diff --git a/content/blog/washing-frankincense.md b/content/blog/washing-frankincense.md index 18ec71d..a75a8aa 100644 --- a/content/blog/washing-frankincense.md +++ b/content/blog/washing-frankincense.md @@ -22,13 +22,13 @@ Naturally, I've been curious for some time as to how dissolving and discarding r 5. Spread the resin solids onto a sheet of wax paper and let dry. ## How it went -In my first attempt I utilized a paper coffee filter to separate the remaining resin from the gum-containing water; it took an eternity and resulted in a sticky mess on my kitchen floor, so I don't recommend it. That disaster is the reason why I moved to the method above wherein the water used to dissolve the gum content is poured off of the solids. This is based on a technique I used back in [my days as a cocktail bartender](https://dalek.zone/w/gjsJFrqzYkCvTGBvzL3MUV) to make ginger syrup[^1]. I do plan to attempt filtration again later with a lab vacuum filtration kit. After washing and drying the remaining material, I was left with a pleasantly crumbly mass adhered to the wax paper, which I gathered up into a container. +In my first attempt I utilized a paper coffee filter to separate the remaining resin from the gum-containing water; it took an eternity and resulted in a sticky mess on my kitchen floor, so I don't recommend it. That disaster is the reason why I moved to the method above wherein the water used to dissolve the gum content is poured off of the solids. This is based on a technique I used back in [my days as a cocktail bartender](https://makertube.net/w/boNV8AQcufwtaZVg9vUh1Q) to make ginger syrup[^1]. I do plan to attempt filtration again later with a lab vacuum filtration kit. After washing and drying the remaining material, I was left with a pleasantly crumbly mass adhered to the wax paper, which I gathered up into a container. [![A closeup of a pile of crumbly looking chunks of frankincense in a small plastic deli container.](/img/frankincense_washed_dried.webp "Very satisfying to crumble between your fingers.")](/img/frankincense_washed_dried.webp) Once dried, re-grinding the resin was incredibly quick and easy. I passed the ground material through a 140 mesh sieve and was met with a very fine, fragrant, and free-flowing white powder: -
Hojari frankincense resin after being ground, washed, dried, ground once more, and sieved through a 140 mesh screen. The tiny spoon is for making Chinese incense seals.
+
Hojari frankincense resin after being ground, washed, dried, ground once more, and sieved through a 140 mesh screen. The tiny spoon is for making Chinese incense seals.
I tested the processed frankincense against an unprocessed powder in a trail-burning test at 30% resin to 70% sandalwood. While I was hardly scientific about it, my impression was that the processed frankincense was significantly improved in fragrance quantity and quality when burning compared to the unprocessed powder.