What is a cannabis Sensemillier, and how can you become one as well?

In this article, we will introduce you to the meaning of the term “Sensemillier” and explain what a Sensemillier does and what you can do to become one.

What is a Cannabis Sensemillier?

Chances are, you’ve heard of a wine Sommelier—those wine experts who can recommend the perfect pairing for your meal and explain the subtle differences between a Cabernet and a Merlot. But what does that have to do with cannabis?

The term “Cannabis Sommelier” was borrowed from the liquor industry, particularly the wine sector, where “Wine Sommeliers” are experts in wine education and identification.

“In French, the word Sommelier literally means 'butler," and it's been used since the 19th century to mean 'wine steward' or 'wine waiter.'" - vocabulary.com

Today, a wine Sommelier is recognized as a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, typically working in fine dining establishments. Their responsibilities include:

• Curating wine lists.
• Advising customers on wine choices.
• Serving wine.
• Often managing the wine cellar.

Their expertise usually covers:

• Education on wine history and production
• Sensory evaluation of wine
• Vast knowledge of different wine types and brands
• Selecting different types of wine based on customer preferences

As you can see, the word “Sommelier” is very much linked to the wine industry.

So, does it make sense to use the same terminology for an entirely different drug type like cannabis?

Not really.

After all, we’re dealing with a completely different plant, a different sensory experience, and a whole other set of benefits.

That’s why we would like to introduce you to a new and more accurate term that refers to a highly sophisticated cannabis professional - The Sensemillier.

The term Sensemillier is a blend of the Spanish word “Sinsemilla,” meaning “without seed,” and the English word “senses” or “ to sense,” as a cannabis Sensemillier is a master in using their senses to evaluate every key characteristic of a cannabis plant.

And just like wine sommeliers work with fine wines, Sensemilliers often work with sinsemilla—high-quality, seedless female cannabis plants known for their rich phytochemicals (all the good stuff that makes cannabis so special).

Now that we know what the term Sensemillier means, let’s look at where such a person works, what skills they must have and what they need to know about cannabis.

What does a Cannabis Sensemillier need to know?

A cannabis Sensemillier can be found in every facet of the cannabis industry, whether it’s in a store, at a production facility or amongst passionate cannabis consumers.

In a professional setting, the Sensemillier takes on responsibilities like:

• Curating the product portfolio
• Advising consumers on cannabis choices
• Serving cannabis
• Writing strain cards & product information

Therefore, their expertise needs to cover:

• Education on cannabis history, production and effects
• Sensory evaluation of cannabis
• Vast knowledge of cannabis products and brands
• Selecting different types of cannabis based on customer preference

In addition to these, a Sensemillier must have sufficient social skills and be able to efficiently educate clients and co-workers.

Outside of a professional retail or production setting, a Sensemillier can also become a recognized cannabis reviewer and entrepreneur with the ability to monetize their expertise and product assessments.

To acquire and maintain their unique skillset, Sensemilliers need to combine theoretical cannabis knowledge with first-hand experience of various products and brands.

To do so, the Sensemilliers usually keep a physical or digital journal filled with notes about the things they’ve learned about cannabis and tasting notes about the various products they have tried and assessed. Establishing a cannabis journal helps the Sensemilliers to capture new information and recall relevant strain highlights and cannabis education.

To use the world’s leading digital cannabis journal and assessment tool, visit www.gradingplatform.com

While most of the theoretical cannabis education is based on simple memory recall of different topics, the practical part of a Sensemillier skillset is a lifelong practice of evaluating various cannabis types for their sensory and medical properties.

The evaluation process not only helps the Sensemillier to identify relevant product features but also supports them in building their cannabis assessment skills and flavour palette.

To support aspiring cannabis Sensemilliers with practicing their product assessments, we created the Sensemillier Grading Platform that guides the user through a guided cannabis evaluation while keeping track of all the products they tested.

How to become a Cannabis Sensemillier

Anybody who’s passionate about cannabis and eager to dedicate their time to learning about cannabis and assessing various products can become a Sensemillier.

The path and professional opportunities of a Sensemillier aren’t linear.

While there is a preconceived idea about what a Sensemillier needs to know about cannabis, there are various ways to acquire this essential knowledge.

My path led me through various blogs, articles, books, and certifications to establish a solid foundational cannabis expertise, which improved even further through my rigorous assessment of various cannabis products. I also gained first-hand experience in the industry by working as a budtender, store manager, staff trainer, and on the production team at a facility.

Reaching a point where I felt like I finally really understood the complexity of this plant and its industry has been a lengthy process that led me in and out of the rabbit hole of cannabis education, which is filled with misinformation and irrelevant knowledge that I had to filter through.

Because I didn’t want others to spin in circles as I did, we created the Sensemillier Grading Platform to give upcoming Sensemillers a guided tool that teaches them how to evaluate cannabis quality and stores their records so they can use the product insights they gained to learn more about their personal preferences and create engaging strain cards and product reviews.

Click here to use the Grading Platform for free

For anyone who wants to jumpstart their cannabis career and Senemillier journey, we have also established our Sensemillier Grading Masterclass, which covers the foundational education every cannabis Sensemillier needs to know.

As I said, the path to becoming a Sensemillier isn’t linear. All it takes to monetize your expertise as a cannabis professional and get paid to evaluate and consume cannabis products is a burning desire, passion and the right tools to make it happen. We made it happen, and we’re happy to share the lessons we’ve learned on our path to help you make your Sensemillier dreams come true.

So, if you have any questions, please feel free to message us on Instagram @sensemillier or send us an email to info@sensemillier.com.

We’re looking forward to accompanying you on your cannabis journey.

Resources:

"Sommelier." Vocabulary.com Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/sommelier. Accessed 12 Jun. 2024.