Live resin, live rosin, cured resin, cured rosin… What does it all mean?
Two of the most popular concentrates on the market today are live resin and live rosin. Both are potent and flavorful, but they differ in their production methods, starting materials, and overall characteristics. Consumers may prefer one over the other. One major similarity is that both are very high in their levels of THC content.
Let’s take a closer look at the differences between live resin and live rosin so you can make informed decisions when choosing cannabis concentrate products.
How Are Concentrates Made?
The starting material for both live resin and live rosin is fresh frozen cannabis. The cannabis plant is harvested and then immediately frozen to preserve its aroma and flavor. However, the production processes differ after this.
Live Rosin Production
Manufacturing and processing live rosin production is labor-intensive. It typically involves even smaller batches of cannabis material. Instead of using solvents, live rosin is extracted using heat and pressure.
The frozen cannabis is placed in mesh bags and then pressed with a hydraulic press to extract the resin. The resulting concentrate is free of any solvents or plant matter. Live rosin contains high levels of both cannabinoids and terpenes.
Producing Live Resin
Making live resin is labor-intensive and typically involves small batches of cannabis material. The frozen cannabis is extracted using solvents such as butane or propane to create a resin concentrate. The concentrate is then purged using specific processes.
High heat purging closed loop systems and specialized machinery are used to rid the extracts of residual solvents during the extraction process. Live resin is also often a Butane Hash Oil (BHO) but can also be made with C02 or other solvents.
Live resin is highly valued by cannabis connoisseurs due to its high terpene content. This gives it a rich, complex aroma and flavor profile.
Aroma and Flavor
Both live resin and live rosin are highly valued for their aroma and flavor profiles.
Live resin has a rich, complex aroma that is often described as “dank” or “skunky”. It has a strong, pungent flavor that is reminiscent of the cannabis plant.
Live rosin, on the other hand, has a more refined aroma and flavor profile. It is often described as “floral” or “fruity”, and it has a smoother, more mellow flavor.
Cannabinoid Content
Both live resin and live rosin are potent concentrates that contain high levels of cannabinoids as well as very high THC percentages.
Live resin typically has a higher THC content than live rosin. However, the exact cannabinoid content can vary depending on the strain of cannabis used and the extraction method.
Live rosin is often considered to be a more “well-rounded” concentrate. It often and should contain high levels of both cannabinoids and terpenes.
What makes a “Live” Cannabis Concentrate?
Not all concentrates labeled as “resin” or “rosin” are live. In fact, many concentrates are made using cured cannabis, rather than fresh frozen material.
Cured resin or rosin is produced using the same extraction methods as live resin or live rosin. However, the starting material is cannabis which has been dried and cured.
This difference in starting material is the main difference between a LIVE or NON-LIVE concentrate. Non-live resin/rosin could be made from flower, bud, trim, leaves, or other plant materials. However NON-LIVE is NOT made from FRESHLY CUT, HARVESTED, FROZEN & NON-DRIED cannabis, only LIVE RESIN OR ROSIN is.
While these concentrates can still be potent and flavorful, they typically contain fewer terpenes. They may also have a different aroma and flavor profile than live products.
How to Consume Live Resin and Live Rosin
Vaping Live Rosin and Live Resin
One of the most popular ways to consume live rosin and live resin is through handheld vaporizers, dab pens, or water pipes. Handheld vaporizers or dab pens that use a disposable cartridge or pre-filled live resin vaporizers are a convenient and discreet method of consumption, but not work with all types of concentrates.
Dab rigs can accommodate various concentrates like live resin and live rosin. If you own a handheld vaporizer, you can try different cannabis products in disposable cartridges.
However, not all pot products are available in cartridge form. Some must be consumed with portable vaporizers or e-rigs. These devices require you to load your own concentrate and offer more control over the size of dosage and what we might call cloud control.
Dabbing Concentrates With Dab Rigs
Water pipes, bubblers, bongs, and other types of pipes intended for cannabis concentrate use are called ‘dab rigs’. Dab rigs are typically made of glass, glass, or silicon.
Quartz or titanium are used to make dabbing nails, bangers, or sometimes a hybrid of the two, such as in an e-nail. Quartz and titanium can tolerate very intense heat without cracking or disintegrating and also without releasing toxins.
Some users may not want to dab or vape concentrates but may simply prefer to add their concentrates to top off their cannabis flower in a regular pipe or rolled into a joint or blunt.
Sometimes weed products like moon rocks and pre-rolled joints often have live resin or rosin, or other cannabis concentrate products mixed in.
Different Types of Live Resins
Live resin comes in various forms. You will likely find different types or variations at your local dispensary or from your local and trusted plug.
Here are a few common types of live resin:
- Sauce: Live resin sauce is a cannabis concentrate consisting of High Terpene Extract (HTE) and THCa. The HTE liquid contains high levels of terpenes, while the THCa Crystaline yields potent cannabinoid experiences. Sauces vary in color often usually of a clear, to yellowish or amber colored, or even brownish.
- Badder/Budder: Live resin batter or budder is a terpene-heavy cannabis concentrate that resembles yellow cake batter or maybe a cookie dough.
- Diamonds: Live resin diamonds are isolated THC crystals that are very high in terpene and THC content. Sauce is often mixed with diamonds and presented as ‘Diamonds & Sauce’ or ‘Terp Diamonds.’
- Sugar: Live sugar is a form of live resin that looks like coarse or fine sugar granules in globs of honey or even a honeycomb. THC sugar products are known for their potent smell and flavor. They and are said to have a nearly identical scent to the original plant.
Which Concentrate is Right for You or Your Wallet?
As with any weed product (Indica vs Sativa, joint vs pipe, bong vs bubbler, dry piece vs water piece, etc), the choice between live resin, live rosin, and other concentrates ultimately comes down to personal tastes.
Live resin and live rosin are highly valued by cannabis connoisseurs for their potency and flavor. However, they require more labor and smaller batches, which may lead to a higher price point.
Here in New Jersey grams of live rosin might be $50-85+ per gram. Grams of live resins might be $20 – $60+ per gram. Obviously, this is a wide range of pricing.
Different users will encounter different pricing depending on if its legal or black market. Also, where the person is in the hierarchy of the retail cannabis web will play a role. Many legal retail shops will charge those prices for only half a gram!
Regular, non-live resin or rosin may be more affordable, but may not have the same terpene content as live products. Solventless extracts may appeal to those who prefer a perceived “cleaner” product. Meanwhile, solvent-based extracts may provide a wider range of flavor and potency options.
Different areas or dispensaries may have different products.
Federal law still prohibits cannabis use, possession, and sale in the United States. So it is uncertain what kind of concentrates might be allowed or found in each state.
Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to decide which type of cannabis concentrate is the best fit. Regardless of the choice, it’s important to purchase from a reputable source and look for products that have been lab-tested for purity and potency.
By using marijuana concentrates consumers can enjoy the benefits of potent and flavorful concentrates. Whether they prefer live resin, live rosin, or other types of concentrates all have benefits. Some people may only prefer one over the other whether it be due to perceived health risks, tastes, or price.
Sourcing Live Resin or Live Rosin
If you are using a live resin of any kind, it is always a great idea to get your essential cannabis oils from a trusted source to ensure no residual contaminants remain. Keep an eye out for concentrates produced in small batches to ensure quality and potency. It’s almost a certainty you’ll have a cannabis product with very high THC levels.
You can also get an at-home Nugsmasher to make concentrates. This is very convenient to use at your own convenience, using your own flower, in your own home.
