Know Your Lingo: The Emerald Sun Glossary of Solventless Cannabis
Solventless concentrates come in all shapes and textures.
Sponsored by Redwood Reefer
The learning curve of solventless cannabis is steep. To our point, for the already confused readers, we’re referring to the class of clean cannabis products made naturally, i.e. without chemical solvents.
Average consumers are just now discovering the nuances of the plant all the while new techniques, new strains and new names are coming out every season. It’s a lot to keep up within the industry, let alone on a casual stop in at a dispensary.
Globally, solventless concentrates have been the most popular form of cannabis consumption for thousands of years. And while the art and science of solventless cannabis is ancient, much of the modern market terminology is new – and changing all the time. It’s an exciting time to pick up pot.
Learning a new language can be intimidating. To ask a budtender what every label means, especially with a line behind you, is not always easy. But you’re reading an article about cannabis lingo right now, so we know you’re cool. Soon, your budtender will know, too.
Our goal is to give you the knowledge you’ll need to make your next trip to the dispensary not just productive but enlightening. This is a safe space to help you and your friends better understand the world of solventless cannabis products and ultimately raise your quality of consumption.
How we define and describe cannabis is an exciting aspect of the industry. It validates our respect for the plant, and celebrates the normalization of the industry. For those willing to learn, the rewards are worth the journey.
Bubble hash, a solvent-free concentrate with a diverse profile of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Bubble Hash - aka Ice Water Hash is a solventless cannabis concentrate created by using ice, water and an agitation process to separate trichomes from the cannabis plant material. This process is called the “wash.” The trichomes are then collected, dried, and sieved into a fine powder. The final product is a solvent-free concentrate with a diverse profile of cannabinoids and terpenes that can be smoked in a hash pipe, dab rig, or mixed with flower in a joint or bowl. (See also “Ice Water Hash”)
Concentrates - aka Extracts are potent cannabis products made from the extracted oils of the plant. The actual plant material can be extracted through the use of heat and pressure (“solventless,” see below) or through the use of solvents (like butane, ethanol, CO2). These products contain a higher concentration of cannabinoids than the raw cannabis flower. Concentrates can take various forms, including wax, shatter, and oils. The most common forms of solventless concentrates are ice water hash and rosin.
Give the jar a stir at the end of its cure for that creamy texture prized in rosin.
Cold Cure - Following extraction, a cold cure brings rosin down to temperatures ranging from just above freezing to conditions closer to room temperature (this variable being a part of each hashmaker’s approach to the art, lending different consistencies to the material at the end of the work). This post-processing technique maintains the rosin at that temperature for an extended period. Much like curing dried flower, the solventless processor’s cold cure can be a fine-tuned art; cures can take days or weeks, depending on the production goals. The idea is to improve the rosin’s texture, nose and stability–and overall quality–en route to its final form as a product ready for retail. Give the jar a stir at the end of its cure for that creamy texture prized in rosin.
Dab - Not just a dance move, a dab is the act of consuming a concentrated cannabis product, often in the form of a solventless extract like rosin, by vaporizing the concentrate and inhaling the vapor. Dabbing has evolved to accommodate the use of fairly innovative dab rigs, which include a water pipe, a heating element (like a nail), and a dome. The solventless cannabis concentrate, such as budder or hash, is applied to the heated surface of the nail, where it rapidly vaporizes. The vapor is then inhaled through the pipe, providing a quick and potent method of consuming highly concentrated cannabinoids.
Diamonds - Crystalline formations of cannabinoids–resembling, as you can imagine, eye-catching diamonds–typically found in live rosin extracts. Like the other kind of diamonds, these diamonds are prized for their purity. Out in the retail environment, diamonds are most often derived from solvent-based extraction methods, but solventless diamonds can be pressed from rosin as well by separating cannabinoid content from terpenes.
Dry Sift - A solventless extraction method that involves sifting cannabis through screens to separate trichomes from plant material, producing a fine powder that can be smoked (sprinkle in your joint or your bowl) or pressed into rosin.
Fresh Frozen - In the context of solventless cannabis products, this refers to the delicate process of freezing cannabis plant material immediately at the point of harvest to preserve the terpene profile for extraction. The resulting “live” fresh frozen flower can be washed into hash and pressed into “live” rosin. Fresh frozen flower captures the truest expression of the plant’s chemical profile, making this an excellent stop on the solventless production journey.
Full-Melt - Full-melt refers to a high-quality solventless cannabis concentrate–specifically hash–that, when exposed to heat, completely vaporizes without leaving any residue or residual plant material. The term "full-melt" implies that the concentrate is so pure and refined that it melts cleanly without any foreign plant matter that would otherwise burn. Full melt hash is a truly clean and smooth vaporization experience. This term is often used to describe top-tier hash or hashish that exhibits exceptional purity and potency (see also “six-star” below).
Hash - An umbrella term for the concentrated form of cannabis made by separating the resin glands (trichomes) from the plant material by Hash can take various forms, including ice hash or bubble hash.
