Welcome to the world of rosin, a pure, solventless extract that’s revolutionizing the cannabis and hemp industries. Derived from the resin of pines and other plants, rosin is a versatile substance that ranges in color from yellow to black. Unlike other concentrates, rosin is produced through a simple heat and pressure method, preserving the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes. At room temperature, rosin is brittle but melts at stove-top temperatures, making it versatile for various applications.
What is Rosin Made From?
In the cannabis industry, rosin is referred to as a concentrate derived from the trichomes (resin glands) of the cannabis plant. It is produced by putting ice water hash, dry sift, or cannabis flower between two heated metal plates and applying pressure. The combination of heat and pressure effectively extracts the active compounds from the plant material.
Raw Materials
Rosin can be produced from several raw materials. Generally, in the cannabis industry, commercial-grade rosin is made from one of the following raw materials:
- Cannabis flower: The most widely used raw material in rosin production is the dried and cured buds from the female cannabis plant.
- Hemp: It is a variety of cannabis sativa that has low THC content. It is often used for the production of CBD-rich rosin.
- Hash: It is the pre-concentrated cannabis trichomes that can yield a more potent rosin.
- Kief: It is the collection of loose trichomes collected from cannabis flowers. Kief is yet another source for producing high-potency rosin.
Rosin is a popular cannabis product because it is one of the purest forms of cannabinoids, produced without the use of any solvent or enzyme with the simple use of heat and pressure.
The Significance of Rosin in the Cannabis Industry
In the burgeoning field of cannabis and hemp processing, rosin stands out as a pure, solventless extract. Unlike other concentrates that require solvents like butane or CO2, rosin is produced through a simple yet effective heat and pressure method. This technique preserves the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes, offering a potent and clean product highly valued by connoisseurs and patients.
Steps Involved In The Rosin Extraction Process
Rosin extraction is a marvel of simplicity and purity in the cannabis industry. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how rosin is produced:
- Freezing the Fresh Cannabis: The process begins with fresh cannabis, which is immediately frozen to preserve the plant’s live essence and its rich terpene profile. This step is crucial for creating what’s known as live rosin.
- Agitation: Once the cannabis is ready, it’s agitated in a hash-washing vessel. This separates the resin from the plant material, allowing for the collection of potent compounds.
- Filtration: The agitated cannabis trichomes are then transferred to a filtration vessel. The filtered hash is collected and freeze-dried to prepare it for pressing.
- Pressing: The final and most critical step in the rosin extraction involves pressing the hash using a rosin press. This is where Sasquash’s expertise truly shines. Sasquash rosin presses are renowned for their precision and consistency. The combination of heat and immense pressure extracts the amber oil, which is the rosin.
Controlling the Variables for Rosin Extraction
Several factors need to be controlled to produce high-quality and potent rosin. Here are the variables essential for rosin extraction:
- Humidity: Maintaining proper humidity in the cannabis content is crucial for terpene preservation. Proper humidity helps retain volatile terpenes, which is necessary to preserve flavor. Also, it can improve extraction efficiency and consistency of texture and color of the final product. The ideal humidity content for rosin extraction is typically 55-62%.
- Temperature: Precise temperature control is essential because ideal temperature decreases viscosity, allowing for a more effortless flow of extracts. Lower temperatures (below 190°F/88°C) must be maintained to preserve more volatile terpenes. Often, higher temperatures are avoided as higher temperatures can increase yield but may sacrifice some quality.
- Pressure: Uniform pressure application ensures that the rosin content has consistent makeup. Typically, the pressure must be between 300-1500 PSI, depending on the starting material. Different starting materials will require different pressures to overcome the surface tension and viscosity of the resin and separate it from the plant material.
- Time: The press time must be calibrated depending on the expected quality and yield. These are the typical durations:
- Short presses (30-90 seconds): Often used for flower rosin extraction to prevent chlorophyll ingredient in the final product.
- Longer presses (1-5 minutes): Typically used for hash or kief to maximize yield.
- Multiple presses: A series of short presses at increasing temperatures is used for large-scale rosin production.
