Cannabis can taste cheesy due to a unique combination of terpenes and volatile sulfur compounds that create savory, tangy, and funky flavor profiles reminiscent of aged cheese. This “cheesy” flavor is beloved in many classic strains.

Key Reasons Cannabis Tastes Cheesy:

1. Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs)

These are not terpenes but are often the primary reason behind “cheesy” flavor.

Similar compounds exist in actual dairy cheese (especially aged or moldy varieties. When present in cannabis, they create a pungent, tangy funk.

2. Key Terpenes That Contribute to Cheese-Like Aromas:

Isovaleric acid is responsible for the “footy” or blue cheese-like odor in some strains. Myrcene: Earthy and musky; in high concentrations, it can round out the pungent flavor and enhance richness.