Terminology in cannabis can become a bit overwhelming and expansive to some casual consumers. When looking over the concentrate counter at your favorite dispensary or browsing the selection from an online delivery service, it can feel no different to the casual concentrate consumer. There are budders, badders, shatters, crumbles, diamonds (sounds expensive!), sauce, diamonds and sauce, resin, rosin, and some of them can even be ALIVE? What exactly is a live rosin or resin?
Some cannabis consumers, especially people that are new to the wonderful world of concentrates, may be wondering what exactly does it mean for rosin, resin, badder, or budder to be considered “live.” Well, we are here to clear all of that up. Look no further for your easy-to-understand explanation of both live resin and live rosin.
Resin vs Rosin
There is one extremely important difference between resin and rosin that we must establish before we divide into what gives them the “live” distinction. Resin is a solvent-based extraction process involving the use of butane, propane, or CO2 to extract the cannabis flower’s properties. It is then completely purged from the extract, leaving a clean extraction that when done properly, shouldn’t have any residual solvent.
Rosin is a solventless concentrate that is made with the aid of pressure and heat yielding one of the most perfect cannabis products available for consumer purchase. Both are great for different and similar reasons, but rosin is definitely more premium as the process doesn’t tend to yield as much product as resin does.
What Makes it ‘Live’?
Live resin and live rosin are classified this way because of the starting material or cannabis flowers that are used in the extraction process. Immediately after harvest, the cannabis flowers are flash-frozen to preserve their freshness and the “live” qualities of the cannabis plant, including trichomes, cannabinoids, and terpene content. “Live” means that the cannabis flowers were frozen fresh before the resin or rosin was made, and all of the terpenes and THC content has been preserved wonderfully.
Live Resin Overview
Take a look at some of the unique qualities that make up live resin.
How is Live Resin Made?
Like all extracts, live resin starts as cannabis flowers. However, the live resin process begins before any extracting is actually done. Once the cannabis flowers are harvested, they are flash-frozen fresh, retaining their cannabinoid and terpene compositions. After the flowers have been deeply frozen in sub-zero temperatures, they are then sent over to the extraction process.
This is where a solvent like, butane or CO2 is used to separate the cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis flowers. After the flower has been extracted, the live resin is then vacuum purged of all remaining solvent leaving behind a clean, potent, and delicious finished product when done properly and with care.
Characteristics
Live resin distinguishes itself from other extracts with an extra punch of THC and a higher terpene content than a normal resin extract. It can come in the form of sauce, diamonds, budder, and badder each having its own unique physical state. Diamonds are exactly like they sound like, and have high levels of THC that have crystallized during the live resin extraction process.
Sauce has a runny consistency, typically with less THC, but generally has a higher terpene content than diamonds. Budder and badder are very similar and are a middle ground in THC and terpene content between sauce and diamonds.
Cost/Value
Live resin can run a price point below $20 and above $50 before taxes are applied, but as the extraction process continues to grow in popularity, the price should go down even further. One of the best bangs for your buck is live resin. Its flavor, THC content, and quality make it an easy choice at its relatively affordable price.
Live Rosin Overview
Live rosin differs from live resin in a number of ways, from production to taste, appearance, and price.
How is Live Rosin Made?
Live rosin starts similarly with fresh cannabis flowers that are flash frozen to preserve terpene and cannabinoid content. However, before the frozen flowers are pressed into live rosin extractors will turn the frozen buds into bubble hash. This extra step of turning the frozen flowers into bubble hash yields live rosin at a much more desirable consistency. After the bubble hash is made, it is then pressed into the top shelf concentrate known as live rosin.
Characteristics
Live rosin has a much higher terpene content than rosin would. The freezing process does a great job of preserving the natural terpenes within the cannabis flowers. Live rosin can be lightly colored and baddery or extremely sticky, almost like a sap, and translucent. It is a solventless extract, meaning no additives were used to aid in the extraction process aside from pressure and heat.
Cost/Value
Live rosin is probably the priciest cannabis concentrate on the market. While that may be true, it is priced to reflect the experience the consumer should expect to have with such a top-shelf cannabis product. Overall, you get what you pay for with live rosin, it’ll be the best thing you ever dabbed.
Which is Better: Live Resin or Live Rosin
Take price out of the equation and live rosin is the best, BUT that doesn’t make it the best for everyone. Both live resin and live rosin are quality cannabis concentrates that will surely bring joy to any consumer looking for a potent and flavorful dab. If you’re new to dabbing, maybe work your way up to the luxurious nature of live rosin and start out with a fire live resin extract. If you’ve been dabbing for a while or just want something truly special to treat yourself or someone else with, give live rosin a go, you won’t be disappointed!