Rosin is a solventless cannabis concentrate made by pressing flower, bubble hash, or dry sift between heated plates, so the resin inside the trichomes melts and flows out through a fine mesh filter bag. No butane, ethanol, or CO2 is used, only heat and pressure. Cannabis rosin (not to be confused with the pine rosin used on violin bows) can be dabbed, vaped, or used in edibles, and it’s simple enough to press at home.

Rosin is one of the purest and most potent forms of cannabis extracts available. Made through the concentration of trichomes and the oily resin they produce, rosin can take on a variety of appearances. Some rosin looks creamy and buttery, but it can appear runny and sappy too. Some rosin even looks like diamonds. It’s a versatile cannabis concentrate that gives extractors a lot of freedom in how they want to process it. 

Unlike other cannabis extracts, rosin isn’t made with any solvents like butane, ethanol, or CO2. Its solventless nature means there’s no concern about residual chemicals that might remain after production. And it’s relatively easy to create, even from home with some basic supplies. 

Rosin vs. Live Resin vs. Distillate at a Glance

General comparison; exact methods and results vary by producer and region.

Basic rosin pressing gear: a rosin press, rosin filter bags, and a pre-press mold.

How Is Rosin Made?

Rosin is made by pressing trichome-rich cannabis material with heated plates. The heat and pressure cause trichome glands to burst open and release their resin, which flows through a filter bag and gets collected as rosin. The equipment needed to press rosin is basic and easy to obtain. Like most hobbies, you can allocate a massive budget or a smaller budget. 

Extractors start by loading cannabis flowers, bubble hash, or dry sift into mesh filter bags, called rosin bags, then place that material between specialty plates called rosin press plates. Rosin plates have heating elements inside that are attached to a digital controller box, allowing extractors to dial in the exact temperatures needed. 

These press plates can be installed on basic shop presses, like Dake or Harbor Freight. It’s a straightforward process to build your own rosin press. 

Cannabis is pre heated on the press plates before pressure is applied, which primes the trichomes to release their oil. Once pressure is applied, the trichomes rupture and the resin inside flows through the rosin filter bag and drips onto parchment paper that’s used to hold the rosin bag during extraction. The rosin is collected from the parchment paper and at that point, it’s ready for consumption. 

Different Types of Rosin

The starting material for rosin production can be dried cannabis flowers, bubble hash, or dry sift. Rosin is characterized in part by the starting material from which it was extracted. For example, flower rosin comes from pressed cannabis flowers, while hash rosin comes from pressing bubble hash. Rosin made from pressing dry sift is also considered hash rosin.  

Flower rosin is the easiest to produce, while hash rosin is seen as the premium product. In order to create hash rosin, you need to create the hash first. This adds time, equipment, and some additional processes, but the end result can be truly mind-blowing. 

Read more about the ice water extraction method to make bubble hash in How To Wash Bubble Hash.

Flower rosin is a great choice for someone just getting started in rosin. All you need to do is squish dried cannabis flowers (wet flowers that were recently harvested aren’t yet ready for rosin extraction). Once you get the hang of pressing rosin with flowers, you can graduate to washing hash and then pressing the hash. 

Check out the following articles to learn more:

Flower Rosin vs Hash Rosin
How To Press Flower Rosin Starter Guide
How To Press Bubble Hash Rosin Starter Guide

Can You Make Rosin at Home?

Rosin is easy to make at home, and you can even use a hair straightener to press rosin. The basic equipment you need includes:

• Cannabis material (flower, bubble hash, or dry sift)
• Rosin press 
• Rosin filter bags
• Pre-press mold
• Parchment paper
• Glass jar

How Can You Use Rosin?

Most people prefer to dab rosin, which is dropping the rosin into a heated quartz bowl similar to a regular bong and inhaling the vapors. But, you don’t have to smoke rosin. 

There are other ways to use rosin, like making gummies or MCT oil capsules. Because no chemical solvents are used, rosin carries no risk of residual solvents from the extraction process. 

Learn more in our article Best Ways To Use Rosin.

Conclusion

Rosin is one of the most desirable forms of cannabis available today. Because it’s made without any chemical solvents, it’s safe to consume and easy to create at home. All you need is some high-quality dried cannabis flowers, a basic press, some rosin bags, and parchment paper. 

The best way to learn is through experience. Take good notes while you’re starting out, which will help shorten the learning curve. Don’t be afraid to fail. Sometimes the best lessons come through practice and experimentation. 

Happy pressing!

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is rosin?

Rosin is a type of cannabis extract that's made without the use of chemical solvents. It can take on various appearances, from whipped and buttery to saucy to sappy, depending on how it is processed and cured. 

How do you make rosin?

Rosin is made by pressing trichome-rich cannabis material with heated plates. The heat and pressure cause trichome glands to burst open and release their resin, which flows through a filter bag and gets collected as rosin. You can use a shop press outfitted with specialty rosin plates, but even a hair straightener can offer the heat and pressure needed to squish rosin. 

What equipment do I need to make rosin?

The basic material you need to press rosin includes cannabis material (flower, bubble hash, or dry sift), a rosin press, rosin filter bags, pre-press mold, parchment paper, and a glass jar.

What does solventless mean?

Solventless means it was made without the use of chemical solvents like butane, ethanol alcohol, or CO2. 

Should I press flower rosin or hash rosin?

It's easy to learn how to press rosin with flowers, then later graduate to pressing hash. Hash rosin is generally considered premium quality. 

Is rosin the same as resin?

No. Rosin is pressed with heat and pressure and contains no solvents, while live resin is extracted with hydrocarbon solvents like butane. The word resin also describes the sticky oil inside trichomes, which adds to the confusion. Read our breakdown of live resin vs. live rosin.

What temperature do you press rosin at?

Good starting ranges are roughly 180–220°F for flower and much cooler, around 150–190°F, for bubble hash and dry sift. Lower temperatures favor flavor, while higher temperatures favor yield. Start low and adjust for your material.

How much rosin do you get from pressing?

Yield depends mostly on starting material. As a rough guide, flower returns about 15–25%, dry sift or kief about 30–40%, and bubble hash 60–70% or more. See our average rosin yields guide for details.