Live Rosin: Everything You Need to Know

How well do you know your cannabis concentrates? Granted, it’s not necessarily something you would know a lot about unless you’re a big fan of taking dabs. When it comes to cannabis concentrates, two terms most often come to mind: live resin and live rosin.

Both of these extracts are highly potent and have gained a lot of popularity among cannabis connoisseurs in recent years. They have very similar names, though, which makes things a bit confusing. You might be wondering what sets live resin apart from live rosin. Is one better than the other? Why does live rosin have a higher price tag attached to it?

Live rosin has become a total sensation in the cannabis concentrate market. It tends to be the priciest option per gram among dispensary products. Is it deserving of all the hype, though? Well, the short answer is “Yes, absolutely.” There aren’t any solvents used in the production of live rosin. Producers typically craft it using plants that are especially rich in trichomes and terpenes. As a result, you're essentially paying for the labor involved and the exceptional quality of the starting materials, in contrast to more mass-produced butane hash oils.

It’s all a bit mystifying — trust us, we get it! That’s why Dr. Dabber is here to clear things up in today’s blog post. We’ll be discussing the differences between live resin and rosin, as well as answering any questions you might have about live rosin, so stick around!

What Is Live Rosin?

Chances are, you’ve come across the terms “live rosin” and “live resin” before, even if you’re not that into dabbing. We’ve actually only seen these terms being used together in recent years, though. Previously, "live resin" was the exclusive term used to describe this type of cannabis concentrate. When people talk about “live resin,” they’re typically referring to butane hash oil (BHO) made from frozen flowers or trim. Nowadays, any product made from materials that were immediately frozen after harvest falls under the "live" category. If you’re wondering, this is done to preserve the aroma of the live plant or its terpenes.

Live rosin is completely different from live resin, despite the fact they have similar names. It’s produced by applying heat and pressure to cannabis. You can use an iron or even a hair straightener to do this. Some might assume that live rosin refers to fresh frozen cannabis that has been pressed into concentrates. However, this process isn’t as simple as taking a frozen plant out of the freezer and pressing it under an iron. Doing this would result in a bunch of excess moisture being present. Basically, you'd be boiling water alongside your cannabinoids and terpenes. This, of course, would compromise the quality of your final product.

You’ll need to make ice wax using high-quality freshly frozen material and allow that concentrate to dry before pressing it. A lot of producers use water and ice to agitate the trichomes on the plant they’re working with. This allows them to collect the extracted material using something flat like a credit card. After that, they let it go through the curing process, usually by chopping it up and spreading it out to prevent too much moisture from escaping.

Needless to say, you need to be careful about sealing the concentrate in a jar too soon. Too much leftover moisture could cause mold to grow, which definitely isn’t ideal.

What Are the Differences Between Live Resin & Rosin?

The main difference between live resin and rosin lies in the extraction process used. As previously mentioned, live resin is created using a solvent-based extraction process, while live rosin is completely solventless. That said, both live resin and rosin share a common characteristic in that they originate from cannabis plants that have been flash-frozen (otherwise known as "live") at the time of extraction. Beyond this similarity, these two cannabis concentrates differ quite significantly.

The production of live rosin involves the initial creation of bubble hash. This can be accomplished by straining cannabis buds through perforated plastic bags with tiny holes, which allows trichomes to pass through while still retaining the plant material. The resulting substance, bubble hash, looks like a sticky, semi-solid black or tan goop. Pressure and heat are then applied to the bubble hash, which eliminates additional plant matter and leaves behind a slurry of cannabinoids and terpenes. This solventless slurry (yes, live rosin) has a high cannabinoid content, often reaching up to 85 percent. That’s nothing to sneeze at!

Live resin is an exceptionally high-quality form of butane hash oil (BHO). BHO is typically produced by washing cannabis flower with butane and subsequently purging the butane to separate compounds like cannabinoids and terpenes from all of that excess plant matter. The outcome of this process is a translucent, golden goop (which sometimes contains clear crystals).

The production of live resin takes this process even further, as the harvested cannabis plant is immediately frozen instead of being dried and cured first. This preservation of cannabinoids and terpenes makes live resin a bit more potent. Its THC content can often reach around 90 percent, which is pretty wild.

Is Live Rosin Better Than Live Resin?

