Pearl Mini cannabis-infused vitamin water lets you infuse beverages or food with with a mix of THC and CBD. They call it a food and beverage “mixer”. The small vial of white liquid is made with water, vitamins, THC and CBD cannabis extracts. Each vial of the Mini contains 2.5ml (0.08 fl oz) of liquid containing 10mg of THC and 10mg of CBD.
This mixer has 0 calories, no sugar, fat or cholesterol. As of October 2018, Pearl minis are available in CA and WA, made with SoRSE, which described by the maker Tarukino Holdings Inc. as “the first and only technology that produces entirely taste- and odor-free cannabis emulsions for infusion of medical and recreational products”.
Pearl20 should be refrigerated after opening and my dispensary keeps it refrigerated to keep it as fresh as possible.
Taste
There is a cute little insert card inside the package that says “Pearl is for mixing, not drinking straight. Mix with any of your favorite food or beverages”. This product is meant to spike your choice of beverage or food, not be taken straight.
Pearl20 is meant to be mixed with something, however for purposes of testing, I did take a small taste. While the website says “no weed taste”, that was not my experience of it straight from the container. If you have ever tasted cannabis oil, that is basically what this tastes like to me, plus a bit of a vitamin taste. It is very subtle and most folks wouldnt notice the taste. Pearl20 is not a product to take on its own, like a tincture.
Once mixed into a drink or food, the taste is barely noticeable when added to strongly flavored beverages. If you are very taste sensitive you might taste it in something bland like rice, otherwise it really is practically tasteless when mixed with any but the blandest food and drink.
If you are very sensitive to tastes, it is always wise to choose your beverage carefully. This may not be the time for that delicate jasmine green tea or cucumber-infused water. Something with a stronger taste is called for with this drinkable product. Some good choices for me have been iced coffee with almond milk, a cafe latte with cocoa and/or cinnamon or a cold plant protein drink.
I didn’t try it in food, but again I would look for food with a strong flavor, not add it to anything bland.
I’ve heard that salad dressing is one of the best ways to use THC like this, so you don’t heat it and reduce effectiveness. Maybe it’s time to try that homemade lemon vinaigrette? My favorite is a ginger lime cilantro dressing, so that may be how I try it with food. I’ll post about that separately.
Effect
As I understand it, CBD helps THC work and it also inhibits THC from having its full impact. Since this is a one-to-one (1:1) ratio of THC to CBD, I found the effect not as strong as other 10mg THC products that don’t contain CBD. I do appreciate the extra impact of the CBD, helping to reduce pain caused by inflammation and other benefits.
This is another product that is not labeled with the name of any specific strain or even if the canna is used is Indica, Sativa or a hybrid. The effects were very mild for me, I would guess it was a balanced hybrid as it didn’t not make me sleepy like an Indica or make me want to dance like some Sativas. My experience has been clear-headed, slightly uplifted and also relaxed. Munchies were not too much of a problem as the mild effect was also mild in that department.
Impression
I like how portable the pearl mini is, and it can go without refrigeration for one year until it is open, so it could be a good choice if you’re looking for portability. If you are sensitive to ingesting THC or you are not sure of your tolerance, a product like this can be a good place to start. You could take half of the dose then wait 2 hours to judge the impact if you were not familiar with it. If a mild dose of THC plus some CBD effects is what you are looking for in an edible or drinkable, this could be a great fit.
Choice
I love that you can now decide what food and drinks you want to make cannabis-infused. For beverages you are not limited to the mostly soda- and beer-like drinks that are infused with cannabis, you can infuse your own recipes for ginger honey lemonade, kombucha, even your favorite mocktails!
Even though I love to cook, I have not been one to try making my own edibles. Having a convenient size like this that provides a measured dose makes me more willing to try cooking with it. I hope they make this in an Indica or Sativa version at some point, even better some strain-specific versions.
Strength: 6
Flavor: 0
Website: pearl2o.com
This time Alton shared Origin Mexican Chocolate & Pepita clusters. These clusters come in eight servings, each 10mg doses per bag. When I first started eating the clusters all I could taste were the oats and seeds (pumpkin and hemp). Then, I focused on the hint of dark chocolate. There’s a vague cannabis taste. These clusters are flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg and chili. Sadly, I had flashbacks to the hard, dry, Nature Valley granola bars. That is not a compliment.
Once you get over the dryness of the product, Origin Mexican Chocolate Pepitas provide a strong, body high that is relaxing and enjoyable. I’d definitely try these again and would recommend that you try them if you see them at your dispensary too!
More Than Buds 