Terp Sauce – A Guide to Full Flavour Concentrates
The growing variety of cannabis extracts and concentrates offers consumers more choice than ever in the Canadian cannabis industry. Shatter, wax, and distillates are most likely common knowledge, but the less potent and more flavorful concentrate known as ‘terp sauce’ might not be as well known!
Terpene sauce is an underrated concentrate that’s distinct from the rest of its flavour and aroma, but many do not know what it is or what makes it so special.
Today, we’ll be focusing on this terpene-packed, flavour-forward concentrate and discuss how this cannabis extract is made and what makes it so unique!
What is Terp Sauce?
Terp sauce is a concentrate made from the cannabis plant that contains more than 50% terpenes by weight.
Terp sauce has a viscous, syrupy texture with crystal-like granules floating within the mixture, hence its name. It’s also known as a High Terpene Full Spectrum Extract (HTFSE), which is an extract that retains the full cannabinoid and terpene profile of its original cannabis material.
Cannabis terpenes are the flavour and scent-producing compounds found in cannabis plants. These naturally occurring compounds are present within many plants and trees and are responsible for creating their unique aromas.
This applies to cannabis as well, and research suggests that when interacting with cannabinoids and our endocannabinoid system, terpenes could produce synergistic effects known as the ‘entourage effect.’
In addition to delivering excellent taste and aroma, cannabis concentrates high in terpenes and cannabinoids other than THC and CBD could potentially provide different targeted effects, as suggested by research on the entourage effect.
How is Terp Sauce Made?
Like many other cannabis concentrates, terp sauce production begins with a ‘blasting process’ which exposes high-quality cannabis flower to extraction solvents.
These solvents can include alcohol, ethanol, and CO2, which filters, separates, and extracts the cannabis flower’s terpenes and cannabinoids from the plant material. The result is an aromatic, amber-coloured liquid packed with terpenes and cannabinoids.
This liquid is stored in a cool, dark place as the separation process occurs. This process, also known as ‘diamond mining,’ allows the cannabinoids contained within the yet-to-be-finished terp sauce to separate from the terpenes and form diamonds on the bottom. The THC diamonds crystallize on the bottom, and the terpenes form a ‘sauce’ that collects on top.
Once the diamond mining process is complete, the sauce and the THC diamonds are collected and purged to remove any remaining solvents. After purging, the diamonds and the sauce can be recombined to produce a terp sauce rich in THCA or sold separately as different products.
It’s important to note that the separation process does not remove and separate all of the cannabinoids within terp sauce. Even though terp sauce’s main draw is its terpene content, it still has a formidable THC content, ranging from 30-50%.
What’s Unique About Terpene Sauce?
The role of terpenes play within cannabis is still being investigated, but research does suggest that it plays a small part in modulating the experience.
Like different plants, different cannabis strains have different terpene profiles. These terpenes are responsible for the various aromas, flavours, and effects that different cannabis strains can provide.
In cannabis, the terpene profile is as essential as the cannabinoids themselves.
Within the cannabis world, terpene profiles are largely dismissed in favour of higher cannabinoid content. In comparison, terpene sauce focuses specifically on the terpenes, allowing connoisseurs to experience the bouquet of flavours and aromas that a higher terpene content provides.
As previously discussed, the ‘entourage effect’ also plays a role in terp sauce’s appeal.
The synergy between the cannabis plant’s terpenes, the other cannabinoids and chemicals found within the plant, and our endocannabinoid system work together to affect the cannabis experience altogether.
Since terpene sauce has an incredibly high terpene content, you can expect this effect to act more substantially.
How to Consume Terp Sauce
There are a variety of ways to enjoy the consumption of terp sauce.
Terp sauce can be consumed in vape cartridges known as ‘sauce carts’ to allow for quick and easy consumption. The most popular method is vaporizing via a dab rig. Adding a bit of terp sauce to a dry flower joint, bong, or pipe, also known as ‘twaxxing,’ is also popular.
All About the Terpenes
For those who are serious about their terpenes, there is no match for terp sauce. The name tells you everything you need to know, as this sticky liquid comes packed with terpenes.
Whether you smoke, vape, or dab this sauce, you’ll be able to experience the freshest flavour profile available. Whereas other cannabis concentrates focus on the cannabinoid content, terpene sauce focuses on maximum flavour.
Available in THC and CBD varieties, terpene sauce is a cannabis concentrate that’s all about the terpenes.