So, you want to learn how to roll the perfect South African joint? Lekker. Take a seat, spark your curiosity, and let the Zootly fam guide your hands to greatness.
Now, if you’re here, it’s usually for one of two reasons.
Reason One: You’re a brand-new fledgling flapping into the cannabis world for the first time. In which case… WELCOME, YOU BEAUTIFUL BABY BUD!
Reason Two: you’re a seasoned smoker looking to level up your rolling game, because even veterans love a pro tip or two.
For the newcomers, listen closely. Rolling isn’t some mystical rite reserved for dreadlocked wizards. It’s a skill. And like any skill, it gets better with practice. Yes, you’ll roll a few questionable sausages.
Yes, you’ll produce the occasional limp spring roll of sadness. It happens to the best of us.
And in case no one has shouted it loudly enough yet:
You’ve got this! We believe in you!
However, there are a hundred ways to roll the legendary South African joint:
- Tight,
- Loose,
- Tulip,
- Filter,
- No filter,
- Old-school,
- And new-school.
But for now, we’re keeping it simple. This is your easy guide to rolling the cleanest, meanest, smoothest joint in Mzansi.
Let’s get those fingers flying, champ.
Shopping list for the perfect South African joint
While rolling a joint is the easiest method of enjoying your cannabis, there are still a few odds and ends you need. Namely:
- Cannabis;
- Rolling paper (stick with hemp or rice);
- A herb grinder (you can use a shot glass and scissors);
- And filter material (we include strips in our rolling paper packs).
If you are feeling like spending a little more, you can purchase:
- Rolling tray;
- Glass filter tips;
- Coffee grinder;
- Hash, oils, concentrates, or terpenes (if you have);
- And a storage tube.
Now that you’ve packed your cart with everything you need, wave your credit card in the air, spend some cash, and let’s get ready to ROLL! Well, sort of…
Prep Work
Those who don’t prep – don’t get around to smoking!
Andrew Macfarlane making up quotes…
There are a few steps you need to take before you actually roll.
First, you need to grind your weed. Depending on whether you have a hardcore grinder, you might need to chop up your herb in a shot glass or tease it apart with your fingers.
While it doesn’t matter whether your herb is ground delicately or coarsely, it should be consistent. Consistency is often down to the dryness of the bud you have.
The second step is to make sure your paper and filters are ready. Read the labels carefully, as you want documents with the least amount of chemicals. So, unbleached and made from an organic material.
You want to make sure that you match the size of your paper with the amount of cannabis you have. If there is far too much weed, lucky you, you can join papers together.
Most premium rolling papers come with small pieces of cardboard for filters. These should be rolled into a cylindrical filter shape.
If you’ve decided to go… budget… then you can use cardboard from around the home. Just make sure it’s not laminated or printed on.
Then you want to make sure the filter is rolled tight enough so your herb doesn’t fall out the back.
The third prep is to ensure that you have a space for rolling. While you can roll anywhere, make sure that you have a flat surface and that you can catch your herb from those guaranteed spills.
Now – WE ROLL!
Rolling Technique
To create the perfect South African joint, you need to remember that it needs to be:
- The correct size.
- Evenly distributed herb;
- Packed so it guarantees a slow burn;
- But not too densely packed, so it still delivers an easy pull.
Now, to nail that technique!
Make sure that you’re holding the paper lengthwise with the glue at the top facing you. Curve the paper using your thumb and middle finger. You should be achieving a skateboarding half-pipe ramp shape.
Most support the paper with their thumb and middle fingers, while the index finger ensures the ramp shape.
Now reach for that pre-rolled filter and place it into the curved paper. If you’re right-handed, place it on the left side, and the other way round if you’re left-handed.
Using your thumb, index, and middle fingers, gently pinch the rolling paper and filter in the non-dominant hand.
This is the moment you sprinkle the cannabis evenly onto the paper. It should be a little higher than the filter. And don’t cover the filter with your herb.
Remove your index finger from holding down the filter and pinch the tops of the paper lightly with both your thumbs and index fingers. Now, gently massage the cannabis into a tube.
It’s up to you whether you want to roll it into a cone or a straight joint. But make sure that the cannabis matches your filter’s width where they meet.
Arguably, the most challenging part is sealing the joint. Using your thumbs and index fingers, you need to roll the glue-free edge of the paper towards you (down) as you form it around the ground cannabis.
Now roll it upwards, tucking the edge of the paper into the opposite side. You should be wrapping the weed but leaving the paper’s glue exposed.
Try to roll the joint using the flat parts of your finger and not the very tips.
Doing it in a smooth motion is what you’re looking for while working your fingers down the joint.
Time to lick it and stick it!
If you’re rolling with a sticky batch, you’ll find this whole process a lot easier. But now is the moment where you lick and stick it!
Once stuck down, gently tap the joint so the cannabis inside falls towards the filter. You can add more cannabis if needed. And if your filter is loose, fix it now.
Now that you’re happy, twist the lighting end up and trim off the excessive paper.
That’s it! You should have a joint in your hand. If not… try again, or purchase this automatic joint grinder.
Or buy a dry herb vape. It’s easier, and we live in the 21st century! But if you need to roll a joint in South Africa, now you know how.
