabis plant material. In this process, steam passes through dried flower or trim, carrying terpenes into a condenser where they separate from water. Steam distillation is valued in breeding research and terpene profiling because it preserves heat-sensitive compounds better than some alternative extraction methods, though higher temperatures can still degrade or isomerize certain volatile molecules. This method has been used for decades in cannabis research labs and essential oil production to create terpene profiles for analytical comparison.
Steam Distillation strains
No strains tagged into Steam Distillation yet — they'll appear here as breeders submit lineage records under this terpene.
Steam distillation is an extraction method rather than a terpene itself, but it's the traditional technique used to isolate volatile aromatic compounds from cannabis plant material. In this process, steam passes through dried flower or trim, carrying terpenes into a condenser where they separate from water. Steam distillation is valued in breeding research and terpene profiling because it preserves heat-sensitive compounds better than some alternative extraction methods, though higher temperatures can still degrade or isomerize certain volatile molecules. This method has been used for decades in cannabis research labs and essential oil production to create terpene profiles for analytical comparison.
Breeders and geneticists use steam distillation to create standardized terpene libraries for strain documentation and lineage verification. Understanding terpene composition via steam distillation helps breeders select parents with desired aromatic profiles and track trait inheritance across generations.
Educational reference · Cultivar metadata only · No medical claims