Pairing #1
Sunnies Snickerdoodle Bites paired with Chesapeake Coffee Roasters Bird Friendly Guatemala Blend Coffee
Tannins
Chesapeake Coffee Roasters comes out of Crofton and is a coffee company that’s making a difference. Operating on a mission of sustainability, this bird-friendly line of coffee seeks to preserve natural wildlife habitats. Their Guatemalan blend features the Baltimore Oriole as its mascot and is a medium roast with notes of orange and dark chocolate that make themselves known when you pop open the bag. Upon blending the beans, a slightly sweet yet bitter aroma overtakes your nose and translates onto the palate from the first sip to the last one. The clean energy that a freshly brewed cup of coffee brings is unparalleled to many modern forms of caffeine, like energy drinks, which contain tons of unknown chemicals and useless water-soluble vitamins.
Terpenes
Baked good lovers are still a relatively underserved segment of the Cannabis market here in Maryland, but Sunnies is coming correct with many different flavors. Their Snickerdoodle Bites have a mouthwatering, sweet and delicious gooey interior with a crumbly sugar exterior. At 10 milligrams of THC apiece, these are perfect for beginners dabbling in edibles, while remaining tasty enough that high-dose consumers can rip through the whole bag. The senses are flooded with a cinnamon sugar that lingers, satisfying a classic munchies craving.
The Pairing
Coffee and baked goods go hand in hand, whether you’re taking a bite first and sipping your coffee or dunking the delicious morsel straight into that hot liquid. Texturally, the crunchy bits of sugar and the gooey insides all blend together nicely with a sip of rich and bold coffee. This pairing brings your mind and senses directly toward the feeling of stepping into a coffee shop and smelling the enticing aromas that fill the room.
Testing
10mg THC per bite, 100mg THC per package
sunmedgrowers.com | chesapeake.coffee | @sunmedgrowers.md | @chesapeakecoffeeroasters
Pairing #2
Beezle Bay Area Blend Seasoning paired with George’s Spicy Bloody Mary Mix and George’s Organic Vodka
Tannins
George’s produces their products right here in Frederick. Their Spicy Bloody Mary Mix uses fresh tomatoes, horseradish, lemon juice and Worcestershire, among other natural ingredients. The vodka is six-times distilled and uses water sourced from a limestone-shelved aquifer, giving it a clean and smooth flavor. As with any bloody mary, a garnish of celery and a lemon wedge on the rim bring this cocktail together in perfect harmony. Spicy notes from the horseradish create a savory profile, making this the perfect brunch or lunch adult beverage. For those who don’t drink alcohol, it’s recommended to pair the mixer with a sweet brunch item, like pancakes or waffles.
Terpenes
A Maryland classic, Beezle’s Bay Area Blend seasoning smells and tastes like Maryland from the second the bag is ripped open. The aroma coming out of the package is very similar to J.O. Crab House Spice or Old Bay seasoning, giving this product endless possibilities in its uses. I like to dump the entire packet of seasoning into a measuring cup or use tablespoons to get as close as possible to a defined dose. They also include a scooper in each package to portion out 5-milligram doses. With 100mg of THC in each package, you can coat your proteins with it, sprinkle it on a freshly made batch of chocolate or really use it in anything that requires a salty seasoning.
The Pairing
Maryland restaurants commonly use Chesapeake Bay seasonings as the rim on their bloody marys, so this pairing was the first-and-best thing that came to mind when pairing a seasoning with a beverage. This combination utilizes a small amount of THC compared to what’s in the entire package, so as to not overdo it when combining with the alcohol in the bloody mary. As you sip the spicy bloody mary, the Bay Area Blend seasoning adds a little Maryland kick to the flavor profile. Dusting a little bit of the blend on top of the cocktail really pulls the flavor together in harmony.
Testing
5mg THC per scoop, 100mg THC per package
beezlebrands.com | georgesbeveragecompany.com | @beezlebrands_east | @georgesbevco
Pairing #3
Nature’s Heritage Strawberry Jelly Live Rosin paired with Red Shedman Farm Brewery Blueberry Lemon Cider
Tannins
After recovering from a devastating fire in September 2024, Red Shedman Farm Brewery is coming back stronger than ever. Their new beer shed is under construction, and supporting a small, locally owned brewery like this one is something everyone in Maryland can get behind. Their blueberry lemon cider is extremely unique, differentiating itself from a classic hard apple cider flavor and venturing into a whole different side of the fruit spectrum. The blueberry hits your tongue on the first sip, creating a sweet, lush mouthfeel accompanied by hints of zesty lemon. While some beers and ciders create a filling sensation in your stomach, this one was an easy drink from start to finish.
