How to Make Solventless Rosin Diamonds

Solventless rosin diamonds are clear-colored chunks of crystallized THCA that are separated mechanically from whole rosin. THCA, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is the "raw" precursor to THC. This acidic cannabinoid is converted into THC when heated—a process referred to as decarboxylation.

The rosin diamond separation process involves repressing rosin with a waxy or stiff budder texture at low pressures and low temperatures. This allows the terpenes, lipids, and other cannabinoids to flow out, leaving the white THCA behind. The THCA can then be sold as is or processed further for a “glassy” style of diamond.

Solventless diamonds represent a huge step forward for the solventless extraction industry. Previously, these highly prized THCA crystals could only be made using closed-loop solvent extraction or crystallization using a solvent combined with heat and pressure. Now, hashmakers have worked out how to make hash rosin diamonds using rosin with a waxy or stiff budder texture and a rosin press.

Solventless diamonds can be made by professionals or individuals at home alike. The right equipment, a small amount of space, and the following steps are all you need to get started.

What You Need to Make Solventless Rosin Diamonds

Gather these materials to make solventless THCA crystal diamonds:

• 
  Cold-cured rosin with a waxy or stiff budder texture, or live diamond rosin pressed from fresh frozen bubble hash, is ideal for separating terpenes from THCA. Note: Convert fresh-pressed rosin into a cold cure by sealing it in a jar at room temperature for 2-3 days and then whipping it up.
• A 25µm rosin bag
• A 220µm rosin bag
• Food-grade parchment paper
• A rosin press—preferably used with our LT4 Heat and Pressure Controller for greater precision

Steps to Make Solventless Rosin Diamonds

1. Bag your rosin. Fold your cold-cured rosin into a square about 1/8"-1/4" thick. Place it inside the 25µm rosin bag and fold over the end. Sleeve a 220µm rosin bag over the first bag for structural support.
   
   
2. Sleeve the rosin bags inside folded parchment paper. We explain parchment paper folding techniques in our article on directional flow. The Boat Tech fold is ideal for THCA separation.
   
3. Press at 105°F. Place the rosin parcel between the plates of the rosin press and heat the plates to 105°F. This low temp will be enough to get the terpenes flowing while the THCA stays behind in the bag. Wait until the entire seam is wet before increasing pressure. Then, slowly increase the pressure until terp sauce starts to flow out of the bags and down the parchment paper. Apply just enough pressure to get the terpenes flowing from the bag. Maintain this pressure for about 10 minutes or until the terpenes stop flowing from the bag. If you collect this sticky sauce, you can recombine it with the diamonds later on to make sauce and diamonds.
   
   
   
   
4. Press at 115°F. Increase the rosin press temperature to 115°F and repeat step 3.
   
5. Press at 125°F. Increase the temperature to 125°F and repeat step 3.
   
   
   
   
6. Melt the THCA to make diamonds. The THCA will be left behind in the rosin bag. If you want to change it from a chalky look to clear glass, melt it down on a sheet of parchment and a heating plate until it becomes clear. Let it cool and break it into pieces.

How to Make Solventless Rosin Diamonds and Sauce

Making rosin diamonds and sauce is done by recombining the rosin diamond dabs with the sauce separated earlier.

This sauce has a deliciously high terpene content. Rosin jam comes close to this composition, but the diamonds are less defined.

To make solventless THCA diamonds and sauce:

1. Melt down the THCA as described above, allow the heated THCA to cool, and cut it into small pieces.
2. Recombine the diamonds with the terpene sauce.

How Are Rosin Diamonds Used? 

Rosin or THCA diamonds are typically dabbed (the heat generated in the vaporization process converts the THCA into THC) or decarbed and incorporated into edibles and tinctures. This form of cannabis extract provides a potent and rich dabbing experience. Alternatively, place the THCA directly into tinctures or capsules to maximize the therapeutic benefits. The benefits of THCA include possible anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, as well as potential benefits for colitis, IBS, and seizure disorders. 

Pro tip: The purity of THCA diamonds (they are nearly pure THCA) makes it easier to achieve fairly precise dosing with edibles, tinctures, and capsules. However, you should always send the final product for lab testing before labeling it and distributing the packaged version to dispensaries for sale.

Traditional Rosin Diamonds vs Live Rosin Diamonds

Traditional and live rosin diamonds are both made using the solventless technique for THCA separation. The difference lies in the starting material. 

Traditional rosin diamonds:

1. Dried and cured cannabis flowers are washed to make bubble hash.
2. The bubble hash is pressed to make rosin.
3. The rosin is repressed to make traditional rosin diamonds.

Live rosin diamonds:

1. Fresh frozen cannabis flowers are washed to make live bubble hash.
2. The live bubble hash is pressed to make live rosin.
3. The live rosin is repressed to make live rosin diamonds.

As with all live concentrates, live rosin diamonds have a stronger flavor and aroma than traditional, cured concentrates, thanks to their live rosin terpenes. These diamonds also fetch a higher sale price due to the more labor-intensive process and premium starting material.

FAQ

Q: Are THCA diamonds solventless?

A: THCA diamonds can be solventless or made with the use of solvents. THCA rosin diamonds are solventless, as they’re made from rosin using a rosin press.

Q: What are live rosin diamonds?

A: Live rosin diamonds are THCA diamonds made using live rosin as the starting material.

Q: Are solventless diamonds the same as THC diamonds?

In short, there is no such thing as THC diamonds. It is a misnomer for THCA diamonds. THC does not form the crystalline structure required to make diamonds.

The distinction here is actually just between production methods. “Solventless Diamonds” refers to diamonds made without solvents, while “diamonds” alone can refer to crystals produced using either solventless processes or hydrocarbon extraction.

Q: What strain works best for solventless diamonds?

A: Any washing strain that has a high THCA percentage will work for making solventless diamonds. Some of our favorites include GMO, Wedding Cake, Gorilla Glue (GG4), and Banana Punch. 

Q: Why is my THCA dark?

A: Nearly pure THCA is typically white or golden in color. If it’s dark, that indicates oxidation, degradation, or impurities present. 

Q: How do you make THCA diamonds at home?

A: THCA rosin diamonds require a rosin press. If you’ve got a rosin press at home, you can make these diamonds using the solventless technique for THCA separation outlined in this article. Be slow and careful with your pressure and temperatures if you don’t have a heat and pressure controller.

Delight Your Customers With Solventless Rosin Diamonds

Solventless products continue to grow in both quality and diversity, and rival even the best solvent-based extracts. Solventless diamonds are a testament to the fact that equivalents of most solvent-based concentrates can be produced solventlessly—it just takes a bit of experimentation.

After producing your very own THCA diamonds (or diamonds and sauce), you can dab your masterpiece or gram it out, send it for testing, and package it for sale in dispensaries. The sight, taste, and experience of dabbing solventless diamonds and sauce are hard to beat!