Dry Sifting

Dry sifting is a mechanical separation technique used to collect trichome heads from dried cannabis flower without solvents. The process involves agitating dried plant material over fine mesh screens, allowing mature trichomes to fall through while larger plant matter is retained. Breeders and cultivators use dry sifting to produce kief—a concentrated form of trichomes commonly studied for cannabinoid and terpene composition. This classification reflects production method rather than plant genetics, though certain cultivar structures and trichome maturity levels produce more suitable material for efficient dry sifting.

Breeders working toward high-trichome phenotypes often evaluate dry-sift yield as an indirect marker of trichome density and head size. Plants bred for compact, resinous flower structures typically produce better dry-sift results, making this metric useful in selective breeding programs.