Terpenes
Nature’s Heritage has been grinding hard in the lab, bringing forth better versions and strains of their solventless line with each drop. Strawberry Jelly is a cross between Sour Strawberry and Jelly Breath, which feels like an evenly balanced hybrid. The name is true to the flavor and aroma, reminiscent of popping off the lid from a fresh batch of jam from the farmers market. The effects were energizing and lifted the spirit, making this a tool in my tool belt for a clean and consistent smoke during the day.
The Pairing
Sweet and sour are the name of the game with this pairing, combining the sweet notes of strawberry and blueberry with the energizing effects and lemony zest in the cider. After taking a dab of the rosin and sipping on the seltzer, a candy flavor lingered in my mouth and made me want to go back for another. When the effects of the rosin and the buzz of the cider came together, the unity created a relaxation made for a day spent on the beach lounging in the sun.
Testing
Total cannabinoids 84.59%, total terpenes 8.71%
naturesheritagecannabis.com | redshedman.com | @naturesheritage_ | @redshedmanbrewery
Pairing #4
Fade Co. Dirty 30 Flower paired with Linganore Chardonnay Reserve 2024
Tannins
Made using 100% chardonnay grapes, this wine took home the gold medal in the 2020 and 2021 Governor’s Cup and a double gold in the 2016 Governor’s Cup. They use their very best grapes in this particular wine, creating a nose of oak and vanilla that intertwine with a balanced acidity and notes of crisp green apple. The palate is flooded with notes of caramel and butterscotch that can’t be missed with each sip. Being fermented in French oak, ideal for tannin extraction, makes this the perfect wine for pairing with food and, of course, some high-quality Cannabis.
Terpenes
The Holy Grail strain line from Fade Co. is some of the best Cannabis they produce time and time again. GMO and Cookies n’ Cream make up Dirty 30, bringing out luscious aromas that are creamy, gassy and have a slight hint of earthiness lingering. When smoking this flower, a caramelly, dough-like flavor lingers in the mouth from puff to puff and long after smoking. Minutes after smoking a joint, a sense of calm began to work its way into my mind and body, making this ideal for winding down at the end of a long day.
The Pairing
The caramel flavor deep within this chardonnay blends together swimmingly with the rich, gassy profile of the flower. There is a certain sharpness to dry white wine that accompanies the smoothness to a strong baked-good-like Cannabis strain. After a long day, some of us wind down with a nice glass of wine, and some of us wind down with a hit off the bowl or a joint. This pairing brings the best of both worlds together, relaxing the mind and body while settling my thoughts for a peaceful night at home.
Testing
Total cannabinoids 34.19%, total terpenes 3.682%
thefadecompany.com | linganorewines.com | @fadecoofficial | @linganorewinecellars
Pairing #5
Moment Kandiez Flower paired with HEX Ferments Butterfly Lime Kombucha
Tannins
HEX Ferments is a well-known Maryland staple in the kombucha world, and a mainstay at farmers markets around the state. They produce a wide variety of fermented beverages and vegetables, including kombucha, krauts and sauerkrauts, pickles, kimchi and more. Butterfly pea flowers, organic lime juice and organic honey dance their way into a sweet combination perfect for those just getting into drinking kombucha. The flavor is dominantly floral, with a tart back end similar to a Smarties candy. Visit the HEX Superette market and cafe in North Baltimore city for an informed kombucha tasting along with a slew of delicious food offerings.
Terpenes
Flower from Moment has quickly been climbing the ranks among Maryland’s favorite products since its launch earlier this year. Kandiez is a cross between Gelato and Zkittlez, producing an aroma true to its name, similar to that of a Purple Punch. While candy is the dominant flavor that comes to mind when smoking it, there is a gassy element to this flower that is unique and powerful. The resinous buds are completely coated in trichomes, making the bag appeal just as enticing as the aroma. While the high starts out with an uplifted mood, it begins to take hold as a sedating and soothing effect in the mind.
The Pairing
This pairing leans heavily into the sweet side of both the kombucha and the flower, blending to make an irresistibly sugary flavor profile. As a nonalcoholic pairing, it was hard to put down the bottle of kombucha after just one glass. This allows you to dive deeper into the flower, which also had such a strong flavor and aroma that it was tempting to roll joint after joint. The slight hoppiness to the kombucha also paired extremely well with the lingering gas in the background of the Kandiez flavor profile.
Testing
25.72% Total Cannabinoids and 1.53% Total Terpenes
momentmaryland.com | hexferments.com | @momentmaryland | @hexferments