Frankly, the answer to this question depends on the experience you’re looking for. The process of making live rosin is more complex and yields a cleaner, solvent-free product, which explains why it generally has a higher price compared to live resin. Even though live resin is considered to be slightly lower in quality than live rosin, it still stands out among other cannabis products and provides good value for those who are content with paying less than they would for live rosin.

Still, though, some people strongly believe that a solventless method is the way to go when it comes to concentrates and are willing to pay the price for the higher quality that comes with it. Live rosin is generally considered to be better for you, and will likely provide you with a cleaner dabbing experience (which is nice for those who have particularly sensitive lungs).

Live resin tends to be slightly more potent, but most agree that the difference isn’t significant enough to forgo the quality of the experience that comes with dabbing live rosin.

Does Rosin Get You Higher Than Resin?

As discussed earlier, live resin tends to be more potent than live rosin — but just by a little bit. This is due to the more complex and precise production process involved in resin extraction. The use of solvents allows for the maximum extraction of THC in each batch.

On the other hand, rosin production is less stringent and more accessible, and this can result in lower THC levels overall. This doesn’t mean that live rosins are weak. They simply aren’t as strong as live resins (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as some people feel like live resins are overwhelmingly potent).

While resin is more potent than rosin, the effects of these two cannabis concentrates are quite similar. If both are sourced from the same cannabis strain, for example, they may come with (basically) the same benefits, albeit at different levels.

Of course, the amount of resin or rosin that you consume is also going to make a difference. You’re going to get pretty high, either way if you’re consistently dabbing live resin or live resin all night long! Choosing live rosin over live resin is mainly a matter of quality over quantity, so just keep that in mind.

Why Is Live Rosin More Expensive?

We’ve talked a little bit about the high price of live rosin already, and it’s easy enough to say, “Well, live rosin is so expensive because of the extraction process used.” Why, exactly, is it so expensive, though? It’s not like it’s made of gold, so the price tag can be a bit mystifying for most people. Not very many of even the most seasoned cannabis enthusiasts know that the production of live rosin involves a more intricate and time-consuming process in comparison to other concentrates.

As mentioned earlier, it starts with the creation of bubble hash, followed by applying heat and pressure with an iron or rosin press (you know, if you want to be professional about it — which, you probably should). The meticulous nature of this process in conjunction with the need for expert craftsmanship increases the overall cost of the production of live rosin. Most agree that the effects make the price tag well worth it, though!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is live rosin worth it?

The cost is undoubtedly justified by the experience it offers. Whether you prefer cannabis in the form of flower, dabs, or vapes — if its aroma and flavor you’re looking to savor, you definitely can’t go wrong with dropping a few extra bucks on some live rosin the next time you’re at your local dispensary.

Live rosin is packed with flavorful terpenes and has a high THC concentration (which, while lower than the THC content of live resin, is still quite potent). Live rosin is carefully crafted to preserve the full spectrum of the extract. These are just a few of the many reasons why you should consider opting for live rosin. Trust us — it’s definitely a worthwhile choice (and is perfect for those looking to try something new as well).

Of course, you should make sure that you’re buying from a reputable source. No one reliable is going to sell you quality live rosin for very cheap, so just keep that in mind! Your local dispensary would be a good place to start. Just make sure you chat up the budtenders, as they should be able to help you find an option that suits your exact needs.

What is the best way to use live rosin?

There are plenty of ways to use live rosin. One of the most popular methods is dabbing, which involves heating a dab rig and applying the live rosin to the heated surface. You can then inhale the flavorful vapor to get an intense and immediate effect. Dr. Dabber offers plenty of great dab rigs — such as the Dr. Dabber Boost Evo — so if you’ve been wanting to get into dabbing, now’s the perfect time!

You can also, of course, vape the substance. Going this route will allow you to enjoy it without setting up a dab rig. It’s also super discreet, so if you’re always on the go, vaping live resin could be a great option for you. Simply add a small amount to your bowl before lighting up, and enjoy! You can always incorporate a bit of live rosin into a loaded bowl of flower, too. Talk about potency! As you can see, live rosin is pretty versatile. Use it however you’d like, and don’t be afraid to experiment, either.

"The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, including but not limited to anxiety, depression, or pain relief. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product."