HTFSE Extracts, also known as Sauce, stands for High-Terpene Full-Spectrum Extract. So technically calling HTFSE an extract is repetitive but is done for the sake of clarity. Part of the cannabis concentrate family, HTFSE Extracts are rich in cannabinoids and terpenes. They are the by-product of the careful process of THC Diamond mining, the industry term used to describe Diamond extraction. This process avoids decarboxylating the extract so that the cannabinoids remain in their acid form and the terpenes are fully preserved. Therefore, HTFSE Extracts are intensely aromatic and accurately represent the full-spectrum characteristics of the cannabis varietal they are extracted from.
What Does Full-Spectrum Mean?
So ‘high terpene’ is pretty self-explanatory, but what does ‘full-spectrum’ refer to? Technically, full-spectrum means that you get the full range of compounds available from the cannabis plant. In addition to cannabinoids such as THC, CBD, and others which are mostly responsible for the psychoactive and therapeutic effects of cannabis, other compounds are present. Namely, terpenes and flavonoids.
Terpenes are responsible for the aroma of cannabis and flavonoids account for taste. Both terpenes and flavonoids are present in plant-based foods that we eat. To learn more about terpenes, read ‘Cannabis 103: A Guide to Terpenes‘.
Terpenes and Terpenoids: What is the Difference?
Over 450 terpenes have been discovered in cannabis. Made of only carbon and hydrogen, terpenes are classified as hydrocarbons. In contrast, terpenoids are terpenes that have been chemically modified to include oxygen-containing molecules. Sometimes these modifications are natural, other times executed deliberately since terpenoids are also considered medicinally effective. Terpenes and terpenoids are both used in isolated forms in food, medicine, and cosmetics.
HTFSE Extracts and Other Full-Spectrum Cannabis Experiences
Technically, vaping pure cannabis flowers is the most natural, guaranteed full-spectrum experience. And you can experience this for yourself. When you vape Citrus Skunk flowers, for example, you not only experience the aroma of citrus, you taste it, too, along with the heady high. And of course, you are getting it directly from the cannabis plant.
Solvents Used to Make HTFSE Extracts
Concentrates, especially HTFSE Extracts, are trying to achieve this natural ‘full-spectrum’ experience. But on steroids. The production is complex and requires a great deal of experience and precision. And the desired result will determine the types of solvents used to help achieve the greatest concentration of those delicate, volatile compounds.
Since terpenes and flavonoids can be easily damaged and lost in the extraction process, different types of solvents can make or break the concentrate. For instance, ethanol can be used to extract flavonoids (Lazarjani et al., 2021), while butane produces the wide, adaptable range of consistencies and viscosities found in BHO.
Why Hydrocarbon Is Used To Make Sauce
Because hydrocarbon has a low boiling point, it is favored by many HTFSE Sauce makers. Since it has a low boiling point, it makes removing waxes and fats from the concentrate easier. And this helps guarantee greater purity and higher terpene and cannabinoid concentrations. Additionally, avoiding pigmentation and water remnants is better guaranteed with hydrocarbon (Lazarjani et al., 2021).
How HTFSE Extracts Are Made
Just like other cannabis concentrates, HTFSE Sauce needs to be made in a professional laboratory with specialized extraction equipment. Concentrates with extremely high cannabinoids concentrations of 70% and over are achieved through the use of solvents. And these solvents need to be purged for the HTFSE Extract to be safely consumed.
Closed-loop extraction methods, as opposed to open-loop extraction, are used. This simply means that laboratory-grade extractors are used, making the purging of solvents safe and effective. Then the crude oil is winterized, meaning it is frozen to make removing fats, waxes, and biomass simpler. Additional steps include chemical washes, filtration, and chromatography.
And once all of these careful steps have been executed expertly, the resulting concentrate is rich in terpenes and acid-based cannabinoids. But it isn’t HTFSE or even HCFSE yet. Why? And what’s the difference between those two, anyway?
Comparing HTFSE and HCFSE Concentrates
Both ‘high-terpene full-spectrum extract’ and ‘high-cannabinoid full-spectrum extract’ emerge from this Diamond mining process. In our recent article about THC Diamonds, we noted that they can take up to 3 weeks to emerge from HTFSE Sauce. In this case, the Diamonds are the HCFSE Extract that crystalizes and separates from the HTFSE Extract.
HCFSE Extracts: Fewer Terpenes, Still Full-Spectrum
Diamonds can either be fully removed from the rich terpene sauce or left slightly coated in it to deliver that aromatic punch. And these Diamonds are almost pure THCA, meaning they need to be decarboxylated or heated to get you high.
But when they do, they pack an intense, heady punch for an all-over body and brain high that can get psychedelic. Because other cannabinoids are preserved during extraction, high-cannabinoid concentrates are still categorized as full-spectrum, even though they have little to no terpenes.
To learn more about the HCFSE Extract Diamonds, check out our recent article ‘THC Diamonds: The Most Potent Extract‘.
