Move over BHO — step aside, distillate. There are new concentrates in town that pack a lot of flavor into a very powerful punch: live resin and live rosin.
These two cannabis concentrates combine everyone’s love of highly potent extracts with big flavor profiles that perfectly capture a strain’s unique essence. Both start with freshly frozen flower (that’s never dried or cured) so the differences come down to the extraction process.
Here’s everything you’ve ever wanted to know but were too nervous to ask about live resin vs. rosin.
What is Live Resin?
One of the most popular cannabis concentrates today is, without a doubt, live resin. Unlike normal butane hash oil (BHO) and other traditional concentrates, which start with dried cured flower, live resin starts with fresh flower that has been flash frozen only an hour after harvest.
By preserving the terpenes and more sensitive cannabinoids so quickly after harvest, live resin captures a much greater diversity of terpenes and cannabinoids than concentrates made from the cured and dried flower.
We’ll cover this in more depth below, but the live resin extraction is solvent-based (butane, propane, or other light hydrocarbons) and happens at subzero temperatures to lock those sensitive, flavorful compounds into the final concentrate. The result is thick, golden, and sticky. And, in the opinion of many, it combines the best of both worlds: flavor and potency.
What is Live Rosin?
Like live resin, live rosin begins with fresh, flash-frozen flower preserved within an hour or so from harvest. This captures the more volatile compounds, which dissipate during the usual drying and curing process. Yet, unlike the resin extraction process, rosin requires no solvents to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes.
Instead of washing the flowers with solvent to extract the trichomes, the flower is often processed via cold water (ice water) extraction to collect the crystals. Then, the crystals, made up of all those gorgeous cannabinoids and terpenes, are processed in a specialized piece of equipment called a rosin press. This press applies gentle heat with high pressure to — literally — squeeze out the oils.
The result is a completely solventless extraction with a sticky, golden consistency that is high-powered and high-flavored.
Extraction Methods: Live Resin vs. Rosin
The primary difference between live resin and rosin is the extraction process. One uses a solvent, while the other is entirely solventless.
Just remember that the process for both live resin and rosin begins with freshly frozen cannabis flower, which was cryogenically frozen mere minutes following harvest. The flower stays frozen until it’s ready to extract.
Live Resin Extraction Process
Fresh Frozen Cannabis & Hydrocarbon Solvent Extraction
- Preparation of Equipment: Live resin requires a closed-loop hydrocarbon extraction system, which relies on a mix of solvents, like butane and propane, that circulates throughout the system at very low temperatures (between -20°F and -50°F). This is yet another feature that preserves the sensitive trichomes.
- Extraction: The frozen cannabis flower is placed in the system. The super-cold solvent mix washes over the frozen cannabis to dissolve the trichomes. Once complete, the now-washed flower is filtered out, leaving a solution rich in these cannabinoids and terpenes.
- Solvent Recovery and Purge: The solvent-cannabinoid mixture gets collected in another part of the system, where it goes through gentle heating and a vacuum purge to safely and completely remove the solvents.
- Post-Processing: Depending on the desired final product, the live resin extract may undergo additional steps. These steps include whipping to create different textures, such as badder, sugar, or sauce.
Live Rosin Extraction Process
Fresh Frozen Cannabis, Ice Wash Extraction & Heated Press
- Ice Water Extraction: The frozen flower is thrown into a hash machine and agitated with ice water. The trichomes become brittle and break off. Once the wash is over, extractors filter the water mixture through a series of fine mesh bags, resulting in what’s known as “bubble hash” or “ice water hash.”
- Rosin Pressing: Live rosin requires a rosin press, which consists of two heated plates that apply significant pressure in combination with heat. The temperature is typically set between 160°F and 220°F (71°C to 104°C), depending on the specific strain and desired outcome. The freeze-dried bubble hash is placed in a fine mesh rosin bag and positioned between the heated plates of the rosin press. Once pressed down, the sticky, resinous oil squeezes into a purified liquid gold.
- Post-Processing: The extracted live rosin is collected from the parchment paper and is technically ready to dab! But, producers may apply different post-processing steps to change the consistency and outcome. For example, some producers may whip or manipulate the rosin to achieve different textures like badder or jam.
The Characteristics of Live Resin and Live Rosin
Flavor Comparison: Is Live Rosin or Live Resin Better?
If we are honest, when it comes to flavor, live resin and rosin concentrates all depend on the original flower. If you use top-tier, trichome-out flower, you’ll get a superior concentrate no matter what route you take.
But suppose we were to compare, in broad strokes, the flavors of these terpene-forward concentrates. In that case, we’d say rosin is often more complex because the live rosin process is a bit gentler overall and preserves those supersensitive terpenes throughout.
As Precision Extraction put it, “The output will mimic the exact aroma and flavor of the live cannabis plant in its final moments before harvest.”
It’s still a terpene-rich experience with live resin, but it may hit slightly in favor of potency over flavor. The solvent-based process is a bit better at showcasing the cannabinoids from the flower, which leads to a more powerful experience.
Cost Comparison: Is Live Rosin or Resin More Expensive?
