There are numerous ways to obtain cannabis extracts and concentrates. Live resin is a relatively new type of concentrate that is made from freshly frozen cannabis right after harvest.
Thanks to its ability to retain the terpenes of the plant, live resin is becoming a more and more popular concentrate among cannabis users, offering a rich, flavorful, and intense experience.
What Is Live Resin?
In order to maintain the distinct flavor and aroma of fresh marijuana plants, live resin was developed as a type of cannabis concentrate. Because it is made from freshly frozen cannabis, the concentrate is regarded as “live.” Unlike cured resin, which is made from dried marijuana, this is not the same.
Cannabis is first flash frozen, also known as “fresh frozen,” using dry ice or a cryogenic freezing machine to reach subcritical temperatures. Before being pressed, the plant is next sprayed with a solvent, like butane or propane. This extraction method is distinct because it omits the drying and curing stages that are involved in many conventional cannabis extracts.
Cannabis’s terpene content may be reduced during the long curing process because the trichomes on the plant’s surface are exposed to heat, oxygen, and light. Together with other volatile (easily broken down) cannabis compounds, terpenes are present on the trichomes of cannabis plants and contribute to their distinct flavor, aroma, and therapeutic profile.
According to studies, the drying and curing process can cause cannabis to lose up to 55% of its terpene content. Additionally, handling marijuana several times during the drying process can harm trichomes.
The plant’s flavor and potency are maintained by skipping these steps and freezing it right away after harvest. After that, you can extract the finished result. Live resin is sticky and pliable, with a yellow hue ranging from dark to light. You can add live resin to vape pen cartridges or package it in jars.
Live Resin vs. Live Rosin
Things can get a little unclear at this point. Though their names, appearances, effects, and flavors are strikingly similar, live rosin is not the same as live resin, for those who are unaware.
Rather than being dried and cured, both products are made from freshly frozen plant matter. In contrast to live rosin, which is made without the use of a solvent, live resin is made by combining freshly frozen cannabis with a chemical solvent and then pressing it.
Solvent extraction is sped up, but it necessitates a step beyond extraction. The extract needs to be cleaned of any chemical solvents because they could be harmful if consumed. Respected producers of live resin follow stringent guidelines for quality control to guarantee that the finished product is free of leftover solvents.
It is believed that live rosin is a more pure and organic cannabis product. It is created through a process that involves heat, water, and high pressure. The drawback is that it takes more time and energy to produce live rosin. Using live resin as an example, the extraction method yields about 40 pounds per hour, while the smaller-batch rosin method yields about 2 pounds per hour.
Additionally, live rosin products typically cost more than live resin products due to this reason. Both cannabis concentrates are quite similar in terms of flavor, aroma, and potency, aside from manufacturing.
How Do You Use Live Resin?
Dabbing is how most cannabis users use live resin. A dab tool is necessary to handle the concentrate because it can be very sticky if you intend to dab. A torch, nail, and dab rig are also necessary for dabbing.
To fully enjoy the variety of flavors and scents found in dabs, inhale them slowly. While dabbing at a temperature between 400 and 500 °F helps maintain the terpene profile, dabbing at a temperature higher than that produces stronger effects.
With a dab pen, which is also referred to as a wax pen or vaporizer, you can also vape live resin. Be aware that dab pens are different from vape pens in that they are made specifically for heating cannabis concentrates.
To use it, a special tool is used to insert live resin into the dab pen’s oven. Occasionally, disposable cartridges with live resin that fit into vaping devices are available for purchase. To add even more potency, you can also add live resin to a bowl or joint.
For maximum consistency and quality, store your live resin in a cool place, regardless of how you intend to use it. Live resin will become runny if it is left in a heated environment.
Benefits of Live Resin
Cannabis enthusiasts appreciate live resin for its flavor, high potency, and quality. Live resin also has a wide range of special benefits.
Preserves Therapeutic Cannabis Compounds
To begin with, in contrast to other extracts, this kind of cannabis concentrate is extremely flavorful and aromatic. Live resin is preferred by people who appreciate the complex terpene flavor profile of cannabis because it maintains the unique flavor and aroma of each plant.
The extraction method is, as we have indicated, yet another important advantage of live resin. Terpenes and cannabinoids are found in trichomes, which are protected by omitting the drying step. Because the medicinal properties of cannabis are mostly concentrated in these compounds, protecting them with a less aggressive extraction method yields a more potent product.
It’s also important to note that researchers propose the entourage effect—a phenomenon in which the effects of cannabis plants are balanced—by the interaction of terpenes, cannabinoids, and other cannabis compounds. This special effect might be enhanced by maintaining higher concentrations of these phytocompounds.
Efficient and Cost-effective
Live resin can be produced in a very cost-effective and efficient manner. Live resin is made from harvested cannabis plants that are frozen, as opposed to other extraction techniques that require drying, curing, and flower trimming. The beneficial compounds are subsequently extracted using a solvent. Live resin makes it possible for manufacturers to produce a premium concentrate at a cost that is competitive.
Potential Risks and Side Effects
Although live resin has many benefits, there are also some possible risks. Chemical solvents must be completely removed from the extract before consumption as part of the production process.
Not-so-trustworthy operators operating in black markets might not properly purge their extracts, but respectable manufacturers take great care to ensure that live resin concentrates are free of any chemical residue. To guarantee that products are free of leftover solvents, only buy live resin from a licensed supplier and refer to the brand’s independent lab tests.
Live resin extracts’ high THC content is another thing to be cautious about. These cannabis concentrates can contain anywhere from 65 to 95% THC. If you’ve never used live resin extracts before, proceed with caution and read these beginner’s tips, as they provide an incredibly strong and sustained high.
