When exploring cannabis, you’re likely to encounter three specific types of extracts: live resin, live rosin, and distillate. Have you ever confused them? Especially when you’re considering alternating between them, the awkwardness of realizing a mix-up can be all too real. All of these concentrates are potent, each offering unique advantages. And how does distillate differ? Let’s take a closer look at these three similar yet distinct cannabis extracts and explore their differences!
What are live resin, live rosin, and distillate?
What is Live Resin?
Live resin is a cannabis concentrate produced using a method that preserves the plant’s natural terpene profile. This process involves harvesting fresh cannabis plants and immediately freezing them, as opposed to drying and curing the plants. The freezing process helps to retain the full range of cannabinoids and terpenes, which are often lost during the traditional drying phase. Live resin extraction typically uses hydrocarbons, such as butane or propane, to extract these compounds.
The result is a concentrate with a rich and robust flavor profile, closely resembling the natural taste and aroma of the original plant. Live resin is known for its high terpene content, making it particularly desirable for cannabis connoisseurs who prioritize flavor and aroma. The texture of live resin can vary from a more liquid-like consistency (sauce) to a thicker, more waxy form (budder or sugar). Its cannabinoid content can be quite potent, offering a strong, full-spectrum experience.
What is live rosin?
Live rosin is another form of cannabis concentrate, but unlike live resin, it is produced without the use of solvents. The process for creating live rosin begins similarly with the use of fresh, frozen cannabis plants. However, instead of using chemical solvents to extract the desired compounds, live rosin is made by applying heat and pressure to bubble hash or kief made from frozen cannabis. This method allows for the separation of the cannabinoids and terpenes without altering or degrading the product with external chemicals.
The final product is a solventless concentrate that is highly sought after for its purity and flavor. Live rosin is typically considered a premium product due to its labor-intensive production process and the fact that it avoids the use of potentially harmful solvents. The texture of live rosin can vary from a smooth, buttery consistency to a more brittle form depending on the specific production methods used. It is appreciated for delivering a clean, full-spectrum experience with a rich, natural taste.
What is distillate?
Distillate is a highly refined cannabis concentrate that undergoes a different extraction process compared to live resin and live rosin. It is created through a process known as distillation, where cannabinoids are isolated from the plant material. This process typically begins with crude cannabis oil, which can be derived from either fresh or dried cannabis. The oil is then subjected to heat and vacuum pressure in a distillation apparatus, allowing the desired compounds—usually THC or CBD—to be separated and purified.
The resulting product is a translucent, odorless, and flavorless concentrate with a high potency of the targeted cannabinoids. Distillates are commonly used in vape cartridges, edibles, and other cannabis-infused products because they can be easily incorporated into formulations without affecting taste or smell. However, because the distillation process strips away the terpenes and other beneficial compounds, distillate lacks the full-spectrum effect and nuanced flavor profile that live resin or live rosin can offer. Some manufacturers may add back terpenes after distillation to enhance the flavor or therapeutic effects.
Similarities and Differences Between live resin, live rosin, and distillate?
Similarities
Chemical Essence
From a chemical perspective, live resin, live rosin, and distillate share a common foundation, primarily consisting of cannabinoids (such as THC and CBD) and other minor compounds like terpenes. These components are universally present in different types of cannabis products, and they remain the active compounds in these three concentrates. While their extraction methods and processing differ, the chemical structures of the cannabinoids do not fundamentally change. For instance, the molecular structure of THC and CBD remains consistent across all three forms, allowing them to interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to produce similar pharmacological and psychological effects.
However, there are differences in the retention of minor compounds like terpenes and flavonoids, which influence the flavor, aroma, and overall experience. Live resin and live rosin retain a higher concentration of these secondary compounds, while distillate primarily consists of purified cannabinoids, often devoid of most minor constituents. Despite these differences, the essence of all three products remains centered around cannabinoids, making their core chemical structures similar.
Efficient Extraction Methods
Live resin, live rosin, and distillate are all obtained through efficient extraction processes that maximize the preservation of active compounds, particularly cannabinoids. Compared to traditional cannabis flower, these concentrates feature significantly higher concentrations of active ingredients. For example, THC levels in traditional cannabis flower typically range from 15% to 30%, while concentrates can boast THC concentrations of 70% to 90% or more. This enables consumers to achieve stronger and faster effects from these products.
Versatile Uses
These three concentrates are highly versatile, applicable in various consumption methods, including vaporization devices (vape cartridges), dabbing, edibles, and topical applications. In the vaporization market, distillate is often used as a base component, while live resin and live rosin are favored for their unique flavors and aromas, commonly found in vape pens and dab rigs. For instance, a 0.5-gram live resin vape pen may contain up to 80% THC, while a similarly sized distillate vape cartridge typically contains around 90% THC.
Potent Experience
The efficient extraction methods employed in producing these concentrates allow consumers to experience rapid and intense effects. Due to their higher potency, users can often feel strong effects within minutes, significantly quicker than with traditional cannabis flower. Many users report that live resin and live rosin offer a more “complete” experience, preserving the natural flavors of the plant, while distillate tends to concentrate more on the effects of the cannabinoids, having removed most terpenes.