If you haven’t guessed already, the live resin production process is less intensive than the live rosin process. Resin production can also occur at a commercial scale, while rosin is a very manual process that can only happen in small batches.
This is to say that live resin is much more affordable. In the concentrate world, rosin is considered a premium, top-shelf product, and the price can reflect this.
Potency Comparison: Which Has More THC?
Again, every cannabis concentrate is made from different harvests, so across the fresh, frozen cannabis world, you’ll encounter a wide variety of potencies. Yet, if anyone were going to study this, they’d likely find that live resin edges out live rosin in a THC potency race.
Rosin and Live Resin: All About The Terps
Why are cannabis producers so focused on the terpenes? Terpenes are responsible for the distinctive flavors and aromas of every strain. By preserving these smelly compounds, live resin and rosin offer a more authentic and complex sensory experience that closely mimics the fresh plant.
For all the people reading this who consider themselves cannabis connoisseurs, this is like chasing the most authentic experience in terms of flavor and aroma. Instead of a distillate, which is just pure THC and removes almost the entire plant from the equation, live cannabis products focus on capturing the essence of the cannabis plant for an incredible taste that doesn’t compromise on potency.
This is all well and good, but if you don’t care about flavor, why care at all? Did you know terpenes contribute to the “entourage effect,” where they work synergistically with cannabinoids to enhance or modulate the overall effects of cannabis? Read that another way, and terpenes can lead to a more potent and nuanced high.
Plus, for our medical marijuana cardholders out there, many terpenes have shown promising therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and analgesic effects. Retaining these compounds can potentially increase the medicinal value of the extract.
Live Plant Concentrates: Consumption Methods
As with any cannabis concentrate, the way you choose to consume live resin or live rosin really comes down to personal preference. Sure, when these types of cannabis products first hit the market, they were sold straight up and meant for dabbing, but these days, you can find them in all your favorite experiences.
Dabbing
Straight out of the package, rosin and live resin are perfect for dabbing. The gooey, sticky cannabis extract gets scooped up and placed on a heated dab nail, where it melts and evaporates. The vapor bubbles through the rig, sending a powerfully potent hit to your lungs. If you have a high tolerance and love the effects of THC, dabbing is the route of choice for all things resin and rosin.
Vaping
For those who prefer a simpler experience, live resin and live rosin have taken over the vape pen market. Scrolling through the Cornerstone Wellness shop, you’ll find it filled with vape pens using this living plant-extracted concentrate. Vape pens are easy, on-the-go devices that let you build your own adventure, from a mellow after-hours puff to something more intense.
Infused Pre-Rolls
Infused pre-rolls with live resin are consistent best sellers. It’s the familiar experience of a pre-roll but amped up with a layer of concentrate hidden inside. Not only does this make the experience more powerful, but it also means more flavor packed into every puff.
Gummies & Edibles
One of the newest, and perhaps even tastier, ways to try live concentrates is in gummies and other edibles. This is for all those who prefer to ingest rather than inhale their medicine. You’ll still reap all the value of the entourage effect from the terpenes and cannabinoids contained in the live rosin or resin, but it’s infused into a delicious sweet treat.
Live Rosin and Resin: Get Both at Cornerstone!
Live resin and live rosin offer a supercharged option for anyone who loves a potent but flavorful experience. A cryogenic freezing process preserves the full spectrum of flavors and effects from fresh, flash-frozen flowers, capturing the essence of the living plant in the final product.
Ready to dive in? Shop our live resin and live rosin extracts online.
FAQ
What is better, live resin or rosin?
The choice between live resin and rosin often comes down to personal preference. Live resin is known for its potent flavor and aroma compounds due to the use of light hydrocarbon solvents in the extraction process, which preserves the plant’s terpene profile. On the other hand, live rosin, a solventless extract, offers an incredible taste without using solvents, making it a cleaner option. Both offer different experiences, with live rosin often favored by those seeking a solvent-free product.
Why is live rosin more expensive than live resin?
Live rosin is typically more expensive due to the labor-intensive solventless extraction process. It involves using a rosin press to extract the concentrate from fresh frozen cannabis or bubble hash, requiring more manual effort and small batches. Additionally, the absence of solvents in live rosin production contributes to its higher price point.
Is live rosin the most potent?
Live rosin is one of the most potent cannabis concentrates, offering a high concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes due to the solventless extraction process. Its potency can rival other top-tier concentrates like butane hash oil (BHO), but exact potency can vary depending on the starting material and extraction method.
Is live rosin healthier?
Some consider Live rosin healthier because it is a solventless extract, meaning no residual solvents are present in the final product. This can be preferable for users looking for a cleaner, purer concentrate.
Does rosin get you higher than wax?
Rosin can be as potent as or even more potent than wax, depending on the starting material and extraction process. Its high cannabinoid and terpene content contribute to a strong effect, potentially providing a more intense high than some waxes.
Is rosin the same as a dab?
Rosin can be used as a dab, similar to other cannabis concentrates. It is applied to a heated surface (dab rig) and inhaled, offering a potent and flavorful experience.