Rosin or the rosin technique (sometimes referred to as “rosin tech”) is a solventless extraction process of the cannabinoid rich resin from flower or kief using heat and pressure. Rosin can provide comparable levels of potency, yield and flavor as solvent-based extraction products such as BHO (butane hash oil). Rosin has become very popular with extract enthusiasts over the last couple years for a very simple reason: you can make it easily, cheaply and safely in your home.
What is the difference between Rosin and BHO?
Both rosin and BHO are extracts. The main difference comes from how they are made. Creating BHO entails a process which involves the use of solvents (butane) and can be potentially very dangerous. Do not try to make BHO at home! Making BHO requires professional expertise and equipment to be done correctly and ensure an end product which is safe for consumption.
Rosin, on the other hand, is perfectly safe to make yourself. Because it is a form of solventless extraction, the end product is completely free of any contaminants and perfectly safe for consumption.
How do you make Rosin?
In order to make your own rosin you will need:
- Hair Straightener (Preferably with Variable Temperature Settings)
- Unbleached Parchment Paper
- Starting Material (Flower and/or Kief)
- Heat Resistant Safety Gloves
- Collection Tool
First, plug in your hair straightener and turn it on to its lowest heat setting. Take your parchment paper and cut out a square and fold it in half. Make sure to cut a square big enough to hold your starting material within the fold.
Next, place your starting material inside the fold of the parchment paper. While wearing heat-resistant gloves, place the parchment paper in between your hair straightener and firmly press down for 3 to 7 seconds. The ideal amount of time will depend on the heat setting of your hair straightener, the amount of pressure you apply and the properties of your starting material. You want to apply pressure until you hear a sizzle, but applying pressure for too long will negatively affect the flavor.
Remove the parchment from the straightener and let it cool for a couple of seconds. Now you can open up the paper and remove any of the starting material that remains. Once that is done, you can use a collection tool to collect your rosin. This can be very sticky, so patience is key. Your rosin is ready to consume immediately and is 100% free of any contaminates.
For a more detailed guide, click here.
