Cleaning Tree Resin: Two Effective Methods

Collected tree resin can be processed further with proper cleaning. While not always necessary for simple incense, cleaning can prepare it for various applications.

Method 1: Cleaning Tree Resin with Water

This method is similar to cleaning beeswax and involves boiling the resin.

Materials:

• An old pot
• Water
• Tree resin
• An old, clean sock or cotton bag
• Heat source

Instructions:

1. Place the tree resin inside the sock or bag.
2. Boil the water with the bag containing the resin.
3. Pure resin will rise to the surface of the water.
4. Skim the liquid pure resin from the surface using a spoon or ladle, and transfer it into cold water. It will harden immediately.
5. Alternatively, allow the water to cool and collect the hardened resin from the water’s surface.
6. Spread the resin on baking paper to dry for making Burgundy pitch.
7. The resin can also be further processed into a salve.
8. Residue remaining in the bag can also be dried and utilized.

Burgundy pitch is particularly pure spruce resin used for smoking.

Method 2: Cleaning Tree Resin with Fire

This method involves melting and filtering the resin.

Materials:

• Tree resin
• Pot or pan
• Small stove or hot plate
• Fine sieve (a metal hair sieve dedicated to this purpose)
• Wooden spatula or piece of wood
• Baking paper or a pot of cold water
• Kitchen paper or old cotton fabric for cleaning the pan

Instructions for Cleaning with Fire (Outdoors):

1. Place the resin in a pan or pot.
2. Slowly heat the resin until it melts. This process is easier with soft resin.
3. Exercise caution to prevent burning or ignition.
4. Once the resin is liquid, pour it through a fine sieve.
5. Either spread the liquid resin thinly on baking paper using the wooden spatula and allow it to dry, storing it in a well-ventilated manner.
6. Alternatively, pour the liquid resin directly into cold water, then transfer it to baking paper to dry before storing it in a well-ventilated manner.

Tip:

• The residue left after cleaning contains flammable resin and can be used as fire starter for campfires or other purposes.