Are you familiar with cannabis concentrates? If so, you’ve likely heard of ‘rosin’ and ‘resin.’ While similar, their differences can significantly impact your experience. Resin and rosin come in similar forms like concentrates, vapes, or edibles, but the extraction process determines the final product.
Similar names can be confusing, but understanding their differences will help you distinguish them. We’ll break down live resin vs. rosin and explain why choosing the right one matters.
Key Takeaways:
- Resin is a sticky, malleable concentrate known for its high terpene content and strong aroma.
- Rosin is a solventless concentrate with a creamy texture. This concentrate originated from pressing frozen plant material with heat and pressure.
- Choosing resin and rosin depends on personal preferences, but both offer unique benefits and experiences.
What are Cannabis Concentrates?
Cannabis concentrates are potent extracts of the cannabis plant that contain high cannabinoid and terpene levels. These concentrates provide a more intense experience compared to traditional cannabis flower. This type of cannabis product offers a variety of consumption methods, from dabbing and vaping to edibles and tinctures.
Creating concentrates involves extracting the desirable compounds, mainly THC, CBD, and terpenes while leaving behind other plant materials. This results in a product that can vary widely in potency, flavor, and texture.
What is Live Resin?
Resin concentrate is malleable with a texture between wax and sauce, commonly dark yellow to amber. Its high terpene content gives it a flexible, sticky consistency, which requires a dab tool unless consumed in carts or gummies.
Other terms for resin include:
- live extract
- live concentrate
- fresh frozen extract
What Does “Live” Mean?
“Live” refers to cannabis that is flash-frozen immediately after harvest. This technique preserves the plant’s natural cannabinoid and terpene profiles at their freshest. This process contrasts with the production of cured resin, which uses dried cannabis.
Brief History
Resin concentrate, created around 2013, is a cannabis product made using a solvent-based technique applied to flash-frozen cannabis flowers. Colorado-based grower and extractor William Fenger, also known as Kind Bill, developed this method when he was looking to capture the essence of fresh cannabis.
Extraction Process
- Extraction Process. Involves extracting fresh frozen cannabis with a hydrocarbon solvent (butane or propane) at very low temperatures to separate the resinous trichomes from the plant fibers.
- Purging. Manufacturers purged solvents and impurities in a vacuum oven to ensure a clean product and preserve delicate flavor and aroma compounds.
- Collection and Storage. Manufacturers collect and store the purged live concentrate at low temperatures to maintain terpene quality and prevent degradation.
The final product is a thick, golden extract rich in terpenes and cannabinoids, with a potent flavor and aroma. Manufacturers can further process live extract into various consistencies, such as budder, badder, jelly, and sauce. You can use it by dabbing, vaping, or topping off a bowl or joint.
Types of Live Resin Products to Explore
- Shatter. A brittle, glass-like concentrate that breaks easily.
- Sugar. Has a grainy, sugar-like consistency.
- Sauce. A liquidy concentrate that contains high levels of terpenes.
- Budder/Badder. A creamy, butter-like texture that’s easy to handle.
- Diamonds. Crystalline structures of pure THCA, commonly combined with terpene sauce.
What is Rosin?
Live rosin is known for its creamy yellow color and badder-like texture. It offers an authentic aroma and flavor of the cannabis plant. This product appeals to those seeking a pure, solventless concentrate. You can dab, vape, or use it to top off a bowl or joint.
Brief History
In January 2015, Phil ‘Soilgrown’ Salazar, a Californian cannabis grower, accidentally created rosin while trying to make hash using a hair straightener. Pressing too hard, he noticed oil escaping but didn’t realize its significance until it happened repeatedly over months.
Rosin is made by pressing ice water hash, dry sift, or flower between heated plates and extracting oil from the trichomes. You can use the resulting rosin for dabbing, vaping, and twaxing.
Extraction Process
Live rosin is a potent, solventless cannabis concentrate made through a careful process using only water, heat, and pressure. This method preserves the full spectrum of terpenes and cannabinoids – a pure and natural product.
- Ice Water Extraction. Manufacturers wash the frozen plant material in ice water to separate the trichomes from the plant. Then, they filter the mixture to create “bubble hash,” which is dried.