Hashery - A facility where hash is produced, such as the Emerald Sun Hashery in Ukiah, Calif.
Ice Water Hash - Another term for bubble hash, produced via cold agitation in, you guessed it, ice water.
Kief - The fine, powdery substance made up of trichomes that have been separated from the cannabis flower. It is often collected in a grinder or through dry sifting. Place it on top of a packed bowl for an extra layer of effects and enjoyment.
Micron - A unit of measurement used to describe the size of particles in the work bag during the extraction process; one micron is one millionth of a meter. For example, a 75-micron screen allows particles of up to 75 microns to pass through, while finer particles are retained. Micron size, ranging from 220 microns to 25, is a crucial factor in determining the quality and purity of the final extract. The written symbol for microns is µm (commonly written simply as “u.”). Drop this word in your next conversation at the dispensary, and see how deep you can get into the solventless discussion with your budtender!
Resin - The sticky substance on the surface of cannabis flowers, containing cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds. Resin is most concentrated within the plant’s trichome heads. Confusingly, resin is also the term used to refer to “live resin,” a cannabis concentrate extraction using solvents like Butane or BHO from “live” fresh frozen plant material.
The art of the rosin press in action.
Rosin - A solventless concentrate produced by applying heat and pressure to cannabis flower or hash, resulting in a sticky, sap-like substance rich in cannabinoids and terpenes. Rosin is most often consumed in a dab rig.
Star Rating for Hash - The star system is a grading system commonly used to evaluate and communicate the quality of solventless hash, particularly ice water hash or bubble hash. Each star represents a different aspect of the hash's characteristics, and a higher number of stars indicates a higher-quality product. Let’s get into it
One-Star - Basic quality. No melt. Typically, one-star hash may have some impurities (residue, plant material) and a darker color. It is an edible-grade and smoking hash.
Two-Star - Improved quality, though there’s still no melt here. Two-star hash bubbles a little bit and shows better purity, a more appealing appearance, and a more pronounced aroma and flavor. It is a smoking hash
Three-Star - You’ll begin to see some melt and some bubbling with this grade. Three-star hash features a nicer appearance (though still contains some residue) and in most cases a notable increase in potency. It is a dabbable and smokable hash.
Four-Star - Four-star hash is of fairly average quality, showcasing a visually appealing appearance that bubbles. It is highly potent and provides a premium cannabis experience, one that you can find easily on dispensary shelves. Also known as: Half-melt. It is a dabbable and smokable hash.
Five-Star - The top of the mountain: outstanding quality. Five-star hash is among the best available. It exhibits exceptional purity, a beautiful appearance replete with clear bubbles, intense aroma and flavor, and high potency. It represents a top-tier product in the world of solventless hash. Also known as: Full-melt. This is a dabbable hash.
Six-Star - This one’s super important. Perfection. The term "six-star" signifies the highest quality of hash, indicating a product that excels in various aspects, including appearance, aroma, flavor, potency, meltability, and overall purity. A "six-star" rating is essentially a “unicorn” denomination, reserved for the finest and most meticulously crafted solventless concentrates. It reflects a commitment to achieving the highest standards in hash production. By now you will understand that six-star hash must be dabbed.
Solventless - This is the great umbrella term for what we’re here to learn, after all. This term refers to cannabis extraction methods that do not involve the use of solvents such as butane or ethanol. Solventless production is all natural utilizing agitation, heat, and pressure. This term can also be used to reference a category of products at a dispensary (so be sure to ask about it!)
Sungrown - The finest in the market: “Sungrown” refers to cannabis plants that are cultivated using natural California sunlight, as opposed to being grown in an indoor environment. Sungrown can come in a few different forms from true outdoor or “full term” flower, light deprivation or light dep flower grown in hoop houses, or light assisted or greenhouse flower that use a combination of the sun and light support. Sungrown cultivars with healthy trichomes are optimal source material for solventless extraction.
Terpenes - Aromatic compounds found in cannabis and many other plants, responsible for the distinctive flavors and scents of different strains. Terpenes also lend chemical properties to the plant’s “entourage effect,” which is the collective intoxication that users will feel after consuming cannabis. Myrcene, among the most common terpenes in cannabis, is known for its calming and sedative properties.
Trichomes - Small, bulbous-headed structures on the surface of cannabis flowers that produce cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds.
Temple Ball - Imagine a fine sphere of dry sift hash, a ball of pure trichomes. A temple ball is in some ways a nod to the most ancient corners of hashish, the earliest conveyances of solventless-extracted cannabis. Formed by applying heat and pressure to hash, a temple ball is best cured for several weeks or months to improve stability. Add temple ball hash to a joint or bowl for added potency, flavor, and longevity to your smoking experience.
Agitating cannabis material in water to separate trichomes and produce hash.
Wash - In the context of hash production, the wash is the process of agitating cannabis material in water to separate trichomes and produce hash.
Work Bag - The filtration device in the wash. Work bags come in a variety of micron sizes, ranging from 220µm to 25µm. Those micron sizes play a critical role in determining final product quality.