Complex Production Processes
The production processes for these concentrates are relatively complex, requiring high-end equipment and precise techniques. Live resin is created using low-temperature solvent extraction, typically involving butane or propane, which demands stringent temperature control; live rosin is produced through a solventless process that involves applying heat and pressure to extract the essence from the plant; distillate utilizes distillation techniques to separate and purify cannabinoids from cannabis oil, often requiring multiple rounds of filtration. The complexity of these production methods generally leads to higher prices for concentrates compared to standard cannabis products. For example, on the U.S. market, 1 gram of live resin or live rosin typically costs between $50 and $80, while 1 gram of high-purity distillate ranges from $30 to $60.
High Purity Products
Regardless of whether it’s live resin, live rosin, or distillate, the final products are highly purified concentrates that contain minimal plant impurities. Live resin and live rosin retain a significant amount of terpenes, making their flavors and aromas closer to the original plant, usually containing 5% to 15% terpenes; in contrast, distillate undergoes extensive distillation and refining, resulting in a product that is virtually devoid of terpenes and secondary compounds, with THC or CBD concentrations reaching up to 90% or more.
Differences
Extraction Method
Live Resin is made using a solvent-based extraction method, typically involving butane or propane as the solvent. The extraction process occurs at low temperatures, preserving the delicate terpenes and cannabinoids from freshly harvested cannabis plants that have been frozen immediately after harvest. This method results in a concentrate that retains the original flavor and aromatic profile of the cannabis plant.
In contrast, live rosin is produced using a solventless extraction method. It employs heat and pressure to extract the resin from cannabis flowers or hash. The process typically involves applying heat to the plant material and then using a hydraulic press to squeeze out the resin. This method allows for the preservation of terpenes while avoiding the use of solvents, making it a more natural and organic option.
Distillate is created through a multi-step distillation process that involves heating cannabis oil to separate cannabinoids from terpenes and other compounds. This method typically involves vacuum distillation, allowing for precise control over temperature and pressure to achieve a high degree of purification. The result is a highly concentrated product that is often devoid of terpenes, yielding a neutral flavor and aroma.
Flavor and Aroma
Known for its robust flavor and aromatic profile, live resin retains a high concentration of terpenes due to its solvent-based extraction process. This results in a product that captures the full essence of the cannabis strain, offering a rich, complex flavor and aromatic experience.
While also rich in terpenes, live rosin has a slightly different flavor profile due to its solventless extraction method. It preserves the natural flavors of the cannabis plant but may have a less intense aroma compared to live resin. Consumers often describe live rosin as having a cleaner, more organic taste.
The distillate’s flavor and aroma are typically much more subdued due to the removal of terpenes during the distillation process. This results in a product that is often described as flavorless or having a mild taste. While it can be infused with terpenes post-extraction to enhance flavor, the original strain characteristics are largely lost.
Cannabinoid and Terpene Content
Live resin usually contains a well-balanced profile of cannabinoids and terpenes, often boasting a terpene content of 5% to 15%. This balance provides users with an enhanced experience, known as the “entourage effect,” where the combined effects of cannabinoids and terpenes create a more nuanced effect.
Live rosin also retains a good amount of terpenes, typically ranging from 5% to 12%. It offers a balance of cannabinoids and terpenes but may have a slightly lower terpene content than live resin. Nevertheless, it provides a full-spectrum experience due to the presence of various cannabis compounds.
Distillate is primarily composed of cannabinoids, often containing upwards of 90% THC or CBD, with negligible terpene content (usually below 1%). This high cannabinoid concentration makes distillate extremely potent, but it lacks the diverse flavor and aroma profiles found in live resin and live rosin.
Price Point
Due to the complex extraction process that preserves terpenes and requires high-quality, fresh cannabis, live resin tends to be one of the more expensive concentrates on the market, often costing between $50 and $80 per gram.
While still pricey due to its solventless extraction method, live rosin generally falls in a similar price range to live resin, with costs between $50 and $80 per gram. The price reflects the quality of the starting material and the labor-intensive extraction process.
Distillate is usually more affordable, ranging from $30 to $60 per gram, as the distillation process allows for mass production and typically uses less expensive starting material. Its lower price point makes it a popular choice for various applications, including edibles and vape cartridges.
Which is better: live resin, live rosin, or distillate vape carts?
After understanding the various differences between Live Resin, Live Rosin, and Distillate, you may be hoping for our “best” recommendations; however, that’s not the case.
There is no definitive “best” option among these concentrates; it depends on individual preferences, but there also have some rules maybe you can follow:
- Choose Distillate if you prioritize potency and versatility in consumption methods, such as edibles.
- Choose Live Resin for a flavorful experience that mimics the original strain’s characteristics and provides a balanced high.
- Choose Live Rosin if you want a solventless, natural product with rich flavors and a holistic cannabinoid profile.
