Cannabis sauce is a concentrate with a high terpene fraction.
Cannabis sauce is a cannabis extract. Terpene content is high. A sauce can have two parts: a liquid terpene layer and solid THCA crystals. Extractors make sauce with hydrocarbon solvents, ethanol, or solventless methods. People use it in dab rigs or vaporizers. Labels list THC, THCA, terpenes, and test results. State rules vary. Sauce is a trade term. It is not a legal category.
How extractors make sauce
Fresh frozen cannabis goes into a closed-loop system. The solvent strips cannabinoids and terpenes. A purge removes the solvent. The extract then rests. Terpenes and THCA separate over time. Some makers seed the mix with THCA crystals. Other makers use heat and pressure to split the fractions. Live resin sauce uses fresh frozen plant material. Cured resin sauce uses dried plant material.
What sauce contains
Sauce contains cannabinoids and terpenes. THCA is the main acid form of THC in raw extract. Decarboxylation turns THCA into THC. Terpene content varies by cultivar and process. A batch may list myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, pinene, and linalool. Potency varies. Check the certificate of analysis for THC, THCA, terpenes, residual solvent, and microbial results.
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Sauce vs. other concentrates
- Live resin: extract from fresh frozen cannabis. Sauce is a style of live resin with a liquid terpene layer.
- Diamonds: THCA crystals. Sauce can include diamonds.
- Wax and shatter: solid or firm extracts. Sauce is liquid or semi-liquid.
- Rosin: solventless extract made with heat and pressure. Rosin sauce exists but differs from solvent-made sauce.
How to store and use sauce
Store sauce in a sealed glass jar. Keep it cool and dark. Terpenes evaporate and degrade with heat, light, and air. Use a dab tool to move the sauce. A low-temperature dab limits terpene loss. Clean the rig after use. Do not store sauce in a warm car or near a window.
What to check on a label
- Total THC and THCA. The label should state the test method.
- Terpene list and total terpene percentage.
- Residual solvent test result. The pass limit depends on the state.
- Microbial and pesticide test results.
- Harvest or production date. Terpenes fade over time.
Cannabis sauce is not a medical product. It has no standard dose. Start with a small amount. State law controls sale and possession.