Fruits, flowers, and more: roll up with these everyday items

alternative rolling papers

In this modern cannabis world, consumption methods are constantly evolving. From the introduction of the gravity hookah and laser bongs to the bounty of accessories for the stoner on the gothe future is now. Even with exciting technology, rolling joints are a favorite method among cannabis consumers.

Whether through necessity, a.k.a. someone forgot the papers, or sheer creativity, joint rolling methods are evolving alongside the tech scene. Influencers brought the rise of the rose blunt, and social media has delivered inventions like banana peel papers.

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Before getting creative, heed this warning. Smoking anything challenges pulmonary health, and inhaling chemicals commonly used to grow fruits like bananas and flowers like roses is definitely unsafe. The most surefire way to know if products include harmful additives is to cultivate them yourself or source from a trusted farmer.

These are some of the tried and true alternatives to traditional rolling papers.

Rose blunts

This floral rollie uses flower petals instead of paper but does require some do-it-yourself skills. Crafting a rose blunt requires a plug for pesticide-free rose petals, an oven, and a few minutes. There are some companies that sell prepared rose blunt wraps.

This alternative rolling paper is a good fit for those who like smoking floral strains or want to bring a touch of romance to the sesh. It’s a two-step process.

How to roll a rose blunt:

  1. Stick a few cleaned petals together with saliva.
  2. Pop them into the oven, holding on to some moisture to keep them rollable.
  3. Roll up to a gram of flower in the prepared wrap.

 

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Banana peel blunt

Lovers of Banana Kush rejoice! Rolling papers made out of banana peels add flavor to the strain inside. This rolling method caught on as a social media trend in the last year. The slow-burning peel offers a longer session, a tropical flavor enhancement, and a fun home project.

As with all homemade wraps, the first step is finding a banana peel grown with absolutely no chemicals or sprays. This might pose a challenge. Once the peel has been secured, eat the banana and scrape all of the organic matter off the inside of the peel.

How to roll a banana blunt:

  1. Gently scrape until the outer layer is left, careful not to poke a hole.
  2. Dry out the wrap either over a long period of time in the sun or quickly in the microwave.
  3. Roll it up with care (you don’t want the peel to rip) and enjoy.

Mango skin

The mango skin blunt wrap is a more recent addition to the fruity rolling paper alternatives. Grab a pesticide-free mango, preferably locally grown, to roll this fruit-forward blunt. Fans say it delivers a tasty, even-burning experience.

How to roll a mango blunt:

  1. Slice a mango in half longways, scoop out as much meat as possible using a cup, and scrape the remaining mango down to the lowest grade possible.
  2. Cut out a rectangle to the size of your desired rolling paper.
  3. Microwave the rectangle(s) three times in ten-second intervals.
  4. Pop the wrap into a 200°F oven for 20 minutes.
  5. Make a glue using water and tapioca starch.
  6. Use the cooled wrap and glue to roll a fatty and light it up.

Corn husk joints

Rolling papers have been crafted out of dried corn husks for generations. Tamales, joints—what’s the difference right? Corn husks need to be dried out before they’re rolled, just like other organic papers.

Unlike mangoes, bananas, and rose petals, husks are layered as much as an ogre. Use the innermost leaves. They will have retained the most moisture. Those who don’t want to DIY can purchase corn husk rolling papers online.

How to roll a corn husk joint:

  1. Cut the desired size of paper from an inner corn husk leaf.
  2. Bake the corn husk papers in a 200°F oven for 20 minutes, monitoring to ensure it doesn’t dry out past the point of no return.
  3. Roll up, making either a tapioca glue or tying the joint with more husk fashioned into a string.

There are many ways to roll a joint, and these are some of the most creative. Next time the group is out of papers, maybe it’s time to turn to the kitchen.

Cara Wietstock is Senior Content Producer of GreenState.com and has been working in the cannabis space since 2011. She has covered the cannabis business beat for Ganjapreneur and The Spokesman Review. You can find her living in Bellingham, Washington with her husband, son, and a small zoo of pets.