What is ice-o-lator?

The ice-o-lator, also known as an iceolator or ice hash, is a very potent type of hash. The process of making it involves extraction using ice and water. It can, of course, be made from any aromatic plant, such as mint or lavender.

In the case of cannabis, the process involves extracting the resin using ice water, in order to insulate trichomes, the cannabis glands that produce the cannabinoids and terpenes and found on the flowers and leaves of cannabis plants.

The ice-cold water, which should be between 2 and 5°C, will break up the trichomes, causing them to sink to the bottom of the container, while the organic material will float to the surface. In this way, the trichomes are separated in the cold water and then collected in a bag designed for this purpose.

The Dutch company Pollinator has been selling ice-o-lator bags since 1992. The bottom of the bags is made of a screen and comes in various mesh sizes. This allows the bags to be stacked on top of one another to filter and collect the necessary components.

From the Plant to Cannabis Resin

The extraction process therefore begins with bags filled with water and ice, into which the plant material is submerged to release the trichomes, taking care to maintain the correct water temperature.

The trichomes are thus separated from the plant and collected in the next bag. The first bag, which contains the plant material, can then be removed. This process can be repeated 4 or 5 times, gradually using finer and finer screens.

A thin layer of resin will eventually settle at the bottom of the last bag. The finer the sieve used, the better the quality will be.

The next step is to let the resulting resin dry, preferably in the open air. This step should not be underestimated. Incomplete drying can cause mold.

In addition, this step will allow the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to begin a process of decarboxylation.

Ice-o-lator can come in a variety of colors, which depend on both the cannabinoid and terpene composition of the strain used to make it. The color can range from khaki green to dark brown. The purest quality is typically amber in color.

As with every extraction process, the result is a powerful product.

You can easily find Ice-O-Lator in Amsterdam's coffeeshops or in Spanish cannabis clubs.

You can buy high-quality Ice-O-Lator resins on the CBD marketplace BuyCBD.net.

Mehdi Bautier