What Sour Diesel leaf is

Sour Diesel leaf is the plant material trimmed from the Sour Diesel cannabis cultivar. It covers two parts: the large fan leaves on the stems and the small sugar leaves that push out of the flower clusters. Both hold far fewer cannabinoids than the buds, because the resin glands cluster on the flower. People use the leaf for tea, fresh juicing, and topical oils rather than for smoking. Sour Diesel is normally a high-THC cultivar, so in the US the leaf is only legal to sell when it comes from a hemp crop that tested at or below 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis.

sour diesel variety

Leaf versus flower

Fan leaves are broad, flat, and low in resin. Sugar leaves are smaller, thin, and often frosted with trichomes near the bud. Trim from a harvest mixes both. Expect a weaker, greener product than flower: less cannabinoid content, more chlorophyll, and a harsher taste. A lab report is the only reliable way to know what a specific batch contains, since plant part, growing method, and harvest timing all shift the numbers.

Sour Diesel Plant: Growing Guide for CBD Stores

How to dry and store Sour Diesel leaf

  1. Spread the fresh leaf in a single layer on a screen or rack in a dark room at 60 to 70°F with moving air.
  2. Turn the leaf once a day until it feels dry and crumbles at the stem, which usually takes 5 to 10 days.
  3. Move the dried leaf into a glass jar and seal it.
  4. Open the jar for 10 minutes a day for the first week to release moisture.
  5. Store the sealed jar away from light and heat, and keep it closed between uses.

How to brew Sour Diesel leaf tea

  1. Rinse 1 gram of dried leaf under cool water.
  2. Add the leaf to 8 ounces of water at a low simmer.
  3. Cover the pot and hold the simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
  4. Strain the liquid into a cup.
  5. Add a fat such as milk, cream, or coconut oil if you want to carry fat-soluble compounds into the drink.
  6. Cool the tea to a drinkable temperature before you sip it.

How to make a leaf infusion oil

  1. Decarboxylate 7 grams of dried leaf on a baking sheet at 240°F for 40 minutes.
  2. Grind the cooled leaf to a coarse texture.
  3. Combine the leaf with 8 ounces of olive oil or melted coconut oil in a double boiler.
  4. Hold the oil at 160 to 180°F for 2 to 3 hours and stir every 20 minutes.
  5. Line a fine strainer with cheesecloth and pour the oil through it into a clean jar.
  6. Squeeze the cloth to recover the last of the oil.
  7. Label the jar with the date and the plant material used.

What to check before you buy

  • A batch-specific certificate of analysis that lists delta-9 THC, total cannabinoids, and a pesticide screen.
  • A stated plant part, so you know whether you are buying fan leaf, sugar leaf, or mixed trim.
  • A harvest or packaging date.
  • A hemp compliance statement showing the crop tested at or below 0.3% delta-9 THC.

Safety notes

Do not assume leaf material is inert. Cannabinoid levels vary by batch, and a product sold as trim can still carry enough THC to show up on a drug test or to affect someone who is sensitive. People who are pregnant, nursing, taking prescription drugs, or managing a health condition should talk to a clinician before using any cannabis-derived product. Keep infusions and teas out of reach of children and pets.

sour diesel variety