How to Make Cannabis Infused Drinks - At Home or In the Lab

Most cannabis drinks on the market rely on distillate. It’s cheap, flavorless, and easy to work with. That might work well for the solvent crowd, but it doesn’t offer much for those of us who prefer solventless. To be fair, a few live rosin syrups and cannabis drinks are doing it right. Two standouts are Dialed In and Squisha T. They both make a high-quality live rosin simple syrup that works great in tea, mocktails, and even over ice cream. Products like that show it can be done and done well with rosin. You just need the right process and that’s why we’re here. 

Rosin is not water-soluble. It contains fats and waxes that resist blending into liquids, which makes it challenging to use in THC-infused drinks. Distillate dissolves easily, but rosin needs a different strategy.

So why choose rosin? Because it delivers a cleaner, more flavorful experience. Solventless extracts like hash rosin keep the plant’s natural compounds intact. They provide a full-spectrum effect that many people prefer over distillate. You get the full profile of the cannabis flower, not just isolated THC.

The real challenge is making rosin work in beverages. To solve that, we’ll show you how to make a rosin syrup at home and how to create a stable emulsion for use in commercial labs.

How to Make Rosin Infused Simple Syrup At Home

If you want to make infused drinks at home, the easiest method is to create a simple syrup. You can add it to lemonade, tea, mocktails, or even just water.

Ingredients

• 1 gram of decarboxylated hash rosin

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 cup water

• 1 tablespoon sunflower lecithin

• 1 tablespoon high-proof alcohol (e.g., Everclear)

• Optional: flavorings like vanilla extract or citrus zest

High-proof alcohol, like Everclear, acts as a solvent to dissolve the decarboxylated rosin, making it easier to incorporate into the syrup. Sunflower lecithin serves as an emulsifier, helping to bind the cannabis oil with the water-based syrup, preventing separation and enhancing consistency. 

Combining these two methods addresses the challenge of rosin's poor water solubility, resulting in a more homogeneous and shelf-stable cannabis-infused syrup.

Equipment

• Small saucepan

• Whisk or immersion blender

• Glass jar with a tight-fitting lid

Instructions

1. Decarboxylate the Rosin: Place your rosin in a sealed glass container. Heat it in an oven at 220°F (104°C) for 25 to 30 minutes to activate the THC.
   

2. Dissolve Rosin in Alcohol: After decarboxylation, mix the rosin with 1 tablespoon of high-proof alcohol in a small bowl. Whisk  until fully dissolved. This step helps to break down the rosin for better integration into the syrup.
   

3. Prepare the Simple Syrup: In a saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves.
   

4. Incorporate the Rosin-Alcohol Mixture: Reduce the heat to low. Add the rosin-alcohol solution to the syrup, stirring continuously to ensure even distribution.
   

5. Add Sunflower Lecithin: Stir in the sunflower lecithin. This emulsifier helps to bind the rosin with the syrup, promoting a stable mixture.
   

6. Optional Flavoring: If desired, add flavorings like vanilla extract or citrus zest to enhance the taste of your syrup. You can also add the unflavored syrup to fruit juice like orange or pineapple juice.

Dosing Considerations

Dosing cannabis-infused drinks requires careful attention to potency and personal tolerance.

Start Low and Go Slow: If you are new to cannabis drinks, begin with a small amount (5-10 mg THC per serving) and wait at least 45-60 minutes before consuming more.

Calculate Dosage: If your rosin has 70% THC, 0.5 gram contains about 350 mg of THC. If you dissolve 0.5 gram into 1 cup of syrup, each tablespoon (1/16 of a cup) would contain around 22 mg THC. Adjust accordingly for your desired potency.

Mix Well: Always stir your infused drink thoroughly to ensure an even distribution of cannabinoids.

Onset and Duration: Liquid cannabis infusions may take effect faster than solid edibles, typically within 30-60 minutes, but effects can last several hours.

Lab Recipe: Nano-Emulsified Cannabis Drink Using Rosin

In a commercial lab setting, you can use high-shear mixing equipment to create a water-compatible emulsion from solventless hash. This produces a more stable product that can be used in ready-to-drink beverages. 

Equipment:

• High-shear homogenizer or ultrasonic emulsifier

• Magnetic stirrer or hot plate with stir function

• Beaker or stainless container

Ingredients:

• 1 gram decarboxylated hash rosin

• 1 tbsp carrier oil (MCT or sunflower lecithin-infused oil)

• 1–2% food-grade emulsifier (such as Q-Naturale or gum arabic)

• Filtered water

• Optional: natural flavor extracts or sweeteners

Tips & Technical Considerations

• Choosing the right surfactants is crucial for emulsion stability. A combination of hydrophilic and lipophilic surfactants, such as polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) and sorbitan monooleate (Span 80), can effectively reduce interfacial tension between oil and water phases, promoting a stable emulsion.
  

• Assess the compatibility of the emulsion with the beverage matrix. Factors such as pH, ionic strength, and the presence of other ingredients can influence the stability of the emulsion. Ensuring compatibility helps maintain the efficacy and shelf-life of the final product.
  

• Nanoemulsified cannabis products typically exhibit higher bioavailability and faster onset times compared to traditional edibles. This is due to the increased surface area of the nano-sized droplets, which facilitates more efficient absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.

Instructions:

1. Decarb the rosin. Use the same method as the home recipe.
   

2. Blend oil and rosin. Mix rosin with a small amount of carrier oil over gentle heat.
   

3. Add emulsifier. Stir in your emulsifier according to the percentage required for your total volume.
   

4. High-shear mix. Use your homogenizer to emulsify the oil into the water base. Mix until the emulsion is uniform and stable.
   

5. Test and bottle. Add flavoring if needed, then pour into bottles. Store in a cool dark place or refrigerated for best results.

This method creates a shelf-stable base for infused drinks but even well-made emulsions may settle over time. Always shake before use.

Rosin isn't the easiest way to make a cannabis-infused beverage, but it's one of the most flavorful and effective when done right. If you're considering creating a THC tincture or simple syrup, it's worth looking at brands that are excelling in this space. Dialed In stands out with their live rosin simple syrup, known as Liquid Gummies. They specialize in collaborating with renowned growers, transforming their simple syrup into strain-specific collaborations that resonate with consumers. These partnerships result in unique flavor profiles and effects, making their products a favorite among cannabis enthusiasts.