HTFSE Extracts: Terpene-Rich With Cannabinoids
HTFSE Sauce is still rich in cannabinoids, hitting around 40-50% on average. Indeed, THC Diamonds that aren’t fully formed can be found floating around in the sauce. These remaining solids contain the cannabinoids, while the sauce contains an intense concentration of terpenes not found in any cannabis plant, ranging from about 15-40%.
The Benefits of HTFSE Extracts
So, if HCFSE Extracts are so rich in cannabinoids, why bother with terpene sauce? Aside from the fact that experiencing intense aromas is a cornerstone of the cannabis experience, there are a few reasons why HTFSE Extracts are highly desirable.
The Entourage Effect and HTFSE Sauce
Although the Entourage Effect is technically still a theoretical model, numerous studies have proven that all of the compounds found in cannabis seem to interact meaningfully with each other and within our bodies as an ‘entourage’. We have written an entire article citing some of these studies: ‘What Is the Entourage Effect?‘
Because HTFSE Extracts are considered full spectrum, they can deliver the Entourage Effect. Viewed through this lens, the high terpene concentrate of HTFSE holds therapeutic benefits. While it is well-known that cannabinoids deliver many of the medicinal benefits cannabis has to offer, terpenes appear to modulate the way cannabinoids interact with our Endocannabinoid System.
HTFSE Extracts For Mood Disorders
Aromatherapy, using essential oils, has served as a well-known anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) treatment for thousands of years. And these oils are generally full-spectrum extractions of specific plants, just as HTFSE Extracts are derived specifically from cannabis. While terpenes’ effects on the body aren’t fully understood, they come into sharper focus when they are studied as constituents of the Entourage Effect.
Anxiolytic Terpenes Found in Some HTFSE Extracts
For instance, myrcene, a terpene found in lemongrass, thyme, hops, and cannabis, is known for inducing relaxation and decreasing anxiety. Certainly, CBD is well-known for the same effects, especially when modulated with trace amounts of THC. The Entourage Effect indicates that the synergy of these three compounds provides a potentially more effective anti-anxiety remedy than the three in isolation (Ferber et al., 2020).
Additionally, limonene, the terpene responsible for the citrus-scent in cannabis strains like Citrique, refreshes and awakens. And a cannabis strain or HTFSE Extract containing both myrcene and limonene will help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. This is why many cannabis connoisseurs will want to know about the terpene profile of a strain or concentrate: they are tailoring their Entourage Effect experience.
HTFSE Extracts For a Superior Dabbing Experience
In addition to the proposed medical benefits of the Entourage Effect, terpene-rich concentrates offer a pleasurable sensory experience. Even the purest cannabis flowers can barely scratch the surface of the aromatic dabbing experience provided by HTFSE Extracts.
Mixing and Matching HTFSE and HCFSE Dabs
As you get to know concentrates, you might come to enjoy specific aroma experiences more than others. And the great thing about Diamonds is that they go beautifully with Sauce. Certainly, this makes sense since they both emerge from the same process. And they both need to be decarboxylated to get you high.
Pink Kush HCFSE Diamonds by Arcana are pure THC Diamonds extracted expertly from the Indica-dominant Pink Kush hybrid. The cannabinoid profile for Pink Kush displays typical Indica phenotypes, with a heavy couch-lock body stone and dreamy, distracted euphoria.
Dabbing a Pink Kush HCFSE Diamond combined with an HTFSE Extract like Space Queen HTFSE Sauce by High Voltage creates a unique dabbing experience. Space Queen is a rare hybrid with predominantly Sativa phenotypes. Packed with the anxiety-reducing terpene myrcene, the earthy and peppery aromas can help take the edge off the Pink Kush Diamond.
And that is just one possible combination of many! We encourage you to check out our comprehensive range of concentrates and experiments. Remember that HTFSE Extracts are still extremely high in cannabinoids. A little goes a very long way, which is one of the many benefits of dabbing. Always start low and go slow!
References
Complex Biotech Discovery Ventures (2020) “Article – Terpenes vs. Terpenoids,” Complex Biotech Discovery Ventures, [online] Available from: https://cbdvl.com/terpenes-vs-terpenoids/ (Accessed 13 September 2021).
Ferber, S. G., Namdar, D. and Hen-Shoval, D. (2020) “The ‘entourage effect’: Terpenes coupled with cannabinoids for the treatment of mood disorders and anxiety disorders,” Current Neuropharmacology, Bentham Science Publishers, [online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7324885/ (Accessed 13 September 2021).
Gonçalves, E. C. D., Baldasso, G. M. and Bicca, M. A. (2020) “Terpenoids, cannabimimetic ligands, beyond the Cannabis plant,” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), MDPI, [online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7181184/ (Accessed 13 September 2021).
Lazarjani, M. P., Young, O. and Kebede, L. (2021) “Processing and extraction methods of medicinal cannabis: A narrative review,” Journal of Cannabis Research, BioMed Central, [online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8290527/ (Accessed 13 September 2021).
Precision Extraction Solutions (2021) “HTFSE – Making High Terpene Full Spectrum Extracts,” Precision Extraction Solutions, [online] Available from: https://precisionextraction.com/2018/05/high-terpene-extraction-sauce/ (Accessed 13 September 2021).