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Things You Should Know About Consuming Live Rosin
You’ve probably heard of the terms live rosin and live resin. While both are popular cannabis concentrates, they are different. The difference is noted in their extraction methods. Live rosin is the most recent discovery and user favorite for recreational and medical users. Its extraction method gives it a strong flavor profile and high potency due to the presence of terpenes.
While rosin extraction has been around for centuries, it was not until recently that technology advanced enough to allow us to extract live rosin from fresh, frozen cannabis flowers. This article explores what Live Rosin is, the extraction method, the factors determining its quality, and the best modes of consumption.
What is Live Rosin?
Live rosin is a type of cannabis concentrate that is extracted without using a solvent. The concentrate embodies all the best qualities of the cannabis flower as it’s extracted in its freshest form. Thus, live rosin has a strong flavor profile and potency.
Extracting live rosin requires using two heated plates, whereby the live rosin is placed in between, allowing it to fully melt and leave behind all the unwanted plant matter and contaminants.
How is Live Rosin Extracted?
Live rosin is extracted using a process called “rosin tech.” This process involves pressing fresh frozen cannabis flowers with heat and pressure to pull the resinous sap from the plant material. The resulting concentrate is a pure, flavor-packed substance known as rosin.
And if you do it from home, you can use an iron or hair straightener. However, it doesn’t mean you press a fresh frozen flower under your iron. This would result in an end product with lots of moisture. Follow this process when extracting live rosin.
Choose Top-quality Cannabis Flowers
The first step to creating quality live rosin is choosing a premium cannabis strain. Most people choose based on the strain’s genetic makeup, terpene, and cannabinoid concentration.
Freeze
After choosing your strain, harvest the cannabis flower and ensure you’ve placed it in the freezer immediately. The freezing helps preserve the delicate trichomes holding cannabinoids and terpenes.
Extract
Remove the trichomes from the flower using a solventless extraction method. This method utilizes ice and water. However, the extracted hash cannot be considered live rosin as it may contain other plant matter; you need to melt it to get the highest quality. You can use the heat and pressure method, where the frozen cannabis bud is crushed to release the resin, which is a sap-like fluid.
Purify
After extraction, you must purify the rosin to remove contaminants and plant matter.
Elements that Determine the Quality of Live Rosin
When purchasing premium THCa live rosin, several factors can impact the quality of the concentrate. These include freshness, terpenes, strain genetics, extraction method, and post-processing handling method.
Freshness
Freshness is one of the most important factors in determining the quality of live rosin. Fresh frozen cannabis flower contains more trichomes than dried material, which means a higher terpene profile and potency can be achieved when extracted with the rosin tech process.
Terpenes
Terpenes are what give each strain its unique flavor and aroma. High-quality live rosin will have an abundance of terpenes from the fresh frozen flower used in the extraction process. This gives it a rich flavor profile, often reminiscent of eating marijuana straight off the plant.
Strain Genetics
The genetic makeup of your cannabis has a significant impact on both taste and potency when making concentrates like live rosin. Certain strains contain higher levels of THC or CBD, which can affect the overall strength and effect of your concentrate when consumed.
Method of Extraction
It’s also important to consider how your live rosin was made; some products may have been processed using solvents such as butane or CO2, while others use strictly mechanical means such as heat press methods like “rosin tech.”
Post-processing Handling
How your live rosin is stored and handled can also significantly impact the quality of the concentrate. It’s important to ensure that you get your product from reputable sources who store it in sealed jars at an optimal temperature to preserve freshness and potency.
Factors that Can Undermine the Quality of Your Live Rosin
Several factors can negatively affect the quality of your live rosin, including temperature, humidity, cannabis strain, and extraction method. You should consider these factors when purchasing this type of concentrate to not compromise its taste or potency.
Temperature
It’s essential to keep your live rosin stored at an optimal temperature to maintain its freshness and potency. If exposed too long to high temperatures, terpenes may evaporate, making for a less flavorful experience when dabbing or vaping.
