With so many terminologies and methodologies involved in cannabis concentrates, it’s incredibly easy to get lost in a sea of options. You may have heard of concentrates like wax or shatter, but what about harder-to-find newcomers like sugar, sand, and sauce? This Ethos guide dives into the difference so you can feel confident navigating your choices.
What is a cannabis concentrate?
A cannabis concentrate is any cannabis product that includes a heightened concentration of phytocannabinoids (and sometimes terpenes). The concept of concentrates is nothing new: For millennia, societies have used mechanical means like applying heat and pressure to create hash and similar cannabis products. But in the modern cannabis industry, concentrates are breaking new ground, utilizing advanced technologies to create products with different textures, potencies, unique scent and flavor profiles, and much more.
Why are there so many different kinds of concentrates?
There are many extraction methods employed to extract the phytocannabinoid and terpene content later used in concentrates. These range from supercritical CO2 extraction, to the use of alcohol-based solvents, to water-based extraction methods. And that doesn’t even account for concentrates that are made with heat, pressure, or other methods.
Another key difference is how this resulting extract is treated. Extractors have developed a wide range of artisanal techniques to put their own twist on products. For example, some extractors prefer to whip their extract, resulting in the fluffy and creamy budder as it cools. Others agitate their extract to cause separation and encourage the formation of crystalline structures throughout. As extractors experiment with more post-extraction techniques, novel consistencies and types of extracts emerge.
Sugar vs. sand vs. sauce: a comparison
While you have more than a dozen concentrate options, sugar, sand, and sauce stand out for their unusual names and their less-than-common appearance on dispensary shelves. Key production differences result in unique textures that influence appearance and the device you’ll use to consume them.
Sugar
While its name may make this concentrate easily confused with edibles, sugar is indeed an inhaled concentrate with the appearance of honey or wet sugar, hence its namesake. It’s the result of a process called “sugaring,” when phytocannabinoids and terpenes separate during the extraction process. Then, when cooling, the trichomes crystallize, taking on a sugary appearance. This is particularly common in cultivars with high amounts of hydrophilic terpenes or fatty compounds. Sugar is best used with portable dab pens.
Characteristics of Sugar Concentrate
- Texture: The name “sugar” comes from its crystalline, granular consistency that resembles wet sugar. This texture is achieved through specific extraction and purging processes that allow the concentrate to crystallize.
- Potency: Sugar concentrates are highly potent, often containing 60-90% THC, making them much stronger than traditional cannabis flowers. This high potency means that users typically need less product to achieve their desired effects.
- Flavor and Aroma: Because the extraction process preserves terpenes (the compounds responsible for the plant’s smell and flavor), sugar concentrates often have a rich, aromatic profile. This makes them popular among users who appreciate the nuanced flavors of different cannabis strains.
- Usage: Sugar concentrates can be consumed in several ways, including:
- Dabbing: This involves using a dab rig, a special type of water pipe designed for concentrates. The concentrate is vaporized on a heated surface and then inhaled.
- Vaping: Specialized vaporizers can be used to consume sugar concentrates.
- Infusing: Sugar concentrates can be used to infuse edibles or topicals, although this requires careful dosing due to their high potency.
Production Process
- Extraction: The cannabis plant material is processed using a solvent (like butane or CO2) to extract cannabinoids and terpenes. This creates a raw concentrate that still contains solvent residues.
- Purging: The raw concentrate is then purged to remove any remaining solvents. This can be done through methods like vacuum purging.
- Crystallization: Through controlled temperature and environmental conditions, the concentrate is allowed to crystallize, forming its characteristic sugary texture.
Benefits and Considerations
- Benefits: Sugar concentrates offer a powerful, flavorful cannabis experience. They are efficient for both recreational and medicinal users due to their high potency and the preservation of beneficial terpenes.
- Considerations: Due to their high THC content, sugar concentrates may not be suitable for inexperienced users or those with a low tolerance. It’s important to start with a small dose and adjust as needed. Additionally, proper equipment and safety precautions are necessary for dabbing.
Sand
While its name may make this concentrate easily confused with edibles, sugar is indeed
Unlike sugar and sauce, sand (also called “beach sand” or “dry sift”) is not an extract. Instead, it’s made by finely sifting trichomes through a series of increasingly small micron screens to separate these rich resin glands from the plant material. The result is a granular, sand-like product that is super potent and jam-packed with terpenes.
Sand tends to be expensive compared to other concentrates due to the labor-intensive and time-consuming process required to generate even low yields. However, a little goes a very long way. You can sprinkle a tiny bit onto your flower to bring extra potency into your session.
Characteristics of Sand Concentrate
- Texture: As the name implies, sand concentrate has a fine, granular consistency that feels and looks like sand. This texture is a result of the extraction and post-processing methods used.
- Potency: Sand concentrates are highly potent, typically containing a high percentage of THC or other cannabinoids, similar to other concentrates like shatter, wax, or sugar. This makes them much stronger than traditional cannabis flowers.
- Flavor and Aroma: Like other high-quality concentrates, sand preserves the terpenes from the cannabis plant, resulting in a rich and flavorful profile. The preservation of terpenes ensures that the unique aromas and flavors of the original cannabis strain are maintained.
