What Is Terp Sauce & How Does it Work?
Nov 19, 2020 | Save On Cannabis
Terp sauce
Terp sauce—or “sauce,” as it’s commonly called—is one of the rising stars in the world of cannabis concentrates. If you’re looking for a seriously potent extract that will make your regular dabs seem weak by comparison, you might want to give this magic elixir a try. But first, we need to break down the fundamentals. What is terp sauce? How is terp sauce made? And what does it do for you from a psychoactive and therapeutic standpoint?
Terp Sauce Definition
Terp sauce is a highly concentrated cannabis extract, similar to wax and shatter. But unlike the concentrates you’re used to, terp sauce has a higher terpene concentration and a lower cannabinoid concentration. In fact, a typical terp sauce is more than 50% terpenes.
It’s a sticky, gelatinous liquid, usually with a golden or amber color. Rather than being a smooth liquid, terp sauce resembles a collection of small crystals. These crystals are formed by the cannabinoids, which collect in clusters to separate themselves from the terpenes.
What Is a Terpene?
Terp sauce is a terpene-based extract, but what exactly is a terpene? In short, terpenes are the organic compounds that give cannabis and all plants their familiar scents and flavors. More than 100 terpenes have been identified in the cannabis plant, the most common of which include:
- A-Pinene
- β-Caryophyllene
- β-Myrcene
- Limonene
- Terpinolene
- Linalool
- Humulene
- Citronellol
If your cannabis has an aroma similar to a pine tree, it’s probably rich in pinene. If it has a citrusy smell, it might be rich in limonene. If it has more of a cracked pepper smell, it likely contains a high concentration of caryophyllene. Each strain has a different aroma because it has a different terpene profile.
But terpenes don’t just smell good. They also have their own effects on the mind and body. For example:
- Limonene has been associated with stress relief
- Pinene may help with focus and alertness
- Myrcene has been shown to help promote relaxation
- Caryophyllene may have an anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effect
When terpenes combine with cannabinoids like THC and CBD, they’re believed to promote a synergistic reaction known as the entourage effect. This basically means that the compounds working together are greater than the sum of their parts. As an example, the anti-inflammatory properties of caryophyllene may combine with the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD for much greater inflammation support.
While the entourage effect is largely still a theory, there’s a lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest that it carries real weight. This is another reason why terp sauce is so popular. It brings out the cannabinoids and terpenes in their purest form to create a truly potent cocktail.
What Does Terp Sauce Do for You?
Because terp sauce consists of cannabis in its concentrated form, it’s an extremely potent extract. Although it typically has less THC than wax and shatter, it still contributes to a powerful high due to the unique and potent concentration of compounds—not to mention the fact that terpenes enhance the effects of THC.
Terp sauce is the preferred extract among terpene enthusiasts because it’s the only major concentrate in which the terpenes are carefully preserved rather than lost. Terpenes degrade at high temperatures, which is why most standard concentrates have very little if any terp concentration. Terp sauce is extracted at low temperatures, ensuring that the effects of the terpenes are preserved—including the aromas, flavors, and mind-body benefits.
If you use cannabis for medicinal purposes, you’ll likely find terp sauce to be a favorable alternative to traditional concentrates. It’s more therapeutic and slightly less psychoactive. It’s quite literally like vaping cannabis-enriched essential oils.
How Is Terp Sauce Made?
Unlike hash and kief, terp sauce is not a concentrate you can make at home. It’s created using a highly involved butane extraction process. The terp sauce extraction process separates the cannabinoids and terpenes from each other.
Live resin from the cannabis trichomes is first cured and flash-frozen. The material is then inserted into an extraction tube and placed over a filter. The butane or other solvent is then pushed through the tube, allowing the liquid concentrate to pass through the filter and into a separate container.
The extract is then stored in an airtight jar in a dark location just above room temperature. Over the course of a few weeks, THCa crystals emerge as the terpenes are separated from the cannabinoids. Finally, the solvent is removed and the terpenes and cannabinoids are recombined.
How Do You Consume Terp Sauce?
If you already have experience with dabbing, you should have no trouble with terp sauce. The sauce works with any conventional dab rig and e-nail. Just insert your concentrate, heat the dab rig with your e-nail, and enjoy the soothing vapor. A dab pen will also do the trick.
If you don’t have a dab rig, you can purchase one inexpensively from a number of retailers. Dr. Dabber is an industry leader for dab rigs, e-nails, bangers, and other high-quality dabbing equipment. For instance, they offer the state-of-the-art Switch Vaporizer Kit, which features a revolutionary, patent-pending induction heating element for both oils and flowers. It’s incredibly versatile and simple to use, even for the total beginner.
Just visit Dr. Dabber and use our coupon code DD15 to get 15% off the Switch and everything else in their inventory.
Note: When trying terp sauce or any concentrate, it’s important to start with a very low dosage and increase gradually as your tolerance builds. It can be difficult to measure precise dosage since THC concentrations can vary, but you should literally start with a dose no bigger than a crumb.
How Much Does Terp Sauce Cost?
Terp sauce is one of the costlier extracts available due to its extremely high quality, its scarcity in the marketplace, and the complexity involved in creating it. Many dispensaries still don’t even carry it due to its cost and volatility, so if you do find it, it’s a bit of a goldmine. Expect to pay at least $50 per gram, often far more.
If you find it in your local dispensary, read the label carefully and ask questions. Make sure you’re getting real terp sauce. Similar, cheaper concentrates are often marketed as “sauce” even though they don’t preserve the full terpene profile. Make sure the product comes with a certificate of analysis from a third-party lab.
Where Can You Buy Terp Sauce?
Terp sauce is becoming increasingly popular, but it can still be difficult to find. If your local dispensary doesn’t carry it, there are a few online retailers that offer it. Herb Approach is one of your best options. They have arguably the best selection of terp sauces and high-terpene extracts in North America, and the prices are more than reasonable.
If in Canada and you use our exclusive coupon code HA10, you can get 10% off your terp sauces and other products at the Herb Approach website. Try terp sauce for yourself, and discover why so many people are raving about this up-and-coming concentrate.
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