Why Do Chocolate Edibles Hit Harder?

March 07, 2024

When it comes to edibles, we all know that the taste and type can vastly impact the overall experience. Chocolate edibles have developed a reputation for hitting harder and faster than other types. But why is that exactly? Let's break down the science behind why chocolate edibles seem to have an extra kick.

The Role of Fat

One of the main reasons chocolate edibles hit harder is due to their high fat content. Cocoa butter, which gives chocolate its signature creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture, is loaded with fat. And THC, the primary active component in cannabis, binds exceptionally well to fat molecules.

• Eating foods high in fat helps the THC get absorbed more readily, so it can take effect faster.
• Edibles made with cannabis butter or oils allow the THC to dissolve in the lipid-rich mixture.
• With chocolate, the fat is already present in abundance, meaning the THC gets a free ride through your digestive system.
• The cocoa butter helps shuttle the THC molecules, so they can be processed quicker to reach your bloodstream and brain.

Other types of edibles like gummies often use corn syrup, sugar, or fruit juices as their base. Without a fatty component for the THC to cling to, it takes longer for absorption to occur.

Emulsifiers Like Lecithin

In addition to fat, chocolate also contains emulsifiers like lecithin that help the THC take effect more quickly.

1. Lecithin is a substance found in eggs, soy, and other foods that has powerful surface-acting properties.
2. It works as either an emulsifier or instantizer by helping bind together substances that don't normally mix, like oil and water.
3. The lecithin found naturally in cocoa powder allows the THC to spread itself out more evenly throughout the chocolate.
4. This increased distribution profile improves bioavailability, meaning more of the THC makes it into your system for absorption rather than passing through unmetabolized.
5. Lecithin also enables THC to dissolve more readily in water and saline solutions, allowing the THC molecules to more easily penetrate barriers and pass through mucous membranes.

So, not only does lecithin help the THC mix evenly in chocolate before you ingest it, but it may also help carry it through membranes once consumed. This one-two punch is likely a key reason why chocolate edibles have such a notorious reputation for hitting hard and fast.

Inhibiting THC Breakdown

Chocolate contains other compounds like flavonoids and antioxidants that can inhibit certain liver enzymes involved in breaking down foreign substances. Specifically, dark chocolate seems to inhibit an enzyme called cytochrome P450 3A4, or CYP3A4 for short.

• This enzyme metabolizes nearly 60% of clinically administered drugs.
• It also plays a starring role in breaking down THC so it can eventually get eliminated from your system.
• Dark chocolate can bind to CYP3A4 and hinder its ability to process chemicals.

By slowing down the breakdown of THC by CYP3A4, chocolate allows the THC to remain active in your system for longer. Rather than getting metabolized quickly, more THC stays circulating to continually stimulate cannabinoid receptors and build up stronger effects. This extended exposure adds to why chocolate edibles deliver such a potent punch.

Boosting Your Endocannabinoid System

Here's another way chocolate may intensify the effects of THC—by priming your endocannabinoid system (ECS) for stronger responses.

• The ECS consists of endocannabinoids produced within our own bodies, enzymes that build and break them down, and various receptors they bind to in order to regulate vital processes.
• Our ECS helps modulate everything from hormonal activity to pain perception, immune function, stress response, digestion, and even cognition.
• The two most well-studied endocannabinoids are called anandamide and 2-AG. They fit into cannabinoid receptors throughout the ECS to fine-tune various biological functions.
• THC causes intoxication and other cannabis effects by mimicking our natural endocannabinoids. It can bind to the same receptors, activating them more strongly and for longer than endocannabinoids would.
• Some research indicates chocolate may increase levels of the "bliss" endocannabinoid anandamide.

Higher anandamide could mean amplifying baseline tone of the ECS, so receptors bind more readily with THC when it's later consumed. It primes the system for overdrive once the chocolate edible releases THC. So, by boosting your own endocannabinoids, chocolate paves the way for THC to have an even bigger impact.

The Placebo Effect

Of course, we can't discount the power of the mind when it comes to edibles. The placebo effect plays a huge role in shaping drug experiences. If you believe chocolate edibles will hit you harder, then they likely will. Those positive expectations can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

• Eating chocolate triggers neurochemical changes like a spike in serotonin and endorphins.
• There's an ingrained fondness for chocolate's sweet, creamy flavor. It lights up reward circuits in the brain similar to other addictive substances.
• When eating chocolate edibles, that familiar rush of pleasure gets amplified by the THC high.
• The long-standing cultural associations between chocolate and love or celebration also seep into the experience.
• Receiving chocolate is seen as a gift or token of affection. These collective associations make chocolate feel special or extra indulgent.

So, when combining chocolate's distinctive sensory appeal with cannabis' intoxicating effects, it feels like more of a treat. Eating a chocolate edible signals to your brain this will be a powerful high—and that belief shapes your reality. Expectations plus sensory pleasure make for a hard-hitting edible experience.

The Importance of Quality Ingredients

At the end of the day, while chocolate does seem to have unique properties enhancing the way edibles affect people, the actual strain of cannabis and precision of dosing matters most. A poorly made chocolate edible containing weak cannabis oil or inaccurate THC amounts won't magically be stronger.

You need high-quality chocolate and cannabis oil combined properly to harness chocolate's full flavor and potency potential. Not all chocolate edibles on the market live up to these standards. Low purity extraction solvents, harsh drying methods, and uneven mixing practices degrade terpenes and cannabinoids.

Many mass-produced edibles rely on distillate oil containing concentrated THC with most terpenes stripped out. While this standardized approach allows for consistent dosing, it sacrifices the entourage effect of full-spectrum cannabis' rich chemical diversity. Quality certainly trumps quantity when it comes to choosing the right chocolate edible.

The Perfect Pairing

That's why for the ultimate chocolate edible experience, you need a brand combining stellar confections with expert cannabis oil formulations. Retro Bakery artfully masters this pairing by creating hand-crafted chocolate treats infused with specially optimized cannabis extracts.

• They select cocoa beans to craft premium chocolate, allowing signature flavor profiles to shine through.
• Their chocolatiers temper each batch carefully to achieve that glossy snap and smooth, creamy melt-in-your-mouth texture chocolate lovers crave.
• These artisanal delights get infused with tailored cannabis oils made using top-shelf flowers.
• Retro Bakery offers chocolate edibles dosed with stimulating sativa, relaxing indica, or balanced hybrid cannabis strains.
• Their diverse formulas allow you to match your mood and needs.
• Thanks to precise measurements stated clearly in milligrams of THC per piece, you can confidently titrate your dose.

So, don't deny yourself the pleasures of rich, velvety chocolate just because you want an edible. With Retro Bakery's chocolate edibles made from scratch with high-grade cannabis oil, you truly can have the best of both worlds! The science doesn't lie—when it comes to edibles, chocolate hits harder. Indulge in exquisite flavor and amplified effects by treating yourself to artisanal chocolate edibles from Retro Bakery today.