The optimal time balances maximum extraction with minimal degradation of cannabinoids and terpenes.
By mastering these variables, Root Sciences and Sasquash ensure that their equipment can produce the highest quality rosin, reflecting their commitment to excellence in the cannabis and hemp industries.
Materials for Making Rosin
DIY Materials
For home enthusiasts looking to experiment with rosin production, here are the common materials required:
- Heat Source: You can use a simple hair straightener as a heat source to apply heat and pressure.
- Parchment Paper: Food-grade, unbleached parchment paper is essential to hold the raw cannabis material.
- Collection Tools: A dabber or scraper to gather rosin from the parchment paper.
- Starting Material: It is easier to start with dried and cured cannabis flower buds. You can also use hash or kief for higher-potency rosin.
Professional Materials
Commercial or large-scale rosin production while working on the same principles requires more sophisticated equipment that includes:
- Rosin Press: A commercial-grade rosin press is a hydraulic or pneumatic press with pressure ranges from 600 to 20,000+ PSI. These presses have temperature-controlled plates and even programmable pressure and temperature settings.
- Micron Filter Bags: Professional-grade bags (nylon or polyester mesh) of 25-220 microns filter large amounts of rosin.
- Climate Control System: Climate control equipment is needed to maintain optimal temperature and humidity in the production area. It includes dehumidifiers, humidifiers, and air conditioning units.
- Terpene Preservation System: It includes cold plates or similar technology to preserve volatile terpenes during and after extraction.
The professional setups largely depend on the production scale, budget, and desired output quality. It can also include pre-press molds, data logging equipment, cold storage, and freeze dryer.
Types of Rosin
Depending on the source material, rosin can be named:
- Hash Rosin: It is made from concentrated cannabis trichomes, also known as hash or bubble hash. This type of rosin is known for its high potency and purity terpene content.
- Flower Rosin: Produced directly from cannabis buds, flower rosin is known to have the most intense aroma and more flavor.
- Sift Rosin: A middle ground between hash and flower rosin, sift rosin yields more and maintains optimum potency. It uses dry-sifted kief as the source material.
Rosin vs. Resin: What’s the Difference?
Resin is also a cannabis concentrate that is sticky and trichome-rich. It is extracted from the cannabis plants using solvents like butane or CO2.
Key Differences
While rosin is extracted using solventless extraction methods, resin extraction involves solvents. This is the reason why rosin is considered purer while both forms have high potency. The absence of solvents makes rosin beneficial for medicinal purposes.
Additionally, rosin often retains more original terpenes due to lower processing temperatures. However, resin extracts can achieve a wider range of consistencies in product manufacturing due to post-processing techniques.
How to Use Rosin
Depending on the user’s preference, there are several ways to use rosin. Rosin can be used in cartridges for dabbing and vaping. It is also used in edibles by incorporating them into foods or beverages. Some topical products like creams or balms use rosin as an ingredient for topical application. Some consumers prefer twaxing, which adds rosin to the outside of joints or blunts. There are rosin capsules also available for oral consumption.
The Future of Extraction: Clean, Potent, and Accessible
As the industry evolves, the demand for clean and potent cannabis products is on the rise. Rosin, with its solvent-free purity and high cannabinoid content, is at the forefront of this shift.
Root Sciences and Sasquash: A Partnership for Purity
Root Sciences, a leader in cannabis and hemp processing equipment, has joined forces with Sasquash, the premier manufacturer of rosin presses. This partnership brings together unparalleled expertise and a commitment to quality, ensuring that clients receive the best equipment and comprehensive training and support.
The partnership between Root Sciences and Sasquash is more than just a business agreement; it’s a commitment to advancing the industry toward a future where quality and purity are paramount.
Conclusion
Rosin, as a solventless cannabis concentrate, is popular as a potentially safer alternative to traditional cannabis extracts. Its production involves a delicate balance of variables such as heat, pressure, and time, resulting in a product that can vary widely in consistency, potency, and terpene profile.
Aspiring rosin producers must understand the process and know how to do it right using the correct equipment like the ones provided by Root Sciences.
