Fact Checked by Doctor NameSugar leaves are small, single-bladed leaves that grow closest to the cannabis flower and become coated with shiny trichomes just like the flower itself.
While the larger fan leaves don’t contain much THC, sugar leaves can hold high amounts of cannabinoids and terpenes.
As a result, many cannabis enthusiasts save and use sugar leaves for extraction and edibles.
What are Sugar Leaves?
Table of Contents
Sugar leaves are the thin, finger-like small leaves that grow immediately alongside cannabis flowers.
They are called “sugar” leaves because they become densely covered in bulbous, shiny trichomes, just like the flowers do during peak maturation.
This distinguishes them from the larger fan leaves lower on the plant that don’t produce as many trichomes.
While most veined fan leaves have between 5-9 fingers or leaflets, sugar leaves typically only have one to three fingers each.
Their prime location near the flower causes resin glands to develop abundantly all over the sugar leaves as well.
How to use Sugar Leaves?
Since sugar leaves are rich in cannabinoids and terpenes, they can be utilized in a number of ways:
- Raw plant material for smoking/vaporizing – Well-cured sugar leaves can be smoked or vaped just like bud flowers. Effects may not be as potent, but sugar leaves can add flavor.
- Extracts – Sugar leaves trim can be used to make potent hash, shatter, wax and other extracts through solvents, heat, pressure, etc.
- Edibles – Cooking sugar leaves into butter or oil extracts their THC/CBD to infuse foods and drinks.
- Teas – Lightly brewing fresh or dried sugar leaves makes a flavorful cannabinoid tea.
- Topicals – The resinous sugar leaves can be infused into lotions, balms and ointments for localized relief.
Overall, sugar leaves are considered a valuable part of the cannabis plant alongside the flowers.
Their high trichome concentration allows innovative consumers and processors to utilize them in many ways.
