What Is Rosin Cannabis Concentrate?
Rosin is a sticky concentrate extracted from cannabis plants using heat and pressure. This solventless extract is advertised as a safer and more natural form of concentrate as it does not contain any chemical solvents.
When done correctly, rosin preserves most of the terpenes (flavors and aroma) of the cannabis plant. The result? a high-quality and potent cannabis concentrate that suits most, if not all, types of users.
A Detailed Look At Rosin
To extract rosin, heat and pressure are applied to the cannabis flowers, more specifically the trichomes. Trichomes are the sticky crystals on the surface of the flower. They are responsible for producing and holding the plants’ active ingredients known as cannabinoids and terpenes.
The high heat levels and immense pressure almost instantaneously force the cannabinoids and terpenes out of the trichome heads. This solventless technique gives a purer extract without the influence of solvents or other extraction chemicals.
Perhaps the best part of making rosin is that it is an incredibly easy process that only takes a few minutes, using tools you probably already have in your house. In addition, rosin is quite versatile in that it can also be made from other forms of cannabis like kief and hash.
One of the biggest issues with making other cannabis concentrates at home is the risks involved. Most other DIY concentrates require solvents like butane and ethanol, which are inherently dangerous.
Some people using solvents to make concentrates at home have caused fatal accidents like fires and explosions, resulting in severe burns. And although CO2 extraction is much safer, it utilizes highly specialized and extremely pricey tools.
The History of Rosin
Rosin just recently exploded in popularity and has now become the go-to extract for most dabbing connoisseurs. Though it has not been around for very long, its history is quite interesting.
While the debate about the actual origin of rosin continues, this solventless concentrate owes its existence to the original cannabis concentrate, hashish aka hash! Hash had been crowned the king of marijuana concentrate for thousands of years. But that sovereignty only existed until the discovery of rosin.
Rosin was discovered via a happy accident by a California cannabis entrepreneur Phil “Soilgrown” Salazar. In 2015, Salazar was trying to make use of some of his low-quality hashish. He would press the hash and flatten it out using a hair straightener, all while snapping pictures of it. Then, he noticed that oil started spewing out the sides of his hash, leaving it dry.
Initially assuming he’d made a mistake, Salazar pressed the oil back into his dry hash and moved on.
Later on, however, his curiosity led him to try the process once more. But this time, he decided to dab the oil instead. Salazar would then share the discovery of a solventless concentrate that gave consistent vaporization with intense flavors and an incredible buzz! And lo and behold, solventless rosin was born!
The Basics of Rosin Extraction
The production of rosin has evolved dramatically in the years since its discovery by Salazar. As its popularity continued to spread throughout the cannabis community, the demand for high-quality and completely solventless hash oil became wild.
Prior to 2015, the production of cannabis concentrates solely relied on solvents. But now, people are more health-conscious, and the need for a solventless dabbable concentrate is more apparent.
Hence, the creation of the rosin press__a simple tool that uses heat and pressure to force cannabinoids and terpenes out of the trichomes of cannabis flower in an oily resinous form.
Is Rosin "Full Spectrum"?
Full-spectrum extracts are also sometimes referred to as whole-plant extracts. As their name suggests, these types of extracts retain a full range of the plants’ beneficial compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes, essential oils, and other compounds.
Producing full-spectrum extracts generally eliminates unwanted components like some plant lipids that cause poor flavors. Depending on how it was extracted, rosin can be referred to as full-spectrum. Most flower rosin is full-spectrum, while hash rosin is often a select-spectrum concentrate.
Live Rosin vs Live Resin
Live rosin vs. live resin differ significantly in terms of how they are extracted from the cannabis plants. Unlike live rosin, whose extraction process utilizes heat and pressure, live resin is extracted using a closed-loop extraction method with supercritical fluids.
The word ‘live’ generally means that the plant material from which the products are extracted is freshly harvested. It has not gone through the typical drying and curing process of smokable cannabis. This is a necessary point for consumers to note as it affects your product’s price and consistency.
They are two very different end products, but can often be confused because they sound so alike.
Why Are Consumers So Excited About Rosin?
One of the major reasons rosin is a newfound favorite for many consumers is because it is a solventless extract. People have practically been yearning for a healthier and potent concentrate for dabbing. And rosin being a completely solventless extract, presented a flavorful, potent, and much healthier option from other solvent-based extracts.
Perhaps another great reason why rosin is the biggest craze sweeping the cannabis community is the sheer simplicity of its extraction. DIYers and less experienced enthusiasts can now make concentrates at home without the risks inherent to botanical extractions.
It can be easy to consume too much rosin than needed. Therefore, novices are typically advised to begin with small doses and gradually work their way up. On the other hand, seasoned consumers will appreciate the hard-hitting effects of this highly potent cannabis concentrate.
What Does Rosin Look Like?
The appearance and texture of rosin are greatly determined by the extraction process and the starting material. Generally, rosin is a sticky and soft extract with a light yellow or cream color. Experts recommend that rosin should be stored cold until it’s time for consumption. This way, you preserve its quality and minimize its chances of becoming overly sticky and hard to work with.
How To Make Rosin At Home
Making rosin at home is easy, fast, and safe. DIY rosin extraction is especially ideal for prudent consumers, medical marijuana patients, and home growers. Luckily, you don’t need sophisticated machinery; we are going to use most of the equipment that you already have at home:
Equipment Needed
- Hair straightener (if you’re low budget)
- Rosin press machine (if you’ve got the cash)
- Parchment paper
- Container to collect the extract
- Heat resistant gloves (optional)
Procedure
- Set your hair straightener at the lowest temperature (no higher than 300°F) and switch it on.
- Get a 4” piece of parchment paper and fold it in half.
- Secure small marijuana buds in line within the parchment paper
- Confirm that the buds are held securely and place the parchment paper between the straightener.
- Squeeze the straightener firmly until you see a wax-like substance appear. Repeat the process twice.
- Remove your parchment and get rid of the dry buds.
- The rosin becomes brittle once cooled. Therefore, you’ll scrape the remaining rosin into the collection container while eliminating any plant materials.
How To Smoke Rosin
Although some consumers generally prefer to vaporize rosin, there are many other ways to consume it. For instance, you can also smoke it by spreading crushed bits of the rosin over your spliff, joint, blunt, or blunt and rolling it up altogether.
Alternatively, you can dab the concentrate using a dab rig which offers highly pleasant flavors and strong near-instant effects. The most important thing to keep in mind is that rosin is highly potent, so a small amount goes a long way.
Final Thoughts On Rosin
Rosin is highly potent because it retains most of the flower’s cannabinoid content. It also offers a very rich terpene profile (flavor and aroma) than any other concentrates on the market today. This extract will continue to excite consumers, especially now that the market is skewing towards healthy and high-quality solventless extracts.