Do you love potent and flavorful cannabis products? Then it’s time you try live resin.
Designed to preserve cannabinoids and terpenes at their peak, live resin captures the best parts of the cannabis consumption experience. Learn all about live resin: What it is, how it’s made, and what about it has terpene connoisseurs and cultivar enthusiasts clamoring for more.
What is live resin?
Live resin is a concentrated cannabis extract made by subjecting flower frozen right after harvest to solvent-based extraction techniques. Live resin is flavorful, sticky, and boasts the broadest possible spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes, much in the same proportions as they’re found in the source cultivar. A favorite for dabbers and vapers, live resin is generally consumed with a dab rig, vaporizer, or added to a joint or bowl.
Live resin vs. live rosin
While both live resin and live rosin start from fresh frozen cannabis, these products are extracted differently, which causes some visual differences. Expect live resin to generally appear darker in color than live rosin, which usually has a pale appearance. Live resin may also resemble roe, or fish eggs. Note that the exact appearance and consistency of live resin may vary depending on the precise production method employed by a manufacturer.
As to how they’re manufactured, here’s how that’s done:
Live resin is extracted from buds frozen immediately after harvest using a solvent-based extraction method. Following extraction, the solvent is separated from the mixture to produce live resin. We get into more details later on this blog.
Live rosin, on the other hand, is made from a concentrate called bubble hash. Bubble hash is produced with ice water extraction, which doesn’t require any kind of solvent. This process separates the trichomes that contain cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis flower. The trichomes are collected and pressed into bricks of bubble hash and allowed to dry. Then, utilizing a device called a rosin press to apply heat and pressure, live rosin is squeezed from the bricks of bubble hash.
What are the benefits of live resin?
- It’s more flavorful and aromatic. Freezing cannabis directly after harvest better preserves terpenes, which evaporate off the plant right after harvest. Fresh frozen flower stabilizes these compounds, and you can literally taste the difference when you try live resin flower.
- It preserves cannabinoids. The same process that helps retain more terpenes ensures THC-A, CBD-A and other cannabinoids don’t diminish, either.
- A little goes a long way. Like other cannabis concentrates, you only need to consume a little bit of live resin to experience its effects.
- It’s versatile. You can use live resin in your bowl or bong, or place a little when you roll your blunt or joint. You can also consume it with a dab rig, dab pen, or other type of electronic dabber. (More on this later in the blog!)
How is live resin made?
Live resin is created by extracting compounds from fresh frozen cannabis flower. The process begins by flash-freezing cannabis immediately after harvest. This way, manufacturers can totally skip the trimming, drying, and curing steps, saving precious time during which terpenes and cannabinoids typically degrade. For cultivators and manufacturers, using fresh frozen flower also allows them to realize revenue much more quickly than the conventional approach.
Once the plants are harvested and frozen, live resin is extracted from cannabis flower. Live resin extraction is typically done using hydrocarbons like butane or propane, though this process could also be completed using ethanol or CO2 as a solvent as well. Once extraction is complete, manufacturers heat the mixture to boil off the solvent, leaving behind live resin. Hydrocarbons are preferred due to their very low boiling point, which ensures superior preservation of cannabinoids and terpenes.
How can I consume live resin?
When it comes to consuming live resin, you’ve got a few options. Depending on your preferences, consider the following approaches.
- Dabbing: Dabbing live resin requires a dab rig, a glass or silicone pipe that includes a nail or “banger” that can be heated using a blow torch. Once heated, a small amount of live resin (a “dab”) can be placed on the nail, where it is vaporized for inhalation.
- Vaping: Vaping is another common way to consume live resin. Many electronic vaporizers in today’s market are built for use with both extracts and flower, providing an easy and convenient way to consume live resin without the fuss of using a dab rig. But before you pack your device, read the manual to make sure it can handle concentrates like live resin.
- Topping off joints or bowl packs: Flower lovers can add live resin to a bowl or bong pack. You can also brush some around your joint or blunt for added flavor and potency.
How to store live resin
While live resin can last a significant amount of time on its own, it’s always a good idea to store your products correctly to ensure the most extended shelf life possible. Some tips for storing live resin include:
- Airtight container: The ideal storage location for live resin is in a glass or silicone container that won’t let any air in. Be sure to keep your concentrate sealed up tightly after each use, as oxygen can degrade cannabinoids and terpenes.
- Dark environment: Storing your live resin somewhere dark and away from sunlight is essential to maintaining its quality over time. Ultraviolet rays can destroy cannabinoids and terpenes, so the less light your live resin is exposed to, the better. Consider using a tinted container or wrapping your container in an opaque material.
- Cool, dry conditions: Excess heat and moisture are among the top enemies of cannabis products. Keeping your live resin in a cool, dry environment is essential to maintaining its natural consistency and potency.
How long does live resin last before going bad?
Although live resin does not necessarily “go bad,” it can certainly lose potency over time. The shelf life of potent live resin is generally about one year, and your live resin may include an expiration date on the packaging. While it can last longer in the proper conditions, it’s always best to consume any cannabis product before its expiration date.
Ready to try live resin?
Live resin products are available at all Iconic Wellness provisioning centers throughout Michigan. Stop by one of our locations to try options from companies like Light Sky Farms. You can also visit our website for our full menu to see what other products are available at each Iconic location.
