Live resin has become synonymous with higher-grade cannabis products, and a lot of people who indulge it know little more than the fact that the effects of live resin seem to hit them a lot stronger. Well, for anyone wondering, we want to dive deeper into the world of live resin, by explaining what it is, how it’s made, and why so many people never go back once they make the switch.
Getting Down to Basics on Live Resin
Live resin is a type of full-spectrum cannabis extract, and the difference between live resin and the more traditional type of extract (now referred to as “dry resin”) is that it’s made from fresh, flash frozen flower, instead of the more common dry-cured flower which preserves the buds so that they can be sold in flower form.
Pretty much, the idea of making cannabis extract is still new. From thousands of years ago up until the last couple of decades, you could really only get cannabis in the form of the plant’s flower buds. And to make sure that these buds didn’t develop mold and other diseases, they were dry-cured. Basically, this is a process in which the buds are hung in a dry and dark environment to lose just enough moisture that they wouldn’t attract harmful microorganisms.
But making an extract of the flower already preserves it, so dry-curing the buds prior to extraction is sorta redundant. Hence, the creation of live resin. Now, you’ll notice that live resin is visibly thicker and darker than dry resin. While dry resin has an oily consistency and a golden color, live resin resembles a syrup, and it’s dark amber. And in fact, there’s a very good reason for that.
You see, dry-curing the flower buds reduces the amount of crystal trichomes that coat each flower bud – basically, the milky or sugary coating of the flowers, that can make them feel sticky to the touch. These resinous glands contain the cannabinoids and terpenes of the buds. But dehydrating them means that this resin is subject to evaporation during the drying process, which is why live resin looks so different. The darker, thicker nature of live resin actually reflects its higher concentration of terpenes and cannabinoids, and this means that live resin is significantly more potent than dry resin.
How Live Resin is Made
If you’ve ever wondered how live resin is made, we’re going to break it down into steps, so you know exactly what goes into making the live resin products that are on the market:
- Harvesting: The cannabis plants are harvested while they are still fresh, usually right after they are cut down. This is crucial because live resin aims to capture the full spectrum of the plant’s natural terpenes and cannabinoids.
- Freezing: Immediately after harvesting, the cannabis plants are flash-frozen. This can involve placing them in a freezer with temperatures as low as -40°F (-40°C) or using liquid nitrogen. The goal is to preserve the plant’s freshness and prevent the degradation of terpenes and cannabinoids.
- Extraction: The frozen cannabis is then subjected to an extraction process. The most common method is using a solvent such as butane or propane, often referred to as BHO (Butane Hash Oil) extraction. The frozen cannabis material is loaded into the extraction machine and washed with the chosen solvent. The low temperatures help to dissolve the cannabinoids and terpenes without extracting unwanted compounds like chlorophyll and waxes.
- Separation: The solvent, now infused with the plant’s essential oils, is collected and separated from the plant material. Then, the solution is filtered to remove any remaining plant particles, ensuring a clean final product.
- Purging: The resulting mixture, which contains the solvent and the dissolved cannabinoids and terpenes, is then purged of the solvent. This is usually done in a vacuum oven, where low heat and vacuum pressure are applied to remove the solvent, leaving behind the concentrated extract. The purging process can be adjusted to achieve different consistencies of live resin, such as budder, sauce, or shatter.
- Final Product: Once purged, the live resin is collected and packaged in airtight containers to preserve its terpene profile and potency. The final product is a viscous, aromatic, and flavorful concentrate known as live resin. Again, its consistency can vary, ranging from a sappy liquid to a more stable, shatter-like form, depending on the specific processing techniques used. Proper labeling on the container includes info about the strain, cannabinoid content, and terpene profile.
Why is Live Resin Better Than Other Types of Cannabis Extracts?
You already have an idea of the appeal of live resin. It’s basically a liquid extract that’s a lot more potent than dry resin. Now, it’s hard to come up with a percentage that shows you exactly how much stronger it is, since there are too many variables, like the strain of the product and the condition of the specific buds. But, most believe that it’s roughly 30-50% more concentrated.
Taking that into consideration, let’s cover the benefits that live resin has over dry resin in a more detailed way, to give you the full picture of why so many enthusiasts prefer it.
Benefit #1: Stronger Effects
Of course, a higher concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes means stronger effects, which is something that a lot of people want. We already talked about the increased potency, and that’s really helpful when it comes to something like vapes, where users want to get more out of each puff.