- Pressing. They press the dried hash between parchment paper under low heat and high pressure to extract the resinous trichomes without solvents. Its consistency can vary from liquid-like to solid.
- Collection and Storage. The concentrate is stored at low temperatures to preserve its terpene profile and quality. The result is a creamy white to tan-colored concentrate with high THC content.
Types of Rosin Products to Explore
- Flower Rosin. Made directly from cannabis flowers.
- Hash Rosin. Extracted from hash or kief with a cleaner and more potent product.
- Rosin Badder/Batter. Similar to live resin badder but made using rosin techniques.
- Rosin Jam. A more liquidy form of rosin with a jam-like consistency.
Potency Comparison
Resin concentrate contains 60-80% THC because its production process preserves cannabinoids and terpenes while using solvents to maximize THC extraction. Rosin has a THC content of 50-70%.
Comparison of Common Terpenes
Rosin shows a decrease in Caryophyllene and ß-Myrcene but a significant increase in D-Limonene, which gives it a more citrusy aroma. Resin concentrate has an even higher increase in D-Limonene with a slight rise in Linalool.
| Terpene | Resin | Rosin |
| Caryophyllene | 24.35% | 24.77% |
| ß-Myrcene | 15.48% | 18.07% |
| D-Limonene | 22.42% | 15.85% |
| Humulene | 7.12% | 7.73% |
| Linalool | 5.19% | 5.41% |
How to Choose the Right Concentrate for You
Choosing between resin and rosin concentrates depends on your preferences for flavor, potency, and production methods.
| Factor | Live Resin | Rosin |
| Flavor and Aroma | More complex terpene profiles are due to the unique extraction process. | Maintains a natural terpene profile |
| Texture | More dense; ranges from thick sap to soft, butter-like texture | Wide range of textures: shatter-like to sappy |
| Extraction Process | Solvent-based (uses butane or propane) | Solventless (uses heat and pressure) |
| Potency | 60-80% THC | 50-70% THC |
| Cost | More affordable due to scalable production process. | Higher prices due to labor-intensive, small-batch production. |
| Usage Preferences | Ideal for those seeking a rich, flavorful experience at a reasonable cost. Best for dabbing, vaping, and infusing edibles. | Connoisseurs prefer it for its purity and artisanal value. Great for dabbing and vaping and is also used by those avoiding solvents. |
Which is Which?
Rosin vs resin: which is better? There’s no universal answer to which is superior—each has unique qualities. Your preference depends on your priorities.
If you want to save money, live rosin might not be the best option. Resin concentrate production is becoming more streamlined and cost-effective, which makes it more affordable.
The best way to determine your preference is through trial and error. You can explore more concentrates online at GetLoud Cannabis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is vaping the best method to enjoy live rosin and resin?
Vaping these concentrates may be ideal than smoking because:
- Vaping avoids the harmful compounds produced by burning.
- Vaping produces fewer fine particles, which reduces lung irritation compared to smoking.
Dabbing is another method for both concentrates. Dabbing requires a dab rig, a torch, and a nail. To appreciate the different flavors and aromas, inhale dabs slowly.
Do resin and rosin concentrates produce a stronger high than weed strains?
Yes, resin and rosin concentrates commonly produce a stronger high than weed strains. Concentrates contain higher levels of THC, the active ingredient responsible for the psychoactive effects, which makes them more potent than traditional cannabis flower.
How do I know if the resin concentrate is good
- Color. Good resin is golden or yellow, sometimes with hints of green or amber.
- Texture. It should be thick and sticky, not too hard or runny. Brittleness may indicate degradation, while excessive runniness could suggest poor craftsmanship.
- Smell and Taste. High-quality resin has a strong, pungent aroma and taste. A weak or bad smell indicates lower quality.
Can live rosin and resin go bad?
Yes, concentrates can degrade over time if not stored properly. Cannabinoids and terpenes break down due to light, heat, air, and moisture.
Storage Tips:
- Use airtight, light proof containers.
- Keep in a cool, dry place.
- Consume within a few months for best quality.
Degraded concentrates may lose flavor but aren’t dangerous unless contaminated by mold or bacteria. Inspect concentrates for mold, strange odors, or contamination and discard if found.
Leave A Comment