Humidity
Humidity directly affects the flavor and consistency of concentrates like live rosin—too much moisture during storage results in poor taste and the aroma of watery sap.
Cannabis Strain
The genetics of your cannabis can also affect the quality of your live rosin. Some cannabis strains may contain higher levels of THC or CBD, which can influence the potency and effect when consumed. Knowing what strain was used during extraction is essential to get the most out of your concentrate.
Method of Extraction
It is also essential to consider how your live rosin has been made. Certain methods like CO2 extraction may involve solvents, which could negatively impact taste and potency if not handled properly. Therefore, you must always ensure that you buy your live rosin from reputable sources who are keen on their extraction method.
Best Ways to Consume Live Rosin
Now that you know what makes up high-quality live rosin, let’s talk about how best to consume it! There are various methods of consuming live rosin, these include dabbing, vaping, joint rolling, infusing into foods, and capsules.
Dabbing
Dabbing is one of the most common ways to enjoy live rosin, as it allows for an intense flavor and potency experience. Dabbing involves heating a dab tool or nail to high temperatures and then touching it against the live rosin, which causes it to vaporize instantly.
Dabbing is ideal for veteran users as it delivers powerful and instant results. And unlike edibles, the effects are intense and do not take time to take hold.
Vaping
Another popular way to consume live rosin is through vaping. You need to use specialized hardware, such as vape pens, as they have a setting that allows you to control the temperature under which the live rosin is melted.
Vaping is ideal for those looking for discreetness as they produce less smoke and odor. And like dabbing, vaping offers instant results.
Joint
Live rosin can also be used as an additive in joint rolling. You can sprinkle some concentrate on top of your cannabis flower before rolling it up for an extra flavor boost. This method of consumption is a unique twist as it does not sacrifice any potency or taste.
Infused in Foods
You can also use your live rosin as a cooking ingredient by infusing it into edibles like brownies, cookies, and gummies. For best results, we recommend using decarboxylated concentrates when making edibles to get all of THC’s psychoactive effects without worrying about burning off any cannabinoids during the baking process.
Capsules
Another discreet way to consume your live rosin is through capsules or pills. Just fill the capsules with concentrate, seal them off, and you’re ready to go. Taking your concentrates in capsule form can be especially beneficial if you’re looking for an easy and convenient way to dose cannabis on the go without having to worry about taste or smell.
Benefits of Live Rosin
Live rosin has several benefits when compared with other types of concentrates. These include:
- It offers a clean flavor profile
- Potency levels that are often higher than traditional flower
- Full-spectrum as it captures all the cannabinoids in the cannabis plant
- The solventless extraction method means no risk of chemical residue remaining after processing.
- High terpene levels due to its extraction method, which gives it an intense yet flavorful experience when consumed.
- There are several methods of consumption
- It can be used for its therapeutic potential, which includes pain relief and anti-inflammation.
Cons of live rosin
The main drawback of consuming live rosin is its cost. Since it requires more work during extraction, this concentrate usually comes at a premium price.
Live Resin Vs. Live Rosin: What are the Differences?
Live resin and live rosin refer to concentrates made from fresh frozen cannabis material. However, there are some critical differences between these two types of products.
Live resin is created using solvents like butane or CO2. In contrast, live rosin is strictly solventless and uses only heat and pressure during extraction to achieve its unique flavor profile and potency levels.
Which is Better: Live Rosin or Resin?
This depends entirely on personal preference. Some consumers prefer the clean taste of consuming solventless concentrates, while others may find that they get more bang for their buck when purchasing resins due to their lower prices per gram compared with live rosins. Both offer excellent potential benefits, so get the one that fits your needs and budget.
Final Thoughts on Consuming Live Rosin
Whether you’re new to consuming concentrates or have been dabbing for years, understanding live rosin can help you decide when to select this concentrate. Before purchasing, consider all factors, including freshness, terpenes, extraction method, and handling, before purchasing to maximize your live rosin experience.