Perhaps the biggest challenge of solventless extraction is finding strains that wash well. And by wash well we mean cultivars that yield well for solventless extraction methods like bubble hash. If you are not familiar with the term solventless review this article first - what is solventless?
Well known hash maker Nikka T recently wrote and well though out article in SKUNK magazine titled "What Makes a Washer?". He considers 3% yield on fresh frozen to be a typical break even point. He is from the west coast but even on the east coast I have found this to be an accurate estimate as of 2022 market conditions.
He discusses three main variables for yield:
- Trichome density & number of trichomes
- Structure (shape of the trichomes as well as bud structure)
- Tactile feel and consistency of the trichomes when rubbed on the plant between day 45 and harvest time
I would add this incredibly important variable:
4. Light conditions (indoor vs outdoor, sun grown flowers are known to have higher terpene content)
For me the standout quote in the article is:
Now, if you have dense trichome growth, a perfect trichome structure for washing with a weak-neck trait and large, bulbous thin, waxy cuticle head, AND you feel gritty sand-like consistency, you have found a washer!
Nikka T
That is a loaded paragraph to deconstruct:
- Weak-neck trait - refers to trichomes that have a small connection between the stock and the head
- Bulbous thin, waxy cuticle - this describes the 'shell' of the trichome head. You want a thin head to decrease overall wax content in the hash. This is particularly important when making rosin carts.
- Gritty sand-like consistency - I completely agree with this sentiment. "Sand-like" hash is so much easier to work with than "greasy" feeling hash. Greasy hash tends to smear and clog your extraction bags, unlike sandy hash which comes off clean.
Once you have found some washers, you just need to assemble a menu of flavours. Make sure you have at least one good "gas" strain and a "fruit" profile in your rotation at all times.
The Jar Test
The jar test is a great way to approximate solventless yield without having to wash a large amount of material ($$$). Simply put 20-40 g fresh frozen material in a jar with ice and water. Shake it up like crazy for 5 min and allow the trichomes to settle to the bottom. Over time you will get a feel for what a good yield looks like, but for starters you should have at minimum a heaping teaspoon's worth of trichomes at the bottom of the jar. Below are some mids that had pretty awful yields.