- Usage: Sand concentrates can be consumed in several ways:
- Dabbing: This involves vaporizing the concentrate on a heated surface and inhaling the vapor through a dab rig.
- Vaping: Specialized vaporizers designed for concentrates can be used to consume sand.
- Infusion: Sand can be used to infuse edibles or topicals, though precise dosing is crucial due to its high potency.
Production Process
- Extraction: The cannabis plant material undergoes extraction using solvents like butane, CO2, or ethanol to separate the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material.
- Purging: The raw concentrate is then purged to remove any residual solvents. This can be achieved through various methods, including vacuum purging.
- Post-Processing: The concentrate is further processed to achieve the sand-like texture. This might involve specific temperature controls and handling techniques to create the fine, granular consistency.
Benefits and Considerations
- Benefits: Sand concentrates offer a potent and flavorful cannabis experience, with the convenience of a unique texture that some users prefer. They are effective for both recreational and medicinal purposes due to their high concentration of active compounds.
- Considerations: Due to their high potency, sand concentrates may not be suitable for novice users or those with low tolerance. It is advisable to start with a small amount and gradually increase the dosage. Additionally, proper equipment and safety measures are necessary for dabbing or vaporizing.
Sauce
Sauce is made from isolated and separated phytocannabinoids and terpenes that are reunited in a unique concentrate. The phytocannabinoids become crystallized, while the terpenes take on the form of a liquidy oil. Sauce is sticky, thick, and even chunky, thanks to the crystals. Sauce fans gravitate to this concentrate for its potent aromas and flavors.
Characteristics of Sauce Concentrate
- Texture: Sauce has a viscous, liquid consistency that can vary from being thick and syrupy to more runny. It typically contains cannabinoid crystals (often THCA) suspended in a terpene-rich liquid, giving it a unique appearance and texture.
- Potency: Sauce is highly potent, with THC levels often ranging from 60% to 90%. The presence of THCA crystals (the non-psychoactive precursor to THC) can add to the overall cannabinoid content.
- Flavor and Aroma: Sauce is renowned for its rich terpene profile, which provides a strong, aromatic flavor that closely resembles the original cannabis strain. The high terpene content not only enhances the sensory experience but also contributes to the entourage effect, where cannabinoids and terpenes work synergistically for a more comprehensive effect.
- Usage: Sauce can be consumed in various ways:
- Dabbing: Vaporizing the sauce on a heated surface and inhaling the vapor through a dab rig is a common method.
- Vaping: Specialized vaporizers designed for concentrates can be used to consume sauce.
- Infusion: Sauce can be used to infuse edibles or topicals, though careful dosing is essential due to its potency.
Production Process
- Extraction: The cannabis plant material is extracted using solvents like butane, propane, or CO2 to separate the cannabinoids and terpenes.
- Crystallization: During the extraction process, conditions are controlled to promote the formation of THCA crystals.
- Separation: The mixture is then separated into two parts: the THCA crystals and the terpene-rich liquid.
- Recombination: The THCA crystals are reintroduced into the terpene-rich liquid, creating the final sauce product with its characteristic texture and composition.
Benefits and Considerations
- Benefits: Sauce offers a potent, flavorful cannabis experience, with the added benefit of the entourage effect due to its rich terpene content. It is effective for both recreational and medicinal use, providing strong and immediate effects.
- Considerations: Due to its high potency, sauce may not be suitable for novice users or those with a low tolerance. Starting with a small amount is advisable. Additionally, proper equipment and safety precautions are necessary for dabbing or vaporizing.
Sauce is best consumed with desktop or portable vaporizers. Want to try out sugar, sand, or sauce? Get the right device first. Check our device guide.
Do sugar, sand, and sauce create different experiences?
Cannabis consumption experience can vary to some degree between concentrates. Sugar, sand, and sauce will all have slightly different chemical makeups, even if they are produced from the same cultivar of cannabis, because differences in the production process will yield slightly different compound profiles. In the case of sauce, it is difficult if not impossible to expect any sort of real consistency from one dab to the next because of its uneven distribution of phytocannabinoids and terpenes.
The key phrase here is “chemical makeup.” Phytocannabinoid profile and terpene profile are much more important in determining the experience you’re most likely to have while consuming sugar, sand, or sauce. Phytocannabinoids and terpenes influence one another and affect your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) in different ways, dependent on factors like ratios and potency.
In addition to chemical makeup, your environment, body composition, and prior experience with cannabis can all influence your experience when consuming sugar, sand, or sauce (or any other kind of cannabis product!). That means that no two people are guaranteed to have the precise same experience with a cannabis product. The best way to understand how sugar, sand, or sauce will shape your experience is to start low and go slow, monitoring how you feel as you go.
Is sugar, sand, or sauce right for you?
Whether you prefer non-extract concentrates like sand or extracts like sugar and sauce (or if you want something totally different), an Ethos associate or pharmacist can help point you in the right direction for the product best positioned to offer you the relief you’re hoping to achieve. They can talk you through your options, explain what you can expect with each concentrate, and show you how to consume each concentrate with your device.
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