UNDERGROUND DRIP FORMS
Fumi began as a West Coast grow collective with strong connections to New York City. Rather than opening storefronts, they relied on trust-based distribution, keeping the operation discreet and exclusive. In October 2021, the official Fumi Exotics Instagram page launched, signaling the start of its public presence and cultural impact.
DUCK SAUCE DETONATES (2022)
The breakthrough came with the release of Duck Sauce in collaboration with High Volume Co, a Los Angeles distribution network, and B Eazy LLC, a New York pipeline deeply connected to the underground market. Packaged in a bright yellow pouch parodying mall-style Chinese takeout branding, Duck Sauce spread rapidly across menus. TikTok amplified the hype, and B Eazy described it as the “biggest strain on the East Coast.”
FULL SAUCE SERIES
The Duck Sauce success evolved into a complete Sauce line: Duck Sauce, Soy Sauce, Sweet & Sour, and Yum Yum. Each strain carried a candy–gelato forward profile, paired with playful food court parody branding. Soy Sauce became a particularly significant release, as it was triple-branded with the Fumi × High Volume × B Eazy alliance.
COUNTERFEITS COME QUICK
As demand skyrocketed, counterfeit packaging appeared almost immediately. Fake Duck Sauce bags were being sold by the hundred-pack on Alibaba with no cannabis inside. While brand equity faced threats from these counterfeits, the hype and desirability of the original product only increased.
FUGU & JAR RUNS
Expanding beyond the Sauce concept, Fumi introduced its first non-sauce strain, Fugu, which debuted in glass jars and was known for its terpy strength and sneaky potency. Graffiti OG and Grape Pop followed, with the brand adopting UV glass jars for limited-batch releases. Despite diversification, the candy gas flavor profile remained central to the identity.
MERCH ERA BEGINS
Fumi’s cultural reach expanded into merchandise. Hoodies, skate decks, and novelty resin rigs shaped like sauce bottles launched through fumiworldwide.com, consistently selling out in hours. The brand then innovated with Fumigotchi—a collectible toy line with themed battle drops, such as Mets vs. Yankees, combining nostalgia with designer cannabis branding.
CULTURE CROSSOVERS
Fumi strengthened ties to New York culture by collaborating with the music and streetwear communities. Drops like Still Sleepy, in collaboration with Sleepy Hallow, and Trap A Bear with Sheff G, helped push the brand into a full cultural experience rather than remaining just a cannabis label.
GRAPE POP HITS (2025)
In 2025, Grape Pop debuted at Zalympix, offering a sticky, soda-pop nose and candy grape flavor. The release was quickly followed by Reptar Cherry Crunch, which fused nostalgic cartoon-inspired branding with exotic cannabis appeal. These drops reinforced Fumi’s reputation as both innovative and culturally resonant.
MICRO DROPS, MAX HYPE
Fumi continued to thrive by limiting its releases to extremely small-batch drops. Graffiti jars often launched exclusively via Instagram posts, capped at just a few hundred units, with resale prices spiking on the aftermarket. At the most recent 4/20 pop-up in Washington Square Park, Fumi gave away free ice cream to the first 1,000 attendees, blending lifestyle branding with consumer engagement.
THEY FORGOT THE DUCK SAUCE?!
After a long period without new releases, Duck Sauce returned in a re-collaboration between Fumi, High Volume, and B Eazy. The relaunch mirrored the original drop: bright yellow pouch packaging, loud candy gas flavor, and a viral rollout. Once again, menus from Los Angeles to New York flooded with the demand for Duck Sauce.
MEMBERS ONLY PROBLEMS
Maintaining elite status has required Fumi to avoid shortcuts, expand slowly, and protect the integrity of its batches. By keeping exclusive “members only” drops and prioritizing quality over scale, the brand has secured its place in the cannabis underground. As the mantra goes: “You can never lose if you got the sauce.”
YOUTUBE VIDEO
- Nugg Notes
Sources:
@fumiexotics. “Instagram photo.” Instagram, 17 Oct. 2021, www.instagram.com/p/CVIJPW4Fi9T. Accessed 20 June 2025.
@fumiexotics. “‘THE INFAMOUS DUCK SAUCE’ Returns.” Instagram Reels, 31 May 2025, www.instagram.com/reel/DK3FZtzxUIX. Accessed 20 June 2025.
@fumiexotics. “FUMI × Sleepy Hallow Presents Still Sleepy.” Instagram Reels, 24 Sept. 2024, www.instagram.com/reel/DAUbUGBxxS-. Accessed 20 June 2025.
@fumiexotics. “Graffiti Jar Drop—Pop-Up This Weekend.” Instagram Reels, 2023, www.instagram.com/reel/DJ7_RsMo7xR/. Accessed 20 June 2025.
B Eazy CEO [@B_Eazyllc]. “Duck Sauce going crazy in the hood.” X (formerly Twitter), 2022, x.com/b_eazyllc. Accessed 20 June 2025.
“Strain Review: FUMI Duck Sauce by High Volume × B-Eazy Buds.” The Highest Critic, 27 May 2023, thehighestcritic.com/reviews/strain-review-fumi-duck-sauce-by-high-volume-x-b-eazy-buds/. Accessed 20 June 2025.
“Strain Review: Soy Sauce by B-Eazy Buds × FUMI × High Volume.” The Highest Critic, 29 June 2023, thehighestcritic.com/reviews/strain-review-soy-sauce-by-b-eazy-buds-x-fumi-x-high-volume/. Accessed 20 June 2025.
“Cultivar Review: The Grape Pop by Fumi Exotics.” The Highest Critic, 21 Apr. 2025, thehighestcritic.com/reviews/cultivar-review-the-grape-pop-by-fumi-exotics/. Accessed 20 June 2025.
“Fumigotchi.” Fumi Worldwide, fumiworldwide.com/products/fumigotchi. Accessed 20 June 2025.
“Fumi Duck Sauce Holographic Mylar Bags 3.5 g.” Custom420Bag, www.custom420bag.com/products/fumi-duck-sauce-holographic-mylar-bags-3-5-grams. Accessed 20 June 2025
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