Written by Heather Ritchie
August 6, 2018
Terp sauce is the latest cannabis concentrate to hit the marketplace. Some think it ranks above other concentrates having just the right combination of terpenes and cannabinoids. Considered a“high terpene full-spectrum extract (HTFSE),” terp sauce provides a unique experience to those who consume because it provides a balanced mixture of terpenes, cannabinoids, and other trichome biomolecules.
To be considered an HTFSE, Dr. Daniel Hayden, founder of Extractioneering, says that the process should only use dried or cured plant material. Extractioneering has had their sauce tested and says that their product is the only one that actually contains a full spectrum of terpenes and cannabinoids. Many people use raw or flash-frozen plant matter though because the material preserves more terpenes than cured or dried cannabis.
How it’s Made This concentrate is created by using a butane extraction of typically fresh, flash-frozen cannabis, thereby creating live resin. Instead of putting the product in the oven, it's left to age. Once it starts to age, the THCA forms crystals or “diamonds” and the terpenes are pressed into a liquid, or “sauce”. The terpene liquid runs through the extraction process again to boost its terpene content, creating a fragrant concentrate, with terpene concentrations that have been reported to be as high as 60%, sometimes more. While terpene concentrations can reach those levels, more often, Hayden says that “50% cannabinoids, 20-30% terpenes, and 20-30% other trichrome cannabis biomolecules is best.” Even the most popular concentrate has flaws, and for terp sauce, the problems are with the viscosity of the product. Products like shatter can break down as they age, and it starts to resemble sauce.
Terpene Allergies Because terp sauce contains a high amount of terpenes, it’s vital to understand allergies associated with them. Cannabis pollen acts like any other botanical pollen and can sometimes trigger an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions can be triggered by touching, eating, or smoking cannabis, as well as inhaling its pollen. A recent study hypothesized that cannabis use caused increased sensitization to other allergens, like dust mites, pet dander, molds, and other plants.1
Research Researchers have found that whole-plant concentrates, such as terp sauce, are more effective at fighting inflammation and pain when compared to single-molecule extracts like CBD.2They are more effective because the multiple compounds in these concentrates increase the medicinal efficacy of the extract through the entourage effect.3 With the potential for increased therapeutic benefits and its incredible flavor and potency, it’s easy to see why terp sauce is becoming more commonly available. However, like most new products to hit any market, increased patient data and research will enable more accurate characterization of the true medical benefits of terp sauce, as well as any potential cautions consumers should consider.
References:
Min and Min. Marijuana use is associated with hypersensitivity to multiple allergens in US adults. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2018;182:74-77. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.09.039
Gallily, Yekhtinm,and Overcoming the Bell-Shaped Dose-Response of Cannabidiol by Using Cannabis Extract Enriched in Cannabidiol. Pharmacology &Pharmacy 2015;6(2):75-85. DOI: 10.4236/pp.2015.62010
Mechoulam et al. An entourage effect: inactive endogenous fatty acid glycerol esters enhance 2-arachidonoyl cannabinoid activity. European Journal of Pharmacology 1998;353(1): 23-31. DOI: 10.1016/S0014-299(98)00392-6