Quality & Innovation
Sift
Sift is one of the oldest and most authentic forms of solventless extraction, traditionally produced by mechanically separating trichomes from cannabis through fine screens. It’s the same foundational technique used for generations in places like Morocco, and it remains one of the purest expressions of resin when done correctly.
Today, there are two primary approaches:
- Dry sift: The traditional method, using screens and mechanical agitation to separate trichomes from cured material.
- Live sift: The modern evolution, using the same screen-based separation but performed in a frozen environment on fresh material to better preserve volatile aromatics and maintain a true-to-flower profile.
At CRITICAL, our focus is on whole plant fresh frozen live sift, which is essentially the sifting equivalent of whole plant fresh frozen water hash. It’s a category we believe has massive potential when refined to a high standard.
Plasmastatic Separation
Plasmastatic separation uses controlled static electricity to further refine fine material by separating it based on physical properties. In practice, it allows us to isolate cleaner fractions and reduce unwanted components, like stalks and broken heads, without relying on solvents.
By increasing purity in the positive fraction, plasmastatic separation helps produce a finished product that can rival traditional fresh frozen water hash in cleanliness, flavor, and overall expression.
Why it matters
Solventless
Mechanical separation and refinement, no solvents.
Truer expression
Cleaner fractions can tighten the strain’s aroma and flavor.
Higher consistency
Better control over outputs.
Versatile refinement
Can be used to refine dry sift, live sift, and even water hash.
How CRITICAL approaches it
We use process with intention. We test relentlessly, refine SOPs, and only keep steps that measurably improve purity, consistency, and the true-to-flower experience.
Quality & Innovation FAQs
Explore our frequently asked questions to better understand our products and processes.
What is sift?
Sift is a solventless concentrate made by mechanically separating trichomes from cannabis using fine screens. It’s one of the oldest extraction methods and one of the cleanest when produced with discipline.
What is live sift?
Live sift is the same screen-based separation as dry sift, but performed in a frozen environment on fresh material to better preserve aromatics and deliver a closer-to-live expression.
What is plasmastatic separation?
Plasmastatic separation is a refinement step that uses controlled static electricity to separate fine material into cleaner fractions. It helps increase purity without solvents.
Is sift solventless?
Can sift be made into rosin?
Yes. High-quality sift can be handled similarly to water hash and pressed into solventless rosin.
Does sift replace water hash?
Not necessarily. Water hash has its place in production. Sift and water hash are different paths to a similar goal, and plasmastatic separation can help refine both depending on the inputs and the desired outcome.
What problem does this solve?
It improves purity and consistency by separating material more selectively. The end result is a cleaner product and a more distinct, tightened strain expression in both aroma and taste.