Live resin, rosin, distillate, potency, format, concentrate—these are all terms you’ve probably heard before, but what do they mean?
At Clouditude dispensary, we believe that shopping for cannabis should be an informed and straightforward experience. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about concentrates, plus some helpful product suggestions from our shop for you to try!
Cannabis Concentrates 101: What You Need to Know
As the name suggests, concentrates are cannabis products formulated to contain highly concentrated amounts of cannabinoids like THC or CBD and terpenes. Essentially, you take the most desired parts of the cannabis plant and condense them all into different, incredibly potent products.
Because of this, concentrates tend to set in faster and stronger, making them highly favored by experienced cannabis users and are not often recommended for beginners. Some of the most common types of concentrates include wax, shatter, live resin, rosin, distillate, diamonds, budder, and more.
Why Potency and Format Make a Big Difference
Potency and product format are the two biggest factors that influence a consumer’s experience.
- Potency: The strength of the effects from the product you’re consuming. Concentrates are significantly more concentrated than other cannabis products, which means that smaller amounts can bring you your desired effects quicker and more intensely. This means concentrates can be more efficient as well.
- Format: Every format available has its unique methods of consumption, which means you can test and find a consumption method that works best for you. The great part about concentrates is that there are many formulations to choose from, which will mostly vary in texture, aroma, flavor, and even effects.
What Is Live Resin? Benefits, Flavor, and Products
Live resin is a type of cannabis concentrate that is known for its sticky, golden formulation.
How Live Resin Is Made
The process of making live resin is pretty straightforward. Professionals harvest fresh cannabis and flash-freeze it to preserve all of the components they want to keep. The flower is then ground into smaller pieces and processed through a solvent, extracting cannabinoids, terpene profiles, and flavonoids, among other active compounds. The solvent is purged, leaving you with sticky, golden goodness.
Live resin is considered a top-shelf, premium product by dab enthusiasts due to its high potency and potent flavor profiles.
Live Resin Products You’ll Love at Clouditude
We carry a variety of live resin products in our dispensary:
King’s Road’s Tango Gelee is a citrusy hybrid dream bursting with zesty orange and sweet tropical notes. This live resin is guaranteed to lift your mood while relaxing your body.
MFNY’s Rainbow Beltz 2.0 live resin badder is known for its tantalizing fruity aromas, plus sweet candy undertones. This indica concentrate will leave you feeling happy and relaxed.
What Is Rosin? A Cleaner, Solventless Concentrate
Rosin is a solvent-free concentrate that presents in a creamier, waxier, thicker form compared to live resin. It is considered “cleaner” than solvent-based concentrates, as it is extracted without the use of chemicals.
How Rosin is Made Without Solvents
Rosin is produced through a solventless extraction process that uses heat and pressure. Plant material is placed between two heated pads and squeezed until hot oil is extracted. There are different types of rosin, including live rosin and hash rosin, which are all formulated slightly differently and can produce different effects compared to regular rosin.
Rosin Effects and Who It’s Best For
Rosin may have slightly lower THC percentages than highly refined concentrates like distillate, but it preserves more terpenes for rich, full flavor.
Solventless products are becoming increasingly popular as many cannabis experts consider the extraction process to be “cleaner” since no chemicals are used in the process and, therefore, a healthier alternative to solvent-based products.
It’s important to note that both solventless and solvent-based products made by experts in professional environments can be safe to consume. Ultimately, it’s up to consumer preference.
Shop Rosin Favorites at Clouditude
Rosin is one of our best-selling products at the shop. Here are a few customer favorites:
Olio’s Gas Tanker is a cold cure live rosin guaranteed to leave you feeling deeply relaxed. This rosin is 22% THC, so it’s recommended for more experienced cannabis consumers.
Heavy Hitters’ Tropical Tsunami Pure Solventless Live Rosin Concentrate is a powerful sativa bound to give you an energizing burst of creativity and a subtle body calm.
What Is Distillate? Pure THC ‘Liquid Gold’
Distillate is a type of cannabis concentrate characterized by its viscous, golden appearance. Also called “liquid gold,” this product is clear, odorless, and flavorless because it is purified to remove all the plant compounds, including terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabinoids, leaving behind only THC.
How Cannabis Distillate Is Made
Extracting cannabis distillate is an incredibly specialized process. To ensure the extraction results in the purest form of oil, the distillation must be done in a highly controlled laboratory environment.
First, cannabinoids and terpenes are extracted using a solvent, and then they go through a purification step where impurities are filtered out.
Next, a heated fan helps extract more contaminants and evaporate the solvent used in the initial extraction.
Then, the filtered extract is heated to activate the THC in a process called decarboxylation.
Finally, the extract is distilled using a special vacuum method that separates THC from other compounds. In some cases, the distillate may be further refined.
Distillate Effects and Versatile Uses
Because distillate is highly concentrated pure THC, this concentrate is one of the most potent cannabis products on the market. Due to its concentration, the effects of the distillate will likely be intensified and stronger.
Cannabis consumers love distillate for its versatility. It’s used in vape cartridges, edibles, syringes, or dripped onto flowers, and can also be infused in pre-rolls.
Clouditude’s Best Distillate Products
Our distillate products are pure and potent. These are some of our staff favorites:
Honey Pot’s infused Organic Day Honey is a blend of THC and organic honey.
If you’re looking for a smoking option, CRU Cannabis carries distillate all-in-one vapes, including Cantaloupe Haze and Hawaiian Snow Cap.
Which Cannabis Concentrate Should You Choose?
Picking the right concentrate can feel like a daunting task when you’re unfamiliar with your choices. Ultimately, the best concentrate for you will depend on your preference, tolerance, and lifestyle.
If you’d like to learn more or are ready to find the right concentrate product for you, come explore the best concentrates in Staten Island at Clouditude! Our expert budtenders are happy to answer questions, give product recommendations, and make sure you have a great experience.