Our Guide to Live Resin
How well do you know your live resins? If your answer is “not so well,” you’re not alone. You see, live resins are one of the newest types of weed concentrates to be introduced into the world of cannabis. Although they’re pretty common with today’s users because of the overall enhanced experience they offer, there are still some gray areas you should learn about.
What Do We Mean by “Live Resin”?
In the marijuana world, we often describe cannabis concentrates by their consistencies or textures. So, while some extracts are brittle and can be likened to shatter, others are like batter, sauce, wax, etc. For live resin, “malleable” is our favorite way to describe it. It’s not too wet but not as dry as taffy, and just manages to find the perfect balance between saucy and waxy.
When it comes to color, live resin runs in a spectrum from white to light yellow and dark yellow. It’s a very sticky and potent concentrate with high THC amounts. It’s an all-time fave for many cannabis lovers because of how well it preserves the aroma and flavors from the source plant.
How Live Resin is Made
Live resin is in a class of its own when it comes to the manufacturing process. Unlike many other types of cannabis concentrates, it’s made from fresh plants that are frozen as soon as they’re harvested. The plants remain frozen from the beginning to the end of the extraction process and don’t have to go through the regular harvesting stages (drying, curing, and trimming).
Instead, solvents like propane or butane are used to extract the oil. This special process ensures that terpenes, which are responsible for the plant’s flavors and aroma, are not adversely impacted during creation. After extraction, the frozen plants are then processed into live resins by passing through heat from a vacuum oven.
Cured vs. Live Resin
The difference between cured resin and live resin is in the starting material. While live resin has frozen plant as its starting material, cured resin’s starting material is dried cannabis that is later transformed to other concentrate types like batter, wax, shatter, etc.
Live Resin vs. Live Rosin
Both concentrates are similar because they’re “live” or frozen cannabis. However, their uniqueness comes from the preparation process. Unlike live resins, live rosins don’t require solvent extraction. Instead, the trichomes are removed from the plant by applying pressure and heat via a press. Note that there are simple rosins and resins that have dried plants as their source material instead of frozen ones.
Live Resin vs. Distillate
A distillate is produced by refining resin in a way that eliminates impurities or isolates a targeted compound. Unlike live resins, distillates don’t have any business with frozen cannabis plants. They’re also tasteless, and odorless because their terpenes are removed during processing.
Why We Love Live Resin
Live resins are one of the most flavorful, potent, and “terpy” cannabis concentrates ever, and that’s why many dabbers can’t get enough of them. This extract ensures that its trichomes and terpenes remain intact so that the original plant’s flavor profile is preserved. Growers have formed the habit of producing plants for this concentrate to save time, money, and labor.
How to Use Live Resin
You can consume live resins in many ways, including:
Dabbing
The majority of people consume live resin by dabbing using an e-rig or e-nail. Alternatively, they can use a torch, nail, and dab rig. To dab, stoners will have to use a dab tool to properly handle the extract and ensure it enters the nail seamlessly.
Vaping
You can also decide to vape a live resin. It’s simple—place the concentrate in a dab pen using a dabber tool. Press the button after adjusting the temperature and inhale. The cool thing about vaping is that you can do it on the go.
Topping Off
Topping off entails placing live resin on a bowl top, blunt, or joint. Consumers love this method for the added kick it offers.
Is Live Resin Safe for Consumption?
Of course, live resins are safe to consume. However, be sure to purchase this concentrate from the legal market only. Buying live resin from the legal market is the surest way to ensure that you’re getting a product that meets the stipulated health requirements for your area. Finally, never eat your live resins.
Live Resin Storage
Always store your live resins in the fridge. Alternatively, store it in a cool, air-tight bottle or container to ensure that it remains fresh for as long as possible.
How Affordable are Live Resins?
Live resins are no longer as expensive as they used to be when they were first introduced into the cannabis market. They have now become affordable for most people.
How Live Resins Differ
Live resins have different consistencies, even though they’re typically somewhere between sauces and waxes. For example, it’s not uncommon to notice some live resins having the consistency of saps, jellies, and sugars. These variations often result from the quality of terpenes, extraction, and post-extraction processes.
Final Thoughts
Live resins came into the limelight between 2011 – 2013 and have gradually risen to prominence due to their outstanding flavors and aroma. Now that you understand the basics of what they’re about, you can now get the best out of this concentrate. Enjoy!