Benefit #2: Richer Flavor
The flavor is a big factor, too. Live resin gives you much stronger flavor, because there are more terpenes in the product. This means you can really taste the nuances of each strain’s flavor profile on a whole new level. The terpenes are the compounds that give cannabis its flavor, and that explains why different strains have distinctive flavors unique from one another. People say that live resin tastes richer, cleaner, and more complex.
Benefit #3: Better Value
You will get more bang for your buck with live resin. How come? Because the increase in potency supplies more per each serving, all without costing a whole lot more. Live resin does cost more than dry resin, but not by a huge amount.
Benefit #4: More of the Entourage Effect
Then, there’s the entourage effect component. The entourage effect is when we consume a full-spectrum hemp product, which gives us the complete variety of beneficial compounds in the plant as they occur in nature. What this does is offer the full synergistic benefits of taking these compounds together, as nature intended them to maximize the efficacy of one another. Live resin gives you a stronger entourage effect as you’re getting higher concentrations of these natural compounds, with less risk of certain compounds degrading during the dry-curing process.
What Kinds of Live Resin Products are Worth Trying?
Live resin comes in various product forms, but we’re going to cover the “big 4” that you’ll most likely find on the market:
- Live Resin Vapes:Easily, the most common type of live resin product is live resin vapes – both disposables and vape carts – which combine at least 1 cannabinoid distillate with live resin. Live resin vapes really well, as it’s not so thick that it clogs the coil.
- Live Resin Gummies:Live resin gummies are also really popular, because these full-spectrum gummies give you far more effects, all while tasting delicious, and offering very long-lasting effects.
- Live Resin Pre-Rolls: Live resin pre-rolls consist of ground flower rolled up in paper, and the flower is infused with live resin for an added kick of cannabinoids and terpenes.
- Live Resin Dabs: These are potent concentrates made with live resin instead of dry resin, for even more potency. Keep in mind that dabs can be way too strong for beginners, as they’re intended to get high-tolerance users mega-high.
Testing Live Resin for Purity and Authenticity
Now, we want to talk about one last thing, which is authenticity. Companies can claim that they’re using live resin when in reality, they’re not. So, how do you know how to spot the difference between a fake and the real deal? Well, always make an effort to buy your live resin products from a trusted and reputable retailer online, where you’re less likely to run into fakes and cheaply made products.
However, testing live resin for purity and authenticity involves several other steps and methods to ensure the product is high-quality and safe for consumption.
Method #1: Laboratory Testing
Professional laboratory testing is the most reliable way to determine the purity and authenticity of live resin. Labs typically conduct the following tests:
- Cannabinoid Profile Testing: Determines the concentration of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids to verify the product’s potency.
- Terpene Profile Testing: Identifies the presence and concentration of various terpenes, which contribute to the flavor and effects of live resin.
- Contaminant Testing: Checks for the presence of pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and microbial contaminants like mold and bacteria.
Method #2: Visual Inspection
Although less precise than laboratory testing, visual inspection can provide some clues about the quality of live resin:
- Color: High-quality live resin usually has a golden to amber color. Darker colors may indicate oxidation or impurities.
- Consistency: It should have a viscous, sticky texture. If it’s too runny or too hard, it may not be pure.
- If Buying Online or In-Person: Reading the ingredients on a product label or description page, as well as seeing possible reviews.
Method #3: Smell and Taste
Experienced users can sometimes detect impurities through smell and taste. Pure live resin should have a strong, natural aroma corresponding to the cannabis strain from which it was extracted. Any off-putting chemical smells or flavors could indicate contamination.
Method #4: Solvent Residue Testing
Ensuring the live resin is free from residual solvents used during extraction is crucial for safety. Gas Chromatography (GC) is a main method used to detect and measure any remaining solvents in the product.
Method #5: Spectroscopy Methods
Advanced techniques like Mass Spectrometry (MS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) can provide detailed information about the chemical composition of live resin, ensuring no unwanted substances are present.
Method #6: Third-Party Certification
Look for products that have been tested and certified by third-party laboratories. This certification often comes with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) that details the results of various tests, ensuring transparency and reliability.
Dive into the World of Live Resin for Better-Tasting and More Potent Products!
It would be an insult to live resin to call it a trend. Live resin is one of the many examples of the incredible evolution of the cannabis market in recent years, showing how we can get more out of our favorite products through scientific developments in the field. If you’re seeking out the highest-quality live resin products out there, in all of the strains and product types that you know and love, head over to Goo’d Extracts today!
