Trichome Institute, the school for weed sommeliers

In Denver, the «Trichome Institute» trains the sommeliers of the future. Forget about grand cru wines from obscure cellars—here, the job involves tasting and smelling weed. By the end of their training, students are able to recommend specific strains of weed to pair with different foods.

My job? Sniffing weed

At the «Trichome Institute,» students train their noses. The challenges of the training lie in recognizing strains by their scent and then knowing which foods to pair them with.  The curriculum covers learning about the different strains, their physical characteristics, their average cannabinoid content, the dominant terpenes in each strain, their effects, their flavors, and—most importantly—how to pair them with food. To distinguish between those who are simply curious and those hoping to build a career in the field, the «Trichome Institute» offers three levels of certification.

Level 1 is more of an introduction to the general culture of weed: what are terpenes and  cannabinoids?, a history of cannabis, and a free book on the science of cannabis. Basically, a tourist trap. Accessible from $165

On the other hand, Level 2 of the Trichome Institute allows weed enthusiasts to fully immerse themselves in cannabis culture. Contest participants can take Level 1 and then Level 2 right away if they wish. To earn Level 2 certification, students must be able to identify strains and assess their quality by smell and appearance. The test lasts 45 minutes. If a candidate fails, they may retake the test for 30$.

Once Level 2 has been achieved, the contestant can move on to Level 3. At this point, the fun is over. The candidate must know the different terpenes found in strains, the flavors and aromas they release when consumed, their potential food pairings, and their geographical and historical origins.

One of the graduates of this program, Phillip Wolf, has just opened his own fine-dining restaurant. For him, weed is just another ingredient in the meal. On the menu at his restaurant, $125 and $250, fresh food, wine, and cannabis. In his view, pairing cannabis with wine is more in line with fine dining than pairing a strong alcoholic beverage with a meal. According to him, white chocolate crème brûlée would pair perfectly with Blue Dream.

Most students use their certification to serve on the judging panels at the various Cannabis Cups in Colorado.

Théo Caillart