Solventless concentrates are extracts that are obtained via mechanical extraction. These include rosin, hash, and dry sift, among others. Here are some of the things you need to know about solventless concentrates.
What Are Solventless Concentrates
Solventless concentrates are obtained by the separation of plant matter from terpenes, essential oils, and cannabinoids. These are extremely potent concentrates that are extracted in the absence of chemicals. To put their potency into perspective, cured flowers typically have THC content that ranges from 15% to 30%, while solventless concentrates or extracts have a THC content of 60% to 90%.
Because solventless extraction uses no chemicals, the resultant product is cleaner and of a higher quality. Solventless concentrates are usually made in smaller batches. However, due to their purity, they often come at a higher price point. Solventless concentrates carry the full terpene and cannabinoid profile of the cultivar used to produce them. These products usually come in the form of Rosin and Ice Water Concentrate.
The Solventless Process
To obtain solventless concentrate Bay Area-made, fresh plants are placed in very cold temperatures(below zero degrees celsius). This is done to preserve the terpenes and to prevent material from accumulating in resin. This also enables the manufacturers to create a product that retains natural aromas. Following the freezing process, the plants are then placed in a work bag. They are then passed through a food-grade mixing machine loaded with cold, ice water.
The trichome and water mixture then passed through layers of different bubble bags with varying levels of filtration. This separates the trichome heads into different sizes. The concentrated resin is then removed from the bags and placed on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. These draw the moisture out of the collected concentrate, which is then freeze-dried to obtain a vaporizable sand-like texture.
The solventless process is great for obtaining pure and highly concentrated products.