Live resin is a very popular choice amongst the many different varieties of cannabis concentrates. Many would say this is for a very good reason being that live resin retains more of the plant’s natural essence than any other form of cannabis extract on the market, in the opinion of most.
Cannabis has become widely available in many places across America. According to World Population Review, “As of early 2023, 40 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana.” Forbes reports, “23 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational use for adults 21 years and older.” With increased access to cannabis, consumers have a wider selection of cannabis products to choose between.
You can go into a legal retail dispensary or medical dispensary with a medical cannabis card or MMJ card. Once checked in, you can choose between products like beautiful buds, prerolls, vape carts or pods, edibles, beverages, pharma, topicals, or concentrates. Concentrates are an extremely popular option that more people are turning to, and more people are trying, and among them is the ever-popular live resin. Let’s look at what live resin is and why many consumers prefer it!
What Is Live Resin?
Live resin comes from uncured cannabis that is freshly harvested and immediately flash-frozen. Live resin is believed to be a fresher type of cannabis and typically tends to display a richer terpene profile associated with the strain extracted. Live resin isn’t necessarily the strongest of cannabis concentrates in terms of THC. However, in terms of cannabis extracts, it offers the most flower-like flavor profiles and more terpenes than other extract forms.
As many people know, high THC isn’t exactly where it’s at. A wide range of cannabinoids and terpenes are said to contribute to the entourage effect. Many people find the entourage effect to be much more enjoyable than the effects experienced by consuming high-THC products. Live resin produces a rich flavor profile and pleasing effects, making it a favorite of cannabis consumers everywhere that enjoy the effects and process of dabbing but prefer a potent flavor profile.
Live Resin vs. Live Rosin
Live resin should not be confused with live rosin, but it commonly is. The main difference between the two is that live resin is extracted using solvents, whereas live rosin is created using heat and pressure rather than solvents. While both are safe, some consumers prefer to avoid products made with solvents.
Both are considered “live” because they are made from fresh, flash-frozen cannabis that hasn’t been dried and cured. Regular resin and rosin, however, are made from dried and cured cannabis, which doesn’t preserve the plant’s terpenes as well.
Live Resin Preserves the Terpene Profile of Cannabis Strains
As mentioned earlier, live resin is made utilizing freshly harvested and flash-frozen cannabis. Other cannabis concentrates on the market are made utilizing cannabis that has been harvested, dried, and cured.
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The process of immediately flash-freezing the harvested plants to make live resin is essentially what allows this cannabis concentrate to retain the terpene profile that it has. This is because the valuable trichomes on the plant are frozen in their natural state.
When cannabis is dried and cured, terpene content is degraded through exposure to air, light, and other environmental aspects. One study on the subject concluded that “after one week of drying and three months of curing/storage, terpene net loss was almost 55.2%” within cannabis flower. If you combine this with the terpene loss that occurs during extraction, you can easily see how other cannabis extracts are far less terpene-concentrated compared to live resin.
This study concluded that there was significant terpene loss when extraction occurs at room temperature in comparison to freezing temperatures as low as -40 Celsius. Live resin is commonly frozen and extracted at temperatures between -20 and -50ºF. This method of freezing fresh cannabis and extracting it in freezing temperatures is also thought to preserve compounds such as cannabinoids, and other phytonutrients in their natural state, something that is altered across the board during the drying and curing process.
Is Live Resin Better Than Other Cannabis Concentrates?
When it comes to the question of is live resin better than other types of cannabis concentrates, the answer greatly depends upon the individual asking. Some people find high-THC varieties of concentrates to work for them, whereas others enjoy a wide variety of cannabinoids. Because of the natural preservation of plant terpenes and the wide variety of cannabinoids found in live resin, many people are finding they enjoy it more than high THC concentrates loaded with non-cannabis terpenes.
Yes, there are brands that add botanical terpenes that are not from cannabis to dabs to enhance flavor. Chances are, if you have had a dab or even flower that tasted just like a sweet blueberry muffin or fresh strawberries, it was most likely sauced up with botanical and/or food-grade terpenes.
Ready to Purchase Live Resin and Experience Its Magic Firsthand?
The best place to buy live resin is from a licensed dispensary that offers quality-tested products with great consumer reviews. Making live resin is something that should be left to the professionals unless, of course, you are one of those professionals.
Don’t just pick one place to buy your live resin, or any product for that matter. Shop around as you will find varying levels of quality from multiple brands at different price levels at different locations. Some locations even offer special deals on certain days of the week or at certain times that can save you substantial amounts of money.
Live Resin and Cold Start Dabbing: A Magical Terpene Duo
If you really want to bring out the flavor profile of your live resin during your next dab sesh, you may want to entertain the notion of doing a cold start dab. Many consumers that try this method of dabbing never go back to their old ways. Especially those that enjoy a good terpy dab sesh as cold start dabbing preserves more terpenes than other methods of dabbing, no matter what type of extract you are consuming.
Adding things like terp balls to your banger can also help to bring out the full terpene profile of your live resin. Now that you have learned more about what makes live resin stand apart from other cannabis concentrates, take your knowledge out into the world and go score yourself some fire live resin.
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