Of all the exciting products brought to us by the cannabis concentrate boom, live resin is a hard one to beat. Why? A sticky, potent, and unbelievably flavorful extract, it must be tasted to be believed. Not to be confused with live rosin, live resin brings its own unique benefits to the table.
Curious for more? You’re in luck—take a deep dive with us as we explore live resin and its many attributes. We’ll answer all your burning questions, including:
- What is live resin?
- How is live resin made?
- What’s the difference between live resin and live rosin?
- How strong is live resin?
…and much more! By the end of this post, you’ll be ready to stop by your favorite dispensary and stock up on this incredibly versatile concentrate. Ready? Let’s get rolling!
What Is Live Resin?
At this point in time, and with the rapid acceptance of cannabis over the past few years, there’s really nothing “new” in the cannabis world: Cannabinoids are cannabinoids, and terpenes are terpenes, and most cannabis products contain them in varying amounts and proportions. However, live resin is something unique. As a cannabis concentrate, it boasts the same high THC content as products like badder, budder, and shatter—often reaching the 80% – 90% THC range—and has a sugar-like consistency. But its flavor is the real star.
Instead of being extracted from dried and cured cannabis flower, like most cannabis concentrates, live resin is made from flash-frozen flower. The result? Truly outstanding levels of flavorful terpenes, the fragrant compounds that give different strains their unique aromatic and flavor profiles.
How Is Live Resin Made?
Most cannabis concentrates are produced by extracting the potent cannabinoids and terpenes from flower using heat and pressure or with solvents such as butane or CO2. While live resin is made via a solvent extraction process—just like shatter, diamonds, or many other kinds of concentrates you may have already encountered—the secret to its startling flavor lies in the aforementioned freezing process.
Live resin is produced using cannabis flower that’s been flash-frozen to -40℉ after harvest, either by being placed in a specialized freezer or an insulated cylinder of liquid nitrogen. When it’s time to begin the extraction process, the frozen plant matter is thawed before undergoing extraction via butane, ethanol, CO2, or a similar solvent. Once all the cannabinoids and terpenes have been extracted, the final product is purged for up to 48 hours in order to remove any leftover solvents or impurities.
Live Resin vs Live Rosin
Confused by the “resin vs rosin” divide? Trust us, you’re not alone. Though they sound similar, they’re actually quite different, and it’s good to know which one is which if you’re ever deciding between the two in the future.
- Live Resin: As you now know, live resin is a solvent-extracted concentrate created from flash-frozen cannabis flower.
- Live Rosin: A thick, sticky cannabis concentrate produced by solventless extraction. Rosin is made by pressing fresh cannabis plant material under gentle heat to squeeze out the active terpenes and cannabinoids., giving it a stickier and more taffy-like consistency than resin.
Some prefer rosin’s nuanced flavors, while others prefer resin’s bold, more in-your-face flavor notes.
How Strong Is Live Resin?
First things first: As a solvent-based extract, live resin is quite potent, usually testing about 70% THC. The strongest flower available today tops out in the roughly 35% THC range, so it’s safe to say that live resin can potentially knock your socks off. So, if you’re new to cannabis concentrates, remember the golden rule: Start low and go slow. You can always have more, but you can’t have less!
That said, how does live resin stack up against other concentrates? While each specific product is different based on the production method, strain, and style of concentrate, in general, you can assume that while regular—meaning, not “live”—resin is slightly less potent than high-testing concentrates such as shatter and wax, live resin is more potent than all of them.
Why? The freezing process preserves the maximum amount of cannabinoids and terpenes in the final product. So, live resin is generally regarded as among the most potent concentrates available on the market. What’s more, it’s believed that the high terpene content contributes to what’s known as the “ensemble” or “entourage” effect, whereby terpenes and cannabinoids interact to produce even stronger effects together than they would on their own.
How To Dab Live Resin: Step-By-Step Guide
Accessing the high potency and extraordinary flavors of live resin is relatively easy but requires some preparation. The most common way to enjoy live resin is with a purpose-made dab rig, a device specially designed for consuming concentrates. They function similarly to bongs, except that instead of a bowl for your flower, they have a part called a “nail” that holds the live resin or other concentrate of your choosing.
If you’re interested in trying a dab of live resin, just make sure you have all the necessary equipment—in addition to a dab rig, you’ll need a nail (sometimes called a banger), a carb cap, a torch, and a dab tool. Once you’ve got everything ready, you can begin dabbing.
Here’s how to dab live resin from a dab rig:
- Using your torch, carefully heat the rig’s nail/banger for 30 to 45 seconds or until it’s visibly red hot.
- Let your nail cool. Titanium nails can be cooled for as little as 15 seconds, while quartz nails may need as long as 45 seconds. Why is this important? Dabbing with a nail that’s too hot will result in combustion, producing smoke instead of vapor.
- Use your dab tool to scoop up a dab of your concentrate and apply it to the nail. Remember, start with minuscule amounts until you get the hang of the process—we suggest a piece no larger than the head of a nail.
- Inhale slowly while using the carb cap to cover the dome and manage airflow.
- Exhale.
Congratulations: You’ve successfully dabbed! Though dabbing isn’t the only way to consume concentrates, it’s an efficient way to experience all the fresh flavors of your live resin.
More Ways to Consume Live Resin
Not ready to try dabbing? No problem! Here are some other popular ways to access the potency and flavor of live resin.
Vape
If you have a vaporizer designed to handle concentrates, you can skip the dab rig altogether—just be sure you have a pad or similar insert to absorb any sticky melted residue and to avoid damaging your vaporizer beyond repair. Green Goods also offers an awesome selection of Live Resin Vapes from Kings & Queens in Maryland.
Pipe
If your live resin has a reasonably solid and dry consistency, you can sprinkle it on top of the ground flower in your bowl. When heated, it will melt into the flower, instantly spiking its potency and the intensity of your bowl’s effects.
Joints or Blunts
You can also roll a small amount of live resin into your next joint or blunt. Simply sprinkle some tiny chunks over the flower and roll it up together. Alternatively, you can gently heat it to liquefy it before spreading it over the rolling paper. However you choose to do it, it will add some serious punch to your next session.
Shop Fresh and Flavorful Live Resin at Green Goods
Potent, shelf-stable, and extremely flavorful, live resin is among the most popular types of cannabis concentrates. No big surprise why: With its high THC levels and incredible terpene profile, it really is a quantum leap when it comes to cannabis products.
Intrigued? Head to your nearest Green Goods dispensary in Maryland or Minnesota and stock up on this unique, aromatic concentrate. If you’re located near one of our Maryland locations, we have something special for you! Our Kings and Queens line of cured and live concentrates captures the essence of the cannabis plant. From quality live resin carts to live badders that deliver a boost of fragrance and saucelike consistencies, you can’t go wrong when you choose Green Goods.
Ready to take your cannabis knowledge to the next level? Visit our cannabis blog, where you’ll find more in-depth articles on cannabis concentrates, including deep dives into cured resin and live resin, live badder, and so much more!
Have any other questions about live resin or other cannabis-related topics? Just ask one of our friendly budtenders or drop us a line. We’re always here to help!
