If you are a fan of concentrates, you may want to try the delicious and aromatic option of live resin.
Live resin is produced from freshly harvested cannabis – not dried or cured – that is immediately frozen. This process ensures the highest quality of material going into extraction.
But How?
Subfreezing temperatures during extraction preserve a complete terpene profile that best represents the whole plant. Or as Weedmaps explains, this method is used to retain the terpenes that are lost through the drying and curing process.
This means you will fully be able to experience and enjoy the essence of the cannabis plant – the aroma and flavorful taste. Many concentrate lovers appreciate live resin because of the fine dabbing experience.
“We call it live resin because the finished product smells exactly like the living product,” says live resin creator Kind Bill. The freezer temperature he uses is at -80 degrees. “The whole impetus behind it is to catch the essence of the plant.”
We tapped one of our favorite go-to cannabis resources, Weedmaps, to help us explain just what this extraction is and how it is produced. And, of course, why concentrate enthusiasts enjoy it so much.
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The Process
Here at the Wellness Connection, we agree with Weedmaps and strongly recommend leaving the live resin producing process to professionals. That said, here is what you need to know about this extraction process.
The starting plant material used for live resin includes fresh flower buds and sugar leaves. The large fan leaves and stems are not included. The freezing process helps preserve the most desirable cannabis compounds and retain the full flavor of the original plant. Once the freezing is done, extraction takes place. This process creates a greater proportion of terpenes, which provides the plant’s aroma and flavors.
The overall process for producing is the same as other extracts, except for the cooling process. The process typically uses liquefied petroleum gas, such as butane or propane, as a solvent. Ethanol or carbon dioxide (CO2) are also solvents used for making extracts, but to a lesser extent. Plant material can be flash-freezed by either slowly dipping it into a cold insulating cylinder filled with liquid nitrogen, or placing it in a cooler with dry ice on the bottom. If using a cold box, the temperature of the container should be at -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Live Resin Looks
Live resin comes in a variety of colors and forms. Typically it is dark yellow. It’s important to remember that the type of strain used for the concentrate will affect the extract’s chemical and physical make-up. Live resin has a greater array of terpenes than other concentrates. The more terpenes, the more fluid the consistency. Still, expect the consistency to be very sticky and prepare to handle the concentrate using a dab tool. The most common consistencies of live resin are sap, sugar, badder, budder and sauce.
Concentrates 101
How To Consume Live Resin
Live resin is consumed by dabbing. Consumers of concentrates use a water pipe called a dab rig or “rig” as well as a flat bowl called a nail. Nails can be made from quartz, titanium or ceramic and can handle higher temperatures than a glass bowl used for smoking flower. For instructions on how to clean your dab rig, check out our blog post on that topic here.
You’ll want to use a dabber with a spoon-shaped tip, as opposed to a flat-tipped dabber. Preheat the nail with a gas powered torch – typically butane. And yes, the temperature of your nail is important. As Weedmaps describes:
“A nail that is too hot means you may be combusting the delicious flavor and positive effects. A nail that is too cold means you’re not vaporizing your live resin or not activating the cannabinoids or terpenes adequately.”
Use a temperature range between 315 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember to always be safe as you light your dab and heat your nail toward the lower end of that range to really get the most out of your live resin.
Vaping is also a possibility when consuming live resin. You can simply use a vape pen with a live resin cartridge. All you need to do is buy a live resin cart, attach it to your battery and you’re ready.
Make sure to check out these Live Resin products.
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