One of the most exciting aspects of terpene consumption is finding new products to elevate the experience. One product now taking the industry by storm is live resin.
You might be asking, “What is live resin?” Fortunately, the visual guide below will walk you through how live resin is made, its benefits and advantages, disadvantages, and how to effectively use it.
Understanding Live Resin
Live resin is a type of concentrate derived from freshly harvested flowers. It has a sticky texture and comes in golden brown color. It has become a favorite among dabbers and terpene enthusiasts everywhere. Packed with cannabinoids and natural flower flavors, it is considered by many as one of the best concentrates in the market.
The Extraction Process
Live resin is produced by flash-freezing fresh flowers at sub-level temperatures. The flower is then blasted with a solvent such as propane, butane, or butane hash oil to separate the desired compounds from the plant material. Once done, the solvent is purged using warm water.
Next, the excess components of the solvent are drawn out using a special chamber. What’s left is a thick, potent concentrate called live resin.
This particular extraction method sets live resin apart from other concentrates as it preserves the terpenes from the plant. Typically, terpenes readily evaporate when the extraction process involves moderate temperatures. With live resin, this does not happen as heat is not used to extract the concentrate.
Advantages of Live Resin
Here are some reasons live resin tops the list of most flower and terpenes consumers:
It’s more potent than other concentrates.
Live resin is highly potent because the extraction process used to produce it retains most of the plant’s terpene content. This is extremely helpful for consumers who use terpenes to relieve anxiety, nausea, or stress. High potency also increases the strength of the entourage effect, amplifying the compounds’ therapeutic properties.
It captures the fresh plant profile.
Since live resin has gone through a flash-freezing process, most of the terpenes from the flower are preserved. Hence, the final product delivers a “kick” and scent closely similar to the original plant’s profile.
It has a robust aroma and flavor.
Still owing to the flash-freezing process used to extract it, live resin has a robust aroma and flavor reminiscent of the fresh plant. The curing process most buds undergo often results in the destruction of as much as 60% of their natural terpenes, reducing the product’s final profile. With live resin, more terpenes are contained in the final product, making for a more enjoyable experience.
It’s easy to store.
Live resin is easy to store. Simply keep it in a cool, airtight container as you would with any other food-based product. It’s ideal to store it in a refrigerator.
Also, be sure to place your live resin away from heat and light sources to keep it fresh. Keep in mind that live resin will degrade, dry out, and harden when not properly stored, affecting its potency and profile.
Disadvantages of live resin
While live resin sounds like a wonder product, it does have its drawbacks. Here are some of them:
It requires expensive laboratory equipment.
Manufacturing live resin products requires expensive laboratory equipment, not to mention the presence of highly skilled professionals. The process is not ideal to be performed at home as it involves complex steps such as flash-freezing. Hence, live resin is best made in a laboratory, not a kitchen.
It’s usually expensive.
Since live resin is costly to produce with the materials, infrastructure, and personnel needed, the product is priced relatively more expensive than others. However, you will get the quality you paid for.
It may be too strong for new terpene users.
If you’re a first-time terpene user, consuming live resin may overwhelm you. Since it’s potent, you may feel the results quicker and longer. When trying live resin as a newbie, it’s recommended to start with small amounts, slowly increasing the dosage as you figure out your tolerance level.
6 Tips to Safely and Effectively Use Live Resin
To have the best experience with live resin, here are some tips on how to safely and effectively use it.
1. Start with small doses.
As mentioned, live resin is a potent product, so you have to pay attention to the dosage when using it. Follow the rule, “start low and go slow.” Start with a small dose, then wait a few minutes to feel the effects. From here, you can determine if you need to go for more.
2. The best way to consume live resin is by dabbing it.
Dabbing is one of the best ways to consume live resin. You’ll need a dab rig, nail, dab tool, torch, and carb cap to perform this method. To start, heat the nail using the torch until it turns red hot. Once done, cool the nail for about 45 seconds.
Next, place the dab on the nail and begin inhaling. Don’t forget to cover the dab with a carb cap to help regulate the airflow. Finally, exhale and enjoy.
3. Mix live resin with other compounds to achieve the entourage effect.
Live resin benefits users in many ways, one of which is by facilitating the entourage effect. This process delivers a full spectrum experience when terpene is mixed with other psychoactive compounds.
Mixing live resin with other compounds such as terpenes will heighten their therapeutic effects. For instance, if you want to get a good night’s sleep, mixing live resin with myrcene will produce a stronger calming effect than taking live resin alone.
4. When heating live resin, observe safety precautions.
Before heating your live resin, be sure to set up your equipment in an open area that is away from heat sources or flammable items. Also, it’s ideal to wear nitrile gloves to avoid potential skin irritation from the solvents and oils contained in the product. This will help ensure your safety when using live resin.
5. Before using live resin, be sure to understand terpene potency first.
Different terpene products have varying potency levels. As such, be sure to check each item’s label and description when buying live resin terpenes. Also, it’s important to be aware of your tolerance levels as certain profiles may trigger sensitivities and induce allergies.
6. Store your live resin in a dark, cool, and dry place.
A cool, dry, dark place is perfect for preserving live resin’s potency. When you store live resin at high temperatures, it can turn into a fluid form, diminishing its quality and consistency. Using a silicon container also helps retain the product’s quality as live resin tends to stick to glass, making it more challenging to take it out.
Enjoy the Best Concentrates in the Market
Live resin stands out as a concentrate as it is produced from flash-frozen fresh flowers. This process enables the final product to retain the plant’s original profile, delivering high potency and a naturally packed aroma.
