Larica Rosin (Using the Liebenzeller Formula): The Return of an Old Favorite

New Larica Rosin

Introduction:  I heard a tale that that once upon a time there was a lady who lived far far away (but definitely in somewhere in Europe) who made rosin by hand all by herself.  Legend has it that she believed that her rosin, called Liebenzeller, could only be made when the stars and moon were properly aligned.  (Or perhaps this was to explain why my favorite variety, Gold II, was always out of stock!)

In any event, string players all over the world used her wonderfully low-dust rosin for many decades.  There were many varieties, each using a different metal such as gold, silver, or copper.  She specified hardness using roman numerals from I (hardest) through IV (softest). 

Original Liebenzeller Packaging

And then one day, the lady stopped making rosin, and Liebenzeller all but disappeared.

About Larica: Liebenzeller appears to be back, now under a new name, Larica. The makers of Larica state that they use the same manufacturing process and materials as the original Liebenzeller. Indeed, after sampling the new product, I think they have indeed brought this rosin back to life.  I could not differentiate their Gold I rosin from one of the several cakes of Liebenzeller I bought a few years ago, when I thought the product would be discontinued for good.  However, I have also heard instances of cakes arriving deformed and cracked.

Metal Additions to Larica Rosin

Metal Varieties:  The idea behind adding different metal varieties is that each metal has a unique effect on the sound of the instrument.  Larica has some interesting additions to add to the old standards, including "Meteor Iron" and Pyrite (see chart at left for a full list of metal additions).


Availability of Larica: There have been some issues keeping Larica in stock, however, and it seems that not all varieties can actually be purchased yet.  In fact, Gold I through IV and silver were the only varieties that I could find for purchase on line.  Further, the violin industry uses certain wholesalers that carry the major products for strings.  None of them carry Larica as yet.

The Plot Thickens:  Shar apparently carries a rosin they call Liebenzeller, packaged in a black case.  However, at the time that I checked, all varieties of this rosin were out of stock.  Could this be Larica under a different name?  Or is it a different rosin entirely?

Liebenzeller from Shar

Price:  There have been some issues keeping Larica in stock, and, as was the case with the original Liebenzeller, the price is high (around $35.00 per cake).  Shar offers its Liebenzeller at $30.00 per cake, on sale for $25.00 (although it is currently out of stock).