Live resin and live rosin can be hard to differentiate, but building a better understanding of different weed concentrates can help you choose your favorites.
Live resin and live rosin involve two different processes of handling weed with slightly different end results. These two types of cannabis concentrates have different levels of THC in their final products. Live resin and live rosin are both quickly growing in popularity in cannabis markets across the country.
Let’s get into some basics.
What is Live Resin?
Live resin essentially entails the use of butane hash oil (BHO), which may sound familiar to you… because it is used to produce dabs. That said, though live resin is still technically BHO, the difference is that live resin uses fresh cannabis flowers that have been frozen whole, making it very different from processes that use dried or cured weed. More specifically, live resin involves flash-freezing cannabis flowers shortly after they are harvested in order to maintain as much freshness as possible.
Using fresh plants in this way keeps the aroma, terpenes, and cannabinoid profile from getting lost in the curing process, thus making for a more full-flavor end result. Live resin is held in high regard because of its high terpene content. Because of its meticulous process, live resin tends to be on the pricier side of concentrates.
To dive a little deeper into the nitty-gritty details, resin is the sap that forms naturally from the cannabis plant. Live resin is a cannabis concentrate that can be made using frozen cannabis buds. And if you’re feeling snacky and curious-eating live resin is a waste. Without heating it to the proper temperature it won’t give you any of the effects you’re seeking.
What is Live Rosin?
Live rosin, on the other hand, is a slightly more complex process that involves making a cannabis concentrate through the use of heat and pressure. Live rosin uses freshly frozen material and allowing it to dry before going ahead and pressing it.
The process of making live rosin requires you to make ice wax, which involves using water and ice to get the trichomes off of the weed, and then collecting it with something flat. This process helps speed up the drying out of the buds. It is also a more time-consuming process than BHO extraction.
Live rosin tends to be the most expensive product you can buy per gram, and this is because it is extremely high-quality. The production process for live rosin involves no solvents whatsoever, which is why the end result is so highly coveted when compared to live resin, which involves the use of butane. So, in short, the difference between live resin and live rosin is that live resin is made with the use of butane oil, whereas no solvents are used to produce live rosin, but it is concentrated and then pressed in a rosin press to produce the sticky sap.
High-quality live resin or live rosin will have a rich, golden color. In fact, this is one easy way to tell the quality of the product you are purchasing. Great quality live resin or rosin will be a rich golden or light yellow color, whereas poorer-quality products will be more brown or off-white.
Can I make Live Resin or Live Rosin at home?
So, you want to know if you can make your own live resin or live rosin at home? Technically, the answer is yes, you can… but the process is not for beginners.
The production process for live resin and live rosin is highly technical, and you really have to know your stuff if you want to end up with a high-quality product at the end of it all.
If you make your own resin or rosin, the product could end up being far more concentrated than you intended. It can be a bit difficult to predict what the THC concentration will be if you do not have the right tools on hand.
For these reasons, it is best to purchase live resin or rosin from a trusted, lab-tested seller so that it comes along with information about the THC content and recommended dosage. Nobody wants to end up riding out a bad high, so it’s always a good idea to err on the side of caution. And if you’re wondering if the elevated price point is worth it-it is.
The Bottom Line: Live Resin vs Live Rosin
Both live resin and live rosin are new and exciting cannabis innovations that are quickly gaining popularity on dispensary shelves. Both live resin and live rosin provide an elevated experience vis a vi traditional distillate. The process for summoning these wonderful cannabis genies is really what sets them apart. Live resin typically uses a solvent (BHO) in the extraction process while live rosin is solventless using only pressure and heat. Both are drawn from fresh frozen flower-never cured or dried and thus remain “live”.
Where can I buy high-quality Live Resin or Live Rosin?
Emjay has you covered. We offer a variety of live resin and live rosin products that are a great introduction to the genre. Our Official Cannabis Product Reviewer recommends Alien Labs Milky Way Sauce & Lowell’s Strawberry Bananaz Rosin if you want to dab and Sherbinskis Gello Gelato Live Resin Cart or Lowell’s Disposable Gelato Kush Cake All-In-One if you’d